Is Manchester Airport Britain's Worst? I review BA to London in Business Class
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- Опубліковано 30 чер 2024
- British Airways is very British if you live in London - less so if you live in the provinces and the only place you can fly on them is London. So I decided to review one of those feeder flights into London and I picked BA's shortest flight - or at least their shortest bookable flight - I explain in the video! And I booked to travel in Business Class to see whether a meaningful service is possible on a 34 minute flight...
And I chose to fly from Manchester - widely regarded as Britain's worst airport and officially awarded that title by Which Magazine. And BA operates from Terminal 3 which Which magazine rates as the worst terminal in the worst airport.
The things I do for you, dear viewer....
⭐ #flightreview #BritishAirways #MattsPlanet ⭐
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⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
2:56 - The Manchester Experience
9:47 - Boarding? Not Boarding?
12:00 - The Flight
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. This video may not be copied or reproduced without written permission.
Matt this whole video seems to reflect all the reasons why I don't like flying anymore and why I am more than happy for you to take flights on my behalf. Keep up the great, honest, painful work. It's always appreciated. Amazing the palaver you have to go through for 34 minutes in the air.
Thanks Steve! Happy to take these experiences for the greater good!!!
I know what you mean Steve. However there are a good number of customers who take this route because of making international connex at LHR.
@@MattsPlanet I really wish VAwould bring back the LHR connection via Leeds, but that may be asking a little too much....
Great video! I fly out of T3 often and you’re right, it’s appalling. The lounge situation is a joke. They’ve only recently opened the first escape lounge you went to, as they always refused priority pass members at the other escape lounge. You were always greeted with “we’re full, and there’s 20 people on the way” despite the lounge behind them being completely empty. Everything about Manchester airport cannot be insulted in strong enough terms to be honest!
You share a very popular view as the comments to this video reveal!
I never have this issue, my lounge pass provider lets me pre-book a slot. Maybe you should get a better card!
I live in Wigan I fly liverpool when ever I can.
As a northerner I have to endure the horrors of Manchester airport quite frequently. I have yet to experience a worse terminal anywhere on the planet than T3! And yes you're spot on about the over zealous security. The place really is the absolute pits!
I've hit a real nerve with this video!
Haha it's worse than a trip to the dentist!@@MattsPlanet
Someone is definitely making money on the tonnage of cosmetics that is confiscated prior to security.
It's a terrible terminal given the shear amount of flights that serve it. It's always overcrowded and the catering options are really lacklustre compared with the other manchester terminals. Surprised BA operate from it given it's mostly used by ryanair and other low cost carriers.
@@kianhorton5186 These days, BA short-haul is just Ryanair in drag, despite the image they project.
Thank you for highlighting how terrible T3 at Manchester is. You are spot on that this terminal was never designed for the No of passengers they cram through it now. It was originally built as T1 domestic then rebranded T3 when it was expanded for BAs sole use when they had an international network out of MAN (which we miss). Where security is now used to be a landslide food court for T1 and that horrid funnel before you get to the scanners was actually a walkway from T3 to T1 inside the building. Again not designed for what it's now used for. Security at MAN is well known for being insanely sensitive and it makes no sense at all. Your experience was a dream compared to peak times. I once did fast track on a Friday evening and it was 90 mins to move 110 metres through the queue. The stress was unbelievable. T1 is similar in terms of poor experinece and areas used that weren't designed originally for that use but it is being closed in 2025 supposedly. T2 is much nicer but security is still awful. I wonder if this issue will disappear whenever the new scanners come in?
Thanks - if they think my power adaptor is a risk, detecting it with the new scanner probably won't speed up the overall experience....
Fast-track at MAN, in my experience, usually means standing in a shorter queue while they pull the least-prepared muppets out of the long one and put them in front of you. Utterly infuriating.
That's got to be really annoying...
Every. Single. Time. Bar one, I think.
I was in fast track last year and it was vastly under manned and took me 15 minutes longer to go through than a friend who went through normal: their excuse was they had moved staff to the standard security queues. All the local councils and IFM that own the group must be really "happy" with the service offered as its been like that in T3 for years !
I’ve flown out of Manchester T2 on a few occasions over the last few years. Sadly, while it looks better, it suffers many of the same problems. Hopeless security, broken travelatotors, & absolutely filthy toilets. One one occasion we were all waiting 3 hrs for the first bag to arrive at baggage claim.
I guess getting frustrated in a better environment is little consolation for being frustrated!
T2 9pm Qatar after 19.30 everything was closing no food anywhere except £13 burger/chips. Last five trips moving walkways never work. After Bangkok Amsterdam and Singapore Manchester is a joke for an international airport.
Strange, always fine for me when I fly from T2 with Qatar@@097534
@@097534If you mean the moving walkways in the Skylinks, they were completely disabled during COVID and MAN will be removing them as they were fed up (i.e. don't want to pay) with repairing them. Currently, they don't even seem want to pay to remove them having made to decision to do it.
Matt.. As a regular flyer on BA, I have flown this route many times - and your experiences are spot on and are consistent. Fast track security is a joke as this line merges with the regular queue. The bag rejection rate is true - I've been the victim of this for no reason - I carefully load the trays to reduce the chances. Last time I was rejected and I asked what was wrong (so I can learn!) - the agent just put the tray through again and it was clear. One good thing about the MAN - LHR route is the simple and quick connection at LHR. No security - just past a boarding pass check and an escalator to the departure area - It pops you out right next to the BA North lounge.
Reliability is often a problem mostly due to air traffic issues and the Heathrow queue - I leave a minimum of 2 hours lay over time.
When flying from London now, I'm more likely to take the train from Macclesfield to Euston and the the Elizabeth line direct to LHR, or Thameslink to LGW. Typical door to door times of 2.5 hours.
Years ago you could fly on BA from Manchester to many places in Europe eg Frankfurt, Paris - and a MAN - JFK service. A great idea before the 'you know what' was using the LCY fleet for weekend travel to holiday destinations in the med - I dont think this has been re-established
Great video as usual
Thanks Mike. I went home when I got to LHR but I do believe the transit experience there can perhaps be described as pleasant - once you've endured the unpleasantness in MAN to get there...
