British Airways launches twilight bag drop at Edinburgh Airport

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• Blair Waldorf Salad says:

  20 May20 May 04:42

  IC Chantilly will be a must for fans of A View To A Kill making the pilgrimage to the nearby Chateau de Chantilly

  • NorthernLass says:

    20 May20 May 21:21

    Indeed, we did this about 20 years ago!

    • NorthernLass says:

      20 May20 May 21:30

      It’s not just for Bond fans though, there’s a very impressive collection of Renaissance art there as well.

• BJ says:

  20 May20 May 06:18

  What’s the point of twilight bag drop? Unless passing through the terminal the night before travel by necessity or staying at a hotel within the terminal itself or within walking distance, I don’t get it. Seems more trouble than it’s worth and I cannot see much demand at an airport like Edinburgh.

  • Erico1875 says:

    20 May20 May 06:53

    BJ
    My son with 3 children, 2 who are toddlers and all the baggage that entails would find it useful.

    • Andrew J says:

      20 May20 May 06:57

      And then make do with whatever they can fit in a carry-on for the night at the airport hotel? Doesn’t make any sense to me – the hassle of making sure you’ve got the right things in each bag, just get up a few minutes earlier and checkin the morning of.

    • BJ says:

      20 May20 May 07:10

      I get that bit but I still don’t think it’s enough reason to go to all the hassle of going from home or your place to the airport etc the night before. Report back if he gives it a try, and more importantly if he thinks it worth repeating.

      • Erico1875 says:

        20 May20 May 07:47

        Ryan air for instance have 11 aircraft based at EDI. I’ve seen the check in Q for early morning departures out the door and 50m along the walkway.
        With 3 little children it’s a real hassle that can now be avoided

        • BJ says:

          20 May20 May 08:03

          I didn’t know it was that bad. We always travel HBO and until last few months when I’ve been unable to use BA OLCI I have not been to a check-in desk for years except fir a couple of quick covid document checks.

      • paul says:

        21 May21 May 15:28

        You’re thinking of it as people living close to the airport – most don’t.

        For us, if we’re traveling 2 or 3hrs and staying at a hotel close to the airport, it’s fantastic to drop bags and check-in the evening before; especially as they don’t charge for parking while you do it.

        Next morning is far less of a rush.

    • Ed_fly says:

      20 May20 May 07:33

      Agreed, I’ve done twilight check before. For me getting rid of the check in cases meant the early start the next morning was much easier. We were on a very busy London bus from the T5 premier inn, and not having to squeeze two large cases on top of a folded pram onto said bus made life much easier. I wouldn’t use it if travelling alone, but with kids and a very early start, worked for me and I do it again.

      • Andrew J says:

        20 May20 May 07:35

        Or just take an Uber to the airport.

        • Ed_fly says:

          20 May20 May 08:55

          Unfortunately that’s not so straightforward with two kids who require car seats.

  • Derek Scott says:

    20 May20 May 07:51

    Edinburgh Airport Check In hall has very little room to expand without major construction and investment, and is effectively at capacity in the mornings at peak summer. Considering it’s attracting more US long haul (and Middle East /China now) meaning bigger aircraft, it’s a real squeeze early morning as an example. This is one way to reduce queues to check in a little in the mornings. They really need to build out but that needs major reconfiguration and construction there’s not a lot of room for. They may need to revisit plans for a second terminal at the other side of the runway in the not too distant future

    • BJ says:

      20 May20 May 09:21

      Derek, was it you who worked at EDI security? If so, just to let you know my two most recent experiences passing through went very well indeed despite being at busy times.

      You mention China, is the Hainan flight back? I had heard some talk about that.

      • Rob says:

        20 May20 May 09:40

        EDI security was dead when I was there last month, as indeed was Palma last night. All very odd 🙂

  • MT says:

    20 May20 May 08:20

    It makes the following morning much easier and takes out one calculation in regards how long you need to arrive at the airport beforehand. Obviously you may have business or fast bag drop, but even these queues can be quite large at peak times. Being able to turn up at the airport and go straight to security (thus avoiding one of the 2 queues you face to get to the queue at the gate) makes things so much simpler.

