How early do I need to arrive at Manchester airport for this flight?

[Gwendimarco]

I am travelling to the USA, but going via Heathrow. I catch my first flight from Manchester at approx 6am.

The advice I have usually followed is to arrive at the airport 3+ hours in advance of a long haul flight, 2 hours for short haul and 1.5-2 hours for a domestic flight.

So in my situation, with the domestic being first leg of a long haul journey, how early should I aim to turn up? I will be checking in online first.

Just the domestic flight time - 2 hours to be safe!

I've done this and had the same dilemma. Check in was 2 hours before the flight.

We have just flown edinburgh to Heathrow ahead of a flight to the US later. We allowed two hours and it felt like we were hanging about for ages. I wouldn't allow any more time than that.

Thanks all. 4am is better than 3am, but I will still re

Manchester security is shocking ( unless it has improved in the last few months). Took forever as everyone seemed to need a manual bag check despite bags being ok at other airports. Even fast track took me and hour and a half to get through. Leave plenty of time!

oops

I will still require copious caffeine!

ooh, noted. Thanks!

Yeah I’d aim for 4am. Assuming you’re going from terminal 3 it’s sadly a hell hole. You’ll be in the security queue with everyone else going for the morning wave of flights (6-7am) but at least a bit off peak.

Manchester this summer was much better organised than last year when there was not anywhere near enough staff.

there is costa coffee once you get through the scrum.

It’s generally still awful but waiting times have got better most times of day.

took us about 20 minutes august bank holiday, plus 30 minutes for the ryanair bag drop.

I did this a year ago. Get fast track if it's available.

I’ve flown twice from Manchester in the last couple of month. Security was fine both times. Through within 30 minutes.

Definitely leave at least 2 to 2 and half hours for Manchester. I have to fly at 6am for work sometimes from there and it’s variable time wise. Sometimes even fast track isn’t any faster. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

2 hours at least, the gate will close around 30mins before flight time, so 1 half hours to check in security etc.

Manchester can be awful for being very slow to get through security, especially the hell hole that is terminal 3. I'd say allow 2-3 hours, especially as you'll be going through around the same time as thousands of others for the early morning peak.

I do 2 hrs minimum even for domestic to my dp's annoyance, he's fed up with the hours we spend at the airport each year but the time there was a huge fire on the road on our way to the (sea) port last year meant we made our crossing

Me too, done a couple of flights a month recently and been around twenty minutes at security most of the time, thirty minutes tops.

Also depends who you are flying with and if you have check in luggage.

The check in queues for the discount carriers were huge when we went through a couple of weeks ago ( not school holidays).

The other thing to consider is increased security given the current global crisis happening.

The airport website has suggested check in page.

Thanks all. I will get there by 4, I’m staying at an airport hotel so no worries about travel problems, although it is mid-week, so as some PP have suggested am guessing will be busy with London commuters?

I will have check-in luggage, and I’m flying BA.