I am having to rebook my flights EDI to the USA on July 23 or 24. Mt flight departure choices are 09:40 or 12:30. The earlier flight has much better onward connections but…
I will spend the nights before the flight in central Glasgow. Is it reliably feasible to get from central Glasgow to EDI, arriving at say 0700, by bus or train? If so, how?
Or should I grit my teeth and tale the 1230 flight ….
Thanks.
The Citylink "Air" bus runs 24 hours a day and goes direct from Glasgow Buchanan Bus Terminal to Edinburgh Airport. It takes about an hour. Early morning departures at 4:00, 4:45, 5:15, 5:45, 6:15
The train would involve a transfer and take longer. The earliest departure is 6 AM and gets you to the airport at 7: 16.
Of course, if there is a problem on the road, you could miss your flight..
Thank you ! And walking to the bus terminal for the 5:45am would be safe for a solo silver female?
With an 0940 departure from EDI how far ahead should I arrive at the airport? Two hours? Three hours?
Sorry, not familiar with EDI and how long one needs for international departure in the summer.
Assuming you are flying United to Newark then your check in desk opens three hours before your flight. See here for airline check in desk opening times.
I have flown international out of Edinburgh in the last few weeks and security was very, very, slow. Indeed on my arrival back into the UK at about 0830 there were queues outside the terminal building. I later found out that this was because the baggage conveyor belt at check in had broken down! I would strongly suggest you aim to arrive at the airport three hours before your flight. It's quite a congested airport!
Looking at live departures just now I can see that today's 0940 to Newark is yet to take off - over 3 hours late......
As to safety in Glasgow I'd have thought you'd be fine. Is your hotel within walking distance to the bus station? I am in my 50s and have never felt unsafe in Glasgow.
Glasgow City Centre is a pretty safe place. At that time of the morning the street sweepers will be out, and the last of the very tired drunks from the night before. They will be so tired as to be no threat. At this time of year it is already daylight by 5am.
The 0545 arrives at Edinburgh Airport at 0641. I think I might pitch for the 0515 arrive 0611. Just belt and braces in case of any traffic delays.
Several people have commented on other social media in the last week or two that Citylink are encountering staffing issues at the moment, with a level of cancellations happening on high frequency services. This isn't just idle talk- I am aware of a documented case of an Inverness to Glasgow cancellation, which was filmed by a you tube creator, by chance. So travelling one bus early gives a comfort level.
It's hard to know what it will be like at the Airport so early. The advice is always 3 hours for an international flight. Bear in mind there are a lot of early flights on the budget airlines- so the airport may be busier than you expect.
You should be fine walking in Glasgow early in the morning, at this time of the year it’ll be fully light from before 5am and the streets quiet. However, I’d be tempted to spend that last night at an airport hotel at EDI just in case there are traffic problems getting there from Glasgow. And yes, you need to be at the airport 3 hours before an international flight, it’s not something I’d take a chance on. I’d much rather be early and bored airside than anxiously trying to get there amid traffic chaos outside.
By the way UA37 eventually took off today at 1324, almost 4 hours late, in spite of having arrived inbound from Chicago on time.
Thanks all.
So far I am not in luck finding a reasonable hotel at EDI. So I could take the 1230 flight to IAD to add padding.
Or fly from LHR (I have a Eurail pass so there’s no incremental cost to taking the train down to London, but I have been trying to avoid Heathrow…). As for booking the flight, this is the joy of booking with miles and points: I do have some latitude even at short notice
Looking at your post of 19 June you have a hotel budget of £110 per night, or did then.
On the night of 22 to 23 July you could stay at the Premier Inn Edinburgh Park for £109.
The first tram (from right outside the hotel) is at 0603, arrive at the airport at 0615, then every 10 minutes, or call a cab for the 5 mile journey- about £10. Edinburgh Park is on the GLA to EDI rail line.
The PI is much more expensive on the night of 23 to 24 July.
Fortunately my budget is a bit higher for airport hotels if required.
So the question becomes whether I would be better off at EDI or LHR (or for that matter SNN hopping a budget flight to SNN the day before my transatlantic flight. ). Lots to research.
if you have the budget for it when we had to layover in glasgow we used GLA Transfers www.glatransfers.co.uk/glasgow-airport-taxi/ i think they were roughly £75 uk pounds to get a sedan car back to edinburgh airport cant find the exact link for the edinburgh webpage but if you go on that one i provided you can find it. The guy was literally so helpful and it was early morning. As i said though it is a bit more expensive than the bus but at that time in the morning I just wanted to wake up as late as possible and not worry about getting to bus station on time as uber at that time i found wasnt reliable for shorter journeys.
Though if you want to take the later flight please factor in the scottish traffic at the time you will be travelling to the airport. One trip we almost missed checkin due to travelling at peak rush hour for our 1pm flight at edinburgh airport.
If you need any more advice I can help you, as a regular traveller from new york to edinburgh and then travelling to glasgow then on to Ayr, my sister stays here so here every few months and always used edinburgh. have tried all ways even train to edinburgh then the tram. it is also a good way to do it but give yourself plenty of time, but very affordable in comparision to private taxi.
Thank you to everyone for the helpful replies. I think the 0940 is out unless I overnight in Edinburgh. The 1230 would be do-able if I take a very early bus (eg 0630) to allow for bus issues. And I should assume at least three hours prior to flight (I need to research booking a time to do security, if that is possible)
Given today’s delay in the 0940, I also have to think through knock-on effect for my US connections. Lots of research tonight!
The Forum is helpful, as always!
MJ
If you do decide to overnight near EDI airport then there are several choices within walking distance of the terminal. Moxy, Hilton Doubletree and Hampton Inn.
Sorted!
Using “cash + points” I will stay at the Hampton @EDI and stay within budget.
I had completely forgotten about this option to use my smattering of Hilton points.
Problem solved, 2am worry the night before the flight minimized …. AND breakfast ;-)
Now I just have to figure out contingencies for late departures and missed connections…
Thanks again, everyone! This forum helps with even the most mundane questions !
I stayed at the Hampton @ EDI about a month ago. (Also using points.)
It's a five minute walk from the terminal. Decent included breakfast.
Unlike most Hamptons, no mini fridge.
