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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Manchester airport

67 replies

orrrangessandlemons · 05/04/2022 11:47

Posting for traffic

Has anyone flown from manchester recently? The state of it on the news is worrying me.

My child is autistic and I'm wondering how much support will be available with the hidden disability lanyard for fast tracking/priority boarding etc.

Has anyone experienced going through the airport recently while needing this support?

OP posts:
MsWoolf · 05/04/2022 13:46

I haven't flown since February, so I'm not sure what it's like right now. However, I actively choose Manchester airport generally because their hidden disabilities service is so good. I just wear my lanyard and they fast track me through security and passport control. There's also a quiet room as well.

Enzbear · 05/04/2022 13:46

T2 mid March. 2 hour queue through security. We'd allowed 3 1/2 hours so was ok but wasn't a nice experience. People were running to get their plane.

Original poster
orrrangessandlemons · 05/04/2022 13:48

@DaffodilDandilion

Your sunflower lanyard should help. I wonder if you’re eligible to request special assistance? I’m relatively local and have seen parents saying they’re going to cram their 6 year old into a big to cheat the fast track line. The lanyard only offers you the chance to fast track, nothing else, and the more people buying or cheating their way in, the more people with genuine need are having to wait. It makes me mad!
We won't need physical assistance, no wheelchair etc and no physical disabilities. It's the queues, noise, busy unusual environment, potentially chaotic too could all cause my child to become overwhelmed and over stimulated so we need to try and move through the airport as quickly as possible so they are calm for the flight.
OP posts:
PinkDaydreams · 05/04/2022 13:53

@orrrangessandlemons I have sent you a pm as my son is the same.

WelcomeEverythingIsFine · 05/04/2022 13:55

Flew from terminal one last Monday. We were three hours early for our flight, we queued for a LONG time in security, had enough time for a quick lunch before boarding on the other side. My advice would be to give an extra hour for the airport, it wasn’t overly stressful, just a lot of waiting around.

hummf · 05/04/2022 14:06

We flew out of T1 on Sunday afternoon/evening. Got there early but they didn’t open check in any earlier. They definitely let 2 families in the front of the queue for special assistance for autism so I would ring ahead and ask.

The queue for security was outside but moved pretty quickly and once back inside they were pulling people out by flight times anyway so got whizzed to the front.

whoruntheworldgirls · 05/04/2022 14:12

Sorry to hijack the thread OP, those who have flown recently, what should be printed to make things easier? I've printed boarding passes and was planning on printing our vaccine certificates. Do i print the Spanish PLF so they know i've done it?
Liquids are the correct amount and in a clear plastic bag, electronics are all together so can be found and placed in the tray quickly.

CharlotteRose90 · 05/04/2022 14:17

@orrrangessandlemons t1 is the worst but be assured the lanyard means you can go down the fast track. You don’t need to buy them just show the lanyard you’ll be fine. Try and get there a good few hours before to drop your bag etc.

CharlotteRose90 · 05/04/2022 14:18

@whoruntheworldgirls

Sorry to hijack the thread OP, those who have flown recently, what should be printed to make things easier? I've printed boarding passes and was planning on printing our vaccine certificates. Do i print the Spanish PLF so they know i've done it? Liquids are the correct amount and in a clear plastic bag, electronics are all together so can be found and placed in the tray quickly.
We don’t check vaccines or plf for Spain anymore . Most airlines don’t. You’ll just be asked if you’re fully vaccinated and have done the plf. it’s on arrival you’ll be asked for proof.
MyDcAreMarvel · 05/04/2022 14:20

Op you don’t need to pay but you do need to call special assistance in advance.

Ofalltheginjoints · 05/04/2022 14:27

I flew out of T2 on 25/03 and returned last Friday, we had an early flight leaving at 6:25am and we got to the airport around 3am through to security by 4am (check and and then special assistance queue) and then didn't clear security until 4:35am as my two friends bags both got pulled as they'd missed some perfume samples in their hand luggage, by 4:35am you could see it would be extremely busy later on in the morning

Coming back was a nightmare, all three of us in my party are wheelchair users and we were stuck on the plane for just over 2 hours as there were major delays with assistance but also luggage being removed from the flight, the plane we were on had a fairly tight tern around time of an hour and a half before it was due to depart for the next flight, obviously this then became very delayed as we were still on the plane past the new departure time.

