MANCHESTER 1
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is the lack of parking spaces newsworthy, especially on TV, that's the question.
Plenty of other places (not talking just airports here) run out of spaces, but they dont feature on the news.
It's not a great situation to be greeted with, and maybe a few days warning could have been given if possible (EI, on social media highlight that car parks are close to capacity so may want to find other means to get to the airport.)
Also, wasn't aware there were that many people turning up on the day to park, I thought it was a thing most people would pre book?
Plenty of other places (not talking just airports here) run out of spaces, but they dont feature on the news.
It's not a great situation to be greeted with, and maybe a few days warning could have been given if possible (EI, on social media highlight that car parks are close to capacity so may want to find other means to get to the airport.)
Also, wasn't aware there were that many people turning up on the day to park, I thought it was a thing most people would pre book?
Is the lack of parking spaces newsworthy, especially on TV, that's the question.
Plenty of other places (not talking just airports here) run out of spaces, but they dont feature on the news.
It's not a great situation to be greeted with, and maybe a few days warning could have been given if possible (EI, on social media highlight that car parks are close to capacity so may want to find other means to get to the airport.)
Also, wasn't aware there were that many people turning up on the day to park, I thought it was a thing most people would pre book?
Plenty of other places (not talking just airports here) run out of spaces, but they dont feature on the news.
It's not a great situation to be greeted with, and maybe a few days warning could have been given if possible (EI, on social media highlight that car parks are close to capacity so may want to find other means to get to the airport.)
Also, wasn't aware there were that many people turning up on the day to park, I thought it was a thing most people would pre book?
I never used to pre-book car parking, until airports, particularly MAG airports, made it prohibitively expensive to turn up and park. Now, unless you're made of money and can afford the business / express or whatever other fancy marketing name airports use, you have little choice but to pre-book.
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: 2DME
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The messages seem confusing too. Is it long stay, short stay or both? Given that you have to use short stay (including the MSCPs) to pick up passengers, how on earth will this situation be managed once peak season starts?
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is the lack of parking spaces newsworthy, especially on TV, that's the question.
Plenty of other places (not talking just airports here) run out of spaces, but they dont feature on the news.
It's not a great situation to be greeted with, and maybe a few days warning could have been given if possible (EI, on social media highlight that car parks are close to capacity so may want to find other means to get to the airport.)
Also, wasn't aware there were that many people turning up on the day to park, I thought it was a thing most people would pre book?
Plenty of other places (not talking just airports here) run out of spaces, but they dont feature on the news.
It's not a great situation to be greeted with, and maybe a few days warning could have been given if possible (EI, on social media highlight that car parks are close to capacity so may want to find other means to get to the airport.)
Also, wasn't aware there were that many people turning up on the day to park, I thought it was a thing most people would pre book?
They either provided enough parking spaces or they didn't.
This is basic management 101.
An airport only needs to do two things. Get people in and out. Get aircraft in and out.
Anything else is secondary.
Providing capacity for people to arrive and depart is a basic function of an airport.
If this airport is incapable of providing one half of its basic function effectively, people should know about it.
Of course it's newsworthy.
Last edited by pilot9249; 15th Jun 2017 at 01:00.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And just exactly how do MAN know how many people will be arriving by car on any given day? Whenever I've booked a flight ticket, I've certainly not been required by the airline to state how I will be arriving at the airport?
The people who have pre booked a space are covered, this affects the turn up on the day crowd.
The people who have pre booked a space are covered, this affects the turn up on the day crowd.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: España
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No doubt MAC have records going back many years for their car park usage and the numbers of tickets issued by the machines each day, so it should not be too difficult for them to predict the daily demand. It seems to me, like a lot of things at the airport, there is little forward planning taking place - they are always playing catch-up rather than being ahead of their game.
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The airport know exactly how many people are on every flight. They have to, in order to invoice the airline for handling them.
They know exactly how many cars arrive or leave at every minute of every day. A ticket is always used.
They have at least a decade of history to look at.
It is beyond question that the airport have this data and can use it to model parking demand.
Last edited by pilot9249; 15th Jun 2017 at 02:36.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm well aware that the airport will know how many pax they will have, but how many of those pax are in cars is a harder one to forecast.
It could be that a pax who used a train last year preferred to use a car this year, or someone who got a taxi last year but wanted to drive this year, and so on.
End of the day, forecasts can only do so much. Car parking is a huge revenue earner, do you not think they would want to maximise that rather than deliberately sell themselves short, as is being implied?
It could be that a pax who used a train last year preferred to use a car this year, or someone who got a taxi last year but wanted to drive this year, and so on.
