Manchester: Passenger Reviews, Q&A, and Travel Advice

[Jerry]

A gates so the furthest pier. usually the odd ones on the north side, so A5/7/9/11

Thanks!

A gates so the furthest pier. usually the odd ones on the north side, so A5/7/9/11

Its A11 on the end! At least I've got my steps in!

 

[Jerry]

Overall had a very good journey through Manchester today. Security was busy but being able to keep everything in the one bag and keep the boots on makes it a lot easier. T2 was busy but the experience was good. Will do a trip report about the whole journey at a later date.

 

[Aviador]

With Manchester's Terminal 2 transformation project well into its final stages, the airport is a completely different beast compared to five years ago. The goal was to create a world-class mega-terminal and finally phase out the ageing Terminal 1.

For those who have flown out of the newly expanded T2 recently, what’s the verdict? Does it finally give the North an airport to rival Heathrow's T5, or has the expansion brought its own set of teething issues with walking distances and security queues?

And for the traditionalists will anyone actually miss Terminal 1 when its retirement is fully completed, or is it a case of good riddance?

My last journey from the airport was last year to the Dominican Republic. I can't say I was wowed but I had a pleasant experience which is what I expected.

My first experience of Manchester airport was back in the 80's on a family holiday to Spain from Terminal 1. I remember being mesmorised by the huge chandelier.
The airport has seem tremendous changes during that time since then. What are your thoughts?

#MAN#ManchesterAirport

 

[marni1971]

With Manchester's Terminal 2 transformation project well into its final stages, the airport is a completely different beast compared to five years ago. The goal was to create a world-class mega-terminal and finally phase out the ageing Terminal 1.

For those who have flown out of the newly expanded T2 recently, what’s the verdict? Does it finally give the North an airport to rival Heathrow's T5, or has the expansion brought its own set of teething issues with walking distances and security queues?

And for the traditionalists will anyone actually miss Terminal 1 when its retirement is fully completed, or is it a case of good riddance?

My last journey from the airport was last year to the Dominican Republic. I can't say I was wowed but I had a pleasant experience which is what I expected.

My first experience of Manchester airport was back in the 80's on a family holiday to Spain from Terminal 1. I remember being mesmorised by the huge chandelier.
The airport has seem tremendous changes during that time since then. What are your thoughts?

Grief no. It’s not world class. Not even near the best in Europe.

It’s a cheap as possible extension of T2 that already is heading to under capacity. Not enough gates hence T1 only closing by name. Land side access can’t cope due to not building what was needed. As much F&B and shops crammed in as possible. Cheap materials on walls and floors used that are now coming to bite them. Convoluted layouts. A joke of BA domestic arrivals compared to T3.

We’ve used it quite a lot and will stand by that security, immigration and baggage have had impressive processing times but it’s a shame they’re in the facility that they are. Could and should have been better. T2 in 1993 was a better experience.

 

[KARFA]

T2 is not remotely a world class terminal. it is bizarre to suggest otherwise.

 

[Aviador]

I don't use Manchester as much as you guys do, but looking at it from the outside, you’ve both completely exposed the gap between the shiny marketing brochure that we saw initially at the start of this project and the actual reality on the ground.

The point @marni1971 makes about Terminal 1 closing "by name only" is a perfect example. From what I understand, they've 'closed' T1, but Ryanair passengers still have to trek through the old T1 entrance and security just to walk all the way back into Terminal 3? If the billion-pound new T2 was actually built with the right capacity, surely they wouldn't need to keep these Frankenstein, patchwork layouts alive just to handle the traffic. It sounds like they've basically built a giant shopping mall with security lanes attached, rather than a properly integrated airport terminal. Didn't a couple of piers get shelved?

And @KARFA is spot on calling the facility as "world-class" when the BA domestic arrivals setup is actively worse than a terminal built in 1993 is just bizarre. It feels like classic modern value-engineering. Spend all the budget on high-margin duty-free areas and premium retail strips to trap passengers, while using cheap finishes on the walls and floors that look tatty after a few heavy summer rushes?

If the landside access and car parks are a bottleneck before you even step inside, it doesn't matter how fast the security queue moves. It really sounds like they've just shifted the old, famous bottlenecks out onto the approach roads and the tarmac although the new ANPR charges don't help either!

 

[marni1971]

I don't use Manchester as much as you guys do, but looking at it from the outside, you’ve both completely exposed the gap between the shiny marketing brochure that we saw initially at the start of this project and the actual reality on the ground.

The point @marni1971 makes about Terminal 1 closing "by name only" is a perfect example. From what I understand, they've 'closed' T1, but Ryanair passengers still have to trek through the old T1 entrance and security just to walk all the way back into Terminal 3? If the billion-pound new T2 was actually built with the right capacity, surely they wouldn't need to keep these Frankenstein, patchwork layouts alive just to handle the traffic. It sounds like they've basically built a giant shopping mall with security lanes attached, rather than a properly integrated airport terminal. Didn't a couple of piers get shelved?

