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Original poster

Manchester Airport

16 replies

catwithflowers · 01/02/2023 14:04

Has anyone flown from here recently? I read a few horror stories about queues and delays six months ago. Tui have kindly cancelled our local flight from Newcastle and we now have to fly from Manchester (with added costs incurred of a night in a hotel each way and train fares) or cancel and get a refund 😳🤬

So disappointing as we booked the holiday over a year ago and one of the main criteria was to fly from our local airport. Just wondering if we need to allow a lot more time than the usual couple of hours.

TIA

OP posts:
BorgQueen · 01/02/2023 14:12

They have apparently trained up lots more staff so it should be ok.
Security is the worst bit, always will be as people are idiots and can’t follow simple instructions, once through there it’s fine.

Treat yourself to the lounge, it’s worth it. I haven’t flown from the newly refurbished bit yet, we seem to always fly from T1.

WhatHaveIFound · 01/02/2023 14:15

I flew out of there twice last month and had no issues at all. No queues for security or passport control on the way back.

zighead · 01/02/2023 14:17

It’s been totally fine for the last few months so don’t think you have anything to worry about. I would be annoyed about that the change of airport though. Surely they will compensate you in some way?
Have a lovely holiday!

IntentionalError · 01/02/2023 14:21

We flew from MAN T2 on a Saturday in September. It was excellent, with only minor queues. Obviously, it would be busier in peak season. That terminal has been completely refurbished, it very impressive and is now as good as Heathrow T5 & T2.

Cheeseandlobster · 01/02/2023 14:23

Security was fine when I went x 2 last year. However in September T2 was a building site with no phone reception at all. Hopefully its better now

Aposterhasnoname · 01/02/2023 14:25

Last time we went it was fine, but I second booking the lounge. The newly refurbished part simply doesn’t have enough seating in the food and drink places, every one had huge queues.

Original poster
catwithflowers · 01/02/2023 14:30

Ah thanks everyone!

We fly from Terminal 2 Smile. It's another six weeks until our holiday so there is no compensation apart from the right to a full refund. I guess we could have changed dates but my daughter couldn't get the time off work at short notice. I even called the head office and agents to ask about them covering the cost of travel to Manchester but no joy.

Glad to hear it sounds pretty much like any other airport now!

OP posts:
Original poster
catwithflowers · 01/02/2023 14:34

@Aposterhasnoname we are both doing the 16:8 diet and fly at 9 am so are hoping to avoid food while waiting for the flight then will eat with gay abandon for the rest of the week 😂😂😂

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 01/02/2023 14:37

If you're eligible for a refund have you looked to see if this would pay for a comparable holiday from jet2holidays, which go from Newcastle (or Leeds or Edinburgh). You might get better flight times to not need the hotel, or need to use Manchester airport.

Original poster
catwithflowers · 01/02/2023 15:29

@BarbaraofSeville thanks, I did think of that but then my daughter had set her heart on this particular hotel and Jet2 didn't go there 🙈. Plus we couldn't get the same dates. And she had saved up all year to pay for it, her first holiday in 4 years, so I just went with the changes.

The travel gods must have been smiling on me as yesterday when I looked, trains were £100 plus each way per person but today I managed to somehow book one way for £17 each 😂. The other leg is a coach but it is what it is!

It's annoying but we will have a great time anyway.

OP posts:
maddy68 · 01/02/2023 15:42

It's still the worst UK airport but the queues are back to normal

RedToothBrush · 01/02/2023 19:50

Flew in December on the Friday the schools finished in the evening.

Was fine. Was worse coming back from destination airport tbh.

Hobbesmanc · 02/02/2023 15:05

We live close by so always use it. But I do struggle to defend it sometimes. It just takes the piss. Hard to navigate. Rude shouty staff everywhere. Really uncooperative security. Eating options often closed due to staff , stupidly high parking costs. And awful WiFi. Most of the place is 3G if you're lucky.

BarbaraofSeville · 02/02/2023 15:09

Problem is that Manchester has the biggest choice of flights in northern England. We're in West Yorkshire, so use Leeds Bradford if we can, but our second choice is Liverpool as it's a breeze compared with Manchester, and only about a 10 min longer drive, which is more than made up in time saved going through the airport. We only use Manchester if we can't get the flights we want from the other airports.

GrimDamnFanjo · 02/02/2023 15:13

Hobbesmanc · 02/02/2023 15:05

We live close by so always use it. But I do struggle to defend it sometimes. It just takes the piss. Hard to navigate. Rude shouty staff everywhere. Really uncooperative security. Eating options often closed due to staff , stupidly high parking costs. And awful WiFi. Most of the place is 3G if you're lucky.

Largely agree.
Security is always a horrible experience which you'll just need to grin and bear.
A lounge visit will help!
The train station is good though.
I was through security in 15 mins the other week at T3.

Timperleybell · 02/02/2023 16:50

I travelled through T3 outbound last Friday for a 14:30 flight. I was tight on time and had bought fastpass but didn't really need it with a short regular que. Staff were less rude than previously maybe due to less pressure.
Eating and drinking options are dire but I'm close enough not to bother.

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