Manchester airport security currently...

[drspouse]

I've left it too late to book Fast Track for Manchester airport for this Sunday morning when I have an early flight (going for work but it's a holiday airline). Break it to me - how awful is it at the moment?
I have an in terminal hotel booked (T2).

Following this- I'm flying from terminal 1 tomorrow morning; also for work!

OK you can give me the awful news once you've departed! How early are you flying?

Are you checking in cases?
I've flown from T2 on good Friday and walked straight up to security. There was no queues.
I flew from T3 last week absolutely no issues. Hand luggage only.

I flew from T3 last week as was there for hours!
Be prepared.
I'd say go early as you can.

I flew from T2 a few weeks ago, had to queue 15 mins at check in then took 7 mins to get through security. It's seems very hit and miss from one hour to the next so no matter what anyone says on this thread you won't really know until you get there. Hope it's ok

I'd say go early as you can
No, follow the guide lines.
People going too early are causing problems and delays.

We flew from T2 a couple of weeks ago and it was absolutely fine. About 45 min wait through standard security, small scrum at the actual security belt and then through with no problems and plenty of time before our flight.

@notacooldad nobody causes delays by being prepared!
Ridiculous!
Go early and be prepared!

If you check on the Manchester airport website it gives you live security waiting times for each of the terminals

They are asking people not to turn up too early as it then creates bottlenecks at the busiest times

notacooldad nobody causes delays by being prepared!
Ridiculous!
Go early and be prepared

Suit yourself but if you can't see how arriving too early can cause problems then your critical thinking mustn't be that great.
Anyway it was the official advice from Manchester airport and reported on the news. They also explained why for those that couldnt work out what part of the problem was.

Don't go too early - that is what is causing the problems. If you have hold luggage, advice is to check in 3 hours before departure time.

There's not much point arriving more than 3 hours early anyway as your check in probably won't be open. We accidentally arrived 4 hours early as traffic was much better than expected (there were supposed to be roadworks on the M56 the day we travelled but they got cancelled last minute which we didn't realise) and had to stand around for an hour before our check in opened anyway.

It tells you on most airport websites what the waiting times for security are. Is this not accurate anymore?

It really depends on which terminal you fly from. T2 has been great every time I have flown from there, T1 much more hit and miss. Usally it has been between 40-60 minutes to get through security, once it was 90 minutes. I never travel with luggage, so I don't know about check-in times. The worse ones are usually the touristy ones though.

I'm only flying with hand luggage (note to self: get smaller bottle of contact lens solution and check hand luggage limits). I can't get there 3 hours before because that would be before the airport is open.
It is sadly a touristy destination (nice place to go for work, DCs are cross I'm going away, they'd be even crosser if they saw where!)

I can't get there 3 hours before because that would be before the airport is open.

I though Manchester airport was open 24/7?

Depends entirely on how many flights are going out in a similar time slot - Monday morning in Terminal 1 was carnage, Tuesday was quiet.

I flew out from T2 on Easter monday. Check-in to wine in the pub in less than 80 minutes.

Oh it was at lunchtime too

I've been given a desk opening time which is 2 hrs 20 mins before the flight. I imagine security is open 2 hours before the earliest flight of the day but that's not long before my flight.

I work at the airport. Go early but not early. It’s people coming like 6 hours early and not sorting liquids etc that’s causing issues. I’m sick of the queues already. It’s horrendous and their isn’t need for it.

My flight leaves at 10.15am; got an email from airline saying arrive 3 hrs prior to scheduled departure. I have no hold luggage. Will report back tomorrow, fingers crossed it's not awful!

Set an alarm for 5 and another one for 5.10. I was through security and waiting for breakfast by 6.03.

Glad you got through ok!