Matt you are absolutely correct. I recently flew from Manchester ( after 20 yrs) and was astonished how bad it was. Dingy, overcrowded with ridiculous queues , understaffed, very low ceilings and constant narrow corridors..I used the Aspire lounge and that was the only positive thing! I am struggling to think of any worse airports globally and iv been through 100s ! Surely people of north west deserve a better airport than this.
The comments suggest T2 is better - even if the security experience is similarly bad....
We have a better airport in the northwest, it called John Lennon Liverpool
@@garyaughton4444it doesn’t offer anything like the amount of flights or destinations though. Manchester should be much better considering it’s the northerners only real option a lot of the times for direct flights to Europe/ America.
@@garyaughton4444 Except you can only fly to a much smaller number of destinations, hence a much smaller passenger count hence a better experience,
I’ve flown out of and into Manchester Terminal One several times in the last few months and can more than empathise with your experience. Arrival is crazy, when disembarking you walk up the aerobridge along a corridor to a flight of steps that leads down to tarmac level, walk another 15 metres or so to another flight of steps back up to the arrival level before entering the immigration area. There are lifts but if several flights arrive at the same time you wait 5 minutes to get into the lift, another 5 minutes to get into the next lift to get back up to the arrival level., ie 10 minutes to move 15 metres! The whole building is squalid and dirty. Departure experience in terminal one is exactly as you describe terminal 2 to be, same problems with the scanner sensitivities, hand baggage containing adapter plugs or spare cables invariably taken aside for extra screening even when containing no other electrical equipment. Security staff are rude and shouty to boot. The Aspire Lounge, used for both paying guests and Star Alliance premium members, aspires to nothing. Whatever hot food available is over cooked and the it’s difficult to even get a seat, let alone a table that is cleared and clean. Overall, the terminal is a disgrace.
Amazing the 20 (?) councils who own it don't do something about it.... Oh... Wait....
Your comments are absolutely spot on regarding this s#%t hole of an airport. I had my insulin removed from its cool bag secure position and scanned separately.
I’ve travelled all over the world and never had this before.
When one airport does things so radically differently from everyone else, that's a big problem
My only experience of Manchester was 20 years ago. I'm a type 1 diabetic and have been for 50 years. As a result, I carry insulin and 4/5 insulin syringes in my carry on. I also carry a blood sugar test set.
On check in, I was asked the usual questions. I told them I had the above items in my carry on and was promptly asked for a doctor's letter confirming these facts. This was the first time ever I had been asked for such a letter. To cut this story shorter, I was refused to board. I had to return home for such a letter. I lost 2 days of my trip. but the thing that really pissed my off was that on my return to the airport I was not even asked for the letter I now had.
That's outrageous. Another comment that someone was allowed through with syringes but received medical advice about not needing two of them... Which conflicted with what their doctor had said! Imagine....
This is definitely my new favorite flight review channel! The depth you go into about the 'other things that come with your flight' such as terminals and lounges, is great. Keep it up!
And you are definitely my new favourite commenter!
I grew up in the north west and lived in Scotland for the past 7 years. I now always fly BA pretty much out of Scotland, but wouldn’t touch Manchester with a bargepole. My dad swears by never using Manchester, it is is so bad - especially (as you mentioned) the walking connection between terminals and access to the train station. Keep up the great videos!
Thanks! Looking forward to the launch of Ecosse Airlines when you get your independence!!!!
I live right by Glasgow airport but have used Manchester airport, as many Scots do during the Scottish holidays, as it is soooo much cheaper . I didn’t think Manchester was too bad!
We decided to fly from Liverpool rather than Manchester to Malaga this year. Couldn’t help but notice the signs around Liverpool airport saying faster, easier and friendlier. At first I thought it was typical Scouse wit but in all fairness, we’d chose flying to/from there over Ringway any day of the week.
Another win for Liverpool in the rivalry against Manchester!!!
Yep Liverpool is so much better staff are brilliant, much more pleasant experience
@@Julian-ck6lfShush, don't tell everyone. 😅
Completely agree Ian, I have recently flown out of Liverpool and it was an absolute dream compared to the nightmare that is Manchester.
We absolutely love LPL. We've been lucky, yes.
But so far, every time:
Short walk from reasonably-priced parking.
Quick and friendly check-in/bag drop (no queue at all last time even for Ryanair).
Friendly and efficient security.
The lounge is small but does what it does perfectly well, and admitted us on Priority Pass without a qualm.
On-time boarding through a sensibly-organised gate.
On-time departure, on-time arrival.
In contrast I dread going to MAN, especially the security farce.
Always like your videos - to the point and very interesting views
Thanks for watching!
Spot on Matt. You nailed it at 10.06 for me . The dreadful layout, long queues to check in and no lounge worth its salt, it’s the last option ever for any premium flights. On all my 241 redemptions in First over the last few years, I have always chosen to drive to Heathrow from the northwest and do meet and greet parking. About the same time and cost as the shuttle, but you get the excellent First wing and the Concorde room to start your journey.
Thanks Andrew - I seem to have "opened a vein" for North Western residents with this video!
Great video Matt! One of the things I've learnt on this route is - try to get a seat in row 1 or 2 to get enough time to enjoy the meal and wine.
Great advice!
Great video - thank you. I am always impressed at how quickly BA can serve a busy CE cabin on these very short flights. (I regularly fly Heathrow-Jersey which has a flight time around 30-35 mins, and they are super quick.....) As others on the WhatsApp chat have suggested though, booking a 'special meal' can be a good choice, as you often get it served first :)
Thanks - if a meal option was "Protein, extra bacon" I'd be there every time....
@@MattsPlanet 🥓 🥓 mmmmm bacon 🥓
Only just discovered your channel and wanted to say great sense of humour. Both informative and entertaining at the same time 👍
Welcome aboard!
20 of us (mostly German school children) were able to experience Manchester airport when Easyjet cancelled our Munich to Gatwick flight. We were rebooked to Manchester because it was the only option available to get us to the UK when we needed to go. Baggage claim was faster than in London.
Thanks Barbara - an arrival experience is a different proposition to a departure experience - smaller airport so probably quicker.... Still a long way from Gatwick though!
