DESTINATIONS scotland glasgow air-travel-99

TRAVEL TIPS

Air Travel

Airlines flying from Glasgow Airport to the rest of the United Kingdom and to Europe include Aer Lingus, Air Malta, BMI Regional, British Airways, easyJet, Flybe, Icelandair, Jet 2, and KLM. Several carriers fly from North America, including Air Canada, American Airlines, United, and Icelandair (service via Reykjavík).

Ryanair offers rock-bottom airfares between Prestwick and London's Stansted Airport. Budget-minded easyJet has similar services from Glasgow to London's Stansted and Luton airports. Loganair flies to the islands.

Air Contacts

Air Canada. 0871/220–1111; www.aircanada.com.

Aer Lingus. 0333/004–5000; www.aerlingus.com.

Air Malta. 00356/2166–2211; www.airmalta.com.

American Airlines. 0207/660–2300; www.americanairlines.co.uk.

BMI Regional. 0330/337–7998; www.bmiregional.com.

British Airways. 0844/493–0747; www.britishairways.com.

easyJet. 0330/365–5000; www.easyjet.com.

Flybe. 01899/221050; www.flybe.com.

Icelandair. 0207/874–1000; www.icelandair.co.uk.

Jet2. 0800/408–1350; www.jet2.com.

KLM. 0207/660–0293; www.klm.com.

Loganair. 0371/700–2000; www.loganair.co.uk.

Ryanair. 0871/246–0000; www.ryanair.com.

United. 0845/607–6760; www.united.com.

Airports

Glasgow Airport (GLA) is about 7 miles west of the City Centre on the M8 to Greenock. The airport serves international and domestic flights, and most major European carriers have frequent and convenient connections to many cities on the continent; it closes overnight. There's a frequent shuttle service from London, as well as regular flights from Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Southampton, Isle of Man, and Jersey. There are also flights from Wales (Cardiff) and Ireland (Belfast, Dublin, and Londonderry). Local Scottish connections can be made to Aberdeen, Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Shetland (Sumburgh), Stornoway, and Tiree.

Prestwick Airport (PIK), on the Ayrshire coast about 30 miles southwest of Glasgow, is known mainly as an airport for budget airlines like Ryanair.

Airport Contacts

Glasgow Airport. Caledonia Way, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA3 2SW. 0844/481–5555; www.glasgowairport.com.

Prestwick Airport. A79, Prestwick, South Ayrshire, KA9 2PL. 0871/223–0700; www.glasgowprestwick.com.

Transfers

Although there's a railway station about 2 miles from Glasgow Airport (Paisley Gilmour Street), it is not very accessible. Transport to the City Centre is either by bus or taxi and takes about 20 minutes. Metered taxis are available outside domestic arrivals, and cost around £22.

Express buses depart every 15 minutes from Glasgow Airport (outside the departures lobby) to Central and Queen Street stations and to the Buchanan Street bus station. The fare is £6.

The drive from Glasgow Airport into the City Centre is normally quite easy, even if you're used to driving on the right. The M8 motorway runs beside the airport (Junction 29) and takes you straight into the City Centre. Thereafter Glasgow's streets follow a grid pattern, at least in the City Centre.

Most companies that provide chauffeur-driven cars and tours will also do limousine airport transfers. TBR Global Chauffeuring is a worldwide organization offering chauffeur-driven transport in Glasgow and across the United Kingdom.

There's rapid half-hourly train service (hourly on Sunday) direct from Prestwick Airport's terminal to Glasgow Central. Strathclyde Passenger Transport and ScotRail offer a discount ticket that allows you to travel for half the standard fare; just show a valid airline ticket for a flight to or from Prestwick Airport. An hourly coach service makes the same trip but takes much longer than the train.

By car, the City Centre is reached via the fast M77 in about 40 minutes. Metered taxis are available at the airport. The fare to Glasgow is about £40.

Airport Transfer Contacts

Little's Chauffeur Drive. Glasgow City. 0141/883–2111; www.littles.co.uk.

Strathclyde Passenger Transport Travel Centre. Buchanan Street Bus Station, Killermont St., City Centre, Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 3NP. 0141/332–6811; www.spt.co.uk.

TBR Global Chauffeuring. Glasgow City. 0141/280–4800; www.tbrglobal.com.

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