Peak season:
The best time to book your flights to Scotland are during the Summer months. You’ll find the weather pleasant but still be able to find cheap flights to Scotland, especially if you plan a little in advance. Spring and Autumn are also fantastic times to visit, with either all of the trees and flowers just beginning to blossom and flower or everything turning crisp and orange. Both make for stunning scenes and you’ll find cheap flight tickets too.
Off season:
Winter can hit Scotland hard, with very wet, cold and dark weather engulfing the country. That said there is a growing skiing scene in Scotland so if you’re into Winter sports you can find the cheapest flights to Scotland in the Winter and take to the mountains for some skiing. You can also find artificial ski slopes too, just in case the weather isn’t as cold and snowy as you’d like. The world-famous Hogmanay takes place in the Winter too.
Cheap flights to Scotland are readily available most of the year however if you plan in advance you can find absolute bargains. Being flexible with your dates will help ensure you find the lowest prices for your flight tickets and booking your flights to Scotland in advance will mean you can still find good prices in the warmer months of the year. During school holidays and the Hogmanay festival you’ll find cheap flights to Scotland harder to come by so make sure to book in advance if you want to go during any of these times.
Flights from London to Edinburgh: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Glasgow: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Aberdeen: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Flights from London to Glasgow: 1 hour 20 minutes.
There are loads of budget airlines that offer cheap flights to Scotland with the major players being easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and FlyBE. Each airline has its benefits, Ryanair for example are well known for providing very good prices for flight tickets, however they are also well known for lacking in high comfort and they’re notorious at Summer time to up the costs of checked in baggage to high amounts. British Airways aren’t as cheap but you’ll get slightly comfier seats and complimentary snacks and beverages onboard your flights to Scotland. Ultimately it depends on your own preference, with a flight time of just over an hour, comfort isn’t necessarily a primary concern.
Glasgow Airport:
Transports options from the airport are readily available, with a host of buses you can get as soon as you leave the arrivals Terminal. The First 500 Glasgow shuttle goes directly to the centre and runs 24 hours a day. You can also get the McGill’s 757 bus service for a mile to the nearest train station and then jump on a train to your final destination. You can either book your train tickets online prior to leaving (but after you’ve booked your flights to Scotland) or you can purchase them at the train station. You can also grab a taxi or rent a car and drive, but this is only really beneficial if you’re going to drive around more of Scotland than just Glasgow.
Edinburgh Airport:
The Airlink 100 Express and the N22 night buses operate directly to the city centre and you can get them from outside of the airport. The Lothian Bus number 35 also goes to the city however it stops en-route and continues onwards to another location after Edinburgh. Another reasonably priced option is the tram. It runs reliably and frequently to and from the city and is slightly quicker than the bus. Failing those options you could opt for a taxi although the price will be a lot higher than the bus or tram.
Aberdeen Airport:
You can get either the First Aberdeen or Stagecoach Bluebird from the airport to the city. It takes around 30 minutes and both are reliable methods of transportation. You can also get a train but you’ll need to get a short taxi ride to the train station. From there you can purchase a single way ticket for around £2.20 with the journey taking around 10 minutes. Alternatively you could just get the taxi all the way to Aberdeen however you’ll spend a lot more money. This is more worthwhile if you can split the fare with a friend.