Manchester Airport security queues

[yorkie]

Does anyone have any idea what days/times are good/bad for queues at Manchester Airport security? #
I know the airport is infamous for having terrible queues and most of my experiences have been negative in this area, though today there was no queue at all, which really surprised me; was I just lucky, or are fewer people traveling today, or I just in a lull between busy times?

Measuring the time from stepping off the train at Manchester Airport station (MIA) to passing through security, my times were 30 mins on Wednesday 12th April (approx 09:30) 40 mins on Thursday 27th April (11:10) yet only 12 mins today (14:10).

Also when using Terminal 1, is there a difference relating to using secutity A or B? All the above were using security A.

Is this variation more to do with the date or the time of day? For example on Wednesday 21 June, arriving at MIA around 1830 or 1900, has anyone got any idea how busy I can expect it to be?

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

T1 will be fairly good at those times in the evening.

Security B down the metal staircase isn't supposed to be used regularly and you're unlikely to be sent there during the evening.

30 mins from Station to Duty Free would be considered rather good and typical once the morning rush is over.

Can always pay the £5 and get fast track, but unlikely to need it at those times.

I'm surprised you've ever made it airside from the platform in 12 minutes - getting the lift or escalators upstairs and then walking the length of the abandoned skywalk travellators can take that easily.

 

[dangie]

I actually think that even through the ‘chaos’ of last summer, most of the time Manchester Airport wasn’t as bad as the media painted it. We traveled on a midsummer Saturday from Manchester to Paris expecting the worst. The airport was very busy with large queues. However they went down very quickly. Plenty of desks open, plenty of staff. No problem at all. On returning the following Saturday, from passport control to walking out with our bags was less than 20 minutes. I’d have no worries using Manchester Airport.

On the other hand Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was a nightmare both arriving & departing. Few desks open, few staff.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

I actually think that even through the ‘chaos’ of last summer, most of the time Manchester Airport wasn’t as bad as the media painted it. We traveled on a midsummer Saturday from Manchester to Paris expecting the worst. The airport was very busy with large queues. However they went down very quickly. Plenty of desks open, plenty of staff. No problem at all. On returning the following Saturday, from passport control to walking out with our bags was less than 20 minutes. I’d have no worries using Manchester Airport.

On the other hand Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was a nightmare both arriving & departing. Few desks open, few staff.

If you exclude T3 of course!

The issue at Manchester is sheer lack of investment. Stripping the main components of the travellators for scrap metal and not wanting to pay for the overhaul, under the guise of environmental benefits being one of them. Although finally they've been forced into getting this sorted over the next 2 years - mainly because of premium airline pressure.

Also ongoing issues with crooked scales at the check in desks at T1/T3 - which have led to some serious consumer rights issues - simply because nobody will pay to have the ancient check in equipment calibrated (or better still, replaced!)

People will say that T2 is an example of where the investment is going - but the appalling build quality and cost-cutting there is evident once you look closer. Short sighted not to include provision for domestic flights.

T1 is supposed to be shut down by now - pushed back to 2025 - at 63 years old!

T3 - no comment. Especially seeing as that's where BA departs from, it is a disgrace.

 

[Watershed]

Stansted has a reputation for being awful, but most of the times I've used it (generally on Fridays around 5-6pm) it was actually not too bad. However, I recently passed through around 4pm on a Wednesday and it was terrible - took around 20 minutes due to insufficient lanes being open.

The only thing that is guaranteed is that there can be no guarantee of queue length - unless you buy fast track.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 May 2023 ==

Stripping the main components of the travellators for scrap metal and not wanting to pay for the overhaul, under the guise of environmental benefits being one of them.

Goodness me, I thought they were just broken and MAG couldn't be bothered to fix them. That's even worse!

 

[Tetchytyke]

I actually think that even through the ‘chaos’ of last summer, most of the time Manchester Airport wasn’t as bad as the media painted it.

It was that bad. I flew through there quite a bit last summer- there aren’t many options from here- and this was before T3 re-opened. I queued for over an hour to get through security on a couple of occasions, my quickest security clearance was 45 minutes (with a 3yo, they took pity and sent me down the fast track); a colleague of mine got stuck for two hours there.

I avoided it as much as possible-Liverpool is much more civilised- but when I did use Manchester it was an absolute zoo.

As for now, it’s not too bad.

Goodness me, I thought they were just broken and MAG couldn't be bothered to fix them. That's even worse!