How interesting, Matt, that you cannot allow a positive comment to pass unchallenged. Manchester T1 is home to 21 based EasyJet Airbuses alone and is the terminal serving MANY other airlines including upto 3 Emirates A380's daily. It is a large facility. Your "smaller airport" jibe confirms that you post with an agenda to disparage.@@MattsPlanet
I wasn’t expecting this video! Thanks for this! Terminal 3 of an evening is even worse. Its not rare to see big drunken groups blasting their own music and openly vaping in some of the more secluded areas. They’re never challenged by security of course. On my last visit to the Escape Lounge, there were items of food that had been flung down the steps (which had been taken from the lounge - chicken legs!) and they were still there when I left many hours later. Terminal 2 is pretty nice, hopefully BA start operating from there.
Thanks - It wasn't a terrible experience (security excepted!) but it sounds like it gets far worse!!! Thinking I should do a trip from T2 as a comparison!
Was literally going to try taking the BA flight from MAN to LHR instead of the 2.5 hour train trip into Euston from Preston tomorrow. After watching this, I’m fully convinced of never thinking that again! Thank you!
Thanks Lars - if the trains are running that day of course!!
Manchester Airport is truly a disgrace. I live in central Manchester, fly frequently and do all I can to fly through Liverpool instead. It’s a poor experience throughout but security seem determined to pick fights with customers over trivial things. Customers are treated with contempt. The buildings are poor but the real problem is the working methods.
Thanks Graham - I didn't expect such an outpouring of support but your views are widely held! Feels like I'm now managing a support group!!!
Thanks Matt. I might start up a Manchester Airport users' support group. We can exchange stories about the most ridiculous things that have caused a bag to be rejected. In my case, that prize goes to a Kit Kat chunky, which is apparently a liquid.@@MattsPlanet
Thanks for the info + video!
You are very welcome Jimmy
Manchester airport seems to exist only for the reason of fleecing as much money from its users as possible especially parking.
It's not fighting for "best airport" awards is it???
@@MattsPlanet flew from Liverpool recently much better experience that t1+3 at Manchester, Liverpool isn't big enough to offer any competition with Manchester but jet2 may change that next year.
Just subscribed! Love your review videos
Thanks! You started with a good video!
Excellent video, thanks. I didn't realise just how bad M/cr airport (or Ringway back in the day) was. Glad I chose Gatwick now.
I opened a can of the proverbials here - just read a handful of comments at random!
Another fantastic video and this was fun to watch as I've been on this shuttle service a few times and BA, very clearly, is calling dibs on that specific gate you departed from at MAN T3 and I remember it being that exact gate each time I flew the route myself. So I guess they must have some sort of deal with the airport about having the use of a special "BA only" gate 143 and that's why they stick to using the dreadful T3.
During the you know what it was quite quirky as they would both check us in and use the lounges/departure area at T1 but we'd walk down a corridor airside to get to T3 even though it was technically closed. Surprise surprise, we were lead to that BA gate.
They really are pulling a Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory and calling an eternal dibs on that spot at gate 143 😂
Like the hotel California - one you check into gate 143 you can never leave....
Nice video Matt, I've done the BA LHR-MAN shuttle a few times in economy class. I would personally only do this route in Club Europe for one of three circumstances: Tier Point run, complimentary upgrade (I can dream) or as part of a wider itinerary.
Thanks Jett - absolutely agree - and as it turns out the service part of the video didn't end up being its focus - could have saved myself a few thousand avios and redeemed into economy and would have got the same views!!! People do not like Manchester!
@@MattsPlanet I've had some good trips from Manchester. I even (back in 2016) spent the night roughing it in the Airport, though I mixed my time between T1 & T3 at the time.
Ahhh you've jogged some memories for me there. I've also had my bags be subject to that extreme screening at Manchester whereby you have to take every single thing out of your case. Like you, this never ever happens to me anywhere else. I remember some of the questions at the time about where I had purchased things seemed very unrelated to actual security and more like general chit chat.
Back when Manchester did flights to LA (Thomas Cook) the plane was 2 hours late leaving due to delays at security. Many parts of this airport feel like office corridors and you are also right about that unfriendly signage. This airport definitely needs an upgrade!
Thanks - this has elicited a strong response from lots of people!
Great video Matt. Very funny take on Manchester Airport.
Thanks - you have to keep your tongue in your cheek!
On the plus side, I chuckled several times through this video, the first I’ve watched, for some reason UA-cam hasn’t wanted to present your content to me before, despite me watching several travel themed channels. But, perhaps like your glass of white wine, I’m left hungry for more!
Better late than never! Plenty in the back catalogue if you enjoyed this one!
Hi Matt. Just come across your channel and I love your sense of humour. Your videos about tier runs are really useful. I also did a return flight in Business from LHR-MAN (went to Blackpool Pleasure Beach - ace!) and I shared your experience about MAN. It is a grotty, outdated, poor-planned airport which basically needs demolishing and updating. The mile-long walks between terminals are a joke and the Escape Lounge/Escape Lounge was, well, mediocre. I particularly remember the curry which they served there. I asked the attendant if they had any rice to go with said curry. "No, it's just on its own." Huh?
Blackpool is fun... Thanks for finding me! Curry eaters are cringing, reading this...
Excellent, i really enjoyed your video👍
Thanks
You are quite right in your assessment of Manchester Airport. It is ill designed and appallingly thought out, if thought was ever given to it. Sadly I have no alternative. Two things that repeatedly get my goat (1) by the time you’ve got to your plane you are exhausted from all the walking and (2) on your return journey, once disembarked, the toilets are miles away. Remember passengers are prevented from using the toilets on the aircraft some fifteen/twenty minutes before landing and when you’re an old man, that is significant.
Thanks - I've hit a nerve with this video!
This video is 100% accurate. I use Manchester T3 regularly to the Isle of Man (actually on a BA codeshare service on Loganair) and everything to you say from the non working travelators to the appalling security and over zealous security staff and process is correct. Manchester used to be a brilliant experience but T3 is abysmal and this is NOT a one off. Your video hi-lights the daily experience at T3. Interesting when booking a BA ticket to the IOM (carried on Loganair) you are not permitted in the lounge even with silver or gold status! P/ss poor. And having done the BA Shuttle to LHR from Manchester often, your observations on Gate 143 and the rapid service and seats are also 100%. But they never used to have club on this as it was (until Alex Cruz) just UK Domestic. When Cruz axed the free bar and nuts, for BOB the premium connection pax had to pay for food and drink! So they ended up bringing in club europe on the domestic flights for the premium ticket holders. They should have just kept the single class UK domestic as having club on a 35 min flight is pointless.
