One Final Duty-Free Gauntlet Before Leaving Scotland

This video clip may show what seems like any old airport, but after two weeks in unpolished Scotland, it came as a jolt to me. At Glasgow’s airport, there’s only one way from security to the gates, and it routes you through the duty-free mall gauntlet.

Having survived this, I boarded my plane and settled in for my flight to London Heathrow, where I was connecting to Berlin. But then they announced that there was a fire at Heathrow, and Europe’s busiest airport was completely shut down. I fly a lot, and I’m amazed how rarely I’ve hit a bump in the tarmac like this. Back in the airport, you can imagine the chaotic scene as everyone scrambled to sort out their plans. This is when I’m really happy I use a living travel agent. I simply called her back home and asked her to get me to Berlin any way but through London. I spent the night at the airport hotel ($100), was booked on a flight early the next morning via Amsterdam, and got to Berlin before noon.

If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.

Comments

5 Replies to “One Final Duty-Free Gauntlet Before Leaving Scotland”

  1. It’s not just Glasgow that’s routing you throught the duty free these days. I’ve even encountered it on arrival!

  2. We use to try and use our foreign money down pretty low, and then the treat was to go to the duty free store and buy a new lipstick or something like that. But over the last few years they have everything that we can get at home and for about the same price.

  3. I’ve increasingly been finding the same practice at other airports in Europe. One example is Zürich, where the exit from security goes directly through a duty free shop. Nothing like trying to squeeze a bit more cash from the wallets of travellers!

  4. Come on Rick. You’re complaining about this duty free shopping area? Have ya been to Heathrow lately? Yikes. I love this airport. It’s fast, I used to be able to take a flight from Chicago direct to Glasgow; arrive around 10 AM and be in Edinburgh before noon including baggage claim, emigration, bus ride to Glasgow city centre, train to Edinburgh, and a cab to my hotel. In Heathrow, I’d still be waiting for the Heathrow Express. ; )

    And as others have said, it’s a great place to spend those last few Pounds. I always find a great book that is part of the “airport only” releases. Or, I pick up some candy or other trinkets for those at home who are watching my house or helpful tasks. And then, every now and then they have special whisky which I can buy as my own souvenir.

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