I would try and get to the airport as early as you can and make sure that there is nothing in your hand luggage that there shouldn't be as this was our major delay outbound, coming back with the airport and Swissport being short staffed you might be in for a long wait, our cabin crew (and the replacement cabin crew for the planes subsequent flight) were brilliant but told us that this will be a long term issue until staffing problems are resolved

whoruntheworldgirls · 05/04/2022 15:10

Thank you @CharlotteRose90

notforonesecond · 05/04/2022 15:50

I’ll be at T2 tomorrow morning so I’ll report back. Wish us luck!!

Original poster
orrrangessandlemons · 05/04/2022 16:09

Thank you for so many helpful and reassuring posts.

I've bought my own lanyards and cards in the same style as the airport ones to save queueing for them on the day and I will keep trying to phone to clarify what help is available and arrange anything we need to.

OP posts:
Original poster
orrrangessandlemons · 05/04/2022 16:09

@notforonesecond

I’ll be at T2 tomorrow morning so I’ll report back. Wish us luck!!
Thanks!
OP posts:
LilyKitten · 07/04/2022 12:20

@notforonesecond

I’ll be at T2 tomorrow morning so I’ll report back. Wish us luck!!
How was it? We're flying from T2 next Thursday and I'm starting to feel really anxious about it. We have a really tight connection in Amsterdam too...
Tickledtrout · 07/04/2022 12:25

T1 on Saturday afternoon wasn't too bad. 40 mins with fast track.
Did spot someone being taken ahead, so if you declare yourself to the person who checks boarding pass maybe they will help?

notforonesecond · 07/04/2022 14:31

@LilyKitten absolutely fine. We flew at 7am. Got there about 3.45 and even though the bag drop queue looked quite long we were done and through security in half an hour. Had to have a very leisurely breakfast to kill some time. Plane left on time and everything. Try not to worry too much.

LilyKitten · 07/04/2022 14:44

[quote notforonesecond]@LilyKitten absolutely fine. We flew at 7am. Got there about 3.45 and even though the bag drop queue looked quite long we were done and through security in half an hour. Had to have a very leisurely breakfast to kill some time. Plane left on time and everything. Try not to worry too much.[/quote]
Thank you, that's a relief. It's so hard to know what's actually going on, especially as a lot of the reports are about T1 and not T2!

cardy1969 · 08/04/2022 07:56

Has anybody departed Manchester airport in the last couple of days? What was it like? Is fast track in operation worth paying for?

Haveawordwithyourusband · 08/04/2022 08:23

Flew from t2 on Monday. Arrived 3 hrs before flight. It was busy but ok. Bag drop took 30 mins. Security was an hour from joining queue to getting our trays back, the queue when we joined at 6am was still inside the departure hall. Fast track was operating but they were holding it quite a bit to let batches of the main queue through. We were able to get food and drink before going to the gate. That’s when the delays started. They hadn’t started boarding 20 mins before scheduled departure time so it became obvious we would be late. We did then sit on the plane for nearly 2 hours - waiting for bags and a takeoff slot. The airline were absolutely scathing in their comments about the airport and said this has happened on every flight for weeks.

WaddesdonWanderer · 08/04/2022 08:56

My cousins flew on Monday morning from T1. They got there at 3.15 for a 6.30 flight and only just got it. We’re flying from there tomorrow morning so I’m watching this thread with interest.

WaddesdonWanderer · 08/04/2022 08:58

@cardy1969

Has anybody departed Manchester airport in the last couple of days? What was it like? Is fast track in operation worth paying for?
Is fast track even available for your flight time @cardy1969? We couldn’t get it for ours.
TheHoleNineYards · 08/04/2022 09:06

We flew from T2 on Saturday. Check in was easy and calm. Security was bonkers. I couldn’t tell you how long the queue was, literally miles.

I was also travelling with my autistic DS, though he won’t wear the lanyard. We had fast track passes but they were useless as there was no signage and we were told (just by another passenger) that fast track had been abandoned. I found the only staff member I could see and basically begged. He took us to the Special Assistance queue, which was still long (probably took about an hour to get through?) but quieter. I’ve now phoned the airline and pre-booked special assistance for the journey home.

So yes, hidden disabilities are recognised. Special assistance queue is shorter and possible. Prebook it if you can, just head for it if not.

PlumpAndPlain · 08/04/2022 09:08

We flew from Manchester last Sunday. Flight was 6.45am. Got through security in 11 minutes with fast track.