manchester airport

[longstay]

Just heard on the radio one Mr. Spooner (M.D Manchester Airport) blowing his own trumpet again and telling everyone how he would like everyone coming to the forthcoming games from far and wide to have a lasting impression of the airport and how they are 'rolling out the red carpet' !!!!!!!!!

If there is anyone from egcc management reading this :

when was the last time any of you went a wonder around the terminals ??
I work at the airport and in the last 2 weeks have used it as a passenger. It is a disgrace.

Lets recap :

How long have the travelators / escalators been
having 'ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE' ? 3 monthes ?? - on a foot note the 'essential maintenance' signs have now found themselves blocking two of the four main exit doors to terminal 1 !!! (the signs moved from the travelators that still don't work) and just for good measure the ones not having 'maintenance' are never switched on !!!

The idiotic route pax follow when on bravo pier, with signs telling everyone of the 'essential work' being carried out !!!! 10 months after september 11. (as far as i am aware inbd/outbd pax mix at several other uk airports. inc lgw?)

The baggage hall exit in terminal 1 being partley blocked by hundreds of bags which seem to just sit there day after day ? (health and saftey issue maybe?) and while we on the subject of bags why at manchester does it take 45 mins to get a bag off an aircraft that is parked only 100 yds away ?? - i,m sure your commonwealth games people are going to be very impressed.

Something out of eastern europe is an insult to eastern europe and so before you give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done, perhaps you should come down from your towers and take a look (perhaps ride along with a crew trying to park on the 'blackboard ' docking ''system'' !!!



:mad: :mad: :mad:

[sky9]

Well at least they won't be surprised when they see the rest of the City. But then they might actually clean up the rubbish that has been part of Manchester for so long.

[PAXboy]

(as far as i am aware inbd/outbd pax mix at several other uk airports. inc lgw?)
Yes. Not that familiar with LGW but went through in May on a domestic and noticed when disembarking that I was rubbing shoulders with outbound pax.

[Landing_24R]

Longstay,

I too have just started work at Manchester Airport. There is a simple yet odd reason for the broken travelators in 'C' Pier, and I can tell you the number of people who complain about it is huge.

As some of you may know, C Pier at Manchester was segregated after 11/9. This basically meant that large, white partitions were extended all the way along 'C' Pier, effectively splitting the pier into two halves. The travelators in C Pier are in the middle of the pier, two abreast. The divides were placed in the centre of the two travelators, and as a result in some areas the edge of the moving section of the travelator is too close to the partition to move safely without creating friction with the partition, or indeed stopping moving all together.

The bags in the T1 Arrivals hall are due to Globeground/Groundstar's baggage problems. I don't want to slag anyone at these two companies off, but I have seen passengers landside on the phone for 90 minutes, holding and being passed from pillar to post, trying to get someone from Groundstar/GG to escort them to the security point in T1 to collect their lost bags, which are sitting feet away from them airside in the T1 Arrivals. Furthermore, nobody from Manchester Airport can get round the easy way through arrivals, as that route is 'only to be used in emergency', even if an airside pass is in possession. Manchester staff must either wait for the call from the handling agents to send the passenger to the security point just at the border between landside and airside in Arrivals, or if we are not too busy hotfoot it down past departures the long way round to collect the passenger's bags ourselves. Like I said, I don't want to upset anyone here, as GG/Groundstar are good handling agents, I'm just trying to provide an explanation for the baggage problems.

The time it takes for luggage to come to the belt is an issue, especially in T1, mainly due to staffing problems.

I am not in any 'tower', I am temporary staff working on the 'front line'. We are regularly tutted at and sighed to by angry passengers, or more often by their relatives waiting for them to emerge from the arrivals hall.

