It Is What It Is wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 7:21 pm

I really don't know why more people don't fly from Liverpool.
Not many daily departures, always on time..no queues.
Rumours here on the Fylde coast is that Blackpool's airport may reopen to holiday flights in a couple of years.

To be fair my preferred destination for flying would be Liverpool but the flights they were offering were £200 more expensive than Manchester at the time I was booking.

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 7:29 pm

Went through T2 yesterday
Got there at 11am. There was a queue at security but was moving pretty quickly and we were in the lounge by 12pm.

The biggest queues were for the restaurants

Thanks for the information wilks, I appreciate it.

It Is What It Is wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 7:21 pm

I really don't know why more people don't fly from Liverpool.
Not many daily departures, always on time..no queues.
Rumours here on the Fylde coast is that Blackpool's airport may reopen to holiday flights in a couple of years.

Six of us and a baby flew out of Liverpool to Bergerac, on the 11th, back last Saturday, on Ryanair ... no issues at all !

Bergerac airport is a delight, compared to bigger airports .... we walked 80 yards to arrivals, went through a fully staffed passport control, picked up 4 bags, a pushchair & baby-seat off the carousel, walked through customs and drove away in 2 hire cars in less than 25 minutes ....

I flew out of Manchester yesterday at 630pm, it took 30 minutes from driving into the west car park to being sat with a beer airside. No issues at all.

Clarets4me wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 8:07 pm

Six of us and a baby flew out of Liverpool to Bergerac, on the 11th, back last Saturday, on Ryanair ... no issues at all !

Bergerac airport is a delight, compared to bigger airports .... we walked 80 yards to arrivals, went through a fully staffed passport control, picked up 4 bags, a pushchair & baby-seat off the carousel, walked through customs and drove away in 2 hire cars in less than 25 minutes ....

A lot to be said for these small airports, certainly compared to the 3rd world one at Manchester. I have flown to and from many small ones in Europe and mostly they were as efficient and easy to pass through as you describe. I hope Blackpool is reopened again soon for commercial foreign travel.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:21 pm

A lot to be said for these small airports, certainly compared to the 3rd world one at Manchester. I have flown to and from many small ones in Europe and mostly they were as efficient and easy to pass through as you describe. I hope Blackpool is reopened again soon for commercial foreign travel.

Blackpool was fine as long as you didn't mind parking in a muddy field, and didn't want food or drink..... That's 3rd world

Not strictly on theme but saves opening a new thread.
Cracking photo of the Turf taken by my lad about 0830 this morning as his flight from Stockholm banked over for approach to Manchester Airport.

Flew out of T1 on Saturday on a 6am flight. Queues for easyjet check in at 330am we're out the door to the car park but we were straight in. Security queue was backed up to the check in area but it was very well managed and we were through in about 30-40 mins. Flying back in sunday night so will see how that goes.

Flew out of Liverpool last month with hand luggage only and was airside in 10 mins. Same coming back. Always tend to try and fly from there if its feasible.

Flew out of Birmingham last Friday morning and the queues were massive, snaking way outside the building but the organisation was superb, you were moving all the time, about half an hour if that to get through.

A question on the queues. When you get to the airport, if it is bad is it everyone in one queue to get inside or do you queue according to the company you're flying with?

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 1:54 pm

Flew out of Birmingham last Friday morning and the queues were massive, snaking way outside the building but the organisation was superb, you were moving all the time, about half an hour if that to get through.

3 similar experiences at Manchester recently, but gets called 3rd world on here

claretburns wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 2:36 pm

A question on the queues. When you get to the airport, if it is bad is it everyone in one queue to get inside or do you queue according to the company you're flying with?

The latter at Manchester. We were with TAP, no queue at all.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:21 pm

A lot to be said for these small airports, certainly compared to the 3rd world one at Manchester. I have flown to and from many small ones in Europe and mostly they were as efficient and easy to pass through as you describe. I hope Blackpool is reopened again soon for commercial foreign travel.

Whilst echoing your sentiment about Blackpool reopening, the reality is somewhat different now. Whilst politicians can make wild suggestions and attempt to sway voters the reality is somewhat different.
The Terminal building has been knocked down. The overall size of the area of the Airport has been reduced and at the bottom of the runway across the road, is a development which when finished will have 1200 houses on it.

In addition Blackpool council is generally run by idiots, they had the chance to continue with commercial flights and got greedy by upping the prices for the slots, which resulted in the airline at the time( think it was RyanAir) calling their bluff.

