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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you flew from Manchester recently

141 replies

TinasCrockeryPot · 30/03/2022 08:26

Posting for traffic really. Has anyone flew from Manchester airport recently? What’s was the security queue like? We were thinking about getting to the airport at 4am for a 6.30 flight but reading about the recent waiting times I’m not so sure about that

OP posts:

Ballygowenwater · 30/03/2022 10:58

I flew on Sunday with my 5yr old. The queue was back to the gates where you show your boarding pass. I’m not sure how we managed to get so lucky but as we were joining the queue there was another family with 4 young kids joining too and when the guy at fast track saw them he turned to his colleague and said ‘we can have kids queuing like that’ and pulled us all into fast track. I was literally through in under 10 mins.

On the other hand we then had a 3.5 hr (we arrived early anticipating queues) wait airside before our flight was delayed an hour so you win some you lose some! But at least we were sitting with a tablet out not entertaining a tired kids in a queue.

This was T1 security for a T3 flight- which is how they are currently running T3 flights, you’re routed through T1 security.

Definitely chance pinching your two yr old and looking harassed. Fingers crossed you get a kind security guard like I did.

notforonesecond · 30/03/2022 10:59

We’ve got a 7am flight next week with 2 under 5s. I’ve bought the fast track, won’t have a drop of liquid in our hang luggage and no push chairs etc thank god, but am still planning to be there at 4am at the absolutely latest.

TUI reckon bag drop opens 4 hours before the flight but I’ve also seen them tell people 2-3 hours so it impossible to know what the right thing to do is. Just got to hope for the best.

Manchester airport just desperately needs more staff. Perhaps if they paid them a decent wage for the unsocial hours….

loves2plan · 30/03/2022 11:00

A couple of weeks ago we flew from T2 on a Saturday (flight at 11am). Took us an hour and a half to get through security and my SIL had her bag pulled for extra checks so she was queuing an additional half an hour.

JaceLancs · 30/03/2022 11:05

Massive delays a few weeks ago I allowed 3 hours and only just made it on time
As others were stuck in queue it meant flight got delayed anyway but it was so stressful

VikingsandDragons · 30/03/2022 11:07

@CharlotteRose90 could I ask if in your experience you need 3/4 hours at all times of day or does it get worse at certain times? We are flying out of Manchester at 6am Saturday morning from T1, starting to wonder if I should just cancel the hotel and go straight to the airport on the Friday night!

BarbaraofSeville · 30/03/2022 11:13

So what happens if you are travelling without children? Wait for hours until all the families have gone through security and miss your flight?

LegMeChicken · 30/03/2022 11:31

@BarbaraofSeville

So what happens if you are travelling without children? Wait for hours until all the families have gone through security and miss your flight?

Exactly. Also people pay for the fast pass. @Ballygowenwater fabulous that you got so lucky, and no issue if a handful of families. But how’s it going to work when there are loads? Which there probably will be when I fly

LegMeChicken · 30/03/2022 11:33

Also children are probably more capable of queuing than adults, they’re usually running all over the place anyway. They may get bored or tired but it doesn’t do them any harm. Stressful for parents but flying IS stressful and you choose to holiday with kids!

Ballygowenwater · 30/03/2022 11:39

FYI- not everyone travelling with kids are ‘holidaying’

neverenoughchelseboots · 30/03/2022 11:47

Last weekend, very early hours of the morning and it was really busy. They do go down the queue checking on people's departure times and pulling you to the front but it was still stressful so advise an extra hour or so.

neverenoughchelseboots · 30/03/2022 11:48

@TinasCrockeryPot

We’re flying from T1 with 2 year old dd so really worrying about it

They did take us down the family lane which skipped a lot of the queue. But even then we went straight to the gate and immediately boarded.

LegMeChicken · 30/03/2022 11:50

@Ballygowenwater

FYI- not everyone travelling with kids are ‘holidaying’

They’re very likely to be, If they’re there at a time when there are also loads of other families with kids.

AnyFucker · 30/03/2022 11:51

I recommend you arrive 3 hours before final boarding time

Ballygowenwater · 30/03/2022 11:53

When I travel weekly through Manchester airport I can assure you, I am not holidaying, and it is never where I want to be.

