Manchester-3
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the pictures I’ve seen seem to show a path through duty free coming out in a dark area with escalators surrounded by high street shops. Great if there is natural light and views of the airport.
She said there are Windows to look out of but the gate she used was in old 2 so quite a few stairs. As I say I came out with Lufthansa yesterday and she had stayed with me in Munich a few weeks ago and commented on the difference in approach and style between them. She knows quite a bit about airports as one of her previous companies managed quite a few around the world and in the UK though they have now left.
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I didn't think it was too bad when I used it recently - certainly compared to T1.
I found a member of airline staff having a coffee and quizzed them on T2. Apparently some of the upstairs (premium?) food outlets won't open until the terminal gets busier. The old gates (which I also used) are only reached by stairs and rear of security path until a second phase of T2 refurb starts up.
I thought the views onto the airfield were really good and apparently - not that I used it - the premium lounge is really good.
Not comparable to MUC, but I'm not sure it's fair to expect it to be.
I found a member of airline staff having a coffee and quizzed them on T2. Apparently some of the upstairs (premium?) food outlets won't open until the terminal gets busier. The old gates (which I also used) are only reached by stairs and rear of security path until a second phase of T2 refurb starts up.
I thought the views onto the airfield were really good and apparently - not that I used it - the premium lounge is really good.
Not comparable to MUC, but I'm not sure it's fair to expect it to be.
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Sorry but you can’t compare Manchester T2 with Munich.
Why?
Munich has 2 terminals. Terminal 1 at Munich is horrific. No windows landside. Long and narrow. Awful security queues. Crowded. No redeeming features. T1 at Munich is everyone but Lufthansa. T2 Munich is better. But not amazing.
But the short story is your experience of MUC is very dependant on If you’re using T1 or T2 there.
T2 at Manchester is far better than T1. But things aren’t back to normal yet. I am in no way defending Manchester airport, but you have to compare terminal to terminal. I’ve had some of my worst airport experiences at Munich when flying any non Lufthansa airline.
Why?
Munich has 2 terminals. Terminal 1 at Munich is horrific. No windows landside. Long and narrow. Awful security queues. Crowded. No redeeming features. T1 at Munich is everyone but Lufthansa. T2 Munich is better. But not amazing.
But the short story is your experience of MUC is very dependant on If you’re using T1 or T2 there.
T2 at Manchester is far better than T1. But things aren’t back to normal yet. I am in no way defending Manchester airport, but you have to compare terminal to terminal. I’ve had some of my worst airport experiences at Munich when flying any non Lufthansa airline.
I / we only use T2 at MUC as LH is the carrier we use from there. I do think that you should be able to compare with Manchester as they are similar regional area. I just think T2 looks uninspiring as I had a look around while under construction. Could do better would be my judgment, and I do not mind T1 apart from a lot of poor infrastructure maintenance, and that long walk to the EK stand, but their lounge has some of the best view of an apron and runway.
Last edited by Mr Mac; 28th Aug 2021 at 21:31.
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With an optimal location in the heartland of Europe and a supportive based carrier in Lufthansa, MUC operates as a primary interline hub as well as serving its own region. They have lucrative destinations to offer from all directions of the compass rose. MAN has to rely on its core indigenous regional market stretching from the English Midlands and North Wales upto the Scottish border. That is a great hinterland catchment but MAN is simply not advantageously placed geographically to serve as anything other than a hub for certain niche markets. In normal times (non-covid), MAN can look to destinations such as IOM, BFS and ABZ to feed its onward flights. MAN does also have Eire to the West, though DUB offers a very similar slate of destinations to those available via MAN. But MUC is ideally placed geographically to serve as a true short-haul (and long-haul) crossroads for an entire continent. It is a whole different ballgame for them.
