MANCHESTER - 5
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kerry Eire
Age: 76
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hen Ddraig,
I've transited MAN twice in the last 6 months, both times from/to Ireland.
The Aer Lingus flight from CRK and the Ryanair flight from SNN both arrive at the oldest pier on the airport where there is no separation possible between incoming and outgoing pax so incoming pax are treated to the joys of a bus ride after walking down aircraft steps.
On the CRK arrival the time from on chocks to getting into my niece's car on level 11 of the car park was 17 minutes - inc picking up two bags, and that at 14.30 hours.
The Ryanair flight arrived at 10.30, a much busier time. Time from on chocks to arriving on the station platform - inc picking up two bags - 24 minutes.
The airport is going through major work - as it seemingly has been for over 30 years - and the demands of security, to keep you and me "safe" have put tremendous strains on the system and infrastructure. Having said that, using the new security route in T1 was effortless on the second day of operation.
I use LPL more often than MAN as Ryanair fares from SNN tend to be cheaper and the extra 25 minutes on the motorway is no problem for me.
Having been through LPL around 6 times in a similar time frame I've waited 20 minutes for bags to appear soaking wet due to a downpour, have been led in the rain to the baggage reclaim, only to be led out again as it was full with a preceding flight and had to stand in the rain for over five minutes. Outbound, the gate allocation for Ryanair can change at the last minute but far worse is the check in chaos for Ryanair flights where the lines are often longer than the space available.
On the other hand I've been off the aircraft and picking up the car hire keys within 20 minutes of getting on stand though the average time is around 30-35 minutes.
I've transited MAN twice in the last 6 months, both times from/to Ireland.
The Aer Lingus flight from CRK and the Ryanair flight from SNN both arrive at the oldest pier on the airport where there is no separation possible between incoming and outgoing pax so incoming pax are treated to the joys of a bus ride after walking down aircraft steps.
On the CRK arrival the time from on chocks to getting into my niece's car on level 11 of the car park was 17 minutes - inc picking up two bags, and that at 14.30 hours.
The Ryanair flight arrived at 10.30, a much busier time. Time from on chocks to arriving on the station platform - inc picking up two bags - 24 minutes.
The airport is going through major work - as it seemingly has been for over 30 years - and the demands of security, to keep you and me "safe" have put tremendous strains on the system and infrastructure. Having said that, using the new security route in T1 was effortless on the second day of operation.
I use LPL more often than MAN as Ryanair fares from SNN tend to be cheaper and the extra 25 minutes on the motorway is no problem for me.
Having been through LPL around 6 times in a similar time frame I've waited 20 minutes for bags to appear soaking wet due to a downpour, have been led in the rain to the baggage reclaim, only to be led out again as it was full with a preceding flight and had to stand in the rain for over five minutes. Outbound, the gate allocation for Ryanair can change at the last minute but far worse is the check in chaos for Ryanair flights where the lines are often longer than the space available.
On the other hand I've been off the aircraft and picking up the car hire keys within 20 minutes of getting on stand though the average time is around 30-35 minutes.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Near Stalyvegas
Age: 78
Posts: 2,022
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also, no matter how much experience you have, id defy you to find me 1 person that is an absaloute expert in all aspects of airport operations, I doubt even the managing director is aware of all things taking place at MAN.
watp,iktch
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Age: 57
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Irish Arrivals
philbky
The old Pier B is segregated for arriving and departing passengers. The reason why you have been bussed when arriving from Ireland, is due to the Common Travel Agreement (CTA) between the UK and Irish governments, where as passengers do not need passports to travel between the two countries, but they do need to clear Customs.
The only way of doing this (at most large airports) is to bypass Immigration using a bus and deliver passenger direct into the baggage reclaim hall just before Customs. At least it saves the long walk!
This agreement could be canceled soon, so then you will arrive just the same as other international passengers ...... with your passport.
Hen Ddraig - Try getting a B747-400 direct from MCO to LPL or BHX ..... oh no you can't, the airports aren't big enough!
The old Pier B is segregated for arriving and departing passengers. The reason why you have been bussed when arriving from Ireland, is due to the Common Travel Agreement (CTA) between the UK and Irish governments, where as passengers do not need passports to travel between the two countries, but they do need to clear Customs.
The only way of doing this (at most large airports) is to bypass Immigration using a bus and deliver passenger direct into the baggage reclaim hall just before Customs. At least it saves the long walk!
This agreement could be canceled soon, so then you will arrive just the same as other international passengers ...... with your passport.