End of the day, forecasts can only do so much. Car parking is a huge revenue earner, do you not think they would want to maximise that rather than deliberately sell themselves short, as is being implied?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: España
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having caused some debate by calling T3 security "horrendous" last Tuesday afternoon after a 30 minute delay, I thought I would post on my other security experiences since then. LHR T5 : through security twice and less than 5 minutes on both occasions, VLC just 3 minutes and HKG this morning just 2 minutes. Queues moving quickly and sufficient security lanes open to handle passengers. Sorry, Manchester T3 security was grossly understaffed on Tuesday last week and that is solely down to MAG who employ the security staff. I am through KUL, BKI, TPE and ICN in the next 10 days and I am confident that none of those will repeat my experience of MAN.
Incidentally, I don't believe that MAN are any more security conscious than other airports - in fact HKG insisted in inspecting my compact stapler recently, whilst LHR ran an explosive test on my toiletries, both of which were of no interest to the guys at MAN.
Incidentally, I don't believe that MAN are any more security conscious than other airports - in fact HKG insisted in inspecting my compact stapler recently, whilst LHR ran an explosive test on my toiletries, both of which were of no interest to the guys at MAN.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Layout helps the mentality IMHO.
MAN T2 and T3 are hardly intuitive to use adding to stress levels, EDI has an equally barmy layout, whereas, in my view, GLA got it right. Huge new security hall, open space, good light and linear view of where you're going. Drives a good mindset for the experience.
MAN T2 and T3 are hardly intuitive to use adding to stress levels, EDI has an equally barmy layout, whereas, in my view, GLA got it right. Huge new security hall, open space, good light and linear view of where you're going. Drives a good mindset for the experience.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having caused some debate by calling T3 security "horrendous" last Tuesday afternoon after a 30 minute delay
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having caused some debate by calling T3 security "horrendous" last Tuesday afternoon after a 30 minute delay, I thought I would post on my other security experiences since then. LHR T5 : through security twice and less than 5 minutes on both occasions, VLC just 3 minutes and HKG this morning just 2 minutes. Queues moving quickly and sufficient security lanes open to handle passengers. Sorry, Manchester T3 security was grossly understaffed on Tuesday last week and that is solely down to MAG who employ the security staff. I am through KUL, BKI, TPE and ICN in the next 10 days and I am confident that none of those will repeat my experience of MAN.
Incidentally, I don't believe that MAN are any more security conscious than other airports - in fact HKG insisted in inspecting my compact stapler recently, whilst LHR ran an explosive test on my toiletries, both of which were of no interest to the guys at MAN.
Incidentally, I don't believe that MAN are any more security conscious than other airports - in fact HKG insisted in inspecting my compact stapler recently, whilst LHR ran an explosive test on my toiletries, both of which were of no interest to the guys at MAN.
That being said T3 can be a disaster, the current screening area is really wedged in. MAG seem to get staffing levels wrong on a fair number of occasions. Manchester's biggest issue with security is that it has all been retrofitted into existing terminal floor plates. Most of these terminals hark back to an era when fewer people travelled and carried less into the cabin. Most airports that I have been to that date from this era have issues with security screening especially at peak times. At off peak times most airports I have been through your time in screening is entirely the time it takes you to process through.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: manchester
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The problem is that MAN competes with other airports and these queues put people off. Of course MAN is growing quickly which is great but how many of MAN's passengers would jump at the chance to use other regional airports if they could avoid MAN's long security queues, packed terminals and poor bars, restaurants and shops?
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FFHKG,
I notice you are comparing MAN T3 to the following airports as a comparisons:
LHR T5:
A new build terminal, purpose built for the needs it is serving today, where its sole users are BA and the occasional IB flights.
Now, aside from the fact the security area was purpose built to handle the volume of passengers it does, You are ommitting one big variable. BA is a full service airline where the vast majority of passengers have checked baggage included. This means much less crap in their hand luggage.
T3's main tenant, and indeed is MAN's biggest tenant is Ryanair. The airline where bags are 'optional extras' to which people do not want to pay to use. This means the pack their whole f*%king world into their hand luggage. Kettles, Irons, large liquids, hair straighteners etc. 2 days ago through T3, lane 5, I saw an African gentleman with a huge car wing mirror with integral lights in his hand luggage (and no, I am not joking in the slightest!). I can guarantee you now after 300+ visits to both airports, Heathrow T5 does not experience the same hand luggage issues as MAN T3. It's absalutely pointless comparing the 2, you couldn't get 2 more polar opposite passenger profiles of you tried. When you have a flight that leaves around the same time that the 10 based Ryanair and 4 away based flights go off together, then quite frankly, 30 minutes is f*%king incredible considering. It wouldn't matter how much staff you throw at the situation, it wouldn't stop people's randomness and stupidity,
You also compare MAN against VLC, which is an airport well less than half the size of MAN, so, I would expect to get through there faster by economy of scale.