MAN will pick up some interline traffic on routes such as those to the USA and Caribbean, but these passengers are generally price-led and represent a very modest percentage of total boardings. And the heyday of this trade was when the Thomas Cook Transatlantic services were at their peak offering very generous fare deals. Who can say whether Virgin and Aer Lingus will make serious inroads into this market going forward?
So MAN will continue to enjoy a modest top-up from interline traffic (which is always welcome). But interline is absolutely fundamental to the business model at MUC. Geographical location provides that option for MUC; MAN at the Western periphery of Europe simply isn't central enough to pitch for that role. MAN cannot entertain pretentions of competing on the scale of a centrally-located European hub for interline volume - it can't happen. Of course, MAG is well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of its market reach, so they aren't trying to emulate MUC's primary hub model. However, every so often, outsiders pop up on a forum such as this to query why they don't.
MAN will pick up some interline traffic on routes such as those to the USA and Caribbean, but these passengers are generally price-led and represent a very modest percentage of total boardings. And the heyday of this trade was when the Thomas Cook Transatlantic services were at their peak offering very generous fare deals. Who can say whether Virgin and Aer Lingus will make serious inroads into this market going forward?
So MAN will continue to enjoy a modest top-up from interline traffic (which is always welcome). But interline is absolutely fundamental to the business model at MUC. Geographical location provides that option for MUC; MAN at the Western periphery of Europe simply isn't central enough to pitch for that role. MAN cannot entertain pretentions of competing on the scale of a centrally-located European hub for interline volume - it can't happen. Of course, MAG is well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of its market reach, so they aren't trying to emulate MUC's primary hub model. However, every so often, outsiders pop up on a forum such as this to query why they don't.
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Passed through T2 earlier this week.
A fair few flights, QR,CX,EY & several J2s & Tui’s. Standard Manch - only one security lane open & shared with fast track. A bit gloomy with many outlets closed. Escape lounge queue about 8 people, went to WC came back and the same people were still queuing to get in, so swerved that & settle for a Pret. Aspire lounge not due to open until Autumn.
The wooden benches are bloody uncomfortable.
Gate 203 is a heck of a trek but I guess it will improve (maybe) when, or if,the old T2 is is knocked through.
It was obviously better than T1 but I wasn’t blown away.
combined with the walk from The station along the turned off travelators, the trek through the terminal & to gate 203- reckon 10,000 steps in one go- saves on gym fees.
A fair few flights, QR,CX,EY & several J2s & Tui’s. Standard Manch - only one security lane open & shared with fast track. A bit gloomy with many outlets closed. Escape lounge queue about 8 people, went to WC came back and the same people were still queuing to get in, so swerved that & settle for a Pret. Aspire lounge not due to open until Autumn.
The wooden benches are bloody uncomfortable.
Gate 203 is a heck of a trek but I guess it will improve (maybe) when, or if,the old T2 is is knocked through.
It was obviously better than T1 but I wasn’t blown away.
combined with the walk from The station along the turned off travelators, the trek through the terminal & to gate 203- reckon 10,000 steps in one go- saves on gym fees.
HKGBoy
Sounds like you came off the same gate as my wife.
She said they were routed back through security but separated from the area by line of chairs which when she initially walked in she was worried was yet more checking. As for T1 she said she still preferred it to new T2 though why do they not maintain anything there is beyond me.It is a poor advertisement, like welcome to broken Britain !
Sounds like you came off the same gate as my wife.
She said they were routed back through security but separated from the area by line of chairs which when she initially walked in she was worried was yet more checking. As for T1 she said she still preferred it to new T2 though why do they not maintain anything there is beyond me.It is a poor advertisement, like welcome to broken Britain !
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It's open for VS departures at the moment. Opening for other airlines soon.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2021/0...l-2-extension/
https://www.headforpoints.com/2021/0...l-2-extension/
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The auction for the sale of the old Thomas Cook hanger has been announced as cancelled and Thomas Cook UK tweeting "don't miss out on the big announcement, you're going to love it..." Anyone any ideas ?
