Manchester T2 - Lounges and special assistance

[popsickle555]

Flying next week from T2, the flight is 1.30pm so I am hopeful we will avoid the total chaos of the very early flights but...

My mum needs special assistance - I cannot get through at all to Tui to book this, I have tried every day and failed to get through after an hour on hold then get cut off. Has anyone managed to book special assistance at Manchester T2? We are flight only so now agent to contact.

I was also considering booking lounge access but is there any point currently? Are they even open? Are there any food options? I read today that only one cafe was open currently for the whole of T2. Gulp.

It should be done through whoever you booked through, so I’m assuming that’s TUI direct? Have you called 0203 451 2688? You really need it booked at least 48 hours before otherwise it’s considered a walk up and you will wait a long time. Try tweeting them!

That’s definitely not right. We were there a few weeks ago and there’s easily half a dozen places to eat open. The only thing really missing was there’s no boots!

Where did you read that?

Airport website says there's a few things open.

www.manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/terminal-2/

I've already decided what I'm having for breakfast from Wagamama when we fly in a few weeks time.

I rang TUI yesterday to add assistance to our booking from T2.

02034512585 I called. I was on hold for about an hour and 10 mins and it took about 2 minutes to add once they answered.

You do have to add 48 hours before.

Looks like you can book the special assistance online when you check in www.tui.co.uk/destinations/faq/how-do-i-book-assistance-at-the-airport?catId=265&subcatId=298&docId=1175

no idea about the lounges I’m afraid.

Thank you all, yes I have managed to check in online now and it's come up with the option for special assistance.

@PuggyMum do you know what they offer for special assistance if you have mobility issues? I am hoping my mum can get on the buggy type jeep thing rather than a wheelchair as we aren't able to push her due to having two small children also with us in buggies! It doesn't specify on the website so just hoping it's something that is in use when we arrive. Also will they let one of us go with her or would she need to go alone on it? I assume it's just to help you get through from departures to the gate? She will also have problems standing in a queue which is worrying me but I assume for that I could sit her somewhere and then get her back when we are near the front. Not sure on the security queue though, do special assistance have a different queue to use?

And thanks for the info on cafes / food options. PHEW.

I don't know I'm afraid but if you go to assistance desk and make yourself known I reckon they'll get the buggy for you.

Hope t out have a lovely holiday

usually at Manchester they provide a wheelchair and someone to push it. They will guide the whole party through security and check in. There isn’t usually a separate queue but they just take you to the front. They will wheel your mum all the way to the gate and then come back at boarding time to wheel her to the plane door (the rest of the party can also board at this time). Then when you get to your destination you wait till most people have disembarked then you get off and there should be a wheelchair waiting again with someone to push. They will take you through passport control, to collect luggage and out to the main terminal.

All of this.

Sometimes they use a buggy for a busy flight if a few passengers need assistance. There is rarely space for travelling companions. Buggies are only after security, they can’t fit through the security lanes so if she needs assistance before it will be a wheelchair. A handler will always be available to push it though. Normally you check in first then go to a special assistance desk but if she needs help before then you can approach the special assistance desk first. There is often no fast track through security and no separate lane so you may wait as normal but with her in the wheelchair. When you walk through the metal detector arch she will be wheeled around it and a hand held detector used instead.

I was there yesterday (cancelled flight but was there long enough to see what's what).
The airport staff should be able to help you with special assistance. Take your own sunflower lanyard, they'd run out.
There were plenty of places open, San Carlo and others. We went to the escape lounge and it was great, really enjoyed that part of the day!

The queue for Tui check in was 2 and a half hours, just to prepare you, but hopefully you'll get your special assistance sorted. Could you try going into one of the shops?
Security was no bother, no queue when we went through and super efficient.

There are plenty of food places open. The special assistance I saw was in the hospitality suite next to Archies (can’t miss Archie’s it as it neon pink) but not sure on the other side before security