So the only way that they can and have made money from it is by flogging pieces of it off. Sad really as it had loads of potential if it had been run properly.

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:34 pm

Blackpool was fine as long as you didn't mind parking in a muddy field, and didn't want food or drink..... That's 3rd world

Its not beyond the wit of man to cover a muddy field. A minor issue. Manchester is the gateway to the North west. Its a disgrace compared to major airports around the world.

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:34 pm

Blackpool was fine as long as you didn't mind parking in a muddy field, and didn't want food or drink..... That's 3rd world

Its not beyond the wit of man to cover a muddy field. A minor issue. Manchester is the gateway to the North west. Its a disgrace compared to major airports around the world.

Yes my point is small airports are generally easier to pass through. Jet 2 flew from Manchester to Dalaman. Thats the one I knew and it was convenient at the time.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:46 pm

Its not beyond the wit of man to cover a muddy field. A minor issue. Manchester is the gateway to the North west. Its a disgrace compared to major airports around the world.

A minor issue? When you land in the dark and cannot see what you are walking in!!! What about the lack of catering facilities? The only reason I used Blackpool was for location, Manchester is not 3rd world.

quoonbeatz wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 5:17 pm

The latter at Manchester. We were with TAP, no queue at all.

Cheers, I am with KLM so hopefully no issues.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:23 pm

Cheers, I am with KLM so hopefully no issues.

All flights use the same security..

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:51 pm

A minor issue? When you land in the dark and cannot see what you are walking in!!! What about the lack of catering facilities? The only reason I used Blackpool was for location, Manchester is not 3rd world.

Blackpool? That was then. OK continue to use Manchester. And I tell you if had travelled like I have mainly in Asia Manxhester is dreadful. It looks to.me like you dont know any better..

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 8:09 pm

Blackpool? That was then. OK continue to use Manchester. And I tell you if had travelled like I have mainly in Asia Manxhester is dreadful. It looks to.me like you dont know any better..

I'd reply if I could understand what you've typed..... It was you who couldn't wait for Blackpool to reopen

For your information, not that iam bothered, but I've travelled to most areas of the world.

quoonbeatz wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 22, 2022 11:00 am

Flew out of T1 on Saturday on a 6am flight. Queues for easyjet check in at 330am we're out the door to the car park but we were straight in. Security queue was backed up to the check in area but it was very well managed and we were through in about 30-40 mins. Flying back in sunday night so will see how that goes.

Flew out of Liverpool last month with hand luggage only and was airside in 10 mins. Same coming back. Always tend to try and fly from there if its feasible.

Yep, I was in that queue with a 5:55 flight time with easyjet. Total nightmare tbh.

Got there at 3:00 so quite close to the front of the queue outside the terminal. Bag drop took well over an hour and then we were stuck in the queue for security, which by then had snaked 4 or 5 layers deep in the other half of the check-in hall of the terminal.

Still nowhere near the scanners come 5:15 at which point we were pulled out of the queue and taken straight to the front along with several others on our flight.

The gate was right at the far end of the terminal so we had to get a stomp on to make the flight, no toilet stop, shops etc.

Pretty stressful situation where we were just glad to make the flight in the end. I'll be avoiding Manchester Airport where possible in the future.

Just got back from New York today. Terminal 2 was a breeze.

Flew out early Saturday afternoon and were through bag drop and security in well under an hour.

Got back and were through passport check in about 20 minutes.

Some people having some good luck, some not so good.

In a conversation today with a well.trsvelled American and he told me the worst two airports he has been through are Gatwick and Manchester, which by calling it third world is an insult to many third world airports. The management of many UK companies is deadful- starting at the top.

I'll always go from Leeds or Liverpool if the option is there. Unfortunately not always the case, so you're stuck with Manchester.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 7:03 pm

Some people having some good luck, some not so good.

In a conversation today with a well.trsvelled American and he told me the worst two airports he has been through are Gatwick and Manchester, which by calling it third world is an insult to many third world airports. The management of many UK companies is deadful- starting at the top.

