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Best Airport transfer services options for you
There are two airports to choose from when travelling in and out of Glasgow. The Glasgow Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Glasgow Airport is the main international hub in the city and it is closer to the city centre. Prestwick Airport, on the other hand, is an international airport secondary to GLA, it is farther from Glasgow's city centre. Both airports handle domestic and international flights across the globe.
Our main aim is to give you a summary of all the information you need to plan your next trip to Glasgow, Scotland.
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Glasgow Airport (GLA) |
Prestwick Airport (PIK) |
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| Airport Maps | Glasgow Airport (GLA) Map | Prestwick Airport (PIK) Map | |
Getting To The Airports From The City Centre |
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| Distance from City Centre | 9.9 miles(15.9 kilometres) | 32 miles (51 kilometres) | |
| Public Transport Operating Hours | Public transport services operate round the clock daily. | Public transport at the airport operates a 24-hour service. | |
| Train |
The Paisley Gilmour Street railway station which is not too far from GLA takes travellers from the airport to the city centre. The trains take 10 minutes to get to the city centre. Fare starts from £3.60 Normal hours and £3.90 during Off-Peak hours. Passengers also get |
ScotRail operates directly to PIK. This is the only airport in Scotland that is served by its own rail station. The train station has a covered walkway where travellers can walk to and from the airport. It takes 45 minutes to and from the airport. Four trains an hour from Glasgow to PIK 06:00 - 00:15 Mondays - Fridays, 06:00 - 23:30 Saturdays, and two trains an hour on Sundays 09:00 - 23:00. Three trains per hour from PIK to Glasgow: 05:20 - 23:08 Mondays - Saturdays and 08:50 - 23:07 on Sunday (2 trains per hour). Fares: It costs £8.30 during normal hours and £10.00 during Off-Peak periods for a single trip. PIK passengers travelling to and from the airport receive a whopping 50% slash on normal fare by presenting their flight confirmation to the conductor onboard the train. |
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| Bus Services |
GLA is linked by the Glasgow Airport Express service, the official bus service at the airport and takes 15 minutes to get to the city centre. Other bus services include the Glasgow Shuttle bus service 500, McGill's Bus Services service 757 which links Paisley Gilmour Street railway station and the airport. They all run a 24-hour service, travellers can use their National Rail tickets to get entry into any McGill's Bus Services between the airport and any train station. Others include First 77 Hospital Connect, Stagecoach X24, Citylink 977 and Citylink 914, 915 & 917. Fares: Single = £8 (Adults), £16 (Family) and £4 (Child). |
At PIK, the X99 service bus runs a directly to and from the airports main Terminal Building. It is located on the left by Exit 4 in the terminal building, buses wait for pre-booked passengers for up to 45 minutes. Tickets cost £12 per single journey, it can also be purchased from the bus driver. Stagecoach Western X77 Express Service is located on the A79 and stops just outside the airport. It runs to and from Glasgow Buchanan Street Station from 06:25 - 22:40, and a journey duration of 50 minutes. Glasgow Prestwick Airport Service |
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| Taxi | Taxis services are available at the airport with cars that have chip-and-pin terminals for easy credit and debit card payments. No card surcharge payments. Taxi fare is approximately £16.50 and travellers get a 20% discount card sent to their email or issued by the driver when they book in advance. |
Glasgow airport taxis are available 24 hours daily with different vehicles to choose from. Streamline Taxis manages the licensed taxis at the airport which are readily available outside the terminal for hire. They offer a 24 Hour Service with 5% discounts on card use. Fare ranges between £55 to £77.60. |
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| Uber in Glasgow |
Uber is available only on demand. Uber X - £14-19 |
Uber X - £37-50 |
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Which Airport Is Most Suitable For Me? |
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| How Close to Glasgow City Centre |