  • Peter K says:

    20 May20 May 09:14

    Imagine you live an hour away from your nearest airport, with good traffic. Imagine you need to check bags, hand baggage only not being an option. Imagine your flight leaves at 10:30 or 11am. Imagine if airport taxis are hard to find where you live (yes, really).

    Morning bag check-in can be 1-1.5hrs, security can be 30-45 minutes and you need to be at your flight at least 30mins before departure.

    Do you…
    1) wake up at 5-5:30 to leave at 6-6:30 to allow for delays, with the concern that you will miss extra delayed somewhere (eg a RTA blocking a road)?
    2) stay at an airport hotel the night before and do Twilight check-in, waking up at 8:30-9:00am and effectively starting your holiday a day early?

    That’s why twilight check-in works well for some of us 🤷🏻‍♂️

    • BJ says:

      20 May20 May 09:30

      I cannot imagine staying at an airport hotel if I live only an hour away, I prefer my own bed. Fortunately I live 15-20 minutes away and travel HBO … that’s the life 🙂

      • Rob says:

        20 May20 May 10:08

        You potentially don’t have a partner who isn’t happy when you set the alarm for 4am because you (and only you) have a 7am flight ….!

        • mvcvz says:

          20 May20 May 10:28

          You could always sleep in the spare room that night. Simple, cost free solution. You’re welcome.

        • BJ says:

          20 May20 May 15:43

          Isn’t that what spare rooms abd sofa are for? I suppose you could always stay with Rhys the night before.

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

          20 May20 May 16:55

          BJ what a strange idea suggesting a boss should impose himself on his employee for a bed for the night.

          Rhys might not even have a spare room.

  • TimM says:

    20 May20 May 09:23

    It is far easier, faster, safer and cheaper to have the discipline to travel hand-luggage only.

    For my hotel reviews I always count the hangers in the wardrobe. There are usually either 10 or 12 and I like to hang everything up – shirts, suit, shorts, T-shirts. With hand luggage and 10 or 12 hangers it is a ‘forever’ wardrobe’. A universal plug allows smalls to be washed overnight and there is always a local laundry to avoid the excesses of hotel laundry fees. Why do people lob huge suitcases on holiday? They take time at both ends off the holiday, are inconvenient, cost money and usually mean you have packed way too much!

    • BJ says:

      20 May20 May 09:38

      +1, the way to do it. I even prefer to pay hotel laundry fees to taking checked bags but often look for hotels with self-service laundry rooms too. Changed my upcoming stay at Hilton Osaka to HI Suites mostly for this reason.

    • sayling says:

      20 May20 May 10:39

      Not sure I would want to swap time in a check in queue before/after a holiday for time in a launderette during a holiday…

      • BJ says:

        20 May20 May 15:49

        That’s not how it’s done. First choice is an independent laundry service near the hotel. Second choice is hotel laundry service, third choice is throw it in the hotel laundry room or in the machine if a suite hast one. Most of the time it’s option 1, ages since ai used option 3.

    • Peter K says:

      20 May20 May 11:19

      As always, it’s horses for courses. A few months ago there was a whole discussion about why HBO is not an option for everyone, no matter how great it would be if it was. If it works for you then great, but it’s not possible for everyone.

      • BJ says:

        20 May20 May 15:55

        Agree, and I didn’realise how bad check in had become at places and times. With OLCI and bag drops I pictured it beibg easier these days. I was at T5 check in around 2pm Friday 21/4 and was surprised how empty it was though. Just happy personally that HBO and OLCI works for me as I’m not good with lines at all.

    • redlilly says:

      20 May20 May 23:35

      I am going to visit my in laws in Portugal in 2 weeks time, and we’re going to bring our spare mattress topper and some pillows that are gathering dust in the spare room, which they can put to good use. Saves them buying them and us having junk lying around. Not sure anyone will be too pleased with me lugging this up the aisle on the BA flight…

      I don’t even have kids yet, but can see why check in luggage would be a necessity then too.

      HBO simply does not suit everyone in all circumstances.

    • paul says:

      21 May21 May 15:31

      Thankfully, we get free laundry on our cruises so take 5 days of clothes for 14 nights.

• Will says:

  20 May20 May 06:47

  So has the lounge at IC Paris Le Grand resumed full food service yet? That seems to be the biggest unanswered question here

  • Lyn says:

    20 May20 May 14:17

    Service in the lounge has improved substantially since the hotel initially reopened after Covid with a necessarily much reduced staff, and continues to get even better in my opinion.