Hen Ddraig - Try getting a B747-400 direct from MCO to LPL or BHX ..... oh no you can't, the airports aren't big enough!
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Isle of Man, man
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I transited Manchester T3 this week and was shocked at the unprofessionalism shown by the x-ray security staff. They were larking around, throwing the trays around, wizzing them over the top of the x-ray machines, generally acting the fool. One of them "accidentally" failed to catch a tray which fell and pressed the emergency stop button on the x-ray machine which her colleagues thought hillarious - not so the passengers in the queue who had to stand around and wait for the machine to re-set itself.
I'm all for enjoying your job but there is a time and place - and for security staff it isnt in front of passengers. I was expecting to get pulled up for a full tube of toothpaste in my hand luggage but it was missed - maybe they were just too busy "having a laugh".
I'm all for enjoying your job but there is a time and place - and for security staff it isnt in front of passengers. I was expecting to get pulled up for a full tube of toothpaste in my hand luggage but it was missed - maybe they were just too busy "having a laugh".
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kerry Eire
Age: 76
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks ACCMan for trying to tell me something which I am fully aware of and which I have known for quite some time.
As for the need for passports, strangely that made the news in Ireland when it was announced.
As for the need for passports, strangely that made the news in Ireland when it was announced.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Hyde
Age: 59
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LH 707Fs in MAN
To close this off before it risks censure for degenerating into a spotting thread - DLH 707Fs appeared at MAN in the late 1970s - 1978/79 along with German Cargo examples for a short lived service. I could be misremembering things but it might have been breaking a JFK-FRA sector. I never saw one myself as they operated very early in the morning(before the buses could get you there) although a schoolmate photographed one departing early due to Winter snow.
If I had kept my Starliner magazines, it might have yielded a firmer date.
If I had kept my Starliner magazines, it might have yielded a firmer date.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am not involved in the aviation industry, and do not know anyone who is.
I am a typical airline passenger.
I use MAN about 14 times a year, for holidays and travelling away with United.
Honestly, everyone I know chooses which flights to use based on cost.
I have never ever had any of my friends ever mention security queues, baggage delays or anything when chosing a flight to book.
For what it's worth, two weeks ago I flew to Paris with my wife to Paris with FlyBe through T3.
Nothing special, but exactly what you would expect from an airport and a million times better than what we found in Paris CDG where there were massive queues at security, and the baggage handlers had gone on strike, refusing to put the bags from our plan onto the carrosel (spelling???).
Likewise, on the return jounrey, long queues everywhere in Paris, no queues whatsoever anywhere at MAN, straight through passport control, the bags were coming around by the time we got to baggage reclaim, out of the airport within 15mins of landing, and home to Sale 1.5hrs after being on a runway in Paris.
Wake up to the real world MAN bashers, cost is by far the primary driver for hte vast majority of purchases of flight tickets, only a very small number of people worry about queues at passport control and elsewhere.
MAN is a great asset for the city and the region, an asset that most other cities in the country would absolutely love to have on their doorstep.
I am a typical airline passenger.
I use MAN about 14 times a year, for holidays and travelling away with United.
Honestly, everyone I know chooses which flights to use based on cost.
I have never ever had any of my friends ever mention security queues, baggage delays or anything when chosing a flight to book.
For what it's worth, two weeks ago I flew to Paris with my wife to Paris with FlyBe through T3.
Nothing special, but exactly what you would expect from an airport and a million times better than what we found in Paris CDG where there were massive queues at security, and the baggage handlers had gone on strike, refusing to put the bags from our plan onto the carrosel (spelling???).
Likewise, on the return jounrey, long queues everywhere in Paris, no queues whatsoever anywhere at MAN, straight through passport control, the bags were coming around by the time we got to baggage reclaim, out of the airport within 15mins of landing, and home to Sale 1.5hrs after being on a runway in Paris.
Wake up to the real world MAN bashers, cost is by far the primary driver for hte vast majority of purchases of flight tickets, only a very small number of people worry about queues at passport control and elsewhere.
MAN is a great asset for the city and the region, an asset that most other cities in the country would absolutely love to have on their doorstep.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Manchester, UK
Age: 57
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For info, both FR and EI choose to operate from Pier B. EI have been offered the better facilities from Pier C, but refused. FR want to be as close to the runway as possible and EI are just trying to keep up.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Noordwest
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My journeys through MAN have always been trouble-free too, and I agree that the overwhelming majority of people choose which flights to book on basis of cost. I travelled through T1 last month to and from MRS and there were no problems at all.
