Edinburgh Airport during rush hour

Edinburgh Airport during rush hour

Author
Discussion

CrouchingWayne

Original Poster:

682 posts

175 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
Hi guysimguys heading the Edinburgh airport for a 10.20 flight on a weekday. Do I need to worry about a build up of traffic getting over the bridge?

I'm based in Aberdeen so Google maps suggests a 2.5hr drive, I'm leaving at 6am so should get in for 8.30 (mini bus so no option of adding a bit of speed) but traffic could throw a wobbler.

Any advice from Ph'rs further south?

Massey135

51 posts

257 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
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Might be tempted to give myself a little more time. Kingsway and Forfar Road in Dundee heavy recently. Plus if you're travelling next week watch out for Royal Highland Show traffic approaching airport at Ingliston Thu and Fri

ABZ RS6

749 posts

102 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
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Head down the night before, Premier Inn by the airport, dinner and a few pints at the Bridge Inn at Ratho, leisurely short drive next morning

Perfect.

sherman

13,067 posts

214 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
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You will be hitting the forth bridge and the M9 and A8 at the busiest time of day possible. You will be travelling in the same direction as 95% of the rush hour traffic going into Edinburgh for work. If you can get from the forth bridge to the airport in one hour you will be doing really well. This is also basing the timings on there not being a broken down car/crash between the bridge and the airport.

If you are going this week the area right by the airport will be really busy as the Royal Highland Show will either be getting setup or from thursday to sunday will be open to the public from at least 8am. There is no way to avoid this as the show ground is right next to the airport. The access road is the same road for the show ground and the airport.

I would plan on getting to the airport for 7.30 am as that way you should be able to avoid the worst of the traffic by getting there before the rush hour really starts.

Edited by sherman on Tuesday 14th June 22:46

Spitfire2

1,912 posts

185 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
Agree. I've often had flights needing me to arrive at airport around 8am and it a tedious time. Minor bumps/ breakdowns can add 30 mins easily (each). I'd add an hour or come down night before.

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
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I head the opposite direction every Monday and hit the FRB around 6.15. Clear Northbound, but the Southbound is often backed up even at the time of the morning.

I'd either stay overnight, or leave REAL early!

Nicholas Blair

4,096 posts

283 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
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I'd be more worried about security queue in the airport , bloody hellish almost 100% of the time. smile

AndrewEH1

4,917 posts

152 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
Nicholas Blair said:
I'd be more worried about security queue in the airport , bloody hellish almost 100% of the time. smile
Yeah, factor this in twice as the getting through security at Edinburgh can be very slow at times.

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
CrouchingWayne said:
Hi guysimguys heading the Edinburgh airport for a 10.20 flight on a weekday. Do I need to worry about a build up of traffic getting over the bridge?

I'm based in Aberdeen so Google maps suggests a 2.5hr drive, I'm leaving at 6am so should get in for 8.30 (mini bus so no option of adding a bit of speed) but traffic could throw a wobbler.

Any advice from Ph'rs further south?
I can't do Dunfermline to Aberdeen (or vice-versa) in much less than 2 hours, and that's at off-peak times. I would be hard pushed to do 2.5 hours to the airport off-peak. For a 10:20 flight I'd plan on being at the airport for 8:00 to allow time to get through check-in/security (always slow at Edinburgh) so I'd leave Aberdeen at 5:00 - or preferably stay overnight as someone else suggested - some of the hotels do a fly/park deal.

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
quotequote all
AndrewEH1 said:
Nicholas Blair said:
I'd be more worried about security queue in the airport , bloody hellish almost 100% of the time. smile
Yeah, factor this in twice as the getting through security at Edinburgh can be very slow at times.
I disagree. I fly from here about weekly and have for many years and my time to clear security is 30 minutes at peak times with idiot tourists, and 15-20 minutes for a redeye flight with experienced travelers in front of you.

The OPs problem is traffic on the bridge, then the road to the airport. It will be mental that time of day and very stressful.




