MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 7 October 2008 : by S Wilson

Customer Rating : 2/5

I have used Manchester Airport over 40 times in the past 6 months are remain astounded about how badly planned and shabby this relatively busy airport is. For starters while the distance from the railway station to Terminal 3 (where BA, BMI and Flybe are) is long, the "improvement work" has demolished the connection between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 that allows someone to walk easily from the station to Terminal 3, so the choice is wait 5 minutes for a bus, or take a convoluted and unsigned route via lifts and outdoors. I know it, but woe betide anyone following the mixture of new and old signs that don't mark the route in one direction, but do in the other, but only part of the way! The security at Terminal 3 is vastly improved, which helps to make up for the lack of seats in the terminal area. Toilets in Terminal 3 frequently don't have locks on the door cubicles. However what astonishes me the most is the lengthy delays in getting luggage from some airlines. I have repeatedly waited over 20 min to 30 mins for luggage from Flybe and Aer Lingus flights. Sadly unless the terminals are combined into a larger more unified operation and the airport becomes more commercially oriented it will continue to be a rather grotty place that doesn't run that efficiently - it's owned and run by 10 local authorities, and it shows.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 29 September 2008 : by Geoff Isaacs

Customer Rating : 3/5

Went through terminal 3 last week, the new security area is very fast and efficient, but position is strange. Firstly one has to go through the narrow section to the check-in desk/machines. Then to get to security its back through the narrow section, against a flow of people, many with cases, to the far corner of terminal 3 where a new corridor tales you to the security area. After security there is another long corridor to the departure lounge. Due to my morning departure I had a breakfast from the cafe - very low quality similar to a transport service station.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 18 September 2008 : by Gavin Stewart

Customer Rating : 4/5

MAN is making significant investments and improvements where it matters. Disagree that T1 is a third world experience. They have taken the view that it's worth sacrificing all landside cafes, shops etc. to create a larger, more modern security area. There is no problem whatsoever presenting e- tickets at the turnstile - you just hold the barcode over the scanner. If that doesn't work a human being is on hand to take you through the last lane. I have yet to wait more than 5 minutes to get through T1 security and the staff are friendly. Yes filtering pax through the Duty Free is tacky; solution : keep on walking. Waiting area is a mess but under constuction so let's wait and see. As previously mentioned if you can't find a seat go out to the main pier where there are hundreds waiting for you. Over in T2 the up-and-over departure lane is now open. Better than before and the same much improved barcode security system. T2 airside is a dump with shockingly bad lounges but MAN is sensibly consolidating holiday traffic into this terminal and moving business pax back to 1 or 3. Overall, Manchester is a much improved experience from a year ago. It suffers historically from a somewhat piecemeal layout and given these constraints current management is implementing some excellent improvements. For a busy airport movements are generally on time and taxi times reasonable.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 15 September 2008 : by David Gartside

Customer Rating : 1/5

MAN is getting very good at perfecting the third world experience - a special security checkpoint which does exactly what it says but then forgets to put the luggage on the plane; a new fangled T1 security area that doesn't recognise e-check in boarding passes; a dismal area post T1 security; lots of shops selling things you don't need, but no water fountain and no seats; gate staff who look at a e-check-in boarding pass as though it was something you printed yourself. Don't even ask about the toilets. And this bunch of jokers want to buy one of the BAA airports?

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 2 September 2008 : by Richard Woodhead

Customer Rating : 3/5

The new security floor has a fresher feel and fast track lane is fast and easy to use. Seemed to be long queues for standard passengers. Servisair lounge had been upgraded since March and is much improved - though lighting is rather strong. There seems to be a lot of change going on in departures in terminal 2 which can only be for the better - though for some reason, arrivals is still dark and dreary, and not a nice welcome to what is a rather excellent city.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 27 August 2008 : by A Pearce

Customer Rating : 3/5

Saturday check-in at T1, very speedy passage through security, well staffed, friendly & organised. Return flight to T1 mid week at 2215 was chaotic through immigration. A long wait with irritating "we-are-doing-everything" tannoy. So 5 star on departure ; 1 star on arrival, both T1.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 19 August 2008 : by G Barnes