Thanks so much. I had forgotten that this used to be all economy - one of the few things Cruz did to "premiumise" anything!
Hi Matt, great Video. You are absolutley spot on in all aspects. I've been BA Gold for 8 years and done 1M+ miles - I have to put up with that experience on a regular basis.
The old lounge was great and made up for the rest of the problems, but they shut that during Covid and wont spend the money now.
I can safely say that Manchester is (regularly) pretty much the worst airport I have experienced Globally, I have probably been through 200+.
The new Terminal 2 can be overcrowded as well!
Thanks Ian - as I say in the video, I can't think of a worse airport!
@@MattsPlanet Both of you have clearly never flown out of the older side of Tel Aviv!
The last time I flew from Manchester, my bag was flagged for secondary screening because my pack of extra strong mints was incorrectly assumed to be a liquid.
I'm not an expert on states of matter but that doesn't sound right...
Spot on Matt. Manchester T3 is a genuinely awful experience. On my most recent T3 exprience I had paid for fastrack security. On arrival the regular queue stretched well down the corridor into the distance. I went to the fastrack queue entrance where staff told me to join the regular queue and only when I arrived at the fastrack entrance could I divert into the fastrack queue. I wrote to Manchester airport customer services and got a reply. The issue of staff mismanagement of the queue was not addressed. Assuming that I was looking for a refund (I wasn't nor had I requested one) they said I should apply to Ryanair for a refund. Good luck with that, I said to myself. Small lesson. Ryanair charges extra for fastrack. You can book it online direct with the airport up to a couple of hours before arriving.
The security experience is also awful. Worst moment: standing at the scanner gate, staffer #1 said I didn't need to take off my trouser belt as it was nylon and plastic. Walked through the gate to be stopped abruptly by staffer #2 who instructed me to back through the gate, take off my belt, put it on the screening conveyor before returning through the scanner gate once more. These are only the highlights!!
Its the inconsistency which is so frustrating.... I've been looking at metal detector proof belts - anything to save 10 seconds!!! - but I'm worried the jobsworths will still demand I remove it even if its actually metal free...
That looks like the horror I've heard about from others. Thank you for enduring it for me.
My girlfriend and I used the MAN BA lounge on a transit, and I loved it. There was a special smoking room, where I could sit in peace. However, the rest of it looked a a re-enactment of the storming of Berlin, 1945.
I think the smoking room may have gone the way of most smoking areas over the last few years.....
@@MattsPlanet You'll see one in T2 in FRA on your way to the JAL lounge. It infuriates me that the people in there throw stuff around, put cigarette packets in ashtrays where they catch fire, etc. Cretins.
Back to MAN - I've been considering moving up that way, but that airport is a deterrent, and practically a deal breaker.
Thanks for the moral boost !! I'm flying 1st class to Norfolk, Virginia from Manchester 10th Sept via Heathrow and JFK, look on the brightside thou , your journey can only get better I guess
Manchester will be the penance you need before the good stuff starts in LHR!
Matt , the wrestling match between the air hostess, the bacofoil and the heated cheese and bacon roll is well worth the Club upgrade. Even more curious was the Captain’s order to the cabin crew to pack up for landing , even though we’d only just left the ground. As I was all the way back in row 2 , my radioactive coffee had to go down in one.
Short flight but a lot of entertainment!
Love your video 👍👍
Thanks!
Had a very similarly shoddy experience with security as you did when I was on the inbound leg of a tier point run. My bag was also taken away for further screening, and then had some protein powder confiscated after being told it wasn't allowed. It didn't matter how much I told them it had just been through 3 different airports to get here, they weren't having any of it. Honestly seems like their security make up their own rules. On a brighter note, love the videos!
Thanks! Not a lot of love from MAN security in the comments to this video!
Great review.
Thanks!
Hi Matt, instructive as always, doing this on a small tier point run to Bucharest for gold, seriously considering a no bag trip now (it’s only an 8hr layover) 👍🏻
Wear something with a few pockets and you'll be fine! It's quite liberating to travel that lightly!
@@MattsPlanet yep book tablet and a change of underwear I’m good for a 24hr round trip 👍🏻
Hello Matt, BA has only offered domestic business class for a few years. Previously domestic flights were economy only. Adding a 'premium' class was BA's admitting it had to compete with the sixth-freedom carriers operating from the regions (who could offer a premium cabin throughout). In fact in the days of Super Shuttle (from the early 1980s) BA's onboard staff would serve breakfast on the then B757 flights on the LHR-MAN-LHR route to *all* pax. Hot breakfasts were served to all on the longer sectors to EDI/GLA/BFS with Continental breakfast provided on the MAN route.
Thanks Alex - welcome back to the comments! It does ring a bell that these were all-economy for a while.... If you pay thousands for a first class ticket its bad enough to have that experience in business, let alone when it was economy! Although if you got fed in economy perhaps its not that different!!
BA had some dedicated 757s in a higher density for shuttle flights -'Kilo Whisky" was one and a regular steed on my frequent Shuttle flights. Although an all economy layout (30years ago) boarding passes had class of travel as "C" AND everyone was offered catering a drink plus tea or coffee.. BA even had standby aircraft for the shuttle routes... plus time keeping was better then... in fact I would say the entire experience was better... 30 years ago....
@@richardstreet7518 Of course it was better. I made many Shuttle flights. Some with the original no-frills Shuttle from 1975 and later with Super Shuttle (BD and its Diamond Service was responsible for BA's upgrading Shuttle) from the early 1980s. Breakfast was served to everyone on all Super Shuttle routes then flights after breakfast featured a very limited catering offer. At the time I interviewed the Shuttle team at LHR and was told that research indicated that breakfast was the most important meal for business customers. Little wonder that Avanti and LNER promote their cooked breakfast service to their first class pax (it is served free of charge in first class).
As a regular user of London Airways from Scotland it amused me that you had never used that Heathrow exit door before as I have passed through it more times than I care to imagine.
Thanks - first domestic flight into LHR I think ever so first time through that door - it must be really handy if you do it often!!! I'm based in the South East so hopefully I represented those who don't well in this video???
That exit door seems hidden until you use it the first time
@@gwatsonme It's really quite handy!
