I'd like to know the pros and cons (especially about saving some $$) for flying to Glasgow vs Edinburgh to attend the Best of Scotland tour that starts and ends in Edinburgh. Has anyone saved money by flying to Glasgow and then taking the train to Edinburgh? I'll be departing from Tampa, FL in late August. I plan to arrive a day early and stay a day after the tour ends, so I'll have a bit of time to travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh. All tips appreciated!
Posted by
Glasgow, Scotland
1639 posts
Flying into Glasgow is not merely a train ride to get to Edinburgh. It is a bus to get to the railway to get to Glasgow to get the train for Edinburgh.
In terms of convenience, I would say Edinburgh is better. The cost differential in favour of Glasgow would need to be substantial to make up for the time on the train and bus.
Posted by
63 posts
We are flying from Baltimore in May, and our first stop is Edinburgh, but we are flying into Glasgow because the cost of the tickets to Glasgow was less than half of the cost to fly to Edinburgh. Even getting a bus to the Glasgow train station and a train to Edinburgh we will still be in Edinburgh by noon, so for us the extra time and effort to fly to Glasgow was well worth it because of the significant cost differential. Whether it is worth it for you will depend on what prices you are seeing for flights to the two cities.
Posted by
63 posts
I wanted to add to my previous post that flying in and out of Glasgow will also give us a day or two to see something of the city of Glasgow, which I am told is quite nice.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Whether or not it is cheaper to fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh from Tampa is a constantly changing thing. And if there is a difference, it may be $20, $100, or $500. There is simply no rhyme or reason to airfares anymore.
Case in point: looking for mid-May 2017, I found airfares from JFK to Zurich, nonstop, around $350 (now up to $370). Looking at JFK to Geneva on the same dates, a nonstop was about $1200, and even with a stopover, it was about $650. Why such a difference? Who knows??
So look at both options. But do consider if you want to spend time in Glasgow, and take into account the steps required to get from Glasgow's airport to Edinburgh, and make sure it's worth the savings to you.
While you're looking, in addition to round trip flights to both cities, also check multi-city flights in both configurations (Tampa to Glasgow and Edinburgh to Tampa, and Tampa to Edinburgh and Glasgow to Tampa). As I said above, for inexplicable reasons, one of these four may be cheaper, or cheaper enough to make it worth choosing even if it's less convenient.
I agree that Glasgow has a lot to see, so if you're flying in or out of there, do take advantage.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I have to say that it really is not a big deal which city you fly into. Do you fly into Laguardia or JFK? Do you fly into Ontario or LAX? If you get good fair you grab it. MC is correct that it's not just a matter of catching a bus to Edinburgh from Glasgow airport, but it's close! I've flown int Glasgow arriving at 10 AM and been at my hotel in Edinburgh by noon. You can fly into JFK and not be in midtown in that time frame! Do the math. Think about the timing. I loved my bus ride to Glasgow city centre where I caught a train to Edinburgh. I was able to then walk from Waverley to my hotel. I really wouldn't stress it too much. Go where you get the best air fare. Everything you do afterwards is part of your holiday.