Cheap flights from Dublin to Philadelphia

Demand runs on two calendars at once: Irish school breaks and the American holiday season. Summer is the peak stretch, when June and August fill up and fares climb with them, and the Christmas and New Year window books out early. Late November brings a shorter spike around Thanksgiving.

February is the cheapest month to fly, once the holiday traffic has passed and before spring picks up, so flexible dates in late winter pay off. Midweek departures usually cost less than Friday or Sunday flights, and booking well ahead beats leaving it late — earliest of all for summer, when spare seats go first.

Aer Lingus is the carrier that matters most here, flying the route nonstop across the Atlantic. American Airlines appears alongside it, while British Airways, BA CityFlyer, TAP Portugal, Air Canada, WestJet, JetBlue Airways, Iberia and Iberia Express turn up as one-stop options through their own hubs.

The difference is mostly what the fare includes. Aer Lingus, British Airways, American, Air Canada, TAP and Iberia sell full-service transatlantic fares, typically with checked baggage and a meal, though light versions strip some of that out. JetBlue, WestJet and Iberia Express run leaner structures, with seat choice and checked bags as possible add-ons, so read the inclusions before paying.

You land at Philadelphia International Airport, the city's main gateway, which sits a short drive from Center City. A regional rail line runs from the airport into downtown, and taxis and ride-hailing cars wait outside the terminals, so getting into town is simple whatever time you arrive.

Since Philadelphia is where you enter the United States, immigration and customs happen here even when your journey continues to another American city, and peak arrivals can mean long queues. If your ticket goes beyond the city, you normally collect and re-check your bags after customs, so leave generous room between flights.

Currency

USD ($)

Power sockets

Type A, B · 120 V

Language

Samoan, Hawaiian, Chamorro, Carolinian, Spanish

Emergency number

911

Driving side

right

Calling code

+1

Internet domain

.us

Population of Philadelphia

1.6 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC-04 (America/New_York)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check United States entry rules first: most Irish passport holders travel visa-free with an approved ESTA, though some cases need a visa.
• Make sure your passport stays valid well beyond your return date before you commit to a fare.
• Choose between the nonstop and a one-stop itinerary, and check transfer times on any tickets bought separately.
• Look at what each fare includes, since the leaner carriers often charge extra for seat selection and checked baggage.
• Shift your dates towards February if you can, as late winter is the low-priced stretch on this route.
• Book summer travel early, as June and August fall in the busiest season and fares climb with demand.