Manchester-3

[MANFAN]

Originally Posted by The96er

By Servisair, you mean Swissport.

I was about to say the same thing…thought we were back in the 90’s for a moment!

[Danny G]

Ahh Servisair, if only. We had similar issues. We departed to Cancun 0n 31st May same aircraft as above SE-RFZ, the flight on 30th was almost cancelled due to Swissport losing the luggage (we knew people on the flight) so it departed 6 hours or so late. TUI knew it was going to be delayed as it was showing on our departure the following day but insisted we still checked in at the appointed time (6.30am). On arrival at T2 the check in looked very quiet until on of the TUI reps pointed us downstairs to the lower level check in which was bedlam. It took us one hour 40 mins to check in as priority club, for others it was 3 hours+
Security was a breeze, no queuing at all. Finally departed at 6pm meaining we had been at the airport for 11 hours with no need to be there. Coming back we were delayed again by 1 hour 30 mins, Cancun airport was a breath of fresh air, check in 5 mins and security 5 mins. On return to MAN we had to sit for 10 mins while someone activated the stand and another 15 mins for them to connect the airbridge. Immigration was empty and our bags came through after a 30 minute wait so no real complaints there.
Not sure what I think of the new T2 area, I was surprised you are not able to walk the length of the terminal, does anyone know if that will be possible when complete.

[Mr Mac]

Well came in T1 this morning with LH from Munich with no issues, but no checked luggage. Outbound T2 to Palma with Jet 2 at 6.30 Friday, so my first experience of T2 in a while, with checked bags, though do have Fast Track, and a more tourist oriented carrier, so will report back Friday if we get to Deia our final destination.

Cheers
Mr Mac

[OzzyOzBorn]

Originally Posted by Danny G

I was surprised you are not able to walk the length of the terminal, does anyone know if that will be possible when complete.

You actually can walk the full length of T2, but the legacy gates are on a lower level, so to access these one is routed down an escalator from the main lounge - the same one you use if headed for the bussing lounge. From there one follows a corridor passing abeam the security area, then into the concourse with the original T2 gates. When I was there, very few retail and catering options were available in that old section - it seems to be used for boarding flights only. A couple of vending machines, maybe?

For the new build gates at the opposite end of T2, you can follow the corridor from the main concourse to the most distant pier which hosts the 'A' gates.

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

When I was there, very few retail and catering options were available

There are none at all down there.

[eye2eye5]

Mr Mac, I don’t think it reasonable to describe cabin crew as “quite old, but competent “. The days of employing trolley dollies to be disposed of at the age of 30 are long gone. I would much rather have cabin crew who know their job and who provide an efficient and friendly service than be purely judged on looks. Some are young and fantastic, some are older and fantastic, it should be entirely down to ability and not age. Says a 67 year old poster………

[MARKEYD]

Without hijacking the thread I thought exactly the same about the comment about
“ the cabin crew appeared quite old though “

Not quite sure what that is supposed to mean but as a crew member aged 58 I know nearly everyone onboard appreciates the maturity and professionalism we give rather than some ex 21 year old “ love island “ contestant
I will leave it at that ….

[bobradamus]

Originally Posted by Mr Mac

The comment on age was not in any way meant to be demeaning to the crew, it was an observation. The crew appeared to be more elderly and a little larger in the BMI than I have experienced on the other carriers I use on a regular basis which are LH/EK/SQ. I am quite aware that the Trolly Dolly days are over and indeed did think before I posted this that I would get some feedback on

As for T2 we left from on of the old gates which you get to by going around the back of security and as Jonny Fat Pants says there is nothing down there except a long walk.

cheers
Mr Mac

Wow, just wow.

[P330]

Originally Posted by Mr Mac

The comment on age was not in any way meant to be demeaning to the crew, it was an observation. The crew appeared to be more elderly and a little larger in the BMI than I have experienced on the other carriers I use on a regular basis which are LH/EK/SQ. I am quite aware that the Trolly Dolly days are over and indeed did think before I posted this that I would get some feedback on

As for T2 we left from on of the old gates which you get to by going around the back of security and as Jonny Fat Pants says there is nothing down there except a long walk.

cheers
Mr Mac

Always enjoy reading your posts and informed observations, but this one is probably best deleted. Yes, it’s just an observation, but it’s an entirely irrelevant and inappropriate one.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by eye2eye5

Mr Mac, I don’t think it reasonable to describe cabin crew as “quite old, but competent “. The days of employing trolley dollies to be disposed of at the age of 30 are long gone. I would much rather have cabin crew who know their job and who provide an efficient and friendly service than be purely judged on looks. Some are young and fantastic, some are older and fantastic, it should be entirely down to ability and not age. Says a 67 year old poster………

They SHOULD be gone, but that's EXACTLY what airlines aim for. Wear out the expensive seniors and replace them with sexy eye candy who want to see the world for a few years before moving on. BA's Mixed Fleet's business model is EXACTLY that, cabin crew are seen as glorified Baristas, in 2022.

