EDI-BCN
Aug 8, 2012, 1:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 76
EDI-BCN
Need to get my elderly mother over to BCN in December and back again a few weeks later. I'd naturally fly BA EDI-LHR-BCN-LHR-EDI. However, I'm wondering if I should go EDI-AMS-BCN-AMS-EDI (KLM) to have her avoid a potential long queue at immigration on the return to LHR.
I'm must be one of the few that has never been near AMS, so anyone got any views on either AMS or KLM vs BA & LHR?
I'm must be one of the few that has never been near AMS, so anyone got any views on either AMS or KLM vs BA & LHR?
Aug 8, 2012, 3:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, BD Blue (RIP)
Posts: 1,986
Have you considered Vueling? They offer 3 flights a week from EDI-BCN and are part owned by IAG so you can even earn Avios (via Iberia plus). The service is more in the mould of Go than Ryanair and there is assigned seating. You can even book a redemption on it if you move some points over to Iberia Plus.
Aug 8, 2012, 3:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 274
In my experience there is usually no or only a short queue at immigration for domestic connections. Security takes some time to get through but you'll have that in AMS too.
Aug 8, 2012, 3:52 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Quite close to NQY
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Have you considered Vueling? They offer 3 flights a week from EDI-BCN and are part owned by IAG so you can even earn Avios (via Iberia plus). The service is more in the mould of Go than Ryanair and there is assigned seating. You can even book a redemption on it if you move some points over to Iberia Plus.
Good call re Vueling !
but there is also the option of EDI-LCY-BCN as this is December, and also from next year routing via LGW.
You could even route out one way and return via a different LON airport if you decided one was better than the other
cs
Aug 8, 2012, 3:53 pm
#7
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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The passport queue in Schiphol alone is likely to be far worse than LHR, and there is also an extra security check outbound (same number inbound).
Furthermore the walk in Schiphol will be far greater than LHR. You will be going from perhaps the end of the D gate outbound to a C Schengen gate for BCN. You will have quite a hike to the main building from the gate, passports plus security (long queues are normal for this) at the end of the D gates, then another long walk to C. At LHR there's no passports, no security, just up the escalators. There is a small risk than BCN goes from the B gates, but you would be unlucky if that happens.
Inbound at AMS, there's passports between C and D again (there may be a long queue for that too, but it moves quickly), then security at the gate (short queues, but can still take a while). Whereas at LHR there is a passport check - not usually much of a queue here - followed by North Security. This is the worst bit, but I don't think it's any worse than the AMS equivalent, time wise. Then LHR's big advantage: the Edinburgh flight will almost certainly leave from a gate very near North Security.
Personally I think going to AMS to avoid queues would be somewhat perverse.
Furthermore the walk in Schiphol will be far greater than LHR. You will be going from perhaps the end of the D gate outbound to a C Schengen gate for BCN. You will have quite a hike to the main building from the gate, passports plus security (long queues are normal for this) at the end of the D gates, then another long walk to C. At LHR there's no passports, no security, just up the escalators. There is a small risk than BCN goes from the B gates, but you would be unlucky if that happens.
Inbound at AMS, there's passports between C and D again (there may be a long queue for that too, but it moves quickly), then security at the gate (short queues, but can still take a while). Whereas at LHR there is a passport check - not usually much of a queue here - followed by North Security. This is the worst bit, but I don't think it's any worse than the AMS equivalent, time wise. Then LHR's big advantage: the Edinburgh flight will almost certainly leave from a gate very near North Security.
Personally I think going to AMS to avoid queues would be somewhat perverse.
Aug 8, 2012, 5:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 5,706
Have you considered Vueling? They offer 3 flights a week from EDI-BCN and are part owned by IAG so you can even earn Avios (via Iberia plus). The service is more in the mould of Go than Ryanair and there is assigned seating. You can even book a redemption on it if you move some points over to Iberia Plus.
Aug 9, 2012, 11:42 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 968
I would do it via LHR.
On the way down, you only need to go through security once (at EDI). AMS you will need to go through it at EDI and AMS (with passport check).
On the return, the big advantage is that when you arrive in EDI, no queues. Off the plane, collect bags (maybe she can wait/go straight to car?). The domestic queue at LHR on the return is not that much and you will have security at LHR and AMS.
On the way down, you only need to go through security once (at EDI). AMS you will need to go through it at EDI and AMS (with passport check).
On the return, the big advantage is that when you arrive in EDI, no queues. Off the plane, collect bags (maybe she can wait/go straight to car?). The domestic queue at LHR on the return is not that much and you will have security at LHR and AMS.