Customer Rating : 2/5

I must return again to the subject of Manchester Airport, last week I departed from T3 using the long stay car park for T1/T3, returned from my weeks travel into T2. With no obvious signs on how to get to the T3 long stay car park the information desk advised I would have to walk between T2 and the rail station using the walkway. Needless to say very few of the moving walkways were operating, and its a long walk to the rail station, from where you can get a bus to T3, but having already walked so far its just as easy to carry on. While I appreciate the vast majority of passengers depart and return from the same terminal, Manchester does not allow for the exception or have an option.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 19 August 2008 : by M Lovatt

Customer Rating : 1/5

I had used the airport from 1966 through 1990 and like most found it a pleasant airport to use in all aspects. Today it is a nightmare. We arrived on Etihad, the rain was coming in through the roof of the gate corridor in 3 places along the corridor. With our long haul bags plus computer bags we had to push up the incline of the sloping ramp outside the arrivals hall which is ridiculously steep and in the rain its dangerous with water running down it. Checkin is cramped and miserable though staff helpful and polite. Security in all cases was surly and in one case extremely thorough. I always accept what is done in the name of security but the whole process was not polite it was surly and certainly not balanced. The terminal is miserable with virtually no seating until you trek past the shops and food hall. I spent the last 5 years in China, which I can say has very pax friendly airports all across the country with plenty of open spaces around the gates interspersed with shops.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 11 August 2008 : by A Prosser

Customer Rating : 1/5

This airport is a nightmare for disabled/reduced mobility passengers. I flew from Frankfurt with Lufthansa. I had booked a wheelchair, but when we arrived there was no wheelchair waiting. After a 5-10 minute walk (not a member of staff in sight) we found a wheelchair in the corridor and (luckily) I had someone with me who could push the wheelchair. When we returned to fly back to Frankfurt, the airport would not send the wheelchairs to the check-in desk: you first have to get down one level to the Lufthansa check-in, and then back up and a long walk to get the wheelchair. This was very stressful for me, since I cannot walk very far. In comparison, at Frankfurt airport you are collected at the check-in desk and taken directly to the gate. You are also picked up from the gate. Flying from this airport spoilt my holiday. I also found the airport to be very shabby and dirty.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 3 August 2008 : by C Tapsell

Customer Rating : 2/5

Upon arrival in Manchester I was quite pleased to have collected my bags and gone through the ususal process in just half an hour. However, departure took a lot longer. There were only two check in- staff manning 8 desks assigned to Lufthansa, which I would have understood had it not been a peak time. The security was also the worst I've ever experienced. The queue stretched out onto a forecourt in which there were shops surrounding, so it was difficult to find out exactly where the line began. Once through screening one must find their way through a rather small and overcrowded duty free store.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 3 August 2008 : by G Barnes

Customer Rating : 2/5

I use Manchester airport in/out on average 4 times per week, and it continues to deteriorate despite the expected delivery of the improvements from the development work. T1 Departure – Check in desks now split over 3 areas creating much confusion even for the regular traveler, after check in you now hit a congested duty free shop as soon as you clear security, causing delays and frustration if you don’t want to walk at a snails pace through the duty free shop. The departure screens (all terminals) summons you to the gate automatically against the schedule departure time; you arrive to discover there isn’t even an aircraft at the gate let alone any staff to advise where it is! T1 Arrivals – Never enough immigration staff on duty(all terminals). Baggage takes for ever even from flights that are not in containers. The exit from the baggage hall is straight into a non duty free shop so everyone with luggage grinds to a halt as you cannot navigate though the shop, it’s ridiculous. T2 again check in desks over two levels, and the lower level check in that is in “arrivals” the lines from which then cut across the main exit from the passenger hall, chaos. The business departure lounges are very poor standard, must be the worst in Europe. T3 Security always very slow despite the additional area opened a few months since, staff at the beverage concessions is always too limited so expect to wait 15 minutes for a drink or food. Limited shopping and overall poor passenger layout. If your travelling domestic from gates 18 down to 3C amenities poor or you need to wait a long distance away from the gates. Navigating your way past the baggage carousels in arrivals is the most difficult not enough room for a flight full of passengers to wait and have other passengers trying to get past. Ever left a comment on the Manchester Airport web site? Did you ever get a response? Manchester you have a lot of work to do!

