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AIBU?

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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:
DazedandConcerned · 30/03/2022 17:36

@FeltCarrot are they checking in bags? If so definitely 3 hours before. The queues to check in can be horrendous right now. The airport - across the board - is short staffed.

notnownora · 30/03/2022 18:04

We flew out of T1 on Thursday and had a long wait for security. Luckily we only had hand luggage so no hanging about with suitcases. On the way back on Sunday we were kept on the plane for about an hour before we could disembark presumably because of hold ups at arrivals

winewolfhowls · 30/03/2022 18:28

Almost wish we weren't taking the kids then we could just have hand luggage after reading these!

Hell0G00dbye · 30/03/2022 20:17

I really hope it’s sorted by summer as otherwise it’ll be a nightmare. It’s shameful the service for a major city.

RunAwayNow · 30/03/2022 20:54

I've read they are in the process of reopening terminal 3, so I wonder if that will help as they won't be funnelling 2 terminals' worth of passengers through T1 any more. Having said that, if they don't have more staff it'll just be spreading the problem around Hmm

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 30/03/2022 21:01

@Hell0G00dbye

I really hope it’s sorted by summer as otherwise it’ll be a nightmare. It’s shameful the service for a major city.
MAG are the same for all airports they run in my experience. The queues (pre-covid) were regularly awful in EMA too - I used to fly once a week for work and it was awful. The security queue was regularly longer than my flight. I gave up and now use Birmingham which although not perfect, is much better.

MAG management must be aware of how shit the passenger experience is, but they don't give a toss.

If my organisation had customer ratings like this, I'd want to resign in shame -

www.airlinequality.com/airport-reviews/east-midlands-airport/

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 30/03/2022 21:05

and for MAN -

www.airlinequality.com/airport-reviews/manchester-airport

Notmrsfitz · 30/03/2022 21:06

Flew out last Friday, queues but not extraordinary we flew out at 930, got to the airport at 7.30 and were sat in departures for about 40 mins - they did seem to be prioritising earlier flights through the check ins - but it all seemed surprisingly calm.

allthatglimmers · 30/03/2022 21:18

Trying to book Fastrack for June and having a complete mind blank. For the flying out time is it the time you expect to use security or your flight time?

AnyFucker · 30/03/2022 23:50

Some flights are now arriving at terminal 3

Hopefully, when there is enough staff to open it fully for arrivals too, the pressure will start to ease

winewolfhowls · 01/04/2022 20:01

Update: we flew Friday early on and it was packed at T2 but the staff were very good. A tannoy announcement pulled people out of the security line when the flight was getting closer and then you got fast tracked .we got there three Hours before but the gates for check in were only open two hours prior to flight.

ShareTheSpice · 01/04/2022 20:34

It's half term next week, more flights. Plus, it's still ski season this weekend.

I work there. It has been hellish. Even if you do get through security in a reasonable time and manner there's lack of baggage handlers, ground staff etc

They were treated appallingly throughout furlough and many left, people know how badly they were treated and now they are finding it difficult to recruit.

My aircraft was fully boarded yesterday and we waited two hours for baggage to be loaded before we could depart. So, nearly three hours after the first passenger stepped foot on the aircraft, we departed.

sinpan · 01/04/2022 21:05

Flew from T1 last Friday morning, arrived at 5.30am and was through security in 20 minutes. It was very, very busy in the departures lounge. The queues for coffe were at least as bad as security, or worse. But it was relatively painless. Return journey at 1am was completely straightforward.

BarbaraofSeville · 02/04/2022 07:03

We flew out yesterday morning, busy but got through security in about 45 minutes.

However people were still 'forgetting' to remove tablet computers and all their liquids from their hand luggage, which triggered the second search. My otherwise compliant rucksack got pulled aside due to 'too many zips'.

Snoopbeef · 02/04/2022 08:00

We are on a 5pm flight today from terminal 1. Dreading it. Will let you know what happens.

Original poster
TinasCrockeryPot · 02/04/2022 11:41

@Snoopbeef please let us know how you get on, Ryanair are not opening our baggage collection any earlier than 2.5 hours before departure so won’t be surprised if we don’t make it in time

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 02/04/2022 12:05

My DH came home from working there this morning and said it had been chaos with planes sitting there for ages due to luggage handler problems.

StrongerOrWeaker · 02/04/2022 12:14

My understanding is that it is worse in t2 than t1. is this correct?

notforonesecond · 02/04/2022 13:22

@StrongerOrWeaker no definitely not. There are far more flights out of T1. T2 has some busy times of day but the insane 4 hour+ wait for security last night was T1.

Snoopbeef · 02/04/2022 16:07

[quote TinasCrockeryPot]@Snoopbeef please let us know how you get on, Ryanair are not opening our baggage collection any earlier than 2.5 hours before departure so won’t be surprised if we don’t make it in time[/quote]
Well it took an hour through bag drop then another hour and a half through security. Having g&t now flight in an hour. PhewSmile

Northernlurker · 02/04/2022 17:05

Snoopbeef dd is on a 5pm flight too!

Sounds like security took 1 hr 30+ but they got through in good time and the team were pulling people forward it earlier flights.

BlueSuffragette · 02/04/2022 17:12

Flew last week from T1 very early morning. Got there 3 hours before flight time. Security took about 45 mins. Most delays caused by people seeming to forget what they could take on as/in hand luggage. Queues coming back in through passport control took a bit longer than usual. Some of the electronic passport reading machine didn't seem to be working very effectively.

Popsnapandcrackle · 02/04/2022 17:19

We flew from T1 last week… we got there 3 hours before the flight and it took 1.5 hours to get through check in and security - although the day before was apparently a nightmare with lots of people missing their flights as they were stuck at passport control for 4 hours. It’s really hit & miss at the moment

PronounssheRa · 02/04/2022 18:34

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-airport-security-video-chaos-23576604

MAYHEM at Manchester Airport as boxes piled high at security and worried holidaymakers 'jump over barriers' as passengers fear 'someone will get hurt'

Snoopbeef · 02/04/2022 22:44

Oh yeah and there wasn't any food on the plane as no one had time to stock up!