Travellers flying from Manchester Airport in recent weeks have described the experience as "madness", with hour-long baggage drops followed by two-hour queues for security. A chaotic Jubilee Bank Holiday and half-term also saw queues which extended into car parks, and missing baggage spotted from 1,300 miles away.
The airport has warned passengers to expect security queues of 'up to 90 minutes on occasion'. But with summer holidays on the way and airlines such as TUI and easyJet cancelling flights, there are fears of trouble ahead.
We've spoken to consumer expert Tom Church, co-founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, to see if there are any ways holidaymakers can better prepare for the airport to make for a smoother start to their getaways. Here is what he had to say:
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What time is best to arrive at Manchester Airport to avoid queues?
Keep yourself well informed about the status of the airport. You can Google Manchester Airport and check the Popular Times section to see when it’s busiest.
For example, when I checked I could see that it’s consistently quietest between 9pm and 3am. See if you can book evening or early morning flights to have the best chance of avoiding queues.
It’s busiest each day during typical office hours - 9am to 5pm. It’s also busiest on Thursday, with Sunday and Monday in second place, so avoid these days if possible.
Manchester Airport offers Security FastTrack and Passport Control FastTrack, priced from £4 per person. However, please note that currently, the official website says that Security FastTrack is currently unavailable and Passport Control FastTrack is only available at Terminal 1.
If you can get the latter, though, you will benefit from a quicker exit from the airport and less time spent waiting in queues on your way back home. You can book these services up to an hour prior to departure (Security FastTrack) and up to an hour before arrival (Passport Control FastTrack).
Are certain flight times less busy?
You’ll generally find that it’s going to be quieter - and cheaper - to take flights when nobody else wants to. That means getting up early for a flight at the crack of dawn, or being prepared to travel in the small hours.
However, be aware that booking flights right now comes with its own risks due to the extensive cancellations being released by flight operators. Keep an eye on the news and be prepared for last-minute disappointment.
Are there any lounge access deals?
You may associate relaxing in an airport lounge with those who have forked out for business or first-class flights, but the reality is that anyone can gain access, and at Manchester Airport, the prices are pretty reasonable. On the website, the cheapest option is the Escape Lounge, and these are available in terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Booking through the website means you’ll pay from £24.60 per person, but you can save more if you have a Revolut Premium plan. Those who already have a Revolut bank account can upgrade to Premium for £6.99 a month and they’ll save on Airport Lounges.
For example, when I viewed Manchester Airport Lounges from my Revolut app with a Premium plan, the prices had been reduced to £20 per person. I could access The Aspire Lounge in Terminals 1 or 2 and The Escape Lounge in Terminals 1, 2 or 3.
This deal would be useful if you’re often travelling and want a discount on lounges, otherwise it would be more cost-effective to book through the Manchester Airport website. That’s not all, though - if you have a Premium or Metal Revolut plan, and your flight is delayed by more than an hour, you can upgrade to free airport lounge passes for yourself and three friends with their SmartDelay feature.
Other ways you can get discounted or free airport lounge access include via the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold, where you will get two complimentary passes per year, the Barclays Travel Plus Pack for £18 a month which includes six free lounge visits per year (if you register first) and the NatWest Reward Black. However, this option costs £31 a month and you will need to meet certain requirements to be eligible for the account and its perks, including Dragon Pass airport lounge membership.
Other things of note
As mentioned, Revolut Premium and Metal Plans offer some great perks for travellers. These include international travel insurance, a higher ATM withdrawal allowance and unlimited free currency exchange.
You may be able to access a free trial if you are currently a free Revolut user or sign up as a new customer, but it’s worth being aware that if you downgrade your membership after this trial period expires, you may be charged the card fee. Alternatively, the Barclays Travel Plus Pack offers family travel insurance, which will eliminate the need to pay out per holiday if you’re making use of this subscription.
If you've been to the airport at a particularly quiet time, let us know in the comments.
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