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 30 July 2008 : by J McIlwain

Customer Rating : 2/5

Travel each year through various terminals and have done since the early 1990's. What was a pleasant experience to have pre-flight has now become effectively - a cattle market. Most services are now moved to airside so ensuring the trapped passengers have to avail themselves of what the airport has to offer including allowing passengers to get drunk pre-boarding from early morning. No doubt the airport makes a hefty cut from the airside services it provides to a closed audience, particularly on flight delays which are becoming more frequent. MAN now has all the aspects of a shabby bus terminal - hardly a glittering portal to the North West for a visitor. I'm surprised that there aren't vagrants walking around airside. I suppose what is worse, due to security, is that time spent in the airport often actually exceeds time spent flying, which also means the need for more toilets, particularly in T2! I feel sorry for flight crews as well with little accommodation for them. A big piece of real estate badly utilised in the modern world.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 29 July 2008 : by Kevin Halouska

Customer Rating : 3/5

I question how MAN has managed to ruin its airport. It use to be so nice. I have been using it since the late 1960s. This century it has declined markedly! It is interesting that from the outside all three terminal buildings look fine – even good by the standards of some European airports its size. But one cannot imagine how bad it is inside these terminals. Terminal 2 is so so, terminal 3 is not much better. But what has happened to terminal 1? Check ins are spread throughout the terminal. After security, to get to your gate you have to actually walk through a duty free shop. (I already thought UK airports were bad enough with the airport attached to a shopping mall concept – but I have never had to walk through the shop itself to get to my gate). I was able to hide in the executive lounge upstairs, avoiding the slot machines downstairs and other annoyances downstairs. And then there is the “concept” of walking up and down stairs on the piers before you get to your gate. I do not know which architect they employed for this maelstrom. Recently I had a 6am departure from terminal 2. It is strange that at 5am you can get a beer (plenty of passengers had) yet the coffee shops there open later than the pubs in the terminal. Other airports make an attempt to have charter flights in one terminal and scheduled/business destination flights in another. Manchester has commingled them all together in each terminal creating an unpleasant experience. Do not try to transfer from one flight to another flight here. Best to check your bags through to Manchester, collect them, then recheck them again. It may be annoying, but I waited at the belt once as despite checking my bags through to Amsterdam, I knew they would throw them on the arriving flights belt.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 29 July 2008 : by H Winstanley

Customer Rating : 5/5

I have been travelling in and out of this airport for many years and had no problems. It has fast security, number of shops on offer is pretty good and distances between the terminal are tiny! Honestly, 10 minutes is nothing between the farthest terminals.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 25 July 2008 : by Marsden

Customer Rating : 3/5

Manchester used to be a shining example of how to operate a regional airport. Big enough to accomodate the big boys but small enough to have that friendly atmosphere we like. Over the last 20 years it's turned into a monster which either the executive board don't want to fix because the budget isn't there or because they're making money hand over fist whilst it's crap they just dont give a stuff. I have never had a really bad Manchester experience, maybe I'm just lucky. But I see everytime I go through there the poor quality of cleaning, the overpriced and overpushed shops and overpriced and poor quality catering outlets. The place is filthy. The horror stories you hear of no seating available in departure lounges, rude staff, baggage delays just kills you to be a Mancunian. With the correct management, board level support, Manchester could be a shining example of a quality airport terminus.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 23 July 2008 : by Julian Lyons

Customer Rating : 4/5

The distance from check in to gate is identical, it's just that more of the airport is airside now than landside. The new security is simply amazing. No need to take off shoes, you can leave wallets and money in your pocket and we were through the whole thing in 5 mins. There is still a lot of work going on but the new departure lounge looks like its going to be much more spacious. If only now the arrivals procedure from gates 1 - 10 can be streamlined and the airport would get five stars!!