GLA is located almost16 km away from Glasgow's city centre. This is the closest to the airport to the city centre and many top attractions. It takes just 2 minutes to the nearest town Paisley and 20 minutes to Glasgow's city centre, it could take longer depending on traffic. The airport is close to major city attractions in the city and well connected by fast and reliable public transport services which run round the clock. |
PIK is 51 km from Glasgow. It is 45 minutes from the airport to the city centre. The airport is the farthest from the city centre and its top attractions, but it is connected by road, buses, trains, cabs, taxis, and coaches that conveys travellers to the city centre. Like GLA, the buses operate 24-hours daily |
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| Cost Factor |
GLA handles about 10 million passengers, it is the busiest and most used airport serving the city of Glasgow. The airport handles both domestic and international flights and the fares are higher than that of PIK. Car hire at GLA is cheaper compared to PIK because it is closer to the city and it includes a variety of different car models, while hotels cost more than at PIK. |
Over 670,000 passengers travel through PIK, which handles both domestic and international flights and it is the second airport serving Glasgow. It is a less busy airport compared to GLA but the largest airport based on land area. Low-budget flights operate from this airport and flight fares are cheaper than at GLA. Transfer from the airport takes longer because PIK is 51 km away from the city centre of Glasgow. Car hire rates are higher than at GLA, the airport has options for cheap affordable to luxury hotels from the airport to the city centre. This makes it a better option to GLA. But you can use PIK only if you get a good flight deal and extra time to spare. Travellers must also consider the extra cost of transportation to Glasgow's city centre from the airport. |
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| Airport Delays |
GLA is the busiest airport in Glasgow which results in regular flight and security delays. Avg Security & Immigration Delays: High Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 30 minutes |
Avg Security & Immigration Delays: Average Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 20 minutes |
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Flight Fare From November 2018 (Searched On 20-09-2018). |
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| Flight Fares | From £34.00 to London, £445 to New York, £1,218.95 to Las Vegas, £338 to Dubai, £76 to Barcelona, £69 to Paris, £100 to Rome, £229 to Canada, and £563 to Hong Kong.. | From £240 to London, £47 to Barcelona, £84 to Tenerife, £38 to Alicante, £118 to Rome, £18 to Faro,£56 to Ibiza,£121 to Paris, and £293 to Canada. | |
Hotel Prices Per Day From (01-10-2018 to 02-10-2018) Searched on 20-09-2018 |
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| Hotel |
Holiday Inn - Glasgow Airport(3-star)at £104 per night Holiday Inn Express Glasgow Airport(3-star) Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow Airport (3.5-star) at £88 per night. |
Parkstone Hotel(3-star)at £91 per night Carlton Hotel(3-star)at £60 per night The Marine Hotel (4-star) at £82 per night. |
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Car Hire Prices From 01-10-2018 to 07-10-2018 (searched on 20-09-2018. |
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| Car Hire |
Budget Cars (Peugeot 107, Hyundai I10, VW Up, Toyota Aygo, Kia Picanto, Chevrolet Spark and Fiat 500): = £39.39 - £318.20. Intermediate Cars (Vauxhall Mokka, BMW 1 Series, Renault Scenic, Citroen C4, Toyota Avensis, Opel Insignia, Skoda Rapid, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Karoq, BMW 2 Series, Peugeot 3008, Ford Mondeo, and Hyundai I40): = £80.15 - £522.22. Luxury Cars (BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Sport and Mercedes Benz E Class): = £310.66 - £1211.72. |
Budget Cars (Peugeot 107 and Fiat 500): = £134.97 - £153.47. Intermediate Cars (Renault Scenic, Citroen C4, Toyota Avensis, Opel Insignia, Ford Mondeo, and Hyundai I40): = £199.85 - £337.91. Premium Cars (BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes Benz E Class): = £489.87 - £568.59. |
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| Car Hire Companies |
Sixt, Europcar,National, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Thriftyand Budget. |
