Manchester Airport

Not Verified | A very poorly run airport. The management team are only focused on making as much money as possible and try every trick possible to do so. For example. The new terminal blocks phone signal so they offer advert sponsored or paid for Wi-Fi, give them your data or give them money. They charge for pick up and give you a very tight window despite the fact they have one of the worst security and immigration teams in the world meaning you’re almost certain to overstay the time and get an additional charge. There’s no seating in arrivals at all, unless you use the pret or Starbucks, where you will be required to buy something in order to sit, you also get charged extra if you want to sit down. Staff are nowhere to be seen, I’ve been here about 20 times in the past 2 years and have never seen a member of Manchester airport staff, unless you count the security guy who patrols the parking area putting fines on cars. Signage is awful both internally and externally. The road layout is a joke and they have not improved it with the new terminal, if anything g it’s worse. The place is dirty as there are no staff to clean it.

✅ Trip Verified | I will give someone £100 if they ever find the escalators at Manchester airport working one day. You would think that this would be one of the best airports in the world considering how they charge you for literally everything in the world, such as for a trolley and dropping people off at the airport. The airport is also very old and dated with a desperate need of a refurbishment. The only thing that the Manchester Airport Group care about is lining their own pockets, because none of it is reinvested or spent on the actual airport. Heck, they don’t even pay their staff or have the money to teach them actual customer service skills. There is not a single worker at Manchester Airport (especially the security) that isn’t rude. We even overheard one of the staff complaining about working in a bullying environment. Speaking of security, it is always busy and slow. Did I mention that the security was rude and always assume that you’re some kind of criminal? My 70 year old in-laws who have lived here in the UK for over 40 years were harassed with questions, upon returning from their holiday. If you want to ruin your holiday before it has even begun or if you want to make your way to the airport on a magic flying carpet because it’s £5 otherwise being dropped off, then this is the place for you.

Not Verified | The security is ridiculously tedious - everyone with even a small tube of toothpaste were asked to remove the tube, put thru an explosive test! Literally everyone was asked resulting in ridiculous long wait

Not Verified | The Airport has gone through a lot of changes, expansion, and new ownership (which was it's downfall). It is in Manchester has a rail and tram link to the city center. There is plenty of car park spaces. The staff at the airport are usually hard working and polite. Overcharging for a problem the airport created (to the point it is a scam). Lack of seating in the airport terminal. Luggage handling was not expanded to allow for the increased passengers. Long security queues (due to lack of staff, as apparently the airport laid off many experienced people). Ridiculous penalties for staying over 30 minutes (even if it is due to poor planning by the airport who created the problem in the first place). Overpriced shops in terminal. Lack of signage and guidance for buses (impossible to find where you need to go for the free shuttle bus, but lots of signs for paid places). Non refundable charges to use luggage trolleys Overall Manchester Airport should have had a face lift and expansion to modernise it, but in reality it was half baked, with no consideration of the impact increasing airport capacity would have on the existing infrastructure, the passengers, the staff. Manchester is no where near the top tier of international airports, nor is it in the secondary tier. More third tier.

Not Verified | We flew to/from Manchester with Emirates out on 1/2/23 and back on 19/2/23. The staff were very friendly and helpful. No stroppy security staff insisting on clearing every item out of your bag. No abrupt or rude comments. Explaining why bags were being checked. It wasn't the mad early morning rush but mid-morning so less pressure on departure gates. If, and only if, this remains a constant then I'll be happy on my next visit. Return journey, 30 mins from leaving the plane to getting into our taxi. No queues at immigration and a relatively quiet baggage hall.

Not Verified | The men at security are unbelievably rude. One of them mimicked me and they all spoke in a totally patronising way to my husband and me. They were extremely unpleasant. There is absolutely no need for such behaviour and such people should not be in a role which involves dealing with members of the public. They do not need to be friendly, but they should treat people politely and respectfully. We shall avoid using this airport in the future.

✅ Trip Verified | Travelled in from Limoges airport and then on to Alicante. Staff rude in helping me transfer my case as though I was 4 years old. Security staff rude loud and again treating people as though we are all stupid. Mocking us because the reason for the delay was because people had not removed items properly. So shouting across security by one loud small man the reasons why. It was really a joke. Manchester terminal 3 is just the worst. The gate staff were rude and rushing people through but the plane hadn’t even been prepared for passengers. Best to avoid the airport at all cost.

Not Verified | I have never been in an airport with such a messy organization, totally unprofessional, unpolite security and third world style boarding system. It is also dirty. A totally unacceptable experience to be avoided if possible to change airport.

Not Verified | Seemed quite small and congested due to the early morning rush but the airport does get bigger after passing the duty free area. There was a lack of options to sit down and have breakfast, but that could be because of some maintenance work taking place. Overall a pleasant experience.

Not Verified | What a dump; seriously, I would be very embarrassed if this airport was in my country. We arrived after having traveled 30 hours from New Zealand to find a dirty, over-crowded and chaotic arrivals area. The baggage claim was scruffy and poorly ventilated. Once we went to passport control the machine wouldn't read my passport, so I had to join a lengthy queue. The less than cheery official didn't like it when I said I also had a UK passport and grilled me on why I wasn't using that - because I travel on my NZ passport. When we finally met those who were picking us up they advised us that it had cost them GBP45 to park for under 2 hours! Departure was even worse They charge GBP5 for 5 minutes to drop off passengers - what a complete rip-off. The check-in for our airline was hidden behind the other desks (their staff member was the only pleasant person we met at that airport). Once we had checked-in we went through security; what a joke. All our 'under 100ml' items had to be in an individual bag provided by them. Yet again, a poorly ventilated, over-crowded and badly organised area. There seemed to be no system in place for how passengers were managed, and most had their bags screened for drugs and or explosives. Once airside the situation didn't get any better. Very few seats, expensive, overcrowded eateries offering poor quality choices. And yes, yet again, the cleanliness of the airport was very, very poor. It has really deteriorated in the 20 years since I last used this airport.