EDI: Departing

I tried to get on the earlier EDI-LHR flight, but it was oversold. Of course, because I got to the airport so early, I'm not allowed to check in yet. So I'm scanning the check-in level to see what BAA Edinburgh does well.

In a word: promotion.

There is advertising everywhere. Pillars, doors, backlits... Everywhere. They (JC Decaux) either do a very good job selling EDI, or it's easy to sell ads at EDI when they're part of a package that also includes LHR, LGW, GLA etc.

They're also good self-promoters. There's plenty of ads telling people just how much BAA has invested in Scotland, how many jobs are generated by the airport, and even how much they've reduced their CO2 emissions.

Food is also advertised wherever there's an unsold ad space, and on video screens adjacent to their FIDS. And a giant banner on the carpark.

Must be a BAA thing, because here at EDI, they like to control your movements too, just like LHR. Check in at a specific time. Wait in the holdroom until they decide to tell you the gate number.

Not a big fan of this bmi lounge though. It's big and fairly nice and clean, but has two big drawbacks. One: no washrooms. Or restrooms. Or even toilets. Have to go out of the lounge. Two: it has nice big windows, but they look out onto the groundside area: the airport approach road, parking, taxis, etc. Boo.

Also, to close the loop, there is a separate international arrivals area where presumably customs procedures are more stringent than just the placement of signs and a phone.
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