Manchester Airport reveals their top tips for travellers this half term

There are things people due to travel can do for themselves to make their trips quicker and more straightforward – so the airport has shared some handy tips.

Manchester Airport customer experience director Jennifer Byrne-Smith said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the people of the North to the world – and we’re really looking forward to welcoming passengers as they head away over the first school holiday of the year.

“We’ve invested heavily in Manchester Airport and lots of people will be seeing the benefits of that for the first time as they use our brand-new Terminal 2 – and those flying from Terminal 3 will see that we’re investing there too.

“But there are definitely some things that passengers can do themselves to make things go even more smoothly – so we’ve shared some of our expert hints and tips. My personal favourite is using night-before bag drop services here – that’s a real game changer if you live nearby.

“The main thing is just planning ahead. Be smart with your packing, make sure you have all your documents, know what you can bring and what you can’t and plan your journey here – there will be significant rail disruption over half term so bear that in mind.”

Manchester Airport’s top travel tips:

Before you travel

- Make sure you’ve planned your journey to the airport. If you’re driving remember to book parking ahead of time for the best deals and if you’re planning to come by train be aware that no services will run between Manchester Piccadilly and the airport over half term due to planned work by Network Rail.

- Check which terminal you’re due to fly from. If you’re flying with any airline apart from Ryanair you’ll be using Terminal 2. If you’re flying with Ryanair follow signs to Ryanair departures which is a hybrid model using parts of Terminals 1 and 3 as they are the same building

- Pack smart. If you’re able, travelling with just hand baggage can save you time and money. Simple things like rolling your clothes up to fit them into a smaller bag and not taking bulky items can make the difference between needing hold baggage and not needing it – but make sure you check your airline’s hand baggage rules because they vary significantly

- If you are travelling with hold baggage and you live locally or are staying near the airport the night before your flight, look into whether your airline offers the option to check in your bags the night before your flight. Several airlines let you come to the airport the evening before where you’ll be able to park for free and check your bags in at a time when there will be no queues. It means when you arrive for your flight the next day you’ll be able to head straight to security

- If you’re being dropped off at the airport, take advantage of our free drop-off area based at JetParks 1 just a short distance from Terminal 2. It’s served by regular shuttle buses that take to you all the terminals in just a few minutes

- If you want to be dropped off right on the terminal forecourts it costs £5 for five minutes – cheaper than comparably sized airports around the country – or £6.40 for 10 minutes. Payment must be made online or over the phone by midnight the day after your visit. The removal of barriers in our drop-off areas means people can get out more quickly ensuring they don’t inadvertently end up paying for longer than they need

- Manchester Airport offers lots of service that can help you level up your experience. You can book services like Security FastTrack and TimeSlot, which allow you to avoid queues at security, and Passport control FastTrack, which lets you use a special lane on your return to the UK – find out more here

- You can also book a spot in one of our lounges or if you want a really luxury experience you can book to fly form our premium terminal Aether. Aether is available to all passengers flying into or out of Manchester Airport

- If you have any kind of special needs or disability you can book assistance ahead of your trip to the airport – this is usually done through your airline. If you’ve booked assistance you can proceed to the Assisted Travel Reception in your terminal – they are clearly signed – or you’ll find assistance call points in all our car parks

- You can tailor the level of assistance you need through our teams at the airport or ahead of your trip

- If you need assistance but haven’t booked we will still have staff available to help you if you report to the Assisted Travel Reception in your terminal

At the airport

- Aim to arrive at the airport in line with your airline’s advice – this is usually two hours ahead of a short-haul flight or three hours ahead of a long-haul flight

- Prepare for security. We have new scanners in place in all security lanes which means you no longer have to take liquids or electronics out of your bags – although in line with Government guidance you can’t travel with liquids in containers of greater than 100mls (with exceptions for things like breast milk and baby formula)

- You will still have to remove things like keys, wallets and phones from your pockets and take off outer layers like coats and jackets

- Once you’re through security you’ll have plenty of time to relax in whichever terminal you’re flying from. There are food and drink options to suit all tastes and budgets; from sandwich meal-deals right up to fine dining and everything in between – you could even bring a picnic and take advantage of our free water points

- We have information kiosks dotted around the terminals to help with wayfinding – they can even link to your phone to help direct you to where you want to go

- Remember that your gate could be up to 10-15 minutes’ walk from parts of the departure lounge so make sure you allow time to make your way there. Moving walkways are in place to make the walk easier