Manchester Airport. How can it be so bad?
Discussion
After my gloating over Doncaster they cocked up our flight on Sunday. Everything went swimmingly until we were sat in the plane. Eventually they announced that the entire Dreamliner had to deboard and go back through security as the airport had made a mistake in their procedures (I suspect these were the special US ones).
To be fair it was amazing that I was back in my seat 30 minutes later. I guarantee that no security check has even been faster. Fortunately they allowed us to take liquids through the 2nd time!
Due to a giant cockup on our part my wife was not able to travel. She’s on the Manchester flight today. Checkin was a breeze and security took 10 minutes.
To be fair it was amazing that I was back in my seat 30 minutes later. I guarantee that no security check has even been faster. Fortunately they allowed us to take liquids through the 2nd time!
Due to a giant cockup on our part my wife was not able to travel. She’s on the Manchester flight today. Checkin was a breeze and security took 10 minutes.
T1 from Manchester on 16th, turned up 4 hours early, no hold luggage, through security inside 20 minutes (fast pass saved us 30 seconds judging from the sizes of the two queues) and had a very leisurely (VERY leisurely) breakfast 
Only point to note was most planes were flying out of T3 not T1 involving a bit of a walk between terminals (both inside the same security zone) but not really an actual problem.
Flew back in on 20th, had a 15 min wait on the tarmac for a set of ladders, then through passport control in a couple of minutes.
Maybe they're getting their act together... famous last words...
Only point to note was most planes were flying out of T3 not T1 involving a bit of a walk between terminals (both inside the same security zone) but not really an actual problem.
Flew back in on 20th, had a 15 min wait on the tarmac for a set of ladders, then through passport control in a couple of minutes.
Maybe they're getting their act together... famous last words...
they built a massive massive new terminal 2, just before the pandemic. Then, they had no flights earning money for them, so worst possible timing. They will have had to lay off vast swathes of the workforce to make ends meet. They've been struggling to add workforce capacity back ever since. I flew a couple of times through there at the tail end of last year, and all the equipment and vehicles were all lined up brand new and untouched. I think they more than have the physical capacity to cope... it's purely the people shortfall. The irony is that it would probably be a fantastic place to fly through by now with the new T2 if it wasn't for the pandemic.
Blown2CV said:
they built a massive massive new terminal 2, just before the pandemic. Then, they had no flights earning money for them, so worst possible timing. They will have had to lay off vast swathes of the workforce to make ends meet. They've been struggling to add workforce capacity back ever since. I flew a couple of times through there at the tail end of last year, and all the equipment and vehicles were all lined up brand new and untouched. I think they more than have the physical capacity to cope... it's purely the people shortfall. The irony is that it would probably be a fantastic place to fly through by now with the new T2 if it wasn't for the pandemic.
Hardly i went thru T2 on a quiet Thursday morning in early January this year. Seems very poorly designed, definitely not designed for people or travellers or ease of movement.There were queues for even the most basic facilities ie even for the blokes pishstones never mind the traps at both sets, as usual even worse at the womens and that's even before any holiday or peak periods. The queues for the eateries were all silly but possibly understandable a bit until they get back up to speed.
I went back the following week after things had opened up a bit and the security was carnage compared to a week earlier, that much so no time to queue to get in San Carlo for an overpriced brekky again, just squeezed onto a table in another bar to ram down a bottle of overpriced prosecco between our group in about 10 mins flat before racing to the gate.
Must be costing the a fortune in lost airside business but heck at least it saves me spending on tat
Sadly dsappointing really after looking forwards to the 'great new terminal' which in reality was £2billion smackeroonis spent on a complete flop so far it seems.
Just came through Manchester on way to Mallorca with Ryanair, they are flying out of terminal 3. We had purchased fast track security and were through security in the departure lounge in less than 10 mins. Departure lounge was rammed, but we managed to find somewhere to site down for an hour, all in all pretty smooth and better than I was expecting.
Are these queues at 3AM this morning not a self-fulfilling prophecy ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
I had the misfortune of arriving into Manchester yesterday. Even on arrival, without any hold luggage, the process was still utter dogs
te. I have once again vowed to continue to avoid wherever possible and transfer via Amsterdam if needs be. Shower of incompetent st, and understaffed to boot.
And then after all that I find trains cancelled due to strike action. Dreadful journey end to end on what was only just over an hour in the air.
te. I have once again vowed to continue to avoid wherever possible and transfer via Amsterdam if needs be. Shower of incompetent st, and understaffed to boot.And then after all that I find trains cancelled due to strike action. Dreadful journey end to end on what was only just over an hour in the air.
valiant said:
Stansted: “Hold my beer…”
had the misfortune of encountering Stanstead.. another cash cow... at least in other countries its spaced out and not as blatant. but here in the UK it is so in your face and in your pocket. Edinburgh - forced to go through the duty free when going to the departures... like isnt there a shortcut ? something that can be done so that if you chose not to indulge in that crap you can get get through.
snuffy said:
Are these queues at 3AM this morning not a self-fulfilling prophecy ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
Yeah it’s definitely part of the issue. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
Today’s first departures in Z/gmt so add one hour for U.K. time.
Not much reason normally to be there at 3AM but if people have seen the news and worry they’ll miss their flight then you can see why it happens.
El stovey said:
Yeah it’s definitely part of the issue.
Today’s first departures in Z/gmt so add one hour for U.K. time.
Not much reason normally to be there at 3AM but if people have seen the news and worry they’ll miss their flight then you can see why it happens.
Indeed; report long queues, people turn up very early; result = even longer queues.Today’s first departures in Z/gmt so add one hour for U.K. time.
Not much reason normally to be there at 3AM but if people have seen the news and worry they’ll miss their flight then you can see why it happens.
c.f. recent petrol queues and bog roll shortages !
snuffy said:
Are these queues at 3AM this morning not a self-fulfilling prophecy ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
that time of night they'll be arriving not leavinghttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
Blown2CV said:
snuffy said:
Are these queues at 3AM this morning not a self-fulfilling prophecy ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
that time of night they'll be arriving not leavinghttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
snuffy said:
Blown2CV said:
snuffy said:
Are these queues at 3AM this morning not a self-fulfilling prophecy ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
that time of night they'll be arriving not leavinghttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10774475/...
Surely most of these people polling up at 3 in the morning can't all be flying that early ?
I wonder if they were having to queue like that as the check in desks weren’t even open.
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