As far as I'm aware, the travellators are not broken, but were shut down during Covid to save money and have not been turned on since. Maybe when it was thought they could turn them on, they had just given up working anyway.
If you think Terminal 3 is bad, don't fly through Terminal 1. Security hall 2 is just the most awful space, extremely low ceiling. I used one of the lounges twice last year and found the experience quite awful, so this year I've not bothered with a lounge.
Thanks - hopes that T2 will be better seem to be fading....
I flew the shuttle last week and thanks to your video I knew the correct Escape Lounge to go to........flew back on Friday and just escaped as quickly as possible!
Thanks Roy - its the escape lounge.... Only an idiot would head for the escape lounge!!!
I have flown through MAN many times, I would agree about security. My memory is that T3 was built as the BA terminal, when you could fly to many destinations directly, it is now just too busy as other airlines now use it as well. T2 is much nicer and when it is finished it will hopefully be more efficient and pleasant. We came back with KLM through it and it is much more spacious with higher ceilings! T1 is not great right now - many of the shops are closed and it feels very old, it should have closed by now if the (to use your term) you know what hadn’t happened.
Other comments suggest T2 can't handle domestic arrivals, hence BA is a bit stuck...
Thank you for another great, insightful video. I was looking at making this return trip myself purely for the tier points to get me to silver but maybe I should look elsewhere provided it's cost effective?
Thanks Rich - its an experience and if tier points at a low price are the goal, then approach it with an analytical mind!!!
Really interesting video Mat I must check into your channel more often! This is a subject dear to my heart, as throughout the 80s and 90s I used BA’s Manchester to London (and elsewhere) routes frequently, my experience then was that Manchester Airport was justifiably known as “the best in the world” .. and it was. BA on the other hand were appalling - a little history terminal three was, to my understanding designed exclusively for the use of BA, it was a little smaller than now, the entire top floor lounge area are you visited was “BA terraces lounge”.. only those with sufficient long haul miles were allowed access, frequent fliers internally (as I was) could never accumulate enough miles to get there! I won’t go into the appalling hours I spent at Heathrow. (has it really improved?) It used to be the most soulless place on the planet. But you are right, the decline of Manchester Airport has been astonishing. Did it start when BA completely deserted the provinces? Or, perhaps when the management/ownership model changed. My understanding is that used to be owned by the 10 district, councils around Manchester, and the considerable profits in generated helped them balance the books - I suspect they were grateful for that and stayed away from the day-to-day management. Unfortunately, I suspect they have now got involved - hence the decline. Don’t build your hopes up about terminal two, it’s pleasant enough, but can also be extremely busy at peak periods. T1 may be the best option. However, it can of course be crowded. lounges in all terminals are definitely hit and miss.. as I believe has been mentioned in your other comments, priority pass or similar doesn’t always guarantee you access as you’re often told the lounges are too busy - I presumed this was a symptom of post-Covid staffing?, hopefully they will get their act together. … maybe if they ever build HS2, Manchester may be considered a hub of Heathrow and get the investment the province deserves?😮😂
Thanks so much - a few people fondly remember the chandeliers there for some reason! Governments, even local ones, owning airports is rarely a great idea....
Great that they actually served "tray food" within such short airtime! That would never happen on a domestic US premium cabin on short hops; would be lucky to even get a muesli bar and a bev!
- Red
Indeed - one way BA is doing well on the global scale!
Hi Matt, great video and first of mine watching. You are on the money as MCR airport sucks.
T1 and 3 are horrendous. They are like something from the 70s still and have had not had anything done to them in years. T2 is better since the upgrade but still very busy at peak times.
Security is the same across all terminals and is the worst I have encountered in any airport UK or intentionally.
I took this flight earlier this year as a connection to Heathrow. If I had paid what you had I would have felt ripped off haha.
Great channel and I have now subbed.
Thanks and welcome! Had no idea this video would connect the way it has, but I'm thrilled it has!!!
Yes I think because it has been such a problem for so long that it resonates with people so much.
The fact it is partially owned by the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities makes it a kicker even more so.
It is the only airport I have ever used where security fast track is worth the money.
I use MAN at least once a month with BA to connect via LHR. Everything you had mentioned is correct. I hate the place. As a BA premium passenger, the airport 'premium" experience is non-existent, more 3rd world.
I've decided to try LH from LPL, and although FRA can be a bit daunting as a connecting hub, I would gladly suffer slightly than travel through T3 at MAN.
Some good reports about Liverpool in the comments.... Might have to give it a try myself
Strongly suggest this@@MattsPlanet - it's night and day compared to MAN.
It's not even further away, in reality, for people coming west along the M62 - there are a few more miles, but it's much better motorway then the M60 to MAN, and there's more than one decent road to it so you have a choice if there is congestion.
The parking situation is way better than MAN.
The only real downside in this respect is no railway - but for those of us who have given up on rail because of the unreliability, or can't use it because it doesn't run early or late enough, it makes no difference.
I'm heading to Manchester Airport T3 next Monday. It's nearly always a stressful and chaotic experience.
As people tend to say, "thoughts and prayers"....
I have flown out of all 3 terminals at MAN and yes T2 is the best, so open and extensive while T1 and T3 are dark and dingy!! The 10 min walk from the train station to T3 dragging bags is like performing a task in The Crystal Maze 🤣 but we will be doing it in 4 weeks as we r flying BA Club World to SFO via LHR so we will be happy to sweat buckets for the cause and battle through the terminal just to reach our seats at the front of the plane ✈️ 🎉 🥂 PS- Great Video and Review Matt 👏
Thanks Glenn... There is a whiff of the endurance test about those walkways - perhaps Gladiators - if you're that old, although I think its coming back.... Have a great trip and a wonderful time in San Francisco!
I worked at Manchester airport for 6 years, the word on the street was the travelators are that old they couldn’t get their hands on the parts anymore, so when they’d break they’d be out for months or not come back on at all.
A few people have said this.... Hard to believe the guts of a travellator are so specific to a manufacturer that you can't buy spares....
Terminal 3 isn't great but hopefully it will be getting upgraded soon. Flew Business to Athens from Manchester with BA back in January and the difference between row 1 and 6 on the little hop is very noticeable.
Row 1 - comfortable. Row 6 - an eating challenge!!!
