Manchester Airport

Would agree with the recent positive reviews of T3. Security seemed to be free-flowing and efficient with plenty of staff to direct and assist. Longish walk to departure lounge but the lounge itself seemed to be less congested than when we last passed through 2 years ago. Slightly puzzled by the numbering of the gates but the signs are easy to follow. Return passage was equally easy though passport control was slow: only two desks open but this was at 4.00 a.m. on a Saturday morning due to a 6 hours' flight delay. Used Shuttle car park and bus transfers and the system worked well.

This was my second time using it and while it's been spruced up it somehow managed to get worse rather than better - my experience is limited to Terminal 1. Transport to and from the airport to the city centre was quick easy and cheap by the train. Staff at the airport train station were helpful. What really gets me is the design of Terminal 1. The area before check- in made me want to get through security immediately; dark dingy and depressing. After check- in I found myself in what appeared to be a bright massive department store-come-shopping centre. Anything that might suggest the presence of aircraft and boarding gates were missing or lost amongst the neon glare of perfume counters and tobacco signs. I saw a young family who were obviously about to miss their flight frantically ask another passenger in the airport for directions to the gates because the entire terminal was designed to encourage as much transit shopping as possible and no thought was given to the fact that people actually had flights to catch. Confirmation of flight boarding gates are not announced until the flight is about ready to board so unlike almost every other airport I've ever used there is no option to just relax at the gate as you wait for your flight. The other downside of this is that if there's been a delay to your flight which there was both times I flew out of Manchester there's no one to turn to because the only staff around are shop assistants.

Return BA flights to LHR from T3. In the terminal 2 minutes after leaving my car as a bus arrived almost immediately. Fairly lengthy queues at bag drop but processed very quickly by efficient staff. 5 minutes to pass through security moderate queues no problems. Extremely busy Saturday morning with multiple departures so very little vacant seating available and huge crowds but all the cafes/bars were open so I found somewhere to sit eventually. Friendly/efficient service at the shops/cafes I used. Flight departed on time. Upon return bags off the belt 10 minutes after landing in a full A321 and back in my car about 15 minutes after landing. Overall a much better experience than some of my recent flights from MAN.

Have used Manchester T3 twice in past 3 weeks and found both experiences to be positive. The revamped security area can be negotiated quickly and the selection of shops is fine for what is basically a domestic terminal. Although the central food seating area always appears busy there are many quiet areas to be found nearby with plenty of seating and a nice view of the runway.

Pleasantly surprise by the refurbished terminal 1 - smart and clean with many food outlets; sufficient seating but could be more if they removed some of the thousands of square meters of shops which no one seemed to be using.

Just flown to Olbia (Sardinia) with Jet2 from T1. Was dreading it having seen some of the recent reviews since the recent revamp and was pleasantly surprised. Check in was very quick as was passport control and done with a smile and good humour! My only grumble is that herding everyone through the duty/tax free shop is a blatant and clumsy way of trying to persuade passengers to part with their hard earned. It had the opposite effect on me and I think that this should be reviewed. All in all a nice departure.

Just used Manchester T2 departing to and returning from Newark. T2 was a very pleasant experience. Uncrowded. Good choice of shops cafes and restaurants. Security very efficient and pleasant. Check-in very easy. Clean toilets. Good covered walkway to the train station. OK the architecture wouldn't win any awards and the carpeting in the immigration hall is truly nauseating.

During check-in 2 separate flights (Varna & Bourgas) were bundled together on the same 3 desks! Never in 20 years have a seen such a circus. A family held the line for 40 mins arguing over 7 kgs extra luggage. Staff was very slow the boarding card machine broke. People on the later flight were allowed to cause delays for those on the earlier which we nearly missed! Complete chaos and lack of customer care! I am writing a letter of complaint to the airport too but legal action was only narrowly avoided! Next time I will drive the extra miles to Birmingham.

Beware when using prepay car parks. We booked and paid £54 on the internet then proceeded as instructed using the same card to enter and exit the car park. It wasn't until we received our credit card statement that we realised we had been charged Â69 on exit. It is 2 months since our return and we have still not received a refund due to atrocious customer after care. Everyone we have spoken to has given conflicting information and have been uncaring. It wasn't until we completed a survey from Manchester airport online that they have taken any notice offering a 20% discount on any future parking. The airport is dowdy and depressing very few areas to sit or eat. Very disappointed with the whole experience.

MAN/BSL on Swiss. Check in fine and transit through security also good. The walk through the shopping arcade to the departure gave the opportunity to buy a litre of Pimms for £11.99 (£10 in Morrisons that week !). Departure lounge restaurants offer Carling lager for £3.75 a pint - almost £1 pound more than the normal pub price. Very dirty bar floor staffed by people who didn't seem to care - but sadly that's service in the UK these days.