The only problem I can see with MAN is the same problem that we now see in every service industry in the UK........that of tendering and sub-contracting. Simply, if you put airport cleaning, baggage handling, or catering etc out to tender, and then accept the lowest possible bid, you get and probably deserve **** service. We see it all the time, from the country's airports, to local bus services which never turn up, to the postal service, which is fast disappearing too.
I've been through MAN before and been so embarrassed (as a Mancunian) by the stench in the bogs that I've wanted to go back and clean the ******* things myself!!!
The only problem I can see with MAN is the same problem that we now see in every service industry in the UK........that of tendering and sub-contracting. Simply, if you put airport cleaning, baggage handling, or catering etc out to tender, and then accept the lowest possible bid, you get and probably deserve **** service. We see it all the time, from the country's airports, to local bus services which never turn up, to the postal service, which is fast disappearing too.
I've been through MAN before and been so embarrassed (as a Mancunian) by the stench in the bogs that I've wanted to go back and clean the ******* things myself!!!
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: WILMSLOW
Age: 61
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LH B.707s at MAN
The German Cargo examples visited 5 times,mainly on our LH4072 flght between 7/1/1979 & 17/1/1979 and were purely due to the lorry drivers strike at the time. It just so happened we had a real winter at the same time also....!
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MCT
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Traffic Figures
Olton Pete
This may be where you saw it - on UK Airport News. I can't find it on the MEN site either. The June Stats are not yet on the MA website
UK Airport News 07.07.08
Manchester Airport suffered a drop in passenger numbers of 2.82 percent in June compared to a year earlier, the Manchester Evening News reports. A total of 2.12m travellers passed through the terminals last month, compared with 2.8m in June 2007.
Domestic services saw a 6.67 percent fall, largely due to stiffer rail competition to and from London. Charter traffic fell 5.2 percent as tour operators reduced their capacity following mergers.
I think someone has screwed up because the percentages and figures don't tie up. I can't be a*sed to get the calculator out, but 3% down on 2.8 million is 84,000 down not 680,000...that's nearer 25%. Maybe the article was pulled as it was inaccurate - a major surprise for the MEN........
Whilst we are speaking of the MEN, here's another one from today, thanks to Dean Kirkby, their man at the Airport.
"PLANE-spotters will be flocking to Manchester Airport this weekend to see the world's largest passenger plane touch down.
The Airbus A380 will fly low over the runways at about 1.20pm on Saturday as part of its first official tour of the north west".
Touchdown or flyby - that is the question? (Actually will be a flyby). But never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Suzeman
This may be where you saw it - on UK Airport News. I can't find it on the MEN site either. The June Stats are not yet on the MA website
UK Airport News 07.07.08
Manchester Airport suffered a drop in passenger numbers of 2.82 percent in June compared to a year earlier, the Manchester Evening News reports. A total of 2.12m travellers passed through the terminals last month, compared with 2.8m in June 2007.
Domestic services saw a 6.67 percent fall, largely due to stiffer rail competition to and from London. Charter traffic fell 5.2 percent as tour operators reduced their capacity following mergers.
I think someone has screwed up because the percentages and figures don't tie up. I can't be a*sed to get the calculator out, but 3% down on 2.8 million is 84,000 down not 680,000...that's nearer 25%. Maybe the article was pulled as it was inaccurate - a major surprise for the MEN........
Whilst we are speaking of the MEN, here's another one from today, thanks to Dean Kirkby, their man at the Airport.
"PLANE-spotters will be flocking to Manchester Airport this weekend to see the world's largest passenger plane touch down.
The Airbus A380 will fly low over the runways at about 1.20pm on Saturday as part of its first official tour of the north west".
Touchdown or flyby - that is the question? (Actually will be a flyby). But never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Suzeman
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Manchester, England
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ok this is almost confirmed out of the office today....
A380 WILL perform flypast at 13.20pm
THEN it WILL perform a touch and go...
btw SQ A380 visit is off....
G-STAW
A380 WILL perform flypast at 13.20pm
THEN it WILL perform a touch and go...
btw SQ A380 visit is off....
G-STAW
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Manchester, England
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where DO these crazy rumours come from???
:-D2. confirmed form MAN managmant
i agree, things could all change...
....it was never "on".
again confrimed from apron control.
G-STAW
Simple - they don't.