‘Manchester - the airport us northerners love to hate’ is how I described it in my most recent video flying SAS to ARN… great video Matt. I fully share your thoughts, feelings and frustrations by MAN. Those travelators haven’t worked since at least the you-know-what.
Thanks - it would still be painful even if the travelators were working - without them its really annoying!
@@MattsPlanet you’re right! Terminal 1 is dark and dingy, a real mish-mash of stairs and corridors - the central departures area of T1 isn’t too bad but gates areas are awful and similar to T3. I flew out of T2 with Cathay in 2019 just after the extension opened and it was much improved.
I appreciate the pain you went through ! I shall steer well clear
The things I put myself through for my viewers...
I totally agree with your comments on Manchester Airport. I live in Manchester and so use it whenever I go on holiday. What you experienced in T3 is the same in T1. It’s dowdy gloomy and just downright shabby. I notice it each time I arrive back from holiday plus the scruffy staff. And don’t start me on the baggage reclaim! Thankfully you didn’t have to endure that.
Thanks Andy. From the comments I think I got away with a decent experience!
You were bang on with this review.
Thanks
Manchester Airport when it was known as Ringway was once a joy to walk through with its stunning glass chandeliers. The whole feeling of using the old Ringway was one of a privileged and cultural experience (we never flew but just plane spotted from the piers). Today its just hotch potch with horrible soulless architecture and an abysmal passenger experience to boot.
A few people have mentioned the chandeliers. I wonder where they went???
Couldn’t agree more with all your points… On top of this, TPExpress trains never actually serve the airport since Covid started
That puts you full square in the majority of commenters!!!
Bristol Airport is absolutely awful. Passengers often have queue up outside to get to check in and security. The departures area is ridiculously overcrowded. There aren’t enough seats and not enough space for the huge volume of passengers. It’s absolutely crazy early in the morning. People sitting and lying on the floor. When you’ve been awake since 3am and spent over an hour queueing for security, you just want to sit down and have a cup of tea, but thats not possible at Bristol. Cafes and restaurants are extremely busy and again not enough seats so after half an hour queues you’d have to stand or sit on the floor to drink your tea.
The problem with the airport is that it was opened in 2000 with about 8 boarding gates. Now there are umpteen boarding gates and yet they just keep adding more and more flights which means more and more passengers while the departure area has never been expanded, creating extreme overcrowding. Not only that, Bristol is the only airport of its size with no jetways to the planes, and very long walks to gates with NO moving walkways and one part you have to go down stairs then 8 metres further- back upstairs. It’s probably the only airport with such a huge passenger volume that’s no where near a motorway or dual carriageway. The nearest motorway is around 15 miles away along rural roads!
Bristol Airport is a fine example of how NOT to design or run an airport!
Thanks - I flew through Bristol in 2005, probably well before it got crowded.... Will see if I can travel through it to see for myself....
great review made me think of schiphol airport greetings from the netherlands
Schiphol has its drawbacks but I think I'd pick it over Manchester!
Leeds-Bradford by a country mile, had to use it after the fantastic Donaster one closed.
From the best airport in England to the grubby Leeds-Bradford....a real eye opener.
This video has performed very well, so I may think about experiencing some of the other outstations!
Next to the two lounges upstairs at T3 there is a nice area for any passenger to sit. It has its own small snack stand, great runway views and usually a better experience than down below. When I fly Ryanair this is akin to a lounge for me! Thank you for your honest assessment of Manchester airport. It is one reason that I shall be relocating back up to Edinburgh. Liverpool is better but has fewer connections. Using Manchester airport has finally ground me down.
Moving cities because of an airport is a big call!
Thanks Matt great video. Pretty much asked my question from last week. The BA brand is good but it’s not great and I think in many ways it could improve by losing out in the short term. I’d love to see them move their operations to T2 I think that would show their commitment to a premium feel. As well as that open a base at Manchester offering European flights under BA EuroFlyer. This would be more cost effective than Mainline aircraft and crew. I think BA can win the battle over the likes of easyJet but I think it takes a bit of short term loss before results are evident.
There's plenty of service from MAN on Ryanair and Easyjet so it is perhaps surprising BA doesn't think it can compete....
It is in some ways a surprise but in some ways not at the end of the day the board just want to make money and don’t care how they do it for them it’s just easy to keep operations how they are now. Maybe another angle of attack would be for BA to get ahead of the game in some respects at other airports. For example, Stansted and Newcastle don’t really have any service at all from easyJet although Ryanair and Jet2 take the bulk from these two airports it could be a window of opportunity. I think it’s fair to say the biggest competitor for BA is easyJet so getting ahead and flying on routes that easyJet don’t fly could be a good starting point.
As a regular flyer out of Manchester I cannot disagree with anything in this video. It is a dreadful airport, both outbound & inbound (where Fast-track Passport Control is a must).
Although there is not much more in terms of facilities, I would much rather fly out of Liverpool when routes allow. At least it's quiet & not heated to within an inch of it's life.
A few people defending MAN but the majority are with you!
I worked on security at Manchester airport back in the early to late 90's and it was nothing like it is today despite having very small and cramped security areas (before all the refurbs and expansions). Obviously 9/11 changed things. I had already left in the late 90's so I never experienced that. We were on good money and I feel we did a good job back then. For example, I worked during the football Euro 1996 tournament which saw a record number of passengers. We coped quite well considering the facilities we had back then. Apparently wages have since been slashed, staff morale is at all all time low. The airport hire temporary security staff for the summer season to bulk up staff levels and with only 2 weeks training it's fair to assume that this is the reason so many bags are rejected for a hand search. I remember the temps back in my day being overly suspicious of things spotted on the xray screen which to permanent staff like myself were no threat as we could recognise items due to experience. Some temps are recalled the following year with a quick retraining and back on the baggage areas and their second season they are much quicker and more experienced to make better decisions. We did have to pull 1 in 5 bags for a random check and same for frisking passengers.
Thanks so much for that - cracking name by the way... I've taken a little heat from people assuming I'm being critical of the need for security, which I'm not! Its just when the sensitivity is so out of whack with what is deemed appropriate everywhere else... Hard to tell if the guys the day I transited were permanent or temporary, experienced or novices. But others have reported 60-70% of bags being dinged for secondary which tells me that something it wrong!
