Manchester airport

[Mam576]

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?

Dont know if it has been mentioned but Man AP now offer a checked bag pick up service were they will come and pick your bags up the day before and check them in for you.

If your flying with TUI you can also go yourself the day before and check bags in

DH went through T1 at Manchester earlier today and reported that security was very quiet. Maybe because it's not the weekend?

Aren’t airlines liable for finding you another flight, even with a rival?

@BorgQueen

Aren’t airlines liable for finding you another flight, even with a rival?

In theory yes. In reality you're left to find your own flight and claim any expenses later, for Easyjet anyway

@BorgQueen

Aren’t airlines liable for finding you another flight, even with a rival?

It if there is no availability which is likely - surely for the same reasons as the chaos (short staffed, no time for staff security clearance and COVID illness).

No staff, no flights.

@Vodkaskirts queues just for TUI this morning apparently - according to the Manchester Evening News

If you don't know Manchester Airport - thats a long way from the Terminals / check in desk - its as you come into the train / tram station.

It's total pot luck from the sound of it. We flew out from T2 end of March and it was busy but nothing out of the ordinary for Manchester! Know others who have flown through security in the last couple of weeks.
I guess it depends on the day of the week and time of day. We flew early morning on a Thursday. I get impression weekends are worse. T1 seems to be the worst terminal as well, anecdotally.

I think its worse today because lots of people flying out for Easter.

So I travelled yesterday - bit of a nightmare but not as bad as I was expecting. Flew from T3 but had to go via T1. Lengthy queues for bag drop but as PP has said, they're calling certain flights to go directly to their bag drop desk if it's getting close. We flew at 5:45, arrived at around 2:30am and by 3:30 we'd been called to bag drop.

Had a nightmare with my car seat - it went to baggage inspection and they refused to accept it because my brother was carrying it and not me (I had 2 cases and a buggy, I'm not an octopus) so that was a bloody nightmare. Luckily two lovely ladies from the airport security team helped us and then directed us to accessible security (wheelchairs, buggies etc) which took around 20 minutes. The rest of the group were already in the standard security queue and we came out around the same time but we had obviously had the car seat faff so I'd say it took them around an hour.

Plain sailing from then - T3 very quiet, not much to see there, gate opened nice and early, we were in the air by 6am.

Best part was that my DD (2yo) was asleep before takeoff and slept until 20 mins before we landed - I managed to read some of my book that's been on my bedside table since December

Manchester Airport have now added security queue times to their website

@Africa2go it looks hideous. I hope it dies down soon. I'm flying in June!

Can someone tell me if you still have to take off shoes and have to put mobiles seperately in a tray for security?

I have no liquids and only a small handbag for hand luggage so I’d better not get pulled.
It says large electronics on the webpage but they always used to make you get your phone out😡

It depends what kind of shoes you're wearing. I always travel in trainers and have never been asked to take them off. I normally leave my phone in my coat pocket when I put it in the tray. Never been asked to put it in a tray with my laptop.

Yes - phones, charger blocks etc you should take and put through separately. I got in trouble for having more than one lighter - though I always have more than one lighter, didn't see this on any notice, and never had a problem in the past. Belts and jackets should also be removed. They were especially fussy about the size of the plastic bag for liquid.

@BorgQueen we flew from T1 on Monday, only boots needed to be removed, no other footwear...

I was made to take my trainers off for questioning the security guy about why it doesn’t mention phones 🙄 he muttered that they couldn’t list everything, tosser, I said what, so something every single person above the age of 12 has and you think it’s not worth stipulating 😡 Airports make me stabby.
Easyjet bag drop opened an hour early at 03.05 this morning, the lines eere huge but it took 45 mins then 20 mins through security with fast track, we were sat having breakfast by 04.30.

There was a young woman crying because she couldn’t take massive, full size cosmetics/toiletries through ! Must have been £200 of stuff in the bin by the time she finished.

We sailed through security at T2 this morning- and the staff were amazing!

Good to hear some positive stories. Is it now bag drop rather than security that is taking the time? Unfortunately we will have luggage to check in and we don't live near enough to do it the night before. 3 weeks until we go.

Has anyone been through in the last few days? We go next week so hoping it might not be too bad now! I went through Leeds Bradford last week and was very grateful for fast track!