PHL is the only route, however like the other US carriers, sometimes they show a "through" service onto another destination & this varies from time to time. Even when a "through" service is shown, it is always a plane change anyway.
Whatever is shown it is always : AA =ORD, US = PHL, DL = JFK, ATL, CO =EWR.
Forget anything else.
PHL is the only route, however like the other US carriers, sometimes they show a "through" service onto another destination & this varies from time to time. Even when a "through" service is shown, it is always a plane change anyway.
Whatever is shown it is always : AA =ORD, US = PHL, DL = JFK, ATL, CO =EWR.
Forget anything else.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: England
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where DO these crazy rumours come from??? :-D
Dunno mate, but along with the LH to JFK there's been no shortage of them recently...
As for the 'It's awful (by some Pax) / Oh no it ain't (by other Pax and those that work there
)' debate...
I average about 120-150 flights a year, and with MAN being my local aerodrome I get to see it enough times in all it's glory to be able to form an opinion. As far as I am concerned, it's very hit and miss.
Those who say it's always a nightmare/disaster/horrible are exaggerating somewhat. By the same token those that instantly jump on any criticism and go on the defensive either have their heads in the sand, are living in denial or do not have to transit the place enough to be able to form an opinion.
That it is 'not the airport it was' is undeniable. It used to be a fabulous place to depart from and arrive into. It ain't any more, that's a fact. Having said that, with the exception of LCY (and that now has it's moments) I don't think there is an airport in the UK of any size that can be described as great to use. This is more of an indication of the shambolic infrastructure of this embarassment of a country we live in as much as anything else.
The only way to try and make it as easy as possible is to try and remove anything that can make it a PITA. Inbound that's easy-ish for me; IRIS (when it's working) and hand luggage only. I also try and avoid SQ328 from Changi on a Thursday as Friday is SQ's remote gate day. That's done it for me.
Outbound is not as easy, but, I have to say departing to LHR on BD, which I have been doing a fair bit this year to connect, has got much better since the new security area to the right of the BD check-in desks at T3 opened. In fact I haven't seen more than three or four people going through there at the same time I have, so far. I am fortunate that outbound from T1 and T2 I usually have Fast Track access and I very rarely fly LCC's or bucket and spade flights.
The rest of the airport is definitely unpleasant in places. The missus will try and avoid having to use the toilets in arrivals anywhere in the airport, especially T1, as she says they are disgusting. I have also accepted that the eleventh commandment decrees that MAN is not allowed to have all it's escalators/travellators working at any one time, and is probably restricted to half at most.
It's still better than LHR though, for now.....
Dunno mate, but along with the LH to JFK there's been no shortage of them recently...
As for the 'It's awful (by some Pax) / Oh no it ain't (by other Pax and those that work there
)' debate...I average about 120-150 flights a year, and with MAN being my local aerodrome I get to see it enough times in all it's glory to be able to form an opinion. As far as I am concerned, it's very hit and miss.
Those who say it's always a nightmare/disaster/horrible are exaggerating somewhat. By the same token those that instantly jump on any criticism and go on the defensive either have their heads in the sand, are living in denial or do not have to transit the place enough to be able to form an opinion.
That it is 'not the airport it was' is undeniable. It used to be a fabulous place to depart from and arrive into. It ain't any more, that's a fact. Having said that, with the exception of LCY (and that now has it's moments) I don't think there is an airport in the UK of any size that can be described as great to use. This is more of an indication of the shambolic infrastructure of this embarassment of a country we live in as much as anything else.
The only way to try and make it as easy as possible is to try and remove anything that can make it a PITA. Inbound that's easy-ish for me; IRIS (when it's working) and hand luggage only. I also try and avoid SQ328 from Changi on a Thursday as Friday is SQ's remote gate day. That's done it for me.
Outbound is not as easy, but, I have to say departing to LHR on BD, which I have been doing a fair bit this year to connect, has got much better since the new security area to the right of the BD check-in desks at T3 opened. In fact I haven't seen more than three or four people going through there at the same time I have, so far. I am fortunate that outbound from T1 and T2 I usually have Fast Track access and I very rarely fly LCC's or bucket and spade flights.
The rest of the airport is definitely unpleasant in places. The missus will try and avoid having to use the toilets in arrivals anywhere in the airport, especially T1, as she says they are disgusting. I have also accepted that the eleventh commandment decrees that MAN is not allowed to have all it's escalators/travellators working at any one time, and is probably restricted to half at most.
It's still better than LHR though, for now.....