They are life expired, so I assume the old parts were sensibly stripped out. MAG didn’t want to pay to refurbish them, presumably with the closure of T1/T3 on the immediate horizon.

T3 - no comment. Especially seeing as that's where BA departs from, it is a disgrace.

T3 was fine when it was just domestic, but now Ryanair are there too it’s too small. It also can’t easily cope with international arrivals, having to close access corridors when certain gates are used.

 

[jb108822]

I worked in security at Manchester for a few months last year, and it was quite common for Security B to be where most passengers went through in T1. It's such an unpleasant space for anybody (both staff and passengers), largely because of the low ceilings and the lack of room for anybody to get past.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Used T2 for the first time for some years recently, and it was fine through security out and passports in.
But you do have a long walk between the central services and the gates (10-15 min), with strange steps up and then down en route, plus "do not use" lifts.
Paying for fast track is sometimes vital, but often a waste of money when the terminal is quiet.

Liverpool is not always "nicer", and they can't cope with multiple arrivals well at all.
Both Manchester and Liverpool can trap you in the rain while trying to board planes via steps.
It's galling when there are unused airbridges alongside (this is Jet2/EasyJet/Ryanair).

 

[cactustwirly]

If you exclude T3 of course!

The issue at Manchester is sheer lack of investment. Stripping the main components of the travellators for scrap metal and not wanting to pay for the overhaul, under the guise of environmental benefits being one of them. Although finally they've been forced into getting this sorted over the next 2 years - mainly because of premium airline pressure.

Also ongoing issues with crooked scales at the check in desks at T1/T3 - which have led to some serious consumer rights issues - simply because nobody will pay to have the ancient check in equipment calibrated (or better still, replaced!)

People will say that T2 is an example of where the investment is going - but the appalling build quality and cost-cutting there is evident once you look closer. Short sighted not to include provision for domestic flights.

T1 is supposed to be shut down by now - pushed back to 2025 - at 63 years old!

T3 - no comment. Especially seeing as that's where BA departs from, it is a disgrace.

Interesting Stansted is owned by MAG and is very tired and the terminal is overly congested.
It is definitely the worst of the London Airports.

I don't understand how Manchester is so bad, Heathrow T5 is just as busy as Manchester Airport and is a dream to use.
It is a relatively new terminal with lots of check in desks and security lanes.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2023 ==

Used T2 for the first time for some years recently, and it was fine through security out and passports in.
But you do have a long walk between the central services and the gates (10-15 min), with strange steps up and then down en route, plus "do not use" lifts.
Paying for fast track is sometimes vital, but often a waste of money when the terminal is quiet.

Liverpool is not always "nicer", and they can't cope with multiple arrivals well at all.
Both Manchester and Liverpool can trap you in the rain while trying to board planes via steps.
It's galling when there are unused airbridges alongside (this is Jet2/EasyJet/Ryanair).

Interesting, easyJet use the airbridges at Gatwick. I would have thought Jet2 would have used them as they're more of a leisure carrier rather than a LCC these days.
Do TUI use the bridges at MAN?

 

[Tetchytyke]

EasyJet do use the jet bridges at Manchester, I’ve boarded several times via one.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Used T2 for the first time for some years recently, and it was fine through security out and passports in.
But you do have a long walk between the central services and the gates (10-15 min), with strange steps up and then down en route, plus "do not use" lifts.

My experience of T2 yesterday echoes this.

After security if you ignore the signs to departures and go through the corridor straight ahead you can access the B gates I think it is, from where you can go up and avoid the Duty Free chicanery.

 

[Howardh]

I've used all three terminals this year and while I've always had fast-track, I noticed that the standard queues didn't seem too long at all; although I do travel off-peak ie. not in school holidays. A lot of the hold ups are simply pax not prepared for security, one chap in front to me had to take all his liquids out of his bag and then he had too many for the little bag. So all behind were held up.

Notice that Schiphol now has the new scanners so liquids and laptops don't need to be removed; hope Manchester gets those soon. Not sure how much quicker the queues will go though!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I believe the plan at Manchester is to close T1 when T2 has opened another pier, by 2025.
So T2 is going to get much busier, and presumably that's where new scanning kit will go.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

There was a suggestion a couple of years back that Manchester was to get pre clearance for the USA. Not sure where that is up to, or whether indeed it is still on the cards.

 

[Parjon]

Liverpool is not always "nicer", and they can't cope with multiple arrivals well at all.

When/what was your experience of this? I landed recently third plane down in short succession. I was queuing from out the corridor, but we were still through in 15 minutes