Avis, Europcar and Budget. |
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| Online car hire |  |
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Airport Facilities |
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| Shopping and Dining | Accessorize, Boots, Celtic Football Club Stores, Discover Glasgow, Dixons Travel, Fat Face, Jo Malone / Bobbi Brown, Luggage Point, Sunglasses Hut, Swarovski, Tescos Express, The Fashion Place, Victoria's Secret, WHSmith, World Duty Free, Beardmore Bar and Restaurant, Caledonia Cafe, Bar and Restaurant, Central Sports bar and Grill, Deli Kitchen Cafe, Frankie and Benny's, Fresh Food Central, Mozzo Coffee House, Starbucks, Tennent's Pier Bar, Wetherspoons' Sanderling and Sandpiper, The James Martin Kitchen and Panopolis. |
Nuance Tax and Duty-Free offers great purchase opportunities at PIK. From alcohol, cigarettes, perfume, cosmetics, snacks, and more. Others include Ritazza, McIntyre's Bar, Elvis Presley Bar, The Food Village, and WH Smith. |
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| Lounges | UpperDeck Lounge, BA Lounge including Kids Zone and Prayer Room for all faith. | No extra lounge apart from the main waiting, but PIK has a Prayer Room for all faith and Children's play area. | |
| Wi-Fi Services | 1 hour FREE Wi-Fi and pay for more access; 3 hours (£5) and 24 hours (£9). | 2 hours of FREE Wi-Fi after which travellers get to pay for more access. £3 (1hour), £5 (3 hours) and £9 (24 hours). | |
How To Transfer Between Airport Terminals? |
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| Transfer in and Around The Airport | GLA has two Terminals, Main Terminal and Terminal 2 (T2) which are accessible through a covered walkway. Travellers can walk between terminals easily. | PIK has only a single terminal, so travellers have no issues moving around the airport on foot. | |
| Currency Exchange & ATM cash Points | Travelex currency exchange points and ATM's are located before and after security at GLA for the convenience of travellers. They dispense GBP, USD, and Euros. | Travelex is located next to the departure lounge entrance at PIK. | |
| Important phone numbers | GLA Airport: +44 (0)844 481 5555, Lost Property +44 (0) 330 223 0893 and Reduced Mobility Assistance 0141 842 7700. | PIK Airport: 0871 223 0700 ext 1006, Lost Property +44 (0) 1292 511000 then select option 3. | |
| Major Operating Airlines | Flybe, Aer Lingus, Air Canada Rouge, AlbaStar, ASL Airlines, BH Air, British Airways, KLM, Air Transat, Blue Air, Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air, easyJet, Emirates, Eurowings, Icelandair, Jet2.com, Loganair, Lufthansa, Thomas Cook Airlines, TUI Airways, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, Wizz Air. | Ryanair | |
| Major Connecting Destinations | London-Heathrow, London-Stansted, London-Gatwick, Dublin, Amsterdam, Dubai-International, Bristol, Belfast-International, Tenerife-South, London-City, Alicante, Birmingham, Palma de Mallorca, London-Luton, Málaga, Southampton, Belfast-City, Berlin-Schonefeld, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Lanzarote and more. | Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, Tenerife-South, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Murcia, Ibiza, Pisa, Rome-Ciampino, Fuerteventura, Malta, Reus and more. | |
Tourist Information Centre |
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| Tourist Info Centres | Visit Scotland Tourist information centre is situated in the Domestic Arrivals Hall of the airport. | N/A | |
| Official website | www.glasgowprestwick.com | www.glasgowairport.com | |
Two airports serve Glasgow; Glasgow Airport (GLA) and Prestwick Airport (PIK). Glasgow Airport is the primary hub for international travel in Glasgow, it is closer to the city centre just 9.9 miles away. The fastest public transport is the Paisley Gilmour Street railway station which is not very far from the airport, airport shuttles transfer passengers to the station and you can be in central Glasgow in10 minutes. Alternatively, you can use the Glasgow Airport Express 500 or McGill's Bus Services 757 line which takes 15 minutes to get to the city centre from the airport. Prestwick Airport is a secondary airport serving Glasgow, and the fifth busiest airport in Scotland. The airport is 32 miles to the city centre in Glasgow making it the furthest, the fastest public transport from the airport to the city centre is by taxi which takes around 37 minutes.