[Greek God]

How long have the travelators / escalators been down
In Terminal 1 Pier C they have been down since at least Christmas - The one opposite Gate 22 has had a building placed over one end where I have yet to see anyone working. I personally don't mind the stroll from gate 30/31/32 but I have often seen several elderly folk struggling with the long walk. Not to mention being accosted by the odd pax who have also noticed the lack of improvement since their last trip.
mmmmmmm:(

[ShotOne]

You forgot to mention that MAN is one of the few international airports in the world not to have a staff channel. Even the fast track is closed to crew. Yes there may be a "staff channel" sign on one of the desks but that normally means pushing through a mass of passengers.

-and lets not even mention the car parking where crews face infrequent or full buses....and are routinely ripped off with hefty "fines" for trumped up minor infringements in an officially sanctioned racket run by a bunch of crooks.

[763 jock]

:mad: Man is THE worst airport in the world. I'm based there so I should know. Book your hols out of EMA or LPL just to stick it to Muirhead. I refuse point blank to furnish them with my dosh!:p

[jetset445]

I take offence to the comments of shot one about the staff bus service at man, try catching a bus in a city centre with a more frequent service{7 minute service troughout the day apart from 4 hours}. Yes the airport is a total mess and looking very shabby at the moment but dont kick the hard working staff whilst they are under attack from profit hungry managers, public and other staff members. Morale is low enough at present please dont kick us while we are down.

[Indiana Jones]

There is a wider issue here, with the exception of the new terminal at Stansted, our major airports in the UK are stuck in a time warp, in the 60's, with bolt on portacabins here and there.Both MAN APT PLC and BAA are turning in huge profits when compared to the airlines.Both airport companys protect share holder value rather than provide clean, efficient terminals for their prime and secondary customers, us the airlines and the passengers. A walk around Gatwick South Terminal will provide you with further information. Both companies are scrimping on non essential maintenance, such as escalators and lifts, the escalators at Manchester in the link between Term 1 and 2 are a case in point. In short the UK has the dowdiest,dirtiest and dankest airports in the world, not a great welcome to our foreign visitors........and dont get me started on fastrak and both MAN and LGW

[Paterbrat]

Sounds as though it is turning into a third world airport?

[spud]

It's a Blairport, all talk, no substance.

[spitfire747]

No way, third world airports got working escalators
:D :cool: :cool: :cool:

[longstay]

oh yes, forgot to mention in my winge about the sanctioned robbery taking place in the carparks, nobody should pay the fines full stop. It's just a money spinner for spooner !!!! and anyone getting a ticket should just demand spooner / muirhead comes down to the carpark immediately and keep ringing untill they do.They are responsible for this, not the clamping company who if they think they can make a few quid will, but remember your car park pass is a contract between your company and the airport and no one else.
I see that egcc was slated in the man evening news the other week, passengers are noticing.

[mantug01]

One of the main reasons for baggage taking 45 mins or more to arrive at MAN T1 is a number of things i have to work with it everyday.

One is the building work going on building a new baggage belt system so all the baggage trucks have to make there way through fork lift trucks and welders at work.

Another is thats its only a one way one lane road to the arrival baggage belts so if one person is on the belt your flight is on you have to que blocking off the whole western entry points to the baggage hall. I myself have spent 20 mins just 4 meters from the belt unable to get any closer.

And i go on .... Ringway Handling are driving into the baggage halls towing 6 baggage trucks the limit is 3 they keep blocking it off as they have no drivers to remove them after they have finished throwing off bags.


Just to comment on the baggage from baggage facilitys blocking the exits.. GlobeGround have been given no storage for the baggage and they now look after all Servisair rush baggage as well as there own.

[Landing_24R]

I know I am on my own here, but I still believe Manchester is a nice airport- it could be even better if it was better run and had better resources. I have just finished by temporary job today, and I'm sad to leave- however bad people think the airport is, the staff are still a great laugh and do their best to sort the problems out. Let's hope that the airport's image improves in the future, with some sensible decisions being made.