..at least your flight operated Matt. I had the misfortune of booking the last flight back to Heathrow last Thursday evening and shortly after arriving at the aforementioned and truly horrid T3 received a text message informing me that my flight had been cancelled (no reason given). No check in staff, no sign of a BA desk anywhere so I tried to call them. Yes, ever the optimist me. No answer. Needed to be back home in London the following day for a hospital appt so was left me no choice but to dash back to Manchester Piccadilly to catch an Aviva train to Euston (a journey I had been dreading and actively avoiding since they picked up the franchise from Virgin service of which I was a regular). Well, what a delightful surprise that was. Quiet carriage was actually QUIET, train left and arrived bang on schedule despite picking up a couple of minor delays en-route. Staff were pleasant. Train was spotless. New seats comfortable. The 2 hours 8 literally flew (no pun intended) by. Overall a very positive experience despite having to traverse the centre of town via tube, etc to get back to the Heathrow area where I live. Finally managed to get through to someone at BA when I got home at 23:10 to inform them that regrettably I wouldn't be taking advantage of their kind offer of a seat on the 07:00 departure from T3 the FOLLOWING morning and to request a refund. So far, I've received my £14.99 seat reservation fee back but no sign of a refund for the cancelled flight... A real shame given that the outbound was a very pleasant and stress-free experience. BA really do need to do better when things go wrong.
I think BA has been a bit busy this week so I'm sure the refund will come eventually... Welcome to the delights of the train!
I don’t fly out of Manchester that often but, when I do, my experience reflects yours: grotty with nit picking security.
I'm starting to think there's another video in it if I go back!
I’ve been to Manchester twice this year and the walkways didn’t work, and the security was a nightmare. The terminals weren’t too bad but the second time I/we took a taxi from just outside the terminal. I hope it will improve, as I am very fond of the city.
There's so much opportunity as its a major city!
Matt; a couple of extra titbits for your Manchester experience as a former Manchester resident (and Manchester BA frequent flyer in turn)…
Security- Apparently the scanners at Manchester are SO old they don’t have the ability to stop or re-wind, so if the operator doesn’t hit ok fast enough the bag is pulled to the side; hence the chaos.
Terminal 3- BA have apparently stayed here because it was built to be their “home in the north” at one point in time I was told…
Baggage- Just be glad that you weren’t flying in the other direction; having timed it over 10 flights, we ALWAYS took longer to receive hold luggage than the flight itself took…
BA crew- I personally think this flight coats the BA crew in glory, their speed and efficiency on the (locally known) ‘indigestion express’ if second to none.
Value- As a (former) Manchester resident, I’d take a different view on value; we almost always flew club from Heathrow back home as having a bite to eat on the way back, saving making food at home in an evening, seemed to justify 4000 avios.
Final fun fact- If you live in south Manchester you will usually find that travelling to central London by BA shuttle and Heathrow express is about £50 cheaper than the train and about 30 minutes faster at peak times (usually with no change to reliability…)
Thanks George - that's really interesting. The "Indigestion Express" is a brilliant phrase - with I'd heard it before I released the video as it would have looked great on the thumbnail! A few people were a little upset that I was so rude about the trains, but 160 miles in 126 minutes really doesn't benchmark well against continental railways or, as you point out, a 500mph plane....
Terminal 3 was built as a dedicated facility for BA in the 1990s, when the airline had an extensive European network out of Manchester plus a few long-haul services, with plans for more. A decade later BA withdrew all services except the London one, leaving Manchester with an expensive white elephant. BA were heavily involved in the design. Gradually the terminal became used by the low cost Ryanair and others. It remains the only terminal at MAN with facility for UK domestic flights, which is the main reason BA still uses it. Eventually BA will move to T2 when it gets domestic capability under Phase 2 of the transformation. I worked for Manchester Airport for 40 years and saw the change in business ethos since the days of the original T2, when good design and passenger experience was a top priority, to today, where profits, bonuses and dividends are the priority. By 2025, T2 will be a decent facility handling the bulk of traffic, but not world class. T3 will remain a dog pit for Ryanair.
Thanks for that - an excellent summary. I wasn't expecting the avalanche of negativity the comments section has attracted - it must be depressing to see this having invested 40 years of your time in a business that is now so widely hated...
Terminal 3 was BA originally. It's become a nasty overcrowded low cost terminal, but probably the only only one that does domestic and abroad.
Others have commented that T2 currently can't handle domestic arrivals, hence BA (and others) are stuck in T3 until the next phase is complete....
I look forward to this video. I live near LIS, and fly into MAN because I get extra TPs when flying through LHR (Duhhh??). Nice when getting 2X TPs with BAH.
Those extra TPs up from LHR make MAN bearable??? I guess they could!
@@MattsPlanet Yes, that is why I do that!
T3 and T1 basically need bulldozing and rebuilding into something more modern and welcoming. However they need their operations looking at as the management is dire.
The ownership structure doesn't seem to lend itself to massive investment programmes.... But a redo would work!
Hate to say it Matt, but as a local, Manchester airports reputation as the countries worst is a reputation well deserved. It is simply not fit for purpose. I've flown out of all three terminals in the last 10 months and it is never a positive experience. Too many passengers crammed into too smaller space, the less said about the security experience the better. Rude and sarcastic staff who clearly see passengers as an occupational hazard, (believe me arrivals is no better) and your absolutely right about the walkways, they haven't worked in years.
You can experience very long queues for the bars and restaurants once in departures, which are grossly overpriced and understaffed, oh and if you do find yourself in terminal 2 , make sure you have your hiking boots on, as if your unlucky enough to find yourself on a flight at one of the gates at the end of the extended part of the terminal, its a hell of a long walk.
The fact is that Manchester airport has failed to keep pace and adapt to cope with the sheer volume of passenger numbers. It really needs another new terminal developed and built to go alongside the existing ones, as the experience of flying out of Manchester, can literally be hell on earth, and very stressful.
Thanks - this video has certainly struck a nerve with a core of MAN travellers...
Think you’ll find the majority of local passengers will thank you for. Highlighting it Matt , I certainly do .
Excellent video as always, Matt! I have used that shuttle flight on a few occasions and concur with everything you've said about T3 at Manchester. When I first travelled through, it felt very much like the airport had a small plot of land kicking its heels and decided to throw another "terminal" into it to maximise its revenue. But it's a downright awful experience as a passenger.
