Manchester Airport

Having read some of the reviews and seen the recent queues at security I was worried about flying from Manchester. On way there my worst fears were confirmed as there was a huge crash on the M6 caused up to not move for 1 hr 45 mins! Thought with the queue at security we would never make our flight but had booked fast track and went straight through and managed to run to the gate with 1 minute to spare! No idea how I managed it with the maze that is the duty free area. Total time from arriving then parking the car through security then running to the gate 10 mins total! Should add I'd checked in online with hand luggage.

I flew from Manchester to Dubai on the 10am flight on 18 July. I was fortunate to be flying Business so could go through "fast track" and I was through to airside in about 5 minutes. However the normal security queue was absolutely horrendous - it wound it's way all through the roped security area then all the way out of security and along to the very end of the concourse. I have never seen anything like it. I don't know to what extent it was caused by the school holiday rush and to what extent by enhanced security checking but I would be very surprised if travellers got through that queue in an hour to an hour and a half. Security was well staffed and they were doing their best but it was a hopeless mess outside in the general concourse with airport staff trying to call forward people at risk of missing flights - and there were lots of them! On the evidence I saw if you are flying economy through Manchester this summer allow at least an hour more than you normally would.

Short haul trip to and from Amsterdam. No real queues for bag drop passport control or security. Airport not as clean as Schipol which was very noticeable. Real need for road improvements from the M6 to the airport as some stretches still single carriageway and get very congested. (I concede that this is not in the airport's direct control but they should be lobbying for change). Staff attitude was great. Only real concern was that we had to wait for what seemed like a long while for baggage to appear on the belt. We also watched on the plane as bags were loaded and it seemed that the handlers felt they were not doing their jobs unless each bag was either thrown or dropped onto the belt of left to fall some distance onto the tarmac. Very poor workmanship and total lack of supervision as they worked.

I keep trying to convince myself that every time a cheaper flight comes up using Manchester that the last time I went through security there it was a one off a bad day. Unfortunately it's not it's the norm and every time I curse myself and keep telling myself pay the extra and use a different airport. Unhelpful uninterested staff herd you about any form of complaint is immediately dumbed down by the "abuse" excuse no matter how polite you try to be. Passengers are clearly an inconvenience to the organisation. I have yet had time to try the duty free or other facilities. I would hate to be a business in one of the terminals who's rent is based on turnover and have targets to hit. Who has time to spend any money there? Hideous airport to be avoided no matter what the cost of the alternative. They should never had been given permission for a second runway they were at breaking point with just the one.

My gripe with Manchester Airport relates to inward flights and the collection of luggage. May 2013. Return from Rome wait 1 hour 30 mins. July 2014 return from Skiathos wait 50 mins. Not really good enough is it? Both trips from T1.

As with other passengers I feel the management should look at these reviews. Use Manchester as preference to a trip via London but not out of choice more ease. Escalators and moving walkways out of order unhelpful security and long lines with no thought for passenger care and service cleaning poor and Border control with permanent queues on your return. Having used many airports world-wide these should be simple things to manage and provide to travelling customers. How many passengers choose Manchester or have they no choice? I have contacted the airport to communicate with them with little response.

One of the worst airport I've used in Europe. Extremely long to check in (even for baggage drop off) and to pass through security! Even CDG is better. Almost 1 hour before having baggage delivered!

According to the airport's website "it's our mission to make your journey as smooth and simple as possible". I regret to say that judged by the experience of myself and my wife on 2 trips through the airport this year drastic action needs to be taken to even begin the process of 'mission accomplished' - particularly in the areas of effective staffing security procedures reduction of queues staff training and customer relations. On 27 March at 11.50hrs we arrived at bag drop (2hrs before departure) having checked in online and then spent the next hour or so going through the queues at security. The x-ray scanner for some reason detected a problem with my cabin baggage (after 12 mins wait I was told it was my camera and after another 7 mins or so I was finally cleared without explanation or any word of apology). Staffing appeared inadequate and uncaring as to the needs of customers. We had no time for a coffee or to go to the toilet before boarding. On 7 June we had a repeat performance. Having arrived at terminal 1 at 04.45 (2hrs before departure) once again we spent the entire time before boarding waiting in security queues. This time my wife's cabin baggage was chosen for a random check (passed ok) and mine for search again apparently because it contained a piece of soap in a plastic soap box (perfectly allowable). The security officer did not go to the soap straight away but at a snail's pace opened and took out all my various pills and other items before declaring on opening my washbag that it was the soap causing the query. She could not adequately explain why the scanner/scanner operator should find a piece of soap problematic and I said that I did not believe her explanation (she had just reopened my wash bag for the second time!). To this she replied "Tough". Very much a 'take it or leave it approach'.

Flew in today around noon. All immigration points and automatic scanners were open. UK/EU passport holders had no wait the rest of us maybe 20 minutes which is a standard from my experience. Screeners were polite and took priority on seniors and family's. All walkways working bathrooms were clean. A bit of a trek to get from terminal 1 to terminal 2 where the busses are but again seems the standard distance compared to other airports. A few suggestions are to clearly show which baggage carousel is for which flight and better signage explaining how to get a local transport for the first timers in the country (ie do we pay the local bus driver directly and does he provide change-the answer is yes).

Frequently fly from terminal 1 and occasionally terminal 2. Last trip 3rd June (8am) from terminal 2 was utter chaos at security. 2 belts were working causing huge queues. No staff assisting no flight announcements tense worried travellers rude security staff no apologies no time to shop / spend our money even if we wanted to hardly any time to use the toilet let alone get a drink. Terrible start to a well deserved holiday. Staff ridiculously cramming every single item into the polythene bags excessive and humiliating. I recently travelled to New York (February) incorporating internal flights and the security is much better managed calm organised civilised and polite. On the way home ultra long walk from runway not one walkway functioning. Elderly and vulnerable travellers exasperated. Couldn't be much worse really could it. Skiathos one of the smallest airports in Europe more effectively managed.