I'll play along, off the top of my head airports with poorer facilities than Manchester
Luton
Cardiff
Cairo
Alicante
Tenerife south
Lanzarote
Reus
Mercia
Krakow
Orlando

I could go on, but it's St John's eve... Drinks and fireworks are calling

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 8:11 pm

I'll play along, off the top of my head airports with poorer facilities than Manchester
Luton
Cardiff
Cairo
Alicante
Tenerife south
Lanzarote
Reus
Mercia
Krakow
Orlando

I could go on, but it's St John's eve... Drinks and fireworks are calling

Wow. Your world wide knowledge has blown me away. Murcia spelt with a U by the wsy is a suoerbi little airport. I know it very well. Alicante is also very good. But you just dont get it do you. Manchester is supposed to be a top international airport compared to the likes of Dubai, Singalore , Hong Kong , Shangai, Bangkok and others and you are comparing it to Luton and Reus? I think you should shut up now because frankly you dont have much idea.

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 10:21 pm

Wow. Your world wide knowledge has blown me away. Murcia spelt with a U by the wsy is a suoerbi little airport. I know it very well. Alicante is also very good. But you just dont get it do you. Manchester is supposed to be a top international airport compared to the likes of Dubai, Singalore , Hong Kong , Shangai, Bangkok and others and you are comparing it to Luton and Reus? I think you should shut up now because frankly you dont have much idea.

You mentioned small airports were better than Manchester

I never mentioned the ones you're comparing Manchester to

You keep repeating Manchester is 3rd world... I suggest you look up the definition of 3rd World prior to resorting to personal abuse, which sort of sums up someone losing

Another poor effort tonight at T1. Mrs Flixton been in security ( hand luggage only) for 2 hours now and her flight leaves at 8:15.

The places needs shutting down.

Flixtonclaret1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 24, 2022 7:59 pm

Another poor effort tonight at T1. Mrs Flixton been in security ( hand luggage only) for 2 hours now and her flight leaves at 8:15.

The places needs shutting down.

Yeah shut it down that will help

Thought she might be coming back home and it’s Captains weekend at the golf club!!

Glad to report - flight was held back.

Yeah let’s keep it open

It’s all well and good saying Manchester Airport is not 3rd world and there are worse. The facts are that an airline such as Jet2.com for example, employ their own staff, whilst EasyJet use Manchester staff. Manchester staff were NOT Furloughed during the pandemic, they were laid off, and now have alternative employment. They are not going back to the airport, who are now finding it increasingly difficult to hire staff. Hence, problems. And only last week the CEO of said airport, trousered himself a £500K bonus. It’s scandalous. How long before all the companies that own shops at this airport pull out/ shut them down, as no one buys anything cos they don’t have time to, as they have to run to board their plane once through security? And immigration and luggage collection is also awful at the moment, due to no staff. I won’t travel via Manchester again. My choice, I’d rather drive to Stanstead, Luton, Birmingham, East Midlands etc etc, than go from there. The 4 hr queues to get airside the other week was the final straw for me. Never again. Yet they continue to tell us that Manchester Airport is a world class facility. No it isn’t.

It’s too small for the amount of people it serves, that’s about the top and bottom of it. The recent lay-offs and ****-poor management only exacerbate this issue.

Easily the worst airport for a supposedly ‘big’ location.

Came back this PM, busy at passport control but kept moving, baggage already there when we got to the baggage hall... From leaving plane to getting in car was bang on an hour... Nothing wrong with that.

At T2 now. Very busy!!

Got lucky at the bag drop as a new desk opened just as we arrived. Queue 5 minutes. Security queue 15 mins. Seemed very well organised. Queue for coffee 15 mins. Sat on plane ready to rock on roll!!

Very busy but very painless!!

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 23, 2022 10:21 pm

Wow. Your world wide knowledge has blown me away. Murcia spelt with a U by the wsy is a suoerbi little airport. I know it very well. Alicante is also very good. But you just dont get it do you. Manchester is supposed to be a top international airport compared to the likes of Dubai, Singalore , Hong Kong , Shangai, Bangkok and others and you are comparing it to Luton and Reus? I think you should shut up now because frankly you dont have much idea.

I prefer Singapore airport to the lesser known Singalore.....

ClaretDiver wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 25, 2022 6:23 am

I prefer Singapore airport to the lesser known Singalore.....

Well spotted, have to admit I missed it at the time, which was a shame

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 25, 2022 7:49 am

Well spotted, have to admit I missed it at the time, which was a shame

Not for us Nori

My eldest lost an our in departures yesterday through a lack of baggage handlers. Now these guys aren’t security they don’t need any training to throw your belongings around. On the plus side for MA there were 4 stags boarding with her and they put serious cash over the bar.

More seriously does anybody know the cheapest way to do drop off/pick up at MA? She has heard it’s £8.

