What time would you arrive at Manchester Airport for a 6.10am flight?

[Mildredthehubble]

Flying from Manchester to Spain on Sunday at 6.10am 😴
We live about 40 minutes drive away

We're travelling with hand luggage only. Getting dropped off

What time would you get to the airport?

At that early hour, I feel every 5 minutes in bed counts.

I know it used to be 2 hours. I do travel a lot but always find myself with ages to spare and that's normally in school hols.

Would arriving at 5.10 be sufficient?

The two hour thing is really annoying but stick to it. Nothing more irritating than arriving two hours ahead, well in time and then you sit around for about an hour or more because you sailed through security.
I think it is mad to have the same time for peak and non peak. I think it is to make people spend money myself.

Manchester Airport security is heinous. The only place in the world I've ever queued for over 2 hours.

If you can afford it stop the night before in one of the many hotels that are within walking distance of the terminals.

I’ve been through T2 three times this year and breezed through security each time. It’s so much faster than it used to be as you don’t have to get liquids and tech out of your bag.

I would say 4:30 am, any later and I’d be twitchy.

Coming back into the UK we usually take a 10:30 a.m flight from Malaga, get to airport at around 8:45 a.m and that seems comfortable.

I've just bught a snoozeband so i can sleep on flight !

I’d be there at 3 lol but prefer to relax at airport.

Do fast track through security to save time. I would still be there for 4:30

We had a similar flight and stayed in the Bloc hotel actually in the terminal. On leaving the hotel you are five yards from Security.

I would arrive by 4am under normal circumstances, but due to the new EES additional biometric security controls, it may take longer than usual to get through passport control, so I would aim to arrive earlier than usual in case there are delays in processing.

Are you happy to miss your flight if there is an accident on the motorway?

I don't know Manchester airport but I fly a lot and have never never been there more than 2 hours before a flight, and always always have plenty of time to kill. For a short haul flight with hand luggage only, assuming you're already checked in, I'd allow 1.5 hours tops, so 4.30am ish

I think those kick in once she arrives in Spain. She’ll very likely need extra time the other end.

You do the EES on arrival at the European airport, and again on leaving the European airport. Nothing has changed in the UK

4 am. 4.15 at the latest. Security will be busy at that time

I’d still go for 2h early, it will probably be ok that time of the morning and you’ll get through quickly but Manchester can be a nightmare sometimes.

Definitely not less than 2 hours. I normally do 3 hours early for an international flight. I might stretch that a little due to the early hour, but I'd probably aim for 3.30.

It just isn't worth the risk of missing it!

If you fly every couple of months what makes you think the average MNetter has more recent experience than you?

I wouldn’t arrive an hour before the flight because it feels like an unnecessary risk.

Early morning is THE busiest time at MAN.
I was pulled for a full bag check at security two weeks ago, thankfully I didn’t have much stuff in my hand luggage but I stood there like a lemon for 10 mins waiting for someone to peer into my bag, mumble ‘ok’ and turn their back on me.

Same! I would rather be early & relax than be stressing & have any chance of missing the flight! At the absolute latest I would get there just before 4 am

no. Be there at 4:10 and just buy a very expensive (but hopefully tasty) breakfast.
you cannot predict traffic.
recently we were going abroad. Had to be at airport at 6am. We left super early as about 1.5 hours drive. Should have arrived at 5:20. M1 suddenly shut due to a car on fire. We were there bang on 6am… do not risk it, it’s not worth it.

I always go three hours ahead but I have free lounge access so spend that time getting free foods and wine and relaxing. Also using nice loos.

We recently went through a UK airport arrived 90 minutes in advance and came close to missing flight as queues for security so long so would say 2 hours. Or pay for fast track and 90 minutes.

We fly from this airport and often get an early flight like this when we go on holiday. Security can be PAINFUL so we always arrive the full two hours before. I've had friends leave slightly less time and literally have to run through the airport to board whilst they're on final calls.

4am. 2 hours before doesn’t change based on the time of day the flight is. If you don’t like getting up then pay for a better flight time. The early wake up is the price you pay for booking the cheaper flight. And surely it’s worth being tired instead of worrying you’d miss the flight?