Manchester Airport

We use Manchester airport fairly frequently but haven't experience British Airways check in at T3 for a while. To call it shambolic would be kind. We arrived at 7.20 for a 9.50 take-off having checked in online. The bag drop line was so long that 40 minutes later we were half way through. This line was serviced by 2 and at times 1 desk clerk. Having tried to complain that we were in danger of missing flights and connections the only other person around suggested that we should write to BA to complain as this happens all the time and they never have enough staff. We finally had to take matters into our own hands and jump the queue (thanks to other understanding passengers) and run through security to get to the gate as it was boarding! Given the choice we will not fly BA again from Manchester and would urge others to do the same until BA does something about the abysmal staffing situation. By the way if you're travelling First Class they have 2 desk clerks waiting to check you in! BA clearly only cares about the big spenders!

Travelled through Manchester Airport Terminal 3 on 14 February 2014 and I have to say how thoroughly disappointed I was with the place. Instead of getting better over the years t has got progressively worse. From unnecessarily long queues at security presumably from poor resource management to the claustrophobic atmosphere in the T3 departure area. The airport group have squeezed so many retail outlets into the place that you can hardly see any daylight and there is insufficient room to feel comfortable. At the gate 141 waiting area I counted a mere 20 seats which is pathetic when you consider the Airbus on which I was travelling has a capacity of about 160! Some of the 'seats' in the waiting area were nothing more than park benches. Uncomfortable and totally out of place in an airport. Not a customer friendly experience at all and heaven knows what it must be like if there are any delays. Anyone travelling through T3 will know how a sardine feels when they use it. The signage around the place is also poor. The font size is large and its like something you would see in a kids nursery. An all round poor experience which I don't want to have to repeat in a hurry.

A year ago I could find nothing good to say about Manchester and was very reluctant to fly from there. This however was my third trip in a row from MAN and again I was very surprised at the changes in attitude and efficiency particularly with the security staff and queuing.

Arrived from Paris at Terminal 3. Landed at 07.45am so queuing times at immigration were short. Luggage delivered within 15 mins. Upon departure check-in was hassle-free - using self-service machines and baggage drop. Airport let down by intrusive security check and very surly staff. I was barked at for not taking my shoes off then had to undergo the body scanner and an additional patdown! Boarding areas provide ample seating and clean lavatories.

Flew in from Belfast arrived at T3 straight through with no queues or distractions. Will admit that the walk from T3 to the train station is a bit of a pain still once you get there it's only twenty minutes into the city centre. A very good regional hub in my opinion miles better than Liverpool for example and a lot more functional and modern than certain other provincial airports in the UK. Only thing lacking is a decent bar air/land side Wetherspoons take note!

9th December travelling to Helsinki via Amsterdam from Terminal 3. Arrived over 2 hours before the flight at 09.20 with the intention of picking up some presents to people at the airport. Between the queues for the KLM/Air France bag drop and the endless waiting in Terminal 3 security by the time I had cleared security I had 5 minutes to pick up a coffee and then the gate was opened. Therefore no shopping for me and no additional revenue for Manchester Airport so Schipol got my business. The Terminal 3 security is perpetually slow and is simply unable to cope with demand especially when the two American Airlines morning flights passengers are going through security. This has recently been upgraded but seems worse to me now. On the positive side on my return immigration was quick and bags were delivered swiftly as well.

In the past I have been very critical of Manchester but for the third time this year the airport has exceeded my expectations. Outbound on 05 December and inbound on 12th was a pleasure. Very short queues and polite staff on security. We were airside in under 5 minutes from having dropped our bags. On return we were through immigration in less than five minutes. Only criticism was baggage reclaim. A few bags came through within a couple of minutes of our arrival but then nothing more for almost half an hour.

Long queues very unfriendly staff especially at security. Almost missed my flights despite arriving well ahead. Very unorganized. Would rather spend more time travelling than flying via Manchester again.

T1 to MLA with Easyjet. Sadly I have to concur with many of the comments below. On departure: no queue or problems at bag drop but I almost missed my flight due to enormous queues for security - there must have been the equivalent of two A380s in front of me and moving slowly. I was planning on having breakfast in the terminal (MAN management take note: this is loss of income) but there was no chance - just time for a mad rush to the gate with only enough spare time to buy a drink. No issues with Easyjet ground staff however. On return: 15-20 minute queue for immigration but no issues with staff at passport control. 10 more minutes waiting for bags. It's becoming apparent that MAN is following the example of LHR and is doing a very good job of it - while passenger numbers have hardly rocketed in the past few years staff cuts are clearly taking their toll. We should be proud to call this our home airport - the gateway to a great region - but there's no chance of that at the moment I'm afraid!

Travelling Manchester to Belfast recently I had the most horrendous experience I have ever had passing through 'Security' - The baggage check was fine and the staff were reasonably civil but when I got to where you scan your boarding pass and look into something (is it a camera?) all hell broke loose. An extremely rude aggressive female member of staff started shouting at me because I couldn't get the scanner to work and didn't know that I was supposed to look into the camera. When I told her not to be so rude she stormed off and luckily a more civil male official took over and let me look into a hand held 'camera' instead otherwise I might still be standing there.