Help please. Edinburgh airport.

[PatChaunceysFruitCake]

Really hoping for some help from Scottish mumsnetters who have flown into Edinburgh airport please.

I've been caught up in the flight chaos of Monday and my flight Monday night was cancelled. I've been rebooked to fly into Edinburgh in the early hours of tomorrow morning. My car is at an airport in England.

I need to get to Edinburgh Waverley get a train at 6am. I'm understand this is before the trams start. Will I be able to get a cab at this time and how long does it take to get into the city centre please?

Does anyone know if arrivals is open 24hrs please? Will I be able to wait there when the plan lands until it's time to get a cab or should I expect to be chucked out in which case I might try and stay airside for as long as possible.

Thank you.

Hi, the main airport is open 24hrs a day and you should be able to get a coffee/bottle water etc after you collect your bags and enter the main airport.

At that time under 30min to Waverley but leave lots of time as a sizeable station to navigate in itself.

The airport buses run 24 hours if that helps at all? Service 100 will take you into the Waverley, usually in about half an hour but likely will take less time when there's little traffic in the early hours.
https://www.lothianbuses.com/our-services/airport-buses/

Ime it is a bit desolate after about 8pm. There are buses from right outside the terminal which may start before the tram. Takes about 25 minutes to Waverley iirc.

Thank you so much. Very reassuring to know there is a bus as a back up. Hoping for a cab as have three massive suitcases and two DC but if a cab looks unlikely I'm very relieved to know the buses run at that time.

@SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverythingc dying for a cup of tea! Very happy to know that is a possibility and we are likely to be able to stay in arrivals.

Planning enough time at the station on the assumption it's as big as the major stations in Manchester and London. Luggage doesn't help either!

@TenOhSeven, thank you for the link. I can see Edinburgh Haymarket is listed as a stop on the timetable. Is one of the stops on the list near Waverley please?

Thank you @LIZS, bus is now my back up. Very happy to have a plan B.

Waverly is not a big train station.
Bus and tram stop at Haymarket, although there is building works in the Haymarket area and the bus takes a little detour which really shouldn't be an issue at that time of the day.

Princess St will be your nearest and St Andrews Square is moments away on foot too.

Get off at St Andrews Square, Waverley is just across Princes Street

I think it is rather sizeable as to cross various tracks you need to go up then back down again unlike bigger city stations that once you are in it’s all on one level. With luggage it’s a pain.

Cabs should be fine but it might be an idea to book one in advance if it's very early. Try City Cabs for a big reliable taxi firm.

You could also get an Uber.

Where are you travelling to? If it’s anywhere down the west coast train line then you’d be best going to Haymarket station.
The bus and tram stops are both closer to the terminal building than the taxi rank! Although a taxi will take you closer to the station.

Thank you so much @LIZS and @SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything. That's mega helpful.

Thanks @TooExtraImmatureCheddar, I'll ring them when I know we are definitely on our way.

@NotFastButFurious, I've got to get to Manchester airport to get the car!

@NotFastButFurious I think the tram doesn't start running until 6am?

I've had a look and the train I need to get stops at Haymarket and Waverley. Waverley is the start of the line though so I think it'll be easier to get kids and luggage on and find seats as it'll stop there for longer??

If you can reserve seats I would say go to Haymarket otherwise agree that Waverley is better. There are lifts and escalators in both stations.
Take a taxi from the airport if you can afford it. Way less stressful than bus /tram .
Huge congrats from me for keeping so positive in a crisis.

I’d get a cab from the airport to Haymarket which is a much smaller station and easier to navigate. It has a coffee stand and M&S food (although check opening times) and only 4 platforms compared to the much larger Waverley where your train will possibly depart from a platform over a footbridge anyway.

I’ve unexpectedly been at Edinburgh airport today (was meant to fly elsewhere but could get there quicker after previous flight cancellations) and be warned the baggage takes ages. Mine took over an hour and I heard this is normal. not sure if any impact for you/how frequent your trains are but might be helpful to hear in mind.

No advice but following with interest as I have the same problem to solve in a few days.. Good luck OP!

Thanks again for all your help. I'm on a train heading south! Managed to get a cab with ease at 5am and navigated all the lifts at Waverley. Hurrah!

Taxi driver said we had time to spare and gave us a dawn tour of the city. It's so beautiful. Enjoying the stunning scenery from the train windows now.

@FallingStar21, if you can do anything to get some warmer clothes then do try. We had to sit on the floor in arrivals and it was freezing in the middle of the night with just thin hoodies on. Good luck, it's been so grim because the airline / tour operator hasn't done anything they were supposed to. Everyone not connected to the airline has been very kind though. Go figure.

@Timeandtune, I wasn't positive at 3am with DS sprawled across me stealing my heat!

Glad to read you’re on your train OP and that you liked your very quick look at the city.

Hope the rest of your journey goes smoothly OP.

Hooray for heading home!!

Great update. Hopefully you are home and in a warm bath before lunchtime!

Edinburgh is incredibly beautiful as the sun is rising! What a lovely start to a pretty shitty day.

@PatChaunceysFruitCake
Thank you, I hadn't thought about that, especially as I'm coming back from a very hot country!

Good luck with your journey @FallingStar21.