[zfw]

I was unfortunate enough to be a passenger on a nice Air Scandic a300,the other day,and upon arrival on stand 10,no airbridge,in fact stand 8 and 6 both out of action and coned up too.
The Groundstar steps arrived{just 1 set for 317 pax}and after 10 minutes of messing about the crew were unable to lower them,and went off for more.
This was followed by a rather sarcastic comment from the number one to the extent of"Sorry for the delay but Ringway Handling a wholly owned subsidiary of Manchester Airport,who are the only ones who provide this service here,are unable to provide us with steps ,we {air scandic}have complained at this unacceptable service,and would hope that if any passengers would like to complain,please address the letters to Geoff Muirhead here at Manchester...................}

Didnt know whether to laugh or cry as i work for the aforementioned company,and unfortunately what she says is true.

It is now embarressing to say where you work,what once was a proud and pleasant place to work,has unfortunately turned into a laughing stock,dictated by a few greedy money men at the top hell bent on maximising profits{for themselves in bonus and payrises}to the detriment of staff,and especially to customers.......in fact customers are the lowest of the low in there eyes,seen as cash cows to squeeze as much as possible out of them in there captive little areas,with extortionate car parking prices,ridiculous food charges{5 pounds for a coffee and cake}and unbelievably shoddy facilities,where people are herded into inadequetely small areas they laughingly call gate areas,if youve anything bigger than a Jungle jet in your airline,thats half full forget it.

I agree with Indiana Jones about the airports stuck in the 60s,no one had the vision to plan for the future and thats why here at Manchester were suffering,were now on our 3rd baggage system in 5 years in terminal one and 2nd in 10 years in terminal 2,and theyre still not learning from their mistakes instead of scrapping and starting again theyre adding little bits on here and there and that goes on for the whole of the airport so that we end up with 2 or 3 different systems in different terminals not just baggage systems but escalators,lifts,check-in desks.

And of course the current management team cant or wont see this,the money that is wasted on these silly little ventures instead of an overall long-term stratagy

Could go on for hours on this as im sure a lot more of the groundstaff could but the upshot is that its not only in the airline side that the business has been affected but right through the industry,and everyones trying to get along on a shoe string,if the passengers are paying less,the airlines are getting less,therefore they need handling at the lower end of the scale,and what they are paying for at the moment is reflected in the quality of service theyre getting

[Seriph]

Without question the worst airport I work out of. Can't get over having to wait for some guy with a switch to 'marshall' you onto stand and as for the state of the taxiways!!

[Sheepy]

Mrs Sheepy and I now fly from EGGP on our infrequent breaks to the sun .......even considered EGNH !

The reason ........EGCC is now such an awful place to fly from.....come on Manchester sort your problems out :confused:

[Latte tester]

Indiana Jones, you are very close when you remarked that the airport 'being stuck in a time warp', the only problem is that you were about a decade to kind. Although I haven't been in Manchester in a while, I do remember the 'third world' atmosphere of the place.
There should be no excuse for the massive delay in repairing escalators or anything else in this size of airport, are there really any 'planners'?
As for the city itself, well time will tell. It has been a long time since the last war, they haven't got it right until now, what makes them think they'll get it right this time.
A great city too bad about politics,
"Blairville includes Blairport"

:D :D

[The slug man]

:o Had the pleasure of working in Terminal 1 baggage the other day. Baggage system was stop start all day. Poor old Emirates airlines had to suffer the embarressment of explaining to the passengers Why did their bags have great big burn holes in them.
The reason for this was some contractor in baggage decided that it would be ok to do a bit of modification work just above the infeed for carousel 20. Bags were getting sprayed with hot molten metal just below were he was working.
the airport insists that they do not have a problem with there baggage system but it fails more times than it works. Globe ground and groundstar cannot be blamed for this fiasco. The full blame soley rests with the idiots at the highest level that are running the operation. These same idiots that I am talking about go in to retreat every weekend and avoid all the problems.
It takes on average at least 8 people to load a B757/200 on the apron, There are approx 230 bags to go on the A/C, in baggage however the handling agent will only allow for 1 worker to do the flight, this is on the grounds of cost. That same employee will on most occassions have to do another flight at the same time. Well got to go, about to enjoy another round at the world worse Airport.

By the way Terminal 2 is just as BAD............

