Manchester Airport: Short stay rules, parking prices, how to get to and everything else you need to know

Tens of thousands of passengers fly into and out of Manchester Airport every day, with many arriving at the hub by car.

Unless you fly very frequently this can leave most people with an array of questions, from the pitfalls of dropping off a friend or loved one to the best places to park while you are away.

Fortunately, there are plenty of parking options passengers can take advantage of. This includes short stay options, right up to if you are jetting off for weeks at a time.

Is there short-stay car parking at Manchester Airport?

For journeys that take you away for a few days, short-stay parking options are available at the airport. This includes in the multi-story car park, and full details are available through the Manchester Airport website.

Where is the best place to park at Manchester Airport?

The Manchester Airport team recommend parking at the terminal you are flying from, so you won't nee to carrying heavy luggage long distances. While Terminals 1 and 3 at Manchester are only a short distance from one another, Terminal 2 is further away and is up to a 20-minute walk from Terminal 3.

Should I book in in advance to secure the best price?

The airport encourages booking in advance as this will help the airport manage parking capacity. As helping airport staff customers could also secure a discount when booking in advance of a journey. Discounts could also be made when booking to reserve a place on the day of the flight.

Can I arrive early? What happens to my booking if my flight times change?

Customers planning to park at Manchester Airport can arrive up to 6 hours earlier and leave up to 6 hours later without incurring any charges charge. So if your flight times change within that window there's no need to contact the airport to change the booking.

Can you drop someone off at Manchester Airport for free?

At each of Manchester Airport’s terminals, it will cost you £5 to carry out a drop off. This is for five minutes, or another option is £6 for 10 minutes. if you stay for over 10 minutes, you will be charged £25.

There is a free option which remains in place at the airport, and this is located in JetParks 1. Here, you can get dropped off and then a free shuttle bus service will take you to the terminals. The journey takes around six minutes and the service operates on a 24/7 basis.

Is there a time limit for drop-offs?

There is a time limit of 10 minutes in the forecourt drop-off areas, and you will be charged £25 if you stay for longer. Motorists dropping off family or friends are also warned to avoid leaving their vehicle unattended within a forecourt area.

Picking passengers up on the forecourt is not allowed and subject to a £100 charge, as the time it takes passengers to pass through Arrivals can vary and would often result in drivers overstaying the 10-minute limit. If you’re picking someone up, you should use one of the short-stay car parks instead, located next to each terminal.

Can I get to Manchester Airport on public transport?

An alternative to car journeys, Manchester Airport has a wide range of public transport options available, which can be affordable, accessible, reliable, and sustainable. The airport is accessible by bus, coach, tram, and train via the dedicated station onsite. Passengers are encouraged to consider a more sustainable transport option when heading to or from Manchester Airport, to reduce the environmental impact, reduce travel time, and decrease the amount of traffic on the road network.

You can find more information on parking via the Manchester Airport FAQ page.