Then to ICN/HKG/KUL etc. These are worlds away from any UK airport by design and scale, so again, it's pointless to compare. They have much more resource to throw at airport function than the UK does, so, I would be gravely concerned if they had major issues with queues.
Now, you can call this jumping at MAN's defence for 'mediocre service', but, unless you look at the bigger picture and look at it subjectively, it's hard to judge confidently. If that makes me a 'blind MAN fan' then so be it. I too have travelled very extensively around the world, and while I agree MAN has its shortcomings and far from perfect, it's certainly not one of the worst in the world, not by a very very long shot. If people do think MAN is one of the worst, then all I can say is they have had some very sheltered travels.
I notice you are comparing MAN T3 to the following airports as a comparisons:
LHR T5:
A new build terminal, purpose built for the needs it is serving today, where its sole users are BA and the occasional IB flights.
Now, aside from the fact the security area was purpose built to handle the volume of passengers it does, You are ommitting one big variable. BA is a full service airline where the vast majority of passengers have checked baggage included. This means much less crap in their hand luggage.
T3's main tenant, and indeed is MAN's biggest tenant is Ryanair. The airline where bags are 'optional extras' to which people do not want to pay to use. This means the pack their whole f*%king world into their hand luggage. Kettles, Irons, large liquids, hair straighteners etc. 2 days ago through T3, lane 5, I saw an African gentleman with a huge car wing mirror with integral lights in his hand luggage (and no, I am not joking in the slightest!). I can guarantee you now after 300+ visits to both airports, Heathrow T5 does not experience the same hand luggage issues as MAN T3. It's absalutely pointless comparing the 2, you couldn't get 2 more polar opposite passenger profiles of you tried. When you have a flight that leaves around the same time that the 10 based Ryanair and 4 away based flights go off together, then quite frankly, 30 minutes is f*%king incredible considering. It wouldn't matter how much staff you throw at the situation, it wouldn't stop people's randomness and stupidity,
You also compare MAN against VLC, which is an airport well less than half the size of MAN, so, I would expect to get through there faster by economy of scale.
Then to ICN/HKG/KUL etc. These are worlds away from any UK airport by design and scale, so again, it's pointless to compare. They have much more resource to throw at airport function than the UK does, so, I would be gravely concerned if they had major issues with queues.
Now, you can call this jumping at MAN's defence for 'mediocre service', but, unless you look at the bigger picture and look at it subjectively, it's hard to judge confidently. If that makes me a 'blind MAN fan' then so be it. I too have travelled very extensively around the world, and while I agree MAN has its shortcomings and far from perfect, it's certainly not one of the worst in the world, not by a very very long shot. If people do think MAN is one of the worst, then all I can say is they have had some very sheltered travels.
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the most likely explanation is that they were able to predict this problem with a pretty good degree of accuracy, and chose to prioritise a financial decision over an operational one.
I think this is newsworthy and I hope it bites them gently in the rear.
Last edited by pilot9249; 15th Jun 2017 at 23:26.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: England
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Someone earlier on suggested that you're able to pick passengers up by not using short stay, which of course you are.
However, there's still a hell of a lot of private hire/chauffeur services who use short stay and greet their passengers in the terminal - afterall, this is what the passenger pays for.
Now MAN faces enormous queues at the pickup/dropoff points outside each terminal, all multi story car parks full, and all long stay car parks full with the overflow going into staff car parks, which are now also full....
Just where do these hundreds of private hire/chauffeur/individual cars wait for their passengers?
However, there's still a hell of a lot of private hire/chauffeur services who use short stay and greet their passengers in the terminal - afterall, this is what the passenger pays for.
Now MAN faces enormous queues at the pickup/dropoff points outside each terminal, all multi story car parks full, and all long stay car parks full with the overflow going into staff car parks, which are now also full....
Just where do these hundreds of private hire/chauffeur/individual cars wait for their passengers?
I have to pick people up from T3, given the MSCPs are full - I have asked MAG where I should go to collect pax. Their instruction is to follow staff directions - presumably this means driving around the Terminal until a staff member can be found and then proceed to where they say- surely that's a pretty shambolic situation that will cause unbelievable congestion if hundreds of people are doing the same thing ?