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 17 July 2008 : by D Rogers

Customer Rating : 3/5

MAN is undergoing yet another refit, across all 3 terminals. This inevitably causes problems. My recent flights have used all 3. Checked in online for my departures, standard check-in queues were tensor barrier happy in all terminals. Security was smooth enough, I'd suggest that the guys asking for liquids might be better deployed in the check-in halls, getting people queuing properly. T1 Departures: think near-complete shopping mall with airplanes as an afterthought. Seating was poor, hard wooden chairs just after the duty-free maze and a lack of comfortable seats. Some gates have a weird access route, due to arrivals corridor bisecting the piers. Info screens near gate 2 were throwbacks from the 80s and should be replaced. No real facilities prior to security, meaning a trip to a shabby arrivals hall with an overload of games machines and a poor selection of outlets (though this apparently is due to improve in 6 months). T2 Departures: all right, a little grubby, but a decent selection of shops, food court not amazing but bearable. Info screens need replacing. No screens at gates to inform passengers of the current flight boarding. T3 Departures: Cramped when you first get through security. Good level of seating, hot food choices limited to one unpleasant looking café, however. Main bar under atrium quite pleasant though. Info screens again need replacing. Confusing numbering system for the gates. Arrivals in all 3: immigration severely understaffed. Baggage reclaim not too bad, max wait I've had has been 15 minutes.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 11 July 2008 : by F Bates

Customer Rating : 1/5

This is one of the few airports I use that has actually been made worse by redevelopment (Terminal 1). It is now twice as far to walk to get from check in to the gates, plus there is now a shop to negotiate. It is clear that MAN's priority is to fleece charter passengers as much as possible, and they freely admit to this in their ubiquitous 'splash out, you're on holiday' adverts throughout the terminal. Any attempt to masquerade as a serious business airport has been given up on, and this is seen in the low quality 'executive' lounges there, offering only crisps in the way of food. The situation is no better for arriving passengers, with farcical arrangements in place to keep arriving and departing passengers separate in both T1 piers. Best avoided.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 11 July 2008 : byG Cloherty

Customer Rating : 1/5

Whatever happened to Manchester Airport? My wife and I have travelled through Manchester Airport since the 1980's and always thought of it as customer friendly and a pleasant start to the holiday. Not any more. Horrendous queues to get through security; unhelpful and sarcastic staff - when I asked for some directions to a gate I was advised " its where the queues are!". On our return, no steps could be found to dis-embark the aircraft; after half an hour some were found. Baggage took one and 1/2 hours to arrive. My wife has written a letter of complaint on the 17th June - needless to say no response. Avoid at all costs, particularly Terminal 1.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 11 July 2008 : by P Brown

Customer Rating : 1/5

Manchester T1 is an absolute disgrace. Following check in there are no facilities to spend with non travelling family members. The new development is a crass and cynical method of exploitation with little style or class. I found it an affront to have to walk through a glorified perfume shop into the catering atrium. The Lancaster Restaurant had been replaced by what could best be described as a drinking den and the food hall (and I use the term food very lightly) was expensive and poor quality. What a depressing way to begin a journey. I did not notice a tattoo and body piecing parlour but it wont be long in coming. It scores 1 on the basis that the flight was on time, much to my relief.

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 7 July 2008 : by Peter Harrison

Customer Rating : 2/5

Terminal 1 - As others have commented the construction work at MAN is interminable. It seemed to me that the security area had been revamped since my last visit and this is much larger than before. The food offering is ghastly and expensive. I found everywhere very crowded and noisy - a pleasure to leave!

MANCHESTER AIRPORT review : 3 July 2008 : by N Barnsley

Customer Rating : 2/5

Terminal 3. Arrived from Madrid at 8.45pm - 50 minutes late. Only one passport control desk open, resulting in a long queue and 20 minute wait. Even so, bags were still not on the conveyor belt when I finally made it to the arrivals hall: another 15 minutes. I had a train to catch and, by now, was definitely on the minutes. Since I last arrived at T3, access to the airport's train station via T1 is no longer possible, but there is a bus service, however, it only operates every 20 minutes "at this time of night". I made it to the station just in time. On my return trip, check-in, security and passport control were fast and manned by courteous and efficient personnel. But the departure lounge has far more shops than it used to have, largely at the expense of seating areas, and there is only one, rather grotty, self service cafe, if you're feeling peckish, and a couple of bars. It's not especially clean. Manchester Airport is not what it was.