And @KARFA is spot on calling the facility as "world-class" when the BA domestic arrivals setup is actively worse than a terminal built in 1993 is just bizarre. It feels like classic modern value-engineering. Spend all the budget on high-margin duty-free areas and premium retail strips to trap passengers, while using cheap finishes on the walls and floors that look tatty after a few heavy summer rushes?

If the landside access and car parks are a bottleneck before you even step inside, it doesn't matter how fast the security queue moves. It really sounds like they've just shifted the old, famous bottlenecks out onto the approach roads and the tarmac although the new ANPR charges don't help either!

Pretty much.

Those in the know say they initially went public and only after that were told how much it would actually cost. The value engineering is well known now. MAG actively put the shareholders before the public or the facility they were building (as stated from their own report)

Contrary to popular belief the cost cutting - including halving the piers - happened in early 2018. Sadly Manchester will be saddled with T2X for a long time.

 

[LS@MAN]

First time using T2 for 18 months departed on Thursday 4th June for a 2.30pm departure, arrived at 11.30am bag drop and through security east in 15 mins, in the departure area having a coffee from Pret by 11.45am! Very efficient despite the busy baggage drop off but security east was quiet.
Went upstairs for a look around and a few of us fancied a beer, only place with no queues was the Amber Alehouse, busy inside but managed to find seats. Was surprised at the size, expected it to be bigger despite the extension. Terminal 2 was very busy and I didn’t spot any sign for the great northern market, passed it en route to our gate D2 which surprised some of our party as most of us didn’t know about where it was!
We arrived at the gate 45 mins prior to departure but the pilots didn’t arrive until 15 mins before, once we boarded the captain said the delay was due to them being in security for 45 mins! Really?! Don’t they have a separate security channel for crew?
Anyway we departed 45 mins late but made up time en route and landed 15 mins early in Tenerife onboard the TUI Dreamliner.

Flew back on 16th June on the TUI Dreamliner landed at 3.00am and outside by 3.40am. Docked at stand 214, a long walk to immigration (travellator’s would have been ideal here!) passport control quiet but baggage reclaim was busy, within 2 mins our cases appeared and we made a slow walk outside, lots of flights seemed delayed so arrived close together, but once outside went to the overheight parking area for our minibus so a relatively good experience overall on both departure and arrival.

One point to note that upon arriving onto stand in T2 the airbridge took a while to connect, is it normal that they drive them ridiculously slow?! Some of the finishings within the new pier you can see are of poor quality, noticed some gaps in the walls with insulation clearly showing and scruff marks all over the walls and floors! These materials won’t last long! I mean seriously, when the snagging was being done prior to the opening, why weren’t these simple things picked up and rectified, as in the gaps showing the insulation for example?! Very poor and not a good look for a new facility!

Overall this year alone I have used T3 on 8 separate occasions and for the first time this year I have now used T2 and I have been impressed and pleased with the efficiency of the baggage drop off, security, immigration and baggage delivery 👏 well done to all involved.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I'm not certain where to place this, but this seems as good as anywhere:

Manchester Airport gets top marks in accessibility report

Manchester Airport has been awarded the highest possible rating for the special assistance services it offers, in the Civil Aviation Authority’s latest accessibility report.The North’s hub airport received a ‘very good’ rating for the services it offers to passengers with restricted mobility and...

mediacentre.manchesterairport.co.uk

Manchester Airport has been awarded the highest possible rating for the special assistance services it offers, in the Civil Aviation Authority’s latest accessibility report.

The North’s hub airport received a ‘very good’ rating for the services it offers to passengers with restricted mobility and hidden disabilities – an improvement on its ‘good’ rating for 2025.

ABM, which operates the airport’s special assistance services, has been recognised for improvements made to its services over the past 12 months, with the report citing strong performance on waiting times.

The report also highlights the airport’s engagement with its Accessibility Forum – an independently-chaired advisory group comprised of disabled travellers and advocates – along with the quality of the facilities available in Terminal 2, which is coming to the end of its decade-long transformation programme.

 

[BlueManc]

19/8 T3 security at 0800 no waiting.
23/8 T3 From landing at 20:13 to mid stay car park without any stops or queues. No baggage reclaim for me but that seemed to also be working great.

Runway threshold views. I'm a big fan of T3!

 

[robsh34]

T3 security flew through this morning, no pun intended. Used public transport for a change to get to the airport (199 bus). Joined the M60 at Stockport Pyramid at 7.20. We were through security before 7.45.
Picked up a few comments from other travellers on T3. All were complimentary.