FAQs - Our Airport
Our aim is to help you as quickly and efficiently as possible, if your query is not answered below, then please contact the airport on the number listed at the bottom of the page. We have broken the questions up into six areas of information:
General travel enquiries
Airport information
Baggage
Flight information
Transport
Shopping
General travel enquiries
Where can I get advice about the safety of travel to foreign countries?
Please visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website (link will launch a new window) for information on the safety of destinations worldwide.
How long do I need to check in before my flight is due to depart?
As a general rule you should check in a minimum of one hour prior to scheduled departure time for UK and Ireland (including Channel Islands) flights and two hours before scheduled departure time for international flights. There is one important exceptions to this, which is El Al flights for which you must check in three and half hours before departure.
Please also check the instructions on your airline ticket and from your travel agent or booking website. If you are still unsure please check with your airline directly – by visiting our database for airline contacts.
I want to take my pet overseas. How do I find out about pet passports/animal quarantine?
Please visit our pet travel pages for further information and key contacts.
What foods can I bring into the UK?
Please read the information on our Tips & Advice section.
If you have any further queries visit the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website for more details. Please note, it is illegal to bring in banned products, or amounts of products that exceed any weight limits that apply. They will be seized and destroyed, and you may be liable to prosecution.
Defra website (link will launch a new window)
What are the visa requirements for entry into the UK?
There are different requirements for entry into the UK depending on your nationality, country of residence, country of departure and the reason/duration of your visit. Please ensure you have the necessary documents/permissions before you travel or you could be refused entry into the UK. Further information can be found at www.ukvisas.gov.uk (link will launch a new window). You can also visit our Travel Guide section for your departure airport, where our partner Columbus Travel lists information on visa requirements for the UK and many other countries.
My passport has expired/been lost/stolen. Who do I contact?
- If you are a UK citizen/passport holder and your passport has been lost/stolen in the UK go to the UK Passport Agency website (link will launch a new window) for further instructions on reporting your missing passport and getting a replacement.
- If you are a UK citizen/passport holder and your passport has expired you should also visit the UK Passport Agency website (see above) to find out how to renew your passport.
- UK citizens who lose their passports while overseas should report the loss immediately to the local police and the relevant British consulate/embassy/high commission. A list of these can be found at www.britishembassy.gov.uk (link will launch a new window), and it maybe worth noting the details of the nearest embassy to your destination before you travel.
- Foreign nationals who lose their passport while in the UK should inform the local police and contact their relevant consulate/embassy.
- Having photocopies of all important documents (passport, visas, tickets, European Health Card (EHIC), travel insurance, driving licence, etc) and keeping them separate from the original documents, will help you resolve matters more speedily should you lose anything. If there are two or more people in your party you could exchange photocopies to minimise the chances of all documentation being lost.
I have special needs. What facilities are available at the airport?
BAA airports, like all other public buildings in the UK, meet the minimum standards for disabled access as laid down by the Disability Discrimination Act, but we strive to go beyond what must legally be provided. We aim to offer all our passengers good facilities, easily accessed and well signposted. We also want all our customers to feel included in the travelling experience, regardless of any special needs they may have. Visit the Special Needs pages for Edinburgh Airport to find out more about the facilities available.
Who do I contact if I have lost something at the airport?
If you have lost items within the airport itself please contact the lost property office at the airport.
If you have lost items while on an aircraft or airline bus, please contact your airline directly – airline numbers can be found on our destinations database.
What facilities are there at the airport?
Please select a link below to take you to the Terminal A-Z pages, which list the facilities available at Edinburgh Airport. If you need further help or directions when you get to the airport, please go to the BAA information desks, where staff will be happy to help you.
Where can I find floorplans of the airport?
The Airport Information pages of our website contain maps of Edinburgh Airport and its facilities. You will need to download Adobe Acrobat (available on each of the pages) to view the maps, and in some cases launch Flash. Should you be unable to do this, please remember that we have printed pocket guides, including floorplans, available to all customers at each of our airports – they can be collected from the information desks or freestanding displays.
Where can I make a complaint/comment about my airport experience/the BAA website?
We are sorry if you have had had a problem with either our website or one of our airports. Please let us know your thoughts, both good and bad, and hopefully we can use your feedback to build better services for all our customers. Please visit our Feedback pages in the Contact Us section.
What is my luggage allowance?
Baggage allowances are set by each individual airline. If you can not find this information from your ticket or booking agent, then please visit our airline databse where you will find a contact number for your airline.
What items should I pack and where and what items are prohibited from hand and hold baggage?
For packing tips and information on items that must not be carried on board a flight or within your hold luggage please visit our Packing pages.
As a diabetic, I’m worried that syringes/injection pens may not be allowed in hand luggage.
Please speak to your airline about your requirements before travelling, but be reassured that if you have a genuine medical condition (supported by a letter from your GP or hospital) then there should be no problem with taking such items on board the plane.