ModernAndy

2,094 posts

134 months

Wednesday 15th June 2016
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I'd do pretty much the same route as you're planning but (and this is the critical detail) do it the evening before and stay in a hotel. You do state minibus so I wonder if you're looking at taking a whole bunch of people with you, this may throw a spanner into an otherwise fine plan.

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Friday 17th June 2016
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Halmyre said:
I can't do Dunfermline to Aberdeen (or vice-versa) in much less than 2 hours
...need to try harder... smile

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Friday 17th June 2016
quotequote all
jshell said:
Halmyre said:
I can't do Dunfermline to Aberdeen (or vice-versa) in much less than 2 hours
...need to try harder... smile
What should I be aiming for? wink

TBH I don't really want to, the M90's OK but the A90 Perth to Dundee is too dodgy (and a favourite haunt of plod), the Kingsway kills any time you've saved, and there's too many cameras on the Dundee - Aberdeen stretch. Not worth the stress.

Edin430

940 posts

203 months

Tuesday 21st June 2016
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Not to mention the fact Edinburgh is one of the worst fking airports in the UK.

Traffic getting in from the roundabout - Horrendous
Car park system - Daylight robbery and horrendous
Security - Horrendous unless you catch a quiet spell (even Fast Track isn't fast)
Inside - Overflowing

Coming home is what boils my piss though. Landed from City a few weeks back on a remote stand. It was 55mins before I was sitting in my car in the Long Stay. My flight from London took 50....

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Tuesday 21st June 2016
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I'm curious where you typically fly from, and how often, if you think Edinburgh is so bad?


Spitfire2

1,912 posts

185 months

Tuesday 21st June 2016
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The transfer to the long stay has been crap every time I have used it. I always use secure airparks these days and the transfers are really fast. Always use fast track security. Its not great but I just can't be arsed with the utter chaos of EDI security early in the morning.

mabosh

299 posts

185 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
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We are not frequent travellers from Edinburgh airport, perhaps three or four times a year, but I've never found it that bad.

Flew out a couple of weeks ago, a Friday mid afternoon flight. Arrived just before midday, the place was heaving but still took less than 20 mins to clear security (ordinary,not fast track). Struggled to get a seat in Wetherspoons though (a bit council I know but the alternative Champagne bar just looks like a load of pretentious nonsense). A mezzanine level is to be added to the Wetherspoons soon apparently to cope with demand.

Coming back from Stuttgart in March though, utter shambles. Directed to a different "terminal" after already queueing for nearly 30 minutes in the main terminal, this turned out to be no more than the dismal basement of the same building, but closer to the Easyjet gates. The queue was even longer and got even longer when one of the only two x-ray machines went kaput. The queue did not move an inch for about 15 minutes.

We arrived at the airport more than two hours before departure and still had to barge our way to the front of the queue and only just made it in time. German efficiency these days seems as realistic as German build quality.

Edin430

940 posts

203 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
I'm curious where you typically fly from, and how often, if you think Edinburgh is so bad?
Two to three times a week. All within the UK but mostly City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester. Glasgow outbound on a couple of occasions. Mostly BA (therefore get Fast Track) however sometimes EasyJet or RyanAir if no space. Usually try get away on two or three holidays a year as well so various destinations out of Edinburgh.

It has the potential to be great... But some very simple things EDI are terrible at. Ever had to get a bus from your remote stand to the terminal? Parking bays are usually opposite Gate 3 / 4 / 5 (but other side of the runway from the terminal) and then they drop you outside Gate 16. So drive the length of the terminal, to walk back the length of the terminal, to again walk back the length of the terminal if you are in long stay. Add in ten mins to wait on steps and fifteen mins to get off the plane you are best part of 45mins to an hour from when you land to when you get out of the airport. Laughable!

