Did a quick bit of research for flights from East Mids to Edinburgh the other day but all required payment up front and no refunds. Me and SWMBO have booked a hotel just into the new year via booking.com which means no payment required and free cancellation.

I was hoping to find some way of doing the same for flights! Don't fancy 4.5 hours drive for a 2 night stay and the train takes 4 hours for the same price as the plane which takes 1 hour 10 minutes.

Anyone know of any way of booking a refundable flight? It's the weather at that time of year that can be problematic hence being cautious before parting with cash. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Don’t know of any airlines that offer cancellations. Some allow you to change the dates but those prices are a lot more expensive than standard flights. Also, double check the cancellation terms for the hotel with booing.com - some allow it up to 6.00pm on the day, others must be cancelled within two weeks. Oh, and always book with booking.com via a cashback site.  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Ah it's as I feared then. Yes the hotel allows cancellation right up until the day before. It might end up being a case of checking the forecast about a week before and then seeing if we grab any late flight deals.  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

We went to Edinburgh years and years ago on a special Valentines deal flight from the newly opened City airport. This was long before the days of budget airlines. It was sunny but bloody freezing. Thing was, we were well wrapped up but the locals were going around in T shirts and shorts! Just bank on it being bad weather, plan and dress accordingly and you’ll be fine.

Three things I can particularly remember enjoying apart from the castle: A kilo of mussels in the 'Mussel Inn' in Hope Street (still there, just checked so must be doing something right), Haggis for lunch, also in Hope Street and definitely worth a visit is the Royal Yacht Britannia in nearby Leith. Just a bus ride from the main drag. Enjoy. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

If you had stayed with a Freelander you would have enjoyed the drive  MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

^ At 4.5 hours drive for a 2 night stay, I wouldn't enjoy it in any car  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

The problem is that a train fare on the day would be more expensive than the air fare you have picked both air and train pre booked are non refundable, the difference in time between air and train is probably equal taking into account of airline check in times and security adds an hour at least and about 45 mins at the other end plus getting to the airport and at the other end travel to Edinburgh. The flight time is from end of runway to touch down not gate to gate, now with HS2/3 a different game  my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

The Doctor wrote:

^ At 4.5 hours drive for a 2 night stay, I wouldn't enjoy it in any car

^^

That's what I do for the Scotland Rugby home games at Murrayfield.

You can either go on the boring A1M, or cut across the stunning A68. Updated- Waiting for a Scotland v England 6 Nations home win. 24th Feb 2018
Gone-1972 88 SWB Soft top
Gone-1981 24v FFR Lightweight
Gone-2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS manual
Gone before it bankrupted me- 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto
2013 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto

It's a fair point about driving and the time I could be there for vs waiting for a mid morning flight. I just wanted a less tiring journey so its also a fair point about check in times at the airport. I'll weigh up train costs on the east coast line from Newark in due course. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Each to his own preferences. But as this is a forum seeking members opinions; I would without hesitation much prefer a drive of 4.5 hours over a miserable overall flight journey of similar duration, including check-in, delays and initial and final journeys to/from airport. Even taking this to extreme, my wife and I always drive two days to Northern Spain rather than fly door/door in 8 hours.

The Doctor wrote:

^ At 4.5 hours drive for a 2 night stay, I wouldn't enjoy it in any car

I've driven longer than that just to go to a party (for a few hours) in the past  (Now Sold). 2008 Freelander 2 (Nazca Sand) SE TD4 Auto. Statutory write off & on WOVR for hail damage but still road legal.
171037Km as of 09/05/22
Superchips Bluefin Flash
Nanocom Evo II (also sold)

Yes its nothing to you guys. An American woman who I used to know had relatives visiting the UK who decided to drive from London to Scotland for the day  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I once missed a flight to Nairobi due to being stuck on the M3 for several hours and discovered that if you miss the outbound flight then you can't use the return as the contract is for the two legs of the journey. I ended up having to pay again. I had booked through one of those cheap flight bookers on the internet and was told that if I had booked direct with the airline they would have put me on the next available flight. My travel insurance was no help either (in the T&Cs) so be warned. I now book direct. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE