Manchester Airport. How can it be so bad?
Discussion
Boringvolvodriver said:
The time of your flight is key. The number of flights leaving between 6 and 9 would appear to be the issue.
Yesterday they were 24 flights departing and as people are told to arrive 3 hours before then there is the potential to have upwards of at least 3000 people there trying to get through security.
Made worse by often only 2 belts operational.
IMO LBA has increased the number of flights beyond what the infrastructure can cope with and that is before the lack of staff.
Yeah it’s the first wave where the biggest issues are at most airports with delays caused by staff shortages for baggage loaders etc but then that can cause knock on delays to the later rotations of the aircraft. Yesterday they were 24 flights departing and as people are told to arrive 3 hours before then there is the potential to have upwards of at least 3000 people there trying to get through security.
Made worse by often only 2 belts operational.
IMO LBA has increased the number of flights beyond what the infrastructure can cope with and that is before the lack of staff.
Obviously people all understandably turning up early makes it all worse again increasing check in queues and at security and creating general airport congestion.
There’s issues at most stages in these airports at the moment but some are definitely worse than others.
PinkFatBunny said:
MAN is a massive roll of the dice recently. This week T3 fast track was 20mins ....which is still a long time. Last weeks T3 fast track was 90mins and the normal queue was 2hrs+
Their organisation is utter s
te.
Unfortunately there’s no quick solution as new staff take a while to get online with training and passes and IDs etc and there’s simply not enough people in the first place wanting to work there. Airports/handling companies are starting to offer overtime type salaries for daily rates to try and attract more people but I’m not sure that’s going to be enough. Their organisation is utter s
te. I think they need to focus on getting students in, they’re on holiday soon and do medical experiments for money so loading bags would be easy money for them.
Man T2 this morning. Arrived 9.30am for 1.30pm flight. Not very busy. Through check-in and security and into lounge by 10.10.
No queues outside or throngs of people. Just a normal experience.
Tui's Escape lounge booking doesn't start until 11am so had to go back to duty free and shops until then.
Escape manager said we'd struck lucky as usually there are delayed flights but not today.She also blamed Tui's lack of check-in staff for delay days. Other airlines have more check in staff she commented.
No queues outside or throngs of people. Just a normal experience.
Tui's Escape lounge booking doesn't start until 11am so had to go back to duty free and shops until then.
Escape manager said we'd struck lucky as usually there are delayed flights but not today.She also blamed Tui's lack of check-in staff for delay days. Other airlines have more check in staff she commented.
soxboy said:
People I know who’ve flown from Leeds Bradford (yesterday and last Sunday) have both had over 2 hours to get through security.
I was originally feeling quite smug about not facing the nightmare of Manchester when I fly from Leeds in a few weeks, not so sure I am now…..
As I mentioned in my previous post, I remained smug about LBA last Sunday and fluked being the only person in either of the two check-in areas, but according to a member of staff would have had to join a lengthy queue and wait had I arrived less than 2 hours earlier.I was originally feeling quite smug about not facing the nightmare of Manchester when I fly from Leeds in a few weeks, not so sure I am now…..
I'd be minded to err on the side of caution from now on and check to see which flights are scheduled from LBA (can't be many anyway) on the website for around your flight time, and plan arrival at the airport accordingly.
Again, however, as I came to discover you could either arrive earlier but join mad queues, or (in my case) arrive a bit later on and find that there's hardly anyone or nobody else around and be done with both check-in and security within about 5 minutes.
That said, I try and avoid MAN wherever possible: the drive to and from there from the other side of the Pennines, the grim nature of the place, the awful queues and late boarding (which I've always faced on every occasion) etc. It just doesn't put me in the best mood before or after travelling, and that's before you factor in the added travel/parking costs and time to you or someone else.
On top of that, it's hardly 'direct' either. A non-direct flight from a local airport may add a bit of total flight time and may cost a bit more (not really saved if you're going to spend it on journeys and parking charges at MAN), but you can't put a price on the convenience of being so much closer to where you live (in my case, about 15 minutes) or basically being at your actual final destination.
Given MAN is about 40 to 50 miles from home, it's another reason why I consider DSA as the other alternative: the distance is about the same, the drive to and from there is actually very scenic and relaxed, the chaos isn't there (in my experience) and the experience is pleasant overall.
Edited by captain.scarlet on Saturday 21st May 20:05
DJMC said:
Man T2 this morning. Arrived 9.30am for 1.30pm flight. Not very busy. Through check-in and security and into lounge by 10.10.
No queues outside or throngs of people. Just a normal experience.
Tui's Escape lounge booking doesn't start until 11am so had to go back to duty free and shops until then.
Escape manager said we'd struck lucky as usually there are delayed flights but not today.She also blamed Tui's lack of check-in staff for delay days. Other airlines have more check in staff she commented.
Must have been there at the same time as me - including in the same lounge! It was actually all ok, normal for pre-covid Manchester really. Must just be a complete lottery but I think I’ll still refuse any morning flights for the foreseeable future. No queues outside or throngs of people. Just a normal experience.
Tui's Escape lounge booking doesn't start until 11am so had to go back to duty free and shops until then.
Escape manager said we'd struck lucky as usually there are delayed flights but not today.She also blamed Tui's lack of check-in staff for delay days. Other airlines have more check in staff she commented.
Update from Croatia via T2 Manchester with TUi.
Arrived at 330 for 6 am flight and rather a long queue stretching back on the link.Took 1 hour to get bags checked in.
Had a fast track through security which took all of 15 mins although the normal queue was reasonably long. Appeared to be a lot of people in departures and not enough seats.
Issue was, I suspect that people were turning up 4 hours before flight judging by the people around us in the queue.
Jet2 area looked busy as well.
Anyway here and lovely and warm with stunning scenery and well worth the 0200 get up time.
Arrived at 330 for 6 am flight and rather a long queue stretching back on the link.Took 1 hour to get bags checked in.
Had a fast track through security which took all of 15 mins although the normal queue was reasonably long. Appeared to be a lot of people in departures and not enough seats.
Issue was, I suspect that people were turning up 4 hours before flight judging by the people around us in the queue.
Jet2 area looked busy as well.
Anyway here and lovely and warm with stunning scenery and well worth the 0200 get up time.
Boringvolvodriver said:
Appeared to be a lot of people in departures and not enough seats.
T2 is shocking for facilities and layout to say it is a new multibillion pound development.I would have thought it was designed by kids at a nursery with a pack of crayons but they would have done a much better job.
Flew out of the yesterday, no queue for the jet 2 bag drop and 30 minutes for security which matched what the website said.
Problems came after that.
Despite it being 3pm on a Sunday at least half of the bars and restaurants were shut and so the ones open had queues out of the door. Went to WHSmith for a meal deal instead and half of the items were in the wrong place so no idea if In the meal deal or not.
There didn't seem to be enough seats and the gents loos only seemed to have a couple of urinals each. God knows what it will be like in summer when it's full.
The jet2 flight person said that some assistance passengers had been left on board for an hour in other flights as they are the airport are paying minimum wage so no one wants to do nights. I am sure adding £1 to everyones flights could mean sorting out the issue!!.
Also, 3 doesn't work in T2 and the WiFi sucked.
The new A gate spur bit seemed ok though.
Problems came after that.
Despite it being 3pm on a Sunday at least half of the bars and restaurants were shut and so the ones open had queues out of the door. Went to WHSmith for a meal deal instead and half of the items were in the wrong place so no idea if In the meal deal or not.
There didn't seem to be enough seats and the gents loos only seemed to have a couple of urinals each. God knows what it will be like in summer when it's full.
The jet2 flight person said that some assistance passengers had been left on board for an hour in other flights as they are the airport are paying minimum wage so no one wants to do nights. I am sure adding £1 to everyones flights could mean sorting out the issue!!.
Also, 3 doesn't work in T2 and the WiFi sucked.
The new A gate spur bit seemed ok though.
BHX just as bad recently..
I flew to Spain on the 9th, 7:30am flight, still took 2 hours to get through security, the airline staff were having to pull people out of the queues and take them through to avoid missing their gates.. About a third of all the security desks were actually staffed, absolute joke..
I flew to Spain on the 9th, 7:30am flight, still took 2 hours to get through security, the airline staff were having to pull people out of the queues and take them through to avoid missing their gates.. About a third of all the security desks were actually staffed, absolute joke..
smithyithy said:
BHX just as bad recently..
I flew to Spain on the 9th, 7:30am flight, still took 2 hours to get through security, the airline staff were having to pull people out of the queues and take them through to avoid missing their gates.. About a third of all the security desks were actually staffed, absolute joke..
Not good I have a flight from BHX to GLA on Thursday morning. How was the fast track as I'm on business so It doesn't cost me to use it?I flew to Spain on the 9th, 7:30am flight, still took 2 hours to get through security, the airline staff were having to pull people out of the queues and take them through to avoid missing their gates.. About a third of all the security desks were actually staffed, absolute joke..
Flanders. said:
Not good I have a flight from BHX to GLA on Thursday morning. How was the fast track as I'm on business so It doesn't cost me to use it?
I also flew BHX to GLA back in December and breezed through, so must be a more recent issue.When I arrived, the back of the queue was almost to the first area of check-in desks, and the first set of escalators had been closed off, so the queue ran along the ground floor, past the Greggs I think, then up the far escalators, did a loop around the top, then a massive spiral queue opposite the Frankie & Benny's..
The BHX website says that Express Lane Security is currently suspended - https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/at-the-airport...
It looked like some people were going through there when I was queuing (I think you can pay for Express upon arrival?) but the general queue was still around 45 minutes back from that point so I'm not sure if you can skip that part and progress straight through Express... honestly the whole thing was a mess..
I flew out of T3 to Corfu on Saturday.
Flight at 0925, arrived at 0630.
Queue through security normal for the time of day (at one time I used to travel weekly through either T1 or T3 depending on where I was going).
Security took 30 mins tops.
As others have alluded, bars and hospitality air-side rammed. It took as long to get a coffee and bacon butty from Costa as it did to get through security!
A total of only three people working on the counter and making coffee.
Staffing on these concessions seems to be an issue.
Flight at 0925, arrived at 0630.
Queue through security normal for the time of day (at one time I used to travel weekly through either T1 or T3 depending on where I was going).
Security took 30 mins tops.
As others have alluded, bars and hospitality air-side rammed. It took as long to get a coffee and bacon butty from Costa as it did to get through security!
A total of only three people working on the counter and making coffee.
Staffing on these concessions seems to be an issue.
wobert said:
I flew out of T3 to Corfu on Saturday.
Flight at 0925, arrived at 0630.
Queue through security normal for the time of day (at one time I used to travel weekly through either T1 or T3 depending on where I was going).
Security took 30 mins tops.
As others have alluded, bars and hospitality air-side rammed. It took as long to get a coffee and bacon butty from Costa as it did to get through security!
A total of only three people working on the counter and making coffee.
Staffing on these concessions seems to be an issue.
T1 was heaving last Thursday, I think people are getting there earlier so there are more people in the terminal waiting. And the problem with that is it’s more drinking time ahead of your flight, there were a lot of pissed people on my plane.Flight at 0925, arrived at 0630.
Queue through security normal for the time of day (at one time I used to travel weekly through either T1 or T3 depending on where I was going).
Security took 30 mins tops.
As others have alluded, bars and hospitality air-side rammed. It took as long to get a coffee and bacon butty from Costa as it did to get through security!
A total of only three people working on the counter and making coffee.
Staffing on these concessions seems to be an issue.
mikebradford said:
Can anyone recommend offside parking and shuttle service.
Looked to book parking for 4 days on the airport site but appears to be fully booked.
Coming from the bradford side if it makes any difference
Try Males as an option. They drive your car to save unloading luggage etc.Looked to book parking for 4 days on the airport site but appears to be fully booked.
Coming from the bradford side if it makes any difference
Or maybe Jet Parks.
El stovey said:
Boringvolvodriver said:
The time of your flight is key. The number of flights leaving between 6 and 9 would appear to be the issue.
Yesterday they were 24 flights departing and as people are told to arrive 3 hours before then there is the potential to have upwards of at least 3000 people there trying to get through security.
Made worse by often only 2 belts operational.
IMO LBA has increased the number of flights beyond what the infrastructure can cope with and that is before the lack of staff.
Yeah it’s the first wave where the biggest issues are at most airports with delays caused by staff shortages for baggage loaders etc but then that can cause knock on delays to the later rotations of the aircraft. Yesterday they were 24 flights departing and as people are told to arrive 3 hours before then there is the potential to have upwards of at least 3000 people there trying to get through security.
Made worse by often only 2 belts operational.
IMO LBA has increased the number of flights beyond what the infrastructure can cope with and that is before the lack of staff.
Obviously people all understandably turning up early makes it all worse again increasing check in queues and at security and creating general airport congestion.
There’s issues at most stages in these airports at the moment but some are definitely worse than others.
Sat then looking at the whole range of interesting characters LBA attracts.
Normal Q out the door.
Friend tells me it was exactly the same today.
Way too many flights leaving 06:00-08:00 for the infrastructure to cope.
lrdisco said:
Through LBA fast Track in less than 20 minutes on Monday at 04:00 for a 07:00 am flight.
Sat then looking at the whole range of interesting characters LBA attracts.
Normal Q out the door.
Friend tells me it was exactly the same today.
Way too many flights leaving 06:00-08:00 for the infrastructure to cope.
I am surprised that more people aren't electing to spend the couple of quid on fast track now, particularly for morning flights. Of course, the concern is then that everyone is in FT queue and the problem replicated. However, for the time being I will be buying FT passes now, particularly if its a morning flight. Sat then looking at the whole range of interesting characters LBA attracts.
Normal Q out the door.
Friend tells me it was exactly the same today.
Way too many flights leaving 06:00-08:00 for the infrastructure to cope.
My fortnightly commute is usually just after 5pm so probably no issue (fingers crossed).
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