Bornsloppy · 30/03/2022 12:00

We flew earlier this month but went down the family channel but it was chaos - I've flown through Manchester loads and it's always shit but this was worse than ever. Apparently everyone has forgotten what they can and can't pack, and what needs to come out of hand luggage for security checks. Made it through in about an hour but it was straight to the gate via a quick dash to the toilets.

We've booked our summer holiday flights to fly from a different airport.

MissAmbrosia · 30/03/2022 12:01

I flew out of T2 on Monday morning. I got there 4 hours ahead and bought a fast pass. Couldn't check in for an hour. Fast pass queue was still more than 30 mins as they were bumping people through as the flights were being called. I dread to think how long the main queue was - it went right to the other end of the departures hall. The security is EXTREMELY picky. My plastic bag was too large and I had more than one lighter. Neither of these things have been a problem on the last half dozen flights - including flying into Man on Saturday.

SauceGirl · 30/03/2022 12:01

I travelled three weeks ago and it was fine. No problems at all.

BarbaraofSeville · 30/03/2022 12:07

Apparently everyone has forgotten what they can and can't pack, and what needs to come out of hand luggage for security checks

There really is no excuse for this and it's infuriating to those of us who bother to follow basic instructions to be delayed because so many others can't be arsed to read a website.

Even if you have the 'never flown before/because covid' excuse it's almost impossible to not know that you can't just turn up with whatever size luggage and contents that you feel like and expect to sail straight through security.

As for the 'plastic bags and what is in or outside the luggage' rules there's endless posters, spare bags and airport staff bellowing out instructions during the considerable amount of time you've spent in the queue before it's your turn.

CharlotteRose90 · 30/03/2022 12:32

[quote VikingsandDragons]@CharlotteRose90 could I ask if in your experience you need 3/4 hours at all times of day or does it get worse at certain times? We are flying out of Manchester at 6am Saturday morning from T1, starting to wonder if I should just cancel the hotel and go straight to the airport on the Friday night![/quote]
At the minute it’s every day. Security got rid of most of their staff during covid and haven’t re hired so it backs up. I went through the Other day and they had only 2 lanes working. Does the airline you’re flying with do day before check in? If not I’d get there Atleast 5 hours before . It’s chaotic at the min. Especially the early morning flights.

BorgQueen · 30/03/2022 12:34

AF - you can’t do that with Easyjet - they don’t let you drop off hold luggage unti 2 hours before take off.
I’ve booked parking for 03.00,
We fly at 06.00 but I’m not expecting to be able to drop off our cases until 04.00 because Easyjet won’t budge, lots of people tweeting them about it.
I don’t fancy now paying more for extra hand luggage than our flights cost so we can avoid bag drop, especially as we’ve already paid.

I’m planning on no hand luggage other than a travel wallet,
although I doubt there’s a special lane for that - there bloody well should be though!

Anniesauntie · 30/03/2022 12:52

Silly question maybe, but do I book fast track for the time of the flight or the time I would go through security? Thanks

OopsPoops · 30/03/2022 12:53

Brother flew yesterday took 4 hours 25 to get through security and ran to boarding... was an angry cookie! They were early hours too!

Lastqueenofscotland · 30/03/2022 12:56

A colleague of mine got there 2.5hrs before their flight the other week and missed it…

BarbaraofSeville · 30/03/2022 12:58

@Anniesauntie

Silly question maybe, but do I book fast track for the time of the flight or the time I would go through security? Thanks

I think it's the time of the flight.

We've just had an email from Easyjet telling us to arrive early, but only 2 hours before take off. I wonder where you stand if you arrive 3 to 4 hours early, so comfortably before what they say and you still miss your flight?

Also reminding us to make sure we understand restrictions on hand luggage size and contents.

Hell0G00dbye · 30/03/2022 13:00

@CharlotteRose90

What day are you flying and what terminal? I work at Manchester and you need at least 3/4 hours to get through security currently it’s manic as there isn’t enough staff. Although if you are travelling with a child and pushchair you can use the fast lane and only queue for that.

Is it worth buying fast track passes if you’ll have a child in a buggy then @CharlotteRose90? We are travelling with two kids in summer and I’m thinking of booking fast track passes.

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