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Original poster

Manchester airport

121 replies

Mam576 · 28/03/2022 23:25

Due to fly from Manchester airport on Thursday Mornjng with my LO and I’m so nervous about the queue times. 5 hours to get through and people missing flights! Anybody had any experience in the last couple of days?

OP posts:
VaVaVoombangabang · 03/04/2022 09:10

I now refuse to use Manchester airport, I have never ever encountered such jobsworth security staff anywhere.

Last time waiting in the fast track line, staff just decided to close and stood having a chat and a laugh, I swear they were just taking the proverbial all the while people were getting more and more anxious as time when on, they took their own sweet time....very slowly.

One of my bags was sent back through the scanner, nothing that set off any alarm (I am a very regular traveller and am well prepared) it took 35mins for it to come through, I was then waved on, nothing was done with the bag. Also had my 20x20 freezer bag taken off me as it had ASDA printed in small letters, nope it has to be clear all over.

I could list more but it just makes me very angry, nothing you can do except vote with your feet and take business to another airport hopefully.

Malteser71 · 03/04/2022 12:19

I travelled through T2 yesterday. It was fine.

Arrived 9.30, was already checked in online, so just needed the bag drop. Queued for five minutes maybe. I’d bought security fast track, the queue took about 20 minutes, however the other queue looked about twice as long.

Our flight left just after lunch. The terminal was quiet, we got a seat in a restaurant without any waiting at 11am - queues as we left. Some of the shops aren’t open yet.

It’s MUCH smaller than T1 in terms of shopping. Boots isn’t open yet, bur you can get most basic chemist stuff in WH Smith.

There’s a bit of a walk to the gates. Toilets at all the gates. Boarded on time, took off maybe 20 minutes late.

usernotfound0000 · 03/04/2022 13:42

@DriftGames

I'm flying at 6am a week on Thursday and no fast track.. I'll have my 2.5yo with me.. Jesus I hope it's not as long as people are saying.
@DriftGames will you have a pram? I went on live chat this week as I was going to buy fast track but it says you can't if you have prams, they said that we would be directed to the family line, hopefully this won't be as long!
Rodaliess · 03/04/2022 14:04

We went through this morning - was absolutely dreading it but it was ok.

Terminal 2, flight at 8am. We did twilight checkin last night so arrived at 5-30 this morning. We had fast track but this just allowed us to miss the queue to get through to the security queue. We then were with everyone else. It went slowly to begin with but soon sped up and took about 45 minutes in total.

All staff were fantastic. It felt well organised and everyone was good natured. They did do shout outs for flights leaving shortly.

There was a separate queue for those with buggies which was much quicker just to reassure anyone

usernotfound0000 · 03/04/2022 14:09

@Rodaliess this is reassuring thank you! We're also going from T2. It does seem to be T1 that is hitting the headlines.

DriftGames · 03/04/2022 18:15

@usernotfound0000 I was planning on leaving it at bag drop but I might take it through if we can go in the family line. There's 6 of us though, and only one child. Would we all get through in that queue?

Timperleybell · 03/04/2022 21:44

I flew out of T1 on Friday Eve and Security B was awful an arrived at 4:30 for a 7:30 pm flight. Over an hour and a half to get to boarding pass scan and an hour plus from there to start loading trays. There was no pulling forward and staff just saying there not the airline. My flight was delayed an hour or Id have missed it.
Completely the opposite coming back this evening to t2 and a breeze coming through. No checked baggage though.

icelolly12 · 03/04/2022 22:10

Maybe some airlines need to move their routes to other airports as Manchester clearly can't cope which is frustrating as its the only one in the North that seems to have a decent range of routes at good prices. I won't be flying from Manchester this year.

Rodaliess · 03/04/2022 22:44

@DriftGames they are very strict with who goes in what queue so I doubt they will let 6 of you through with just the 1 buggy. And if you did you would have everyone giving you daggers!

mnahmnah · 03/04/2022 22:52

Can anyone tell me for the fast track - for ‘fly out time’ do you put your actual flight time, or two hours before, I.e the time you want to go through security?

MuthaHubbard · 03/04/2022 22:53

We flew from T2 on the 21st and easyJet warned us to get there well before flight. Was expecting a nightmare - bag drop and security where the quickest we've known it -15 mins in total - but this was a Sunday afternoon.

We fly again in May so hopefully things will be ironed out before then!

FizzyBiscuits · 03/04/2022 22:55

Is there any way of bypassing the long queues if you have a child with disabilities? Wondering for when we go!

Candleabra · 03/04/2022 23:11

@mnahmnah

Can anyone tell me for the fast track - for ‘fly out time’ do you put your actual flight time, or two hours before, I.e the time you want to go through security?
I’ve just booked mine. It said “flying out time”. Obviously I put my flight time 07:00. Now the booking has gone through I think that’s wrong. On the confirmation email it says: Security entry time 07:00 Really unclear, I’ll be so annoyed if you are supposed to guess the time you’ll hit security rather than using the flight time.
Rodaliess · 03/04/2022 23:48

Regarding fast track, I’m going to whisper this! I am not sure it matters what time you put down. It definitely didn’t for us as the man just gave it a cursory glance. When you get your confirmation to print out it doesn’t say a time on it - unlike other airports. There wasn’t one available for our flight time so I selected an earlier slot.

Rodaliess · 03/04/2022 23:49

@FizzyBiscuits there were wheelchairs and people with crutches going through the queue with buggies. If that helps?

mnahmnah · 04/04/2022 07:09

@Candleabra

Yes, exactly! When I went to confirm, it said entry as the flight time, so I thought I would check before booking it

NdefH81 · 04/04/2022 07:10

Gatwick
This past weekend

Complete breeze. Incredible

NdefH81 · 04/04/2022 07:12

@FizzyBiscuits

Is there any way of bypassing the long queues if you have a child with disabilities? Wondering for when we go!
Yes They will either see you and beckon you Or you go to front and ask

No child with disability here
Single parent with two primary aged children
And they beckoned me to come forward!

Bran21 · 04/04/2022 07:15

Hi I've not been abroad in 14years and due to go to portugal in may. I've booked through a travel agent and she never mentioned fast track,please could someone explain what it is and how it works. I'm also flying out of manchester airport early morning. Many thanks

VaVaVoombangabang · 04/04/2022 08:51

www.manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/security-fasttrack/

All the info is on Manchester Airport website

LMT88 · 04/04/2022 15:06

When booking fast track I selected my flight time but when it came to the paying page I’d have a time of half an hour later. Any ideas ?

legosnowqueen · 04/04/2022 17:25

Really concerned about this as we have a midday flight from T1 to Newquay & check in doesn't actually open until 10am (will check in online but need to drop bags). Watching for any experience over the next few days...as mentioned by a pp, there are no fast track slots available.

umpkj · 04/04/2022 18:23

We are flying next week from T1. Remember remove all the liquids like lip palms because we got stuck in busy security because of that.

Luca10987 · 04/04/2022 19:52

Nightmarish and now flights being cancelled due to staff hit with COVID and no cover.

And not all schools have finished for Easter yet.

DriftGames · 05/04/2022 21:36

@Rodaliess that's fair, we don't actually care too much about queuing (well, I say that now..) but with a 2 year old it will be a nightmare so even if I can get through quicker and get through so she can have a walk I think it'll make things easier!