Distance to Central Glasgow:
Glasgow Airport: 9.9 miles / 15.9 km
Prestwick Airport:32 miles / 52 km
Glasgow Airport to Central Glasgow Journey Times:
By Train (Airport Shuttle + ScotRail): 15 minutes
By Bus (line 500 & 757): 15 minutes
By Taxi: 15 minutes
Prestwick Airport to Central Glasgow Journey Times:
By Train(ScotRail): 45 minutes
By Bus: 50-80 minutes
By Taxi: 37 minutes
Glasgow Airport is a better choice for travellers who are travelling for either business, or pleasure to Glasgow, Scotland. The airport is served by good public transport services which gives it another advantage for people with a lot of luggage or travelling with children. GLA airport is the closest of the two airports serving Glasgow and and the main hub for air transport in Glasgow. Passengers can be in the city centre from this airport in 15 minutes to where some of the top attractions in the city are located. Some of these attractions include the Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Science Centre, the Braehead Shopping Centre and many more. The airports transport service is fast and reliable such as shuttle buses that transfer passengers to the closest Paisley Gilmour Street railway station. GLA has 2 terminal buildings accessible by covered walkways for passengers. Prestwick Airport is the largest in Glasgow based on land area, but it is served by mostly low-cost carriers within Scotland and some flights to other European destinations. This means you get will experience less passenger queues and less crowds at the airport. Ryanair is the only airline that operates from PIK with flights to international destinations like Faro, Barcelona, Málaga,Tenerife-South, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and more.
PIK(Prestwick Airport) is the secondary hub for international air-travel in Glasgow. PIK is the largest airport by land area and fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic in Scotland. The airport is served by Ryanair which handles low-budget flights to international destinations within Europe. It is the furthest of the two airports, making the journey to the city centre in Glasgow a long and stressful one for passengers. Although, there are fast and affordable transport options at the airport such as bus/train, taxi, private transfer and car rental services to the city centre. Some of the top attractions to see when you get to the city centre includes, Glasgow Cathedral, Provand's Lordship and Pollok House, Country Park, Glasgow Science Centre, the Burrell Collection, the Hunterian Museum and Gallery, the Braehead Shopping Centre, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Lighthouse, and many more. The airport has a single terminal, so passengers can walk around the terminal on foot.
Yes! Glasgow Airport is the best airport to fly into in Glasgow than Prestwick because it is located not too far from the city centre where the top attractions are.It means people who travel through this airport can get to their destinations in less time within the city centre compared to PIK. Cheap public transport and car rental service is available at the airport and flights fares are comparably higher and cheaper for certain destinations. Glasgow airport is the main hub for air travels in Glasgow and is served by major airlines airlines and more destinations, so you should expect more people&queues at immigration, and more flight arrival delays than at PIK. Prestwick is cheaper in terms of some flights fares and hotel accommodation but the distance to the city centre makes it a less chosen option for travellers. Glasgow Airport is a better option over PIK, for people who want fast and cheap transfers into central Glasgow while PIK is the best option for those who want cheap flight deals, but you have to pay more for transportation from the airport to the city centre.
If you have a layover in Glasgow and you are wondering where to visit close to the airport, then the Glasgow Science Center and Glasgow Tower are just 15 minutes away from the airport. Glasgow Airport is closeto the top attraction in the city centrejust 15.9 kmby road.
Uberis the fastest means to theGlasgow Science Centre and Glasgow Tower from the airport, it takes just 12 minutes during off peak hours and 15 minutes during peak hours. Uber is available on demand and costs £10-£15. Alternatively, you can take a bus or train which are cheaper options but takes about 30-50 minutes on a very good day when traffic condition is fine.
From Glasgow Airport by:
Train:ScotRail (Paisley Gilmour Street) (+ McGill's 757 bus) £3.60 -£3.90https://www.buytickets.scotrail.co.uk/buytickets/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTableTrains run every day between 06:10 - 22:47.
Bus (Airport Express): £12 return -https://www.glasgowairport.com/to-and-from/bus/Buses run every 15 minutes 24/7.
Taxi: £16-£20 - http://www.glasgowtaxis.co.uk/Available 24/7.
Uber: £12-£18- https://www.uber.com/en/gb/Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at
From Prestwick Airport by:
Train:ScotRail£9- £12 https://www.scotrail.co.uk/ Trains run every 30 minutes from 05:20 - 23:08.
Bus (Stagecoach West Scotland line 4): £9-10 return -https://www.stagecoachbus.com/Buses run 5 times a week from 06:25 - 22:40.
