Is this the best way to travel from Edinburgh to the US for a last-minute World Cup trip?
Dublin route named 'best option' for Edinburgh football fans heading to US
Scottish football fans planning a last-minute dash from Edinburgh to the World Cup in North America this summer are being urged to fly via Dublin to bypass lengthy US border queues.
With millions of supporters from across the world expected to descend on the United States, Canada and Mexico for the tournament between 11 June and 19 July, Aer Lingus has highlighted a smarter route for the Tartan Army heading across the Atlantic.
Seamless from Edinburgh?
Getting to Dublin from Edinburgh is a straightforward first step. The Irish carrier operates regular daily flights from the Capital to its Dublin hub, allowing fans to make a quick hop across the Irish Sea before embarking on their transatlantic journey.
Connections through Dublin take as little as 75 minutes, creating a smooth transition from Edinburgh Airport to flights bound for the US.
More routes, more matches
From Dublin, Aer Lingus is operating 24 direct routes to North America this summer. Destinations include major tournament hotspots such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Chicago, and New York – putting fans within reach of the 19 July final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The airline says Dublin’s position on Europe’s western edge also means shorter transatlantic flight times compared to rival hubs. This allows Scottish fans to minimise the amount of annual leave they need to take, making it easier to fly out from Edinburgh for a single match and return home quickly.
The carrier is also the only airline flying between Europe and Hartford, Cleveland and Indianapolis, which serve as handy regional gateways for supporters chasing fixtures across the East Coast and Midwest.
The pre-clearance game-changer
The biggest draw for passengers flying from Edinburgh via the Irish capital is the ability to clear American immigration, customs and agriculture checks before they even cross the Atlantic.
Dublin is one of only two airports in Europe to offer full US pre-clearance. The facility allows fans to arrive in America as domestic passengers, meaning they can skip the notorious international arrival queues at major hubs like JFK or LAX.
Travellers are also being advised to use the free US government Mobile Passport Control app, which allows eligible passengers to submit their immigration details in advance to speed up the pre-clearance process even further.
Susanne Carberry, chief customer officer at Aer Lingus, said: "This summer will be one of the busiest ever for transatlantic travel as football fever takes off.
"Flying to the US via Dublin offers convenient connections, shorter flight times, and the huge advantage of clearing US immigration before you even leave Ireland.
"Whether you're following your team for one game or all the way to the final, Dublin is the smart way to go."
For more information and to book flights, visit aerlingus.com.