At Manchester airport now. T2. The queue for bagdrop looked daunting on entry but it only took 1 hot 20 minutes from entering the building to getting to departure lounge. Not too bad . Security took 20 minutes.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 25, 2022 11:48 am

My eldest lost an our in departures yesterday through a lack of baggage handlers. Now these guys aren’t security they don’t need any training to throw your belongings around. On the plus side for MA there were 4 stags boarding with her and they put serious cash over the bar.

More seriously does anybody know the cheapest way to do drop off/pick up at MA? She has heard it’s £8.

"All passengers can use our free drop off area, from which a shuttle bus will transport you free of charge to your terminal.

There will be frequent shuttle buses, with journey times ranging from five to seven minutes, depending on the terminal you are travelling to. These services will be operated to a 24hour daily schedule with marshals on hand to assist.' Drop off site is on Thorley Lane but I have never used it.

Alternatively, I have dropped off and picked up using the Drop off and Pick up short stay car parks at T1 and T3. The Drop & Go car park for T3 is next to multi-storey so you basically use the T3 multi-storey entrance to access it. T1 drop off is well signed post off the first roundabout on Outwood Ln towards the station. Passengers can be dropped/picked-up in the short stay drop off car parks with a charge of £6 for 30 minutes.

Anyone any recent experiences of departing from T3? There tomorrow - not looking forward to being confined in small space and having to sit on the floor for a couple hours.

Advice please. I have to pick up someone from a Qantas flight, probably T1, in a couple of weeks time. I am driving from about an hour away so coordinating my arrival with flight arrival is not an exact science. I have no issue with the £6 charge for up to 30 minutes but any delays can quickly rack this up to £20+. Can anyone recommend anywhere close by to park up until baggage clearance is confirmed. Thanks for any help with this.

ArnoldBenson wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 27, 2022 4:24 pm

Advice please. I have to pick up someone from a Qantas flight, probably T1, in a couple of weeks time. I am driving from about an hour away so coordinating my arrival with flight arrival is not an exact science. I have no issue with the £6 charge for up to 30 minutes but any delays can quickly rack this up to £20+. Can anyone recommend anywhere close by to park up until baggage clearance is confirmed. Thanks for any help with this.

Depending on the time, couldn’t you find a Costa/Starbucks to wait at?

Thanks. Good suggestion.

ArnoldBenson wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 27, 2022 4:24 pm

Advice please. I have to pick up someone from a Qantas flight, probably T1, in a couple of weeks time. I am driving from about an hour away so coordinating my arrival with flight arrival is not an exact science. I have no issue with the £6 charge for up to 30 minutes but any delays can quickly rack this up to £20+. Can anyone recommend anywhere close by to park up until baggage clearance is confirmed. Thanks for any help with this.

Depending on the times, there is a Booths in Hale Barns with a cafe and free parking. This is roughly a 10 minute drive away. Failing that, there is a pub called the Tatton Arms where you could grab a coffee, again free parking (or it used to be) roughly 5 minutes drive away.

AB - try the airport pub which is close to T3 - car park charges apply but for 2 hours it’s £3.20 … have a pint or a meal and await until your passengers are out of customs/ baggage then you only pay for 10 mins at the airport.

Just to say that travel this week has been noticeably harder than through the rest of this situation. Myself and colleagues who use air travel regularly for work have seen huge disruption, with more and more flights cancelled at short notice. There’s also greater panic, with people getting to the airport ridiculously early. I was stood behind people on Monday morning who were In the Air France check in queue 7 hours before their flight was due to depart.

I’ve pretty much made the decision to knock it on the head for the summer holidays, as it’s costing too much time. This week I’ve had an unscheduled overnight in Paris, and an unscheduled overnight in London…. Both times having to spend time transferring between airports. Currently stood in another big queue at Heathrow for a flight that hasn’t been cancelled yet…..

After the advice I was seeking I flew from T2 last Saturday arrived to pretty long queues but was checked in within 15 minutes of arriving then another 15 minutes through security.

As someone mentioned above it was busy but well structured without any serious queueing time needed.

The issue after that in the departure lounge was that all the lounges were closed despite people making bookings for them so it made seating access limited but apart from this small detail it all went off without any problems.

Flew from Manchester T3 on Tues afternoon. Quick checking in and security (think normal security was faster than assisted/fast track because of the people I front of us).

The restaurant and seating areas were full, the food was an absolute disgrace in the restaurant/pub. Flight 30mins late

Had family flying to Portugal this morning, had a message that they've been queueing for 2 hours. Not sure which Terminal but it looks heaving from the pictures Ive been sent.