Edinburgh vs Glasgow Departure – The Honest Comparison
Glasgow Airport is 45 minutes from Edinburgh by car. For some Edinburgh Muslims, flying from Glasgow makes more financial and logistical sense. Here’s when each makes sense:
Choose Edinburgh Departure When:
- You live in Edinburgh city centre or eastern suburbs
- You value avoiding Glasgow travel (saves 2-3 hours total)
- Price difference under £100 per person
- Your preferred airline/timing only operates from Edinburgh
Consider Glasgow Departure When:
- You live in western Edinburgh or Lothians
- Price difference exceeds £150 per person
- Better flight timings available (shorter layovers)
- Direct family in Glasgow area (coordinate travel)
We price both options for Edinburgh clients. Sometimes Edinburgh works better, sometimes Glasgow saves £600-1,000 for a family of four. Honesty saves you money.
Edinburgh Umrah Package Pricing – Realistic Costs
We’ve analysed 500+ Edinburgh Umrah bookings over 9 years. Here’s what Edinburgh pilgrims actually paid (not theoretical “starting from” figures):
| Package Type |
Edinburgh Departure |
Glasgow Departure |
Potential Savings |
| 3-Star Economy |
£1,150-1,500 |
£1,050-1,350 |
£100-150 per person |
| 4-Star Standard |
£1,750-2,250 |
£1,600-2,050 |
£150-200 per person |
| 5-Star Premium |
£2,750-3,900 |
£2,600-3,700 |
£150-200 per person |
Edinburgh-Specific Reality: Limited airline competition from EDI means less pricing flexibility. We check both airports for every quote – sometimes Edinburgh wins on timing despite costing more, sometimes Glasgow offers better value.
What’s Included In Edinburgh Umrah Packages
Standard Inclusions:
- Return flights from Edinburgh (EDI) or Glasgow (GLA)
- Umrah Travel Formalities processing (7-14 days, full documentation support)
- Hotel accommodation in Makkah and Madinah (3/4/5-star options)
- Airport transfers Saudi Arabia
- Makkah to Madinah ground transport
- 24/7 UK and Saudi support
What’s Usually NOT Included:
- Edinburgh/Glasgow airport parking or train transfers
- Meals beyond breakfast (varies by hotel)
- Ziyarat tours to historical sites
- Travel insurance (mandatory, £45-80)
- Excess baggage fees
- Wheelchair assistance for elderly (arrange separately)
We itemise everything. No hidden “mandatory extras” at checkout.
Edinburgh Airport Logistics – Practical Considerations
Airport Access: Edinburgh Airport is 8 miles west of city centre. Travel options:
- Airlink 100 Bus: £4.50 single, 30 minutes to city centre
- Taxi: £20-30, 20-25 minutes
- Airport Parking: £8-15 per day (long-stay), book ahead for savings
- Train: Limited, requires Tram connection, not recommended with luggage
Prayer Facilities: Edinburgh Airport has multi-faith prayer room in main terminal. Wudu facilities available. Less extensive than Manchester or Birmingham, but functional for pre-flight prayers.
Connection Patterns From Edinburgh
Via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines/Pegasus):
- Most frequent option for Edinburgh
- Layover: 3-8 hours (timing varies)
- Total journey: 10-14 hours
- Competitive pricing
- Istanbul Airport massive – factor walking time between gates
Via Dubai (Emirates):
- Premium service, reliable connections
- Layover: 2-4 hours
- Total journey: 14-18 hours
- Higher cost but excellent comfort
- Dubai Airport efficient, shorter walking distances
Via Doha (Qatar Airways):
- Luxury experience, efficient hub
- Layover: 2-4 hours
- Total journey: 12-16 hours
- Premium pricing
- Hamad Airport modern, comfortable layovers
Via London (British Airways + Saudia):
- Adds UK domestic segment
- Layover: 2-6 hours at Heathrow
- Total journey: 12-18 hours
- Higher delay risk (two connections)
- Only choose if timing critical
Edinburgh Muslim Community Considerations
Edinburgh’s Muslim population is uniquely diverse compared to other UK cities:
Demographic Mix:
- 43% Pakistani heritage
- 17% Arab backgrounds
- Significant students (University of Edinburgh)
- Professional/academic concentration
What This Means For Umrah: Edinburgh Muslims often prefer customisation over cookie-cutter packages. Academic schedules, professional commitments, and diverse cultural preferences mean one-size-fits-all rarely works.
We offer genuine customisation – airline choice, hotel location, trip duration, meal preferences, Ziyarat inclusion/exclusion. Edinburgh pilgrims use it more than clients from other cities.
Booking Timeline For Edinburgh Umrah
8-12 Months Advance: Best Edinburgh flight availability and pricing. £99 deposit, interest-free monthly instalments. Choose airline, timing, hotel without compromise. Save £200-350 per person vs last-minute.
4-7 Months Before: Moderate availability, reasonable pricing. Limited airline choice, some hotels booked. Payment plans still available but shorter duration.
Under 12 Weeks: Premium prices, restricted options, high stress. Edinburgh’s limited flights book fast. Only viable if you have complete flexibility or emergency circumstances.
Medical Considerations For Edinburgh Pilgrims
After 9 years arranging Edinburgh Umrah, we’ve developed specific protocols:
For Elderly Pilgrims: Connection layovers matter more from Edinburgh. Turkish Airlines’ 8-hour Istanbul layover exhausts elderly passengers. Choose Emirates’ 3-hour Dubai layover instead – worth the £200 premium to prevent travel fatigue before pilgrimage even starts.
For Families With Young Children: Shorter layovers reduce child stress. Qatar Airways’ Doha route offers 2-3 hour connections – manageable for families. Turkish’s long layovers create child meltdowns at 2am in Istanbul Airport.
For Anyone With Mobility Issues: Book wheelchair assistance for ALL airports (Edinburgh, connection point, Jeddah). Edinburgh Airport provides this free but requires 48-hour advance notice. Connection airports vary – Emirates and Qatar excellent, Pegasus basic service.
Why Choose Aqdas Travel For Edinburgh Umrah
ATOL Protection (12834): Your money is legally protected. If we collapse, you get refunded or repatriated.
9 Years Edinburgh-Specific Experience: We know Turkish Airlines changed Edinburgh-Istanbul timings last year, creating longer layovers. We know which Edinburgh departure times avoid overnight layovers. We know Edinburgh Airport’s parking actually costs more than Glasgow despite being smaller.
Glasgow Price Comparison Standard: We quote both Edinburgh and Glasgow options automatically. If Glasgow saves you money, we tell you – even though it means smaller commission for us. Honesty builds long-term relationships.
No Forced Upsells: Want basic flights and hotels? Perfect. Don’t need Ziyarat tours? We won’t pressure you. Some Edinburgh clients are students on tight budgets, others are professionals wanting premium – we serve both honestly.
Real Contact Details: 0203 504 1818 or info@aqdastravel.co.uk. No hiding behind web forms.