    The lounge now has two, very professional, people working in the lounge full time, which works well for the large, lovely, L-shaped space, with extra help when they are particularly busy. There is normally someone at the front desk as well to help with check-in and the usual questions.

    Breakfast is fine, with omelettes and eggs benedict etc. available to order, if you know to ask, and is served until 11 am. Then there is a gap until afternoon tea starts two or three hours later, and it is of course this gap at lunchtime that is the biggest difference from the old lounge upstairs. Food is served in the evening from 5 to 8, including oysters, smoked salmon, occasional sushi and salads, and a well-chosen selection of French cheeses. Soup is the only hot option to have been reintroduced so far, but everything is very good quality food-wise.

    • Lyn says:

      20 May20 May 14:33

      The real dilemma is now the extent to which Club Lounge access is worthwhile for IHG Diamonds, even for 2 people, now that breakfast is included. Booking through Emyr solves this dilemma of course, except for points and AMB weekend bookings.

      • BJ says:

        20 May20 May 15:58

        Can think of many better places to sit with a drink in Paris.

        • Lyn says:

          20 May20 May 18:04

          Of course, there are lots of them, BJ. But in our particular case we are usually tired, and more often than not jet-lagged, when we arrive at Le Grand. We’re also older than you are!

          The hotel is perfectly located for exploring Paris on foot or by bus. But by the time we’ve got back from visiting art museum exhibitions and walking around what feels like half of Paris, we find the lounge a very relaxing place to sit with champagne and oysters. The fact that the staff are lovely makes a real difference as well.

  • David says:

    20 May20 May 14:45

    Was there a couple of weeks ago, would agree with Lyn. Had good experience: good service, good food and drink options through the day. Took breakfast in Cafe de la Paix instead as diamond, as (assumed) more choice. Bit like a cattle market at peak times but service always good with seemingly long standing (or if not, knowledgable and well trained) staff members. Don’t seem the have the problems with hospitality staffing that now plagues the UK… can’t imagine why that is.

• Mr. AC says:

  20 May20 May 07:17

  Twilight bag drop should be an absolute necessity. I’m frankly incredulous every time I try to do it and am rebutted in a major airport (thankfully this is rare these days).

  • rs132 says:

    20 May20 May 07:56

    Agreed. Although the best experience we had was with Airportr – they collected the cases mid afternoon for an early morning flight the following day, and saw them next at our destination! Went through T5 with just a personal bag, it was heavenly!

    • Bagoly says:

      20 May20 May 22:05

      Agree that Airportr better than twilight check-in.
      But they only operate around major airports.

• Lottie says:

  20 May20 May 07:33

  Twilight bag drop is a great with an early flight, mainly because that’s when the bag drop queues are at their largest and no one is in a good mood at 4/5/6am! So much easier now that you only need one passenger off the booking to take the bags with BA. We use both when we are staying at a hotel at Heathrow etc but also the night before at Gatwick. We live 25mins away. , but saves way more than that in the morning, both in time and stress with children.

• BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

  20 May20 May 09:23

  @BJ given many airports are very busy first thing in the morning anything that can divert even a few passengers away from checking in then is helpful to the airlines and the airport.

  And of course it’s not compulsory to use it but it can be a very nice thing for some people to be able to do it.

  And the fact that BA has resumed the service shows they believe it helps them out given they have half dozen or so flights before noon so a lot of passengers to service.

  • BJ says:

    20 May20 May 16:04

    I get a better picture of why people want to use them but it’s still a trade off if inconvenience the night before versus day of departure unless you’re very close to the terminal.

• ExpatInBerlin says:

  20 May20 May 09:26

  Pleased about the twilight check in at Edinburgh. Over the past couple of years Ryanair’s Monday Berlin flight (sometimes a steal at £14.99) has been at a grim 05:45, so there have been a couple of times when staying at the Moxy at the airport that I would have appreciated maximising sleep as much as possible! Also very useful for ski trips if you are in a big group and most of you are taking your own skis, so much less faf to drop them the night before (did this at Gatwick before an EasyJet ski flight to Geneva in Jan).

• Jimbo says:

  20 May20 May 17:07

  EDI charges minimum £20 for parking. This is a joke.

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