Inside View: Waiting for Seats

March 23, 2011

Waiting for Seats

TODAY WAS THE SECOND DAY of 2011 where I couldn't board Aircoach for Dublin. That's a problem for the sunny southeast because I am not alone on being left behind as the coach heads to the airport. At today's first stop of the day, two Chinese and three Germans could not board the Aircoach. This confuses some tourists because they often have their pre-paid Dublin Aircoach tickets in hand but they're not getting on board with them. I've asked Aircoach about a fix--perhaps restoring its early morning service--but it's a matter of commercial viability. At the moment, it is less viable to drive on account of the rising cost of motor fuel. But all the commercial operators are facing austerity as well because the Irish Exchequer is offsetting fewer regional coach services during the next five years. My ultimate work-around is to book online for every turn of the Aircoach wheel that I intend to use. But that will constrain the kinds of trips I want to take and it is not a solution for confused tourists who do not plan for overfilled buses.