Taxi: £45-£55 - http://www.streamlinetaxis.com/Available 24/7.
Uber:£35-£55 - https://www.uber.com/en/gb/ Available on demand.
Hotel prices can vary greatly depending on how far in advance you book, the demand for rooms, and which hotel you book but the prices below will give you a rough idea and you can do further research and hotel booking at https://www.tripindicator.com/hotel.html
Glasgow Airport Hotels: From £88 per night
Prestwick Airport Hotels: From £60 per night
If you have a lot of luggage and don't want the expense of a taxi, you might prefer to rent a car to get to Glasgow central or elsewhere in the city, particularly if you're flying into the far away Prestwick airport. Both airports mentioned offer competitive prices and a range of cars to suit your needs. Prices are based on the type of car, driver age, length of hire, and demand but you can get a rough idea for each airport below.
Glasgow Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars (Ford KA, Fiat Panda etc) Prices start at £39.39 per week
Intermediate Cars (Toyota Avensis, Ford C Max, etc) Prices start at £80.15per week
Luxury Cars (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes Benz E Class etc): £310.66 per week
Compare prices here -
https://www.tripindicator.com/car-rental.html
Prestwick Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars (Ford KA, Fiat Panda etc) Prices start at £134.97 per week
Intermediate Cars (Toyota Avensis, Ford C Max, etc) Prices start at £199.85per week
Luxury Cars (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes Benz E Class etc):£489.87 per week
Compare Prices here -
https://www.tripindicator.com/car-rental.html
There are only two operating airports in Glasgow, Glasgow Airport and Prestwick Airport. Both airports serve international and domestic flights with GLA being the main and most used airport in the city while PIK is the oldest and low-cost airlines operate from the airport.
There are different modes of transportation from the two airports, Glasgow airports have taxis, cars, buses, and train services. Buses are available to take travellers to the nearest train station heading to the city centre while Prestwick airport has its own railway station directly from the airport to various places within Scotland and England.
At Glasgow Airport: the closest train station is the Paisley Gilmour Street railway station, located 1.5 km from the airport and McGill's 757 bus serviceconnects the station and the airport. Tickets can be purchased via the ScotRail website or at any train station in Scotland.
Taxis are located just a short walk from UK arrivals at the front of the airport terminal building. They operate 24 hours daily to many destinations in and around the city. Fares cost approximately £16.50 to Glasgow city centre but travellers may also negotiate long distance trips with the driver.
Glasgow Shuttle Service (500) is the fastest, reliable and most frequent bus service in the city. It runs every ten minutes from the airport to the city centre. It takes about 15-20 minutes for a trip to Glasgow, tickets cost £6.50 (single trip) and £9.00 for an open return trip. The tickets can be purchased on the bus.
There are a lot of online taxi services in Glasgow but Uber is the most trusted of them. Streamline Taxi services cost around £55 for a ride to Glasgowwhile Uber charges to £37 to £91.
There are many top attractions to see in Glasgow for travellers right from the airport to the city centre and they include the following: the River Clyde, Glasgow Botanical Gardens, People's Place and Winter Gardens, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow Cathedral, Provand's Lordship and Pollok House, Country Park, Glasgow Science Centre, the Burrell Collection, the Hunterian Museum and Gallery, the Braehead Shopping Centre, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Lighthouse, River Bus service, Loch Lomond, the coastal towns of Troon or Prestwick, Stirling, and also take a trip to Scotlands capital city Edinburgh.
There are a lot of amazing hotels located around the airports with options for affordable and luxurious rooms. Prices also depend on the proximity to the city centre.
At Glasgow Airport: Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport (3-star), Holiday Inn Express Glasgow Airport(3-star) and Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow Airport (3.5-star) price range from £88-£104 per night.
At Glasgow Prestwick Airport: Parkstone Hotel (3-star), Carlton Hotel (3-star) and The Marine Hotel (4-star) from £60-£91 per night.
For Glasgow Airport (GLA) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/gla-glasgow-airport-terminal-map.html
For Prestwick Airport (PIK) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/pik-glasgow-prestwick-airport-terminal-map.html
