EDI - LHR
Never usually do TR’s for shuttles but because I am escaping from the heat in sunny Florida at the moment, there is a little spare time.
After a hectic morning attending road / civic space openings in town (google Fish and Galashiels if you are interested) it was time to head up to Edinburgh to catch BA’s shuttle down to Heathrow.
Edinburgh has recently been sold to GIP, the same people that also own Gatwick but BAA still have a presence in and around the place. Parking is still done by BAA Advance which is not only a little weird, but seems to have jumped up dramatically in price.
We always park at the airport, usually the long stay round the back of the Hilton or if lucky get a deal at the short stay which is just a few paces from the terminal.
The parking quote was horrendous and seemed to be around double what I have paid in the past, but after chickening out a couple of times from pressing the button, 2 days before a deal at the short stay became cheaper than the long stay price so was grabbed. I have no idea how they work out their rates.
Edinburgh has always been a great airport (apart from the absence of Virgin - although fingers crossed, the rumours are gathering) and in the past few years has had many millions spent on it by BAA. If GIP improve Edinburgh as much as they have improved Gatwick since they took over, it will be a 1st class airport to fly from.
Check in was very easy and security, although slightly busy really only took 5 or 6 mins and then it was through to the departure lounge. There was only really 45 mins before boarding so there wasn’t any point in visiting the lounge.
We boarded a nice clean Airbus and were soon on our way to Heathrow. The flight itself was around an hour, they still had time to do a free bar run and we only did one loop before heading into T5 and the wonders that the Olympics have brought to London.
Talk about an anti climax, off the plane, around 30 seconds to get to baggage reclaim and the bags where through in around 7 or 8 minutes.
Though into the main part of the terminal and off to hunt out the stance for the hoppa bus to the Hilton @ T5.
The hotel was really nowhere near T5, apart from being at the end of the runway, but was nice, but quiet and served beef from Buccleuch Estates which one is very near where we stay. The rooms were new and very clean and completely silent from aircraft noise, although the same couldn’t be said of the restaurant which let you hear every plane landing overhead.
This being the first visit to T3 and the Clubhouse, it was decided that it might as well be complete and a car was booked via the Virgin website through to Tristar to use the DTCI after an email was received that evening. A little extravagant but your on your holidays.
Next up Heathrow VS Gatwick
David