[sky9]

Has anyone else noticed how the taxiways are sinking about 3 inches around where the lights were put in. At least we know where when we are on the centreline from the noise from the nosewheel.

The whole area is a patchwork of broken concrete and mastic. It really is embarrassing to be British - I wonder what some of our European cousins think when they arrive here.
Oh well Welcome to Manchester leading airport of the 4th World.

[DCS99]

I seem to remember this thread before - ah yes, here's what I wrote in March:

Nice thread. Yep, MAN is becoming a joke. I actually wrote in about that walk from the B pier and got send a nice reply here in Switzerland about it being a temporary arrangement to comply with post-Sep 11th requirements to separate arriving and departing passengers.. .. .But the problem in MAN now is you've got management in there lining their pockets and trying to run the place according to Bob Ayling theories ie. latest trendy book they've picked up at WH Smiths.. .. .Rant over.

And there I was thinking "they'll sort it all out in time for the Commonwealth games"

I'm born and bred in Manchester, and it really pains me to see this thread re-appearing. Get out of your ivory towers and sort this mess out.

PS. And better late than never - Thanks to the Swissair Express Flightline BAe146 skipper who gave me the jumpseat ZRH-MAN on 7th September 2001. I will always remember you, because that was my last jumpseat trip before the collapse of Swissair, my former employers. I hope things have worked out OK for you after the traumas of the past 10 months. Cheers.

[Soddit]

I see that the major upgrade to the Woodford Taxiways, Apron and Runway is now well under way. Rumour has it that consultants have recommended that Woodford be the ''Business'' Terminal for Greater Manchester with the proletarian hordes stuck with the present crumbling edifice.There is no terminal at Woodford but I hear that there is ample space in Avro House which could be easily converted. There is lots of car parking and the site overall is secure. Anyone know more?

[BOEINGBOY1]

Perhaps this could be a good opportunity for the journalist readers of this forum to write some damming articles, highlighting the many failures that manchester (led by G.Muirehead) has, and the lack of improvements that have taken place. In doing so you may even win back some respect ! MAN management sit fat dumb and happy in their lavishly furnished suite offices thinking that they are infallible, and therfore untouchable. Well they are not. If shaming manchester into becomming the21st centuary airport that it portrays itself to be - then so be it! Im sure that a good newspapper article will at least cause sever embarassment to G.muirehead and will relax his feeling of being above critisism!
Listen up Geoff, let this be a wake up call to yer - Remember, you still have to elceted to remain in place! :o :eek: :o :eek: :o

[You splitter]

Firstly Ive never been to EGCC so can not comment from first hand experience. However I have to say that everytime I see SITA address MANAPXH appear on the screen in front of me, it is usually Servisairs 'Flash Message' that the baggage system in T1 has failed! It is not uncommon to see this telex three to four times a week!

Recently operated some VIP charter work through EGCC. Guess what. Flight left on time, cabin crew did a great job, catering was perfect, everything turned up as it was supposed to around route. A well planned and executed bit of work. Until....
Pax turn up in Italy, bags still in MAN. At least a couple were. And it took three days for this one poor bloke to get his back. A lot of hard work by both crew and Ops staff wasted because that group of Pax will not remember all the good work our company did. All they will remember is their three days in Rome without clothes, shoes etc etc. VERY FRUSTRATING. :mad:

[SLT]

BoeingBoy

Your speling izz teribull butt wot yoo sayy izz goood!!! :p

Also on this note - does anyone know why half of the station car park has been fenced off??? Is this purely to allow the builders somewhere to put their lunchboxes and newspapers, or is there something more constructive behind it?? (Pun intended)

;)

[spud]

Ah, the old 'For your comfort and convenience, half the car park has been fenced off' routine.

[TBadger]

Well said Boeing Boy, The airport is rotten from its very core; the Board and the Management are sinking into a mire of smug complacency and arrogance.

Whilst these fat cats enjoy privileged parking spaces for their 9 to 5 jobs, when I and my crew get back at 2 in the morning there is a 30 minute wait for a bus, at least at this time of the night there is space on it.