Can I carry sharp edged religious/cultural regalia/accessories (eg Kirpans, Sgian Dhub or Dirks) on my person or in my hand baggage?
All such items are prohibited from hand luggage and from being carried on board a plane on your person. Please make sure that they are packed in your hold baggage as items confiscated at security control will not be returned to passengers.
Will I be prevented from taking hand luggage on board my flight?
A very small number of airlines have these kind of restrictions on hand baggage. Please confirm with your airline (contact numbers can be found through this link). Remember that hand luggage should be kept to a minimum.
Are the x-ray machines film-safe?
We recommend you pack undeveloped film in your hand luggage. Special arrangements can be made for photographers with large quantities of film who wish it to be carried in the hold, by arrangement with your airline. Passengers should be assured that undeveloped film carried as hand luggage is safe. Please visit our Advice for Photographers page for further information.
Is there somewhere to store my bags and other items at the airport?
There are Left Baggage facilities the airport and this link will take you through to information on prices and opening times.
My suitcase was mislaid/delayed and was not delivered to my final destination. Who do I contact?
Baggage delivery is the responsibility of each airline. For inquiries relating to hold baggage please contact your airline directly.
How can I check what time the flight I am meeting arrives in the UK?
Please visit our Live Flight Arrivals database for information on flights into Edinburgh Airport.
How do I check routes and get timetables for flights?
Please select an airport from the links below, and you will be taken through to our flight information pages where you can select either the scheduled or charter flight timetables.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen
What time does my flight arrive at its destination?
Please visit our Flight Timetables, which contain information on arrival times.
Where can I fly to from each BAA airport?
Please select an airport from the links below, and you will be taken through to our Destinations and Airline database for your chosen airport.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen
Where can I find flight departures?
Please visit our Live Flight Departures database.
What is the current airport tax imposed on passengers?
Airport tax is ‘Air Passenger Duty’ (APD) and is imposed on passengers by the government. BAA is not involved in either levying or collecting this tax. It is paid when passengers book their ticket with the airline, and collected by the government once the journey has taken place. There are different rates of APD depending on the ticket types and journey type (ie EU/non-EU). Further information can be found at:
HM Revenue & Customs website (link will launch a new window) and The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website (link will launch a new window). Information on airport charges, which are the charges imposed by BAA on airlines (not a tax), please see our Regulation information.
How do I get to the airport?
Visit our To and from the Airport pages, which have details of how to reach the airport whether you are making the journey by train, bus, coach or car.
What car parks are offered at BAA airports, how much are they and where are they located?
For full information about the different types of car parking available, car park locations and prices, please visit our Car Parking Options pages.
How do I pre-book car parking?
You can pre-book your car parking by calling 0870 850 2825 (UK) or +44(0)121 410 5105 (from outside the UK) or though our online pre-booking service. And remember that by pre-booking your car parking you will on the whole pay a lower price than paying on arrival and you will guarantee your space.
How do I plan my onward route from the airport?
Please visit the To and from our Airport pages, for information about the various transport options available from Edinburgh Airport.
I have limited mobility/use a wheelchair. What options are available to me to get to the airport?
Most operators of public transport have arrangements for passengers with special needs and information about these services can be found on our Special Needs transport pages. There are priority parking spaces and extra help on hand at our airport car parks should you be arriving at the airport by car.
What shops and restaurants are available at the airport and what are their opening times?
Please visit our shop listings for details of all the shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, both before and after security control at Edinburgh Airport. The listings include opening times, telephone numbers and a brief description of what the shop offers. If you need further information please call our shopping information line on 0870 850 2825 (UK) or +44(0)121 410 5105 (from outside the UK).
How much can I buy and what are my savings and allowances?
Please visit our shopping pages for information on airport savings and customs allowances or go to the HM Revenue & Customs website (link will launch a new window) for full details of when tax and duty are payable.
How can I get information about WorldPoints or check my balance?
Please visit our WorldPoints pages where you will find all the information about BAA WorldPoints.
What happens if the goods I purchase are faulty?
Our Worldwide Money Back Guarantee means you can return almost any item bought at the airport free of charge, from anywhere in the world, for a full refund. Select the link above for full details.
Can I buy before I fly and collect on my return to the UK?
Yes. If you are flying to a destination within the EU (excluding UK and Ireland when flying from Heathrow) you may collect your purchases when you arrive back at the airport on your return flight. Visit our Shopping Collection pages for full details about this service.
Has your enquiry still not been answered?
Please contact an individual airport on the numbers listed below for further help and information.
Heathrow Airport: +44 (0)870 000 0123
Gatwick Airport: +44 (0)870 000 2468
Stansted Airport: +44 (0)870 000 0303
Glasgow Airport: +44 (0)870 040 0008
Edinburgh Airport: +44 (0)870 040 0007
Aberdeen Airport: +44 (0)870 040 0006
Southampton Airport: +44 (0)870 040 0009
Corporate office: +44 (0)20 7834 9449
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