My 2025 A to Z theme is Airports, Airstrips, Aircraft, and Airlines I’ve known and flown with. I’ll be using IATA codes where they’re available. My inner travel agent emerges at this point as I’m the FTO (family travel organiser) and now, the online travel agent.
Since I’ve been playing catch-up having joined the A to Z party late, I’m relieved to reach a letter that only involves two flying experiences for me.
EDI Edinburgh Airport, Edinburgh, Scotland
This is an airport I’ve only flown into once – every other time we’ve arrived by car or train.
On October 2019, I was heading to RootsTech London and being a good family historian, I justified adding a week in Scotland to my itinerary. I’m so pleased I did, given how difficult times have been since. I was able to see the farm held by my ancestors for generations and, because it was close, visit the Falkirk Wheel. Not to mention hours in various archives – but of course <smile>.
Back to the airport: I arrived late in the afternoon and I certainly found it far less stressful than other huge airports. As arranged, picked up my hire car. Because the level I’d booked wasn’t available, I was given a fancy new Volvo SUV that was assuredly smarter than me! By the time I returned it to the depot in Edinburgh CBD I was quite comfortable with it and felt pretty clever to have navigated myself there during peak hour.
EBB Entebbe International Airport, Entebbe, Uganda
This was a short flight from Kenya so nothing memorable sticks out except we got slightly scammed by one of the people on the immigration desk for additional fees.
Soon forgotten as when we got out of the terminal, our “old” friends from PNG days were waiting for us and we were soon off to their home in Kampala. Nothing like having personal guides…happy days. It was such a pleasure to spend time with them.
Reflections
This series of posts was not just for A to Z but also to try to assimilate the many trips we’ve taken, when, and which stopovers or transits we had. I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that even two memories combined haven’t always come up with solutions to every question. More surprisingly, I haven’t found itineraries for all of our bigger trips…maybe they’re still lurking in the memory boxes somewhere.
Have you been to any of these airports? What was your experience or special memories? Do you have a favourite “E” airport?
Family history across the seas 
I would love to visit PNG and Scotland and London! Hopefully, I will visit at least two out of three in my lifetime. In the U.S., we say rental car vs hire car and I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading about the differences! We don’t call it a depot either, but I can’t think of how we say that phrase. We might say something simple like, “I need to turn in my rental car.” My brain will be working on coming up with “our” word for days haha!
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Yes, lots of differences between our versions on English. I’d aim for London and Scotland. I love PNG but not necessarily wise these days.
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I have never been to an “E” airport.
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We’ve been fortunate to do lots of flying and travel but are now “grounded” except for internal flights.
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Quite the contrast with those two.
My first flight from EDI will be later this year.
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Enjoy! its such a pleasure flying in/out of a smaller airport.
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I try to avoid airports but I rarely travel anywhere that I can’t drive to. You’ve had quite the air travel experiences!
Lee
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I’m getting that way about airports these days too, Arlee. When you live Down Under you have little choice about flying if you want to see other places.
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I’ve been to Edinburgh airport – Hubby and I did a short break there and decided we needed to minimise travel time so we flew from London City airport. Very convenient for us.
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Edinburgh is definitely worth a visit.
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Edinburgh! We flew in from Rome in Oct 2024 on Ryanair. No idea it would disembark on the tarmack AND it was extremely windy and raining. Steep, narrow steps down forced hubby to carry all our bags other than my backpack. Nasty weather….much nicer the day we flew out.
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Yes, aerogates are so much better. I don’t like boarding or disembarking via stairs these days. Recently a lovely man picked up my cabin bag and trotted up the stairs with it. Kindness 🙂
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