Thanks Paul - I was kinda hoping the experience would be bad to make an interesting video, but I was kinda disappointed that it actually was bad! It really is a strange design that few others have copied!!!
Thank you for making this video. What you said at the beginning of your video, is what l have been saying for many years, and that is, what you said, it should be renamed, London Airways, and it's for that reason, I REFUSE to fly anywhere in the world with British Airways, no matter what, and to fly with BA, is only one step above Ryanair, but without the efficiency of Ryanair. I will look forward to your next Vidio, when you will fly from terminal 2. Of course T2 is not complete yet, due to stopping work during covid. But a great video, well done. P.S. The last time I flew with BA was from Manchester to JFK, on a VC10, in 1979, and I've probably done more flying than Alan Whicker.
Thanks Philip! That's quite some boycott - 44 years and counting! I remember Alan Whicker - travel tv isn't the same these days!
I'm an ex Pat Scot living in the States and last year I travelled from ATL to AMS via MAN. What a joke. I flew Upper Class on Virgin with a connection on KLM & nobody told me that there was no transit area at MAN. Not only did I have to leave the security area on arrival and "check in' to the UK, it was so understaffed that I almost missed my connection and I had about 3 1/2 hours to do it. My hand luggage got two searches before I made it through and then on top of that my bags went missing for 8 days. My first & last relationship with MAN.
Voting with our wallets and our feet is a solid strategy! Interesting you routed through MAN rather than LHR on Virgin...
Using the last of my miles after retirement and couldn't find availability through Heathrow. It was also booked with Delta Sky miles. Took what I could get, lol
@@theglasgownomad6814 I'm sure there's a joke to be made about Glaswegians and thrift but I'll leave it....
Went to Manchester terminal 3 for a holiday flight when visiting the UK last year it is terrible like you we have been to a lot of airports around the world this is the worst great vid. 👍🇦🇺
Domestic flights in AU are quite different!
Hi Matt, your experience of Manchester terminal 3 mirrors mine exactly, a long walk from "The Station" and overcrowded and over zealous security, I work in the industry and have never had my bag screened 3 times. Yes Kudos to BA crew I agree with you on that one. I was so stressed tiny lifts as well, I needed a pint by the time I got to the bar all whilst I was in a virtual queue for their lounge
Thanks Craig... Not a lot of love for Manchester!
By the time, you check in for your flight, and the journey, it is much quicker to get a train, and much better for the planet, Matt's planet and the only planet we all share together.( I do love your videos and love my travelling too,)
Thanks Morgy. You are of course 100% correct... I'll make a video about it one day but I do take public transport at every possible opportunity!
Thank you :)@@MattsPlanet
You nailed it! Awful airport, overcrowded, and the walk to T3 is terrible if it’s raining
Indeed - there's a half hearted covering part of the way but it sort of runs out!
That makes our Dublin Airport look VERY good .
Been through DUB many times and its quite nice - can get really busy but things still seem to flow....
You were lucky your flight even operated, I booked the same flight for 26/8 and woke up to a cancellation text message.
Thanks James - quite a few texts like that last week... Hope you got moving eventually
I was on Qatar 9pm from Manchester but was shocked that after 19.30 the place was dead, no food everything closing except burger/chips £13! Having flown 5 times this last year the dam walkways never work. After Amsterdam Bangkok and Singapore Manchester is terrible!! Great video so true
Thanks - Doha has its annoyances but there's no contest versus Manchester!
I flew from Manchester T2 back in January with Ethiopian airlines to Geneva (Ethiopians service was outstanding). Surprisingly the experience was great, we got to the terminal around 5pm, me and my 3 family members were legit the only ones in security so cleared it within 5 minutes. The terminal was the most deserted terminal I have seen, more staff than passengers however it did get slightly busier around 7:30pm. What was strange is that between 5pm and 10pm there was only 3 flights that were departing T2. Not sure if it has changed now 🤷🏻♂️ however even with little passengers 95% of shops and restaurants were open so wasn’t a problem getting something to eat. Boarding was smooth, and we departed more a less on time. Overall experience was quality 👌🏻
Thanks Tom - good data point. Another comment was about a 9pm flight when the place was deserted and all the shops had closed... Late sounds better than early!
Manchester is the only airport where I've experienced them mixing up two adjacent gates and sending people to the wrong planes. Luckily it was found out before it was too late, but they had to deboard two planes and start all over.
Ouch... That's quite hard to do actually!
I worked at Manchester for over 20 years ,a maintenance engineer once told me that the Air Con is mostly turned off during summer because whilst passengers swelter in the oven like temps more cold drinks will be sold oh and also to save money .
I can believe the second part - the first part sounds like an urban myth but who knows???
Yup, all the horrors flood back of this awful experience on the ground. The major issue on flight is finishing the food and drink in business.
I'm a quick eater but it was a struggle!!! Need to take some plastic bags next time...
I enjoyed the video Matt! MAN is one of my least favourites to travel from, I'm travelling to Thailand from T1 in October, it would have been Newcastle to Heathrow, but for whatever reason it came out at about an £800 saving going from MAN.
I could put up with a lot for an £800 saving....
I got an early morning flight from LHR to Leeds/Bradford on BA Business, managed a full English breakfast and even had time for a coffee refill. It felt like a challenge which I duly accepted (I would get the train next time though).
Great work Alfie! Years of training?
Thanks. Being a frequent flyer out of Manchester, I can say that your experience is very representative of all T3 and T1 journeys. T2 is significantly better and spacious airside. Higher quality F+B outlets there too, albeit most were closed at my time of flying in early evening.
Thanks - not an airport to be travelling through late I gather...
It's worse than you say Matt. Arriving into Manchester from say, Europe , you have to go down two flights of stairs before then climbing two flights of stairs for UK Immigration. No lift, no escalator. Bonkers. Expensive trolleys, confusing signage, tiny toilet facilities in Arrivals Hall, and so on and so on. Departing shiney T2 is a nightmare too. You walk the entire length of the very long terminal once Airside to board. Please consider making further videos in the hope that somebody takes ownership. Thanks for bringing attention in your video.
Thanks - I arrived in domestically and it wasn't terrible - didn't video it though... I think the response means I need to take more trips like this one!