Travelex sits landside in T1 and should be your backup plan
On the public side of Aberdeen T1, Travelex covers the classic “I forgot to sort my travel money” scenario. It handles major currencies like EUR and USD, but rates at UK airport Travelex counters are routinely several percentage points worse than fintech cards or high-street banks. Opening hours typically track main flight banks, roughly early morning to early evening, but don’t assume 24/7 — late Ryanair or Jet2 runs may find the shutter down.
Pricing is the sticking point. Reddit and UK personal‑finance threads call out airport Travelex desks for big FX spreads and extra fees, often turning £200 into noticeably less spending power abroad. If you’re changing more than £50–£100, those percentage gaps hurt. This is not the place to convert a £1,000 holiday budget unless you absolutely have to.
Regulars flying in and out of ABZ talk about using Wise, Revolut, or fee‑free credit cards for almost everything overseas, including contactless payments under €20. They might pull out £20–£40 equivalent in cash from an ATM on arrival instead of standing at a Travelex counter in T1. The goal is simple: keep airport FX use at zero in a normal trip.
Watch out for dynamic currency conversion offers on linked Travelex card products and terminals; always pay in local currency when given the choice, not GBP. If you’ve really messed up and land at ABZ needing euros for a same‑day connection, change the smallest amount that gets you through one taxi or one meal, then sort the rest online later.