[MARKEYD]

Jesus , some ridiculous posts here , i hope they are not on any of my flights in the near future
Incredibly disappointing posts

[techair]

Disgraceful.

This forum has really plumbed new depths with MARKEYDs last disgraceful post. Time for a new forum for me.

[VickersVicount]

Originally Posted by techair

Time for a new forum for me.

They all say that….

[easyflyer83]

There’s some particularly bad comments on here guys.

“old but competent” - aside from the age observation, you aren’t qualified to assess how competent they are. You can however assess the service you received.

The comment about BMI - Jeez, keep digging.

And Skipness, as someone who usually values your posts, I’m offended at your comment about glorified baristas.

BA crew (mixed fleet no longer exists) may not be in it for the long run these days, and perhaps that’s what BA wants, but there’s no evidence that they are seen as ‘glorified baristas’.

At my base, at my carrier, we have a vast spectrum of people. We have lots of older crew who have worked at the likes of BA, VS, EK, EY, BY. Equally we have a lot of young crew of all shapes and sizes and in MAN particularly, we have around 40% male with all male crews not uncommon.

[Jamesair1]

I have nothing but praise for the mixed age cabin crew on several BA flights recently...all charming, efficient and friendly throughout the mainly full flights.... even while trying to serve a large business class section with a meal on a flight to LCY....which must be no easy task with the limited facilities aboard the E190 aircraft.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

easyflyer83 apologies, let me be clearer. Management sees cabin crew as glorfied baristas, not that they are in any way. They perform a cricual safety function and work insane hours. My point is airline management, from Laker to Branson et al see them as easily replaced disposable transients. Recent events have proven that to be wrong.

[forbesd]

Terminal 1

For the sake of balance, I just wanted to add our experience on Monday morning. We arrived at the T1 drop off zone upstairs at 0935, checked in at Jet2 check in downstairs, through secutity and were in our seats by the window in Giraffe by 1000. Ok this is not the early morning wave but it is entirely acceptable. Staff were pleasant, frankly it was the passengers who were downright rude at times.
I took some time to see what was causing the delays at security. There were a reasonable number of lanes open but the number of bags needing personal review was much higher than usual. I was astonished to see that the biggest problem was fluids, gels, lotions etc.which had not been separated from other hand baggage before scanning. The rules about liquids have been in place since 9/11 some 20 years ago so there is no excuse. Those whose hand luggage needed reviewing will have been delayed.

[easyflyer83]

Originally Posted by forbesd

For the sake of balance, I just wanted to add our experience on Monday morning. We arrived at the T1 drop off zone upstairs at 0935, checked in at Jet2 check in downstairs, through secutity and were in our seats by the window in Giraffe by 1000. Ok this is not the early morning wave but it is entirely acceptable. Staff were pleasant, frankly it was the passengers who were downright rude at times.
I took some time to see what was causing the delays at security. There were a reasonable number of lanes open but the number of bags needing personal review was much higher than usual. I was astonished to see that the biggest problem was fluids, gels, lotions etc.which had not been separated from other hand baggage before scanning. The rules about liquids have been in place since 9/11 some 20 years ago so there is no excuse. Those whose hand luggage needed reviewing will have been delayed.

To be exact, the liquids rule came in in late summer 2006.

[ian_h1]

Originally Posted by forbesd

For the sake of balance, I just wanted to add our experience on Monday morning. We arrived at the T1 drop off zone upstairs at 0935, checked in at Jet2 check in downstairs, through secutity and were in our seats by the window in Giraffe by 1000. Ok this is not the early morning wave but it is entirely acceptable. Staff were pleasant, frankly it was the passengers who were downright rude at times.
I took some time to see what was causing the delays at security. There were a reasonable number of lanes open but the number of bags needing personal review was much higher than usual. I was astonished to see that the biggest problem was fluids, gels, lotions etc.which had not been separated from other hand baggage before scanning. The rules about liquids have been in place since 9/11 some 20 years ago so there is no excuse. Those whose hand luggage needed reviewing will have been delayed.

To be fair MAG *could* invest in the latest technology that doesn't need liquids pastes and gels separating, and this would presumably result in fewer bag checks although from speaking to family members who only travel infrequently that they get confused as at some airports they are in and others they are out - a simple solution would be to pay attention and read the ample signage of course.

[AndrewH52]

I believe their new scanners have that capability however it remains a DfT requirement for liquids to be presented at the security screening point.