Spitfire2 said:
The transfer to the long stay has been crap every time I have used it. I always use secure airparks these days and the transfers are really fast. Always use fast track security. Its not great but I just can't be arsed with the utter chaos of EDI security early in the morning.
Never use the bus always walk out the back of the car park and over the foot bridge. Much, much quicker. Problem is EDI have clocked onto this and are now making the left hand side of the long stay (closer to said path) a "premium" long stay. Thought that was what the Short Stay was? rolleyes

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
quotequote all
Edin430 said:
Prof Prolapse said:
I'm curious where you typically fly from, and how often, if you think Edinburgh is so bad?
Two to three times a week. All within the UK but mostly City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester. Glasgow outbound on a couple of occasions. Mostly BA (therefore get Fast Track) however sometimes EasyJet or RyanAir if no space. Usually try get away on two or three holidays a year as well so various destinations out of Edinburgh.

It has the potential to be great... But some very simple things EDI are terrible at. Ever had to get a bus from your remote stand to the terminal? Parking bays are usually opposite Gate 3 / 4 / 5 (but other side of the runway from the terminal) and then they drop you outside Gate 16. So drive the length of the terminal, to walk back the length of the terminal, to again walk back the length of the terminal if you are in long stay. Add in ten mins to wait on steps and fifteen mins to get off the plane you are best part of 45mins to an hour from when you land to when you get out of the airport. Laughable!
You fly more than me at the moment, but roughly the same airports (I feel your pain).

In 5 years I've never, to the best of my knowledge, had to wait an hour from landing to my car, even Ryanair flights which are the ones typically far away as they won't pay for the bridge. You should get one of those bags with a scooter built in.

To be fair you must also know then that Heathrow always takes longer at security, same for Manchester who also frequently have huge delays in bag pick up at the other end and is much more crowded. At Stansted you will also know is worse for pick up, security, and this time of year is so crowded you may find yourself sitting on the floor.

I don't think Edinburgh is great, but I do honestly not think it's a bad airport for delays. Given it's size nowadays I think it does OK, security especially.

Edin430

940 posts

203 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2016
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
Edin430 said:
Prof Prolapse said:
I'm curious where you typically fly from, and how often, if you think Edinburgh is so bad?
Two to three times a week. All within the UK but mostly City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester. Glasgow outbound on a couple of occasions. Mostly BA (therefore get Fast Track) however sometimes EasyJet or RyanAir if no space. Usually try get away on two or three holidays a year as well so various destinations out of Edinburgh.

It has the potential to be great... But some very simple things EDI are terrible at. Ever had to get a bus from your remote stand to the terminal? Parking bays are usually opposite Gate 3 / 4 / 5 (but other side of the runway from the terminal) and then they drop you outside Gate 16. So drive the length of the terminal, to walk back the length of the terminal, to again walk back the length of the terminal if you are in long stay. Add in ten mins to wait on steps and fifteen mins to get off the plane you are best part of 45mins to an hour from when you land to when you get out of the airport. Laughable!
You fly more than me at the moment, but roughly the same airports (I feel your pain).

In 5 years I've never, to the best of my knowledge, had to wait an hour from landing to my car, even Ryanair flights which are the ones typically far away as they won't pay for the bridge. You should get one of those bags with a scooter built in.

To be fair you must also know then that Heathrow always takes longer at security, same for Manchester who also frequently have huge delays in bag pick up at the other end and is much more crowded. At Stansted you will also know is worse for pick up, security, and this time of year is so crowded you may find yourself sitting on the floor.

I don't think Edinburgh is great, but I do honestly not think it's a bad airport for delays. Given it's size nowadays I think it does OK, security especially.
Have to admit RyanAir flights are better as dont land remotely and just park up at the Gate, so you do save the 20mins of steps being driver across the airport and bus transfer.

Granted Stansted I can't stand (although have to as never any seats!) and City is torture at the moment while they finish off the expansion (albeit security works well).

Gatwick is strangely my favourite airport at the moment! Only thing I dont like is the transfer from South to North.

I'm maybe just becoming a grump after so many years of it smile