Edinburgh Airport is a very busy place first thing in the morning with business people going to meetings all over Europe and beyond. Get there by 4 AM. if you want to have a more relaxed time pay the £4.49 for speedy Security [At that time of the morning I always pay for it].
Flying into Edinburgh on an international flight? Your first stop after landing is immigration and passport control - here's everything you need to know!
International flights require longer connections as you will often have to go through immigration and customs upon arrival. For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection.
Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.
These are the standard rules about how early to arrive at the airport: – For domestic flights, plan to arrive at the airport 2 hours early. – For international flights, plan to arrive at the airport 3 hours early. In most cases, that should give you plenty of time to make your way to the gate.
Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before departure for international flights. It's common for international flights to start boarding earlier than domestic flights (the aircraft are often larger and have higher passenger capacities), which accounts for the earlier recommendation.
It's a relatively small airport, especially compared with Heathrow, and there is only one terminal for passengers. Located close to central Edinburgh, it's easy to access and fairly stress-free to navigate.
The airport is open overnight but all shops, cafes, pubs, etc. are closed. Security is also closed so you'll sleep in the landside area of the terminal.
Passengers flying transatlantic from Edinburgh will be able to clear US customs before boarding their aircraft. The Scottish airport is one of ten around the world where the US Customs and Border Protection is extending customs pre-clearance.
American citizens traveling to Scotland, England, Wales, or Northern Ireland do not require a visa but will need a valid passport. Before you land in the UK, you'll be asked to fill out a landing card with your name, date of birth, gender, nationality, occupation, and the address where you'll be staying in London.