The reality is that the top fat cat management do not care about the minions, the people who are working throughout a 24-hour time scale to keep them in their undeserved luxury.

Apart from the disgraceful bus service, there are no trolleys in the staff car park, what about crews who come back from a long trip and have luggage, there is just no thought.

And as for airside, it reminds me of some of the African airports that I have flown into, the taxiways are a disgrace, the air bridges don’t work or aren’t manned and as for the pathetic mirrors through which you are supposed to see your nose wheel on a dark and wet night, at the same time as watching everything else that starts to move whilst the aircraft is still moving.

The trouble is the list is endless; nothing short of a complete clear out at the top will rectify the position.

[sapco2]

Yep, without a doubt the 'World's worst Airport'. Thank goodness I don't work from there anymore.

[Cat O' Nine Tails]

Everytime I am destined to operate a flight out of Manchester (Ringpiece), be it either an Ad Hoc or ACMI charter I am assured of one thing. I know that getting fuel can take anything up to four hours to arrive at the aircraft even though it had been prebooked over twelve hours previously, I know that the cleaners will hopefully arrive in my lifetime, though what they do on the aircraft is anybody's guess. Both main handling companies recruit from the same pool of individuals "The invisible persons recruiting agency" Many of them have not even sprouted pubic hair yet, so even when the are in attendance they are as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. Baggage/cargo loading might as well be done by the crew, it would be far more expedient than relying on the airport staff. Trying to get a supervisor or managers name from the dispatcher is harder than pulling teeth, as is an on time departure. Lamentable excuses as to why this that and the other cannot be completed seems to be the normal operating policy. All of this is from a crew point of view!

As far as using the terminal facilities, maybe someday all the handling staff will be given the correct access cards to the various security doors, Crews will be able to have their own check-in area, the walkways/escalators between the airport and the radisson might actually be serviceable... oh the impossible dream. As far as I am concerned happiness is V1 at Manchester hopefully never to return until things improve!

[Land After]

As a frequent user of MAN (at least weekly) to UK & Europe I thought I’d let you have my point of view as SLF. I normally fly scheduled for business and pleasure, unless there is no reasonable alternative to a direct charter (some ski & sun holidays). I don’t normally have to wait around for long in the gate areas, as I have a number of airline lounge cards – not a boast, just a fact of life given the amount of travel I do, possibly giving me a better impression of the airport.

Given that it’s the SLF who choose the carriers and airport and (more importantly) buy the tickets that fund the whole operation, I would have thought that Passenger Satisfaction would be high on everyone’s agenda. One the whole, I find MAN quite a pleasant airport to travel through. I think the standard of décor and facilities are certainly higher than LHR, the walk to the gates easier than AMS and the whole operation more pleasant than CDG. Things are not perfect in all areas, and remember this is a PAX POV – but we are the ones that pay for the service. As for the terminals:

T1: Looking at lot smarter since the shopping area facelift, but spoiled by the out of action travelators and the weird arriving/departing split arrangements. By now, the authorities should have planned and built something a more “professional”. Baggage times vary from OK to appalling, though this varies by airline and time of day. Scheduled better than Charter. The new gates between T3 & T1 are smart, as is the refurbed charter pier – but I’ve not been down that way for a while.

T2: Still a smart, modern, terminal. Compare the standard of décor and maintenance to that of of LHR, and ask yourself which you prefer. If I’ve got to go on a bucket & spade, I’d rather do it from here than Gatwick. Again, bags time varies between carriers, but I’ve never been caught out by a long wait

T3: Can be a little crowded when busy (esp. security), but clean, smart & airy airside. My main gripe is that of the claustrophobic baggage halls. Also BA really needs to smarten up their check-in act – it simply takes too long, irrespective of class/destination. Ticketing is also a joke at peak times. More staff, better machines, or more people will walk round to BD.

I know that there are downsides for staff & airside ops, but I stress that the above is my subjective view as a punter. It looks as if