Talk to me about airport parking - Manchester

[Jingle23]

Absolutely no idea what I'm doing. We have always got taxis to the airport. My question is.. to meet & greet? If so, we fly back in at 2am so what time would I need to put in for meet and greet on return? Thanks! ☺️

We didn't do meet and greet but we booked a space in the T2 West Multi Storey and it was the easiest thing ever. There's a walkway direct into the terminal (though I guess it depends on what terminal!).

With meet and greet if you arrive back in at 2am I'd just say that. It was super quick when we landed earlier this year, from landing, collecting bags...we were in our car 30 minutes later. The time is just so they've got your car ready for you, it won't matter if it's not until 3am that you get back to your car.

Personally with airport parking, I would always book with one of the car parks listed on the airport website as they tend to operated by the airport itself or are reputable. There's too many dodgy third party booking sites where your car could end up being driven off by a random stranger and parked in a field for 2 weeks! Ideally choose walking distance to the terminal so you're not having to wait around for a shuttle bus. I wouldn't personally do the type where you hand your keys over and they move / park the car.
I agree with putting 30min after scheduled arrival and the departure time. Airport car parks are really flexible and they usually take your flight number so they'll know if it's a delayed arrival and i've never been charged extra.

The Meet and Greet at Manchester is official parking @MiddleAgedDread

I prefer parking in an official car park and walking (no bus if I can help it) the short distance to the terminal.

I always pick the one closest to the terminal because I cba waiting on busses to save a fiver.

I generally put our pick up time 30 mins after the flight arrival time, but airport parking always asks for a flight number so I guess it's immaterial.

Which terminal are you flying from? We've used drop and go the last couple of times at Manchester, and it is good, operates in a similar way to meet and greet but is cheaper. It's best for T3 literally a couple of minutes walk, no more than an extra minute past the meet and greet place, it's maybe an extra 5 mins walk from T1, but it's not ideal for T2. They run a bus to T2 but that just adds to the faff.

We've used the Manchester Meet and Greet the last two times we've travelled - much better than faffing with buses. Very easy and the staff were helpful.

Iirc they asked for our flight numbers, I can't remember if we had to specify a time as well or if they work it out.

Put the time your flight gets in. They track it and know if it's delayed. You get 6 hours grace period.

It is official parking (if you book from the airport web site)

I usually use one of the multi stories nearest the terminal I'm flying into, its usually quicker than the meet and greet.

Another vote here for paying for the multi storey car park next to the terminal building. Very easy walk in the terminal and you know your car is safely locked up. Literally drive up to the gate and they have reg plate recognition so straight in. Same on way out. Far cheaper than a taxi.

Also vote for T2 multi storey.

Dont bother with the ones where you have to wait for a bus to collect the car - they’re over sold so it’s hard to find a space even though you have paid for one and the bus drivers are rude.

Manchester Meet & Greet and Drop and Go are both great. They sort space finding for you which is the biggest hassle IMHO and you just walk to the terminal.

If you book direct via Quidco for cashback, or using the Holiday Extras link on Moneysaving Expert under cheap parking, you can get the price down a bit.

Slightly more expensive than the long stay car park or the awful jet parks but so much better.

I used drop & go when I had to be at the airport at 5am , it was walking distance to the terminal so that was much better than having to wait around in the dark for a shuttle bus.
Depends which terminal you're at really, check which car park is closest and if there's any you can walk to. The shuttle bus car parks are fine but your flight times do make a difference. Our last holiday our flight home was delayed and we ended up waiting outside for the shuttle bus at 3am with 2 DC, I said I'd never do that again for an early hours flight!

We have used the "Drop and Go" car park a few times in the last year and it's so easy.

Another vote for drop and go it's really good, nice short walk to the terminal and super easy when you get back.

We use Drop and Go. You can walk to T1 and the other terminals are a very short bus ride. Good prices and dead convenient.

i agree with the over-selling. I’ve had this at East Midlands twice, and once at Leeds Bradford. We were driving round and round, I was starting to panic. It’s not funny when you have a plane to catch

At Manchester for meet and greet that is where your car is parked? In a multi story next to the arrivals.

that has been the case for every airport I have flown out of (definitely more than 5)

Do you work for (or own) this company - was a full sales pitch there. I like it

Drop & Go is convenient and cheaper than Meet & Greet. You can walk or get a bus to the terminal. We always walk but we travel light.

With any meet and greet, check on the official status of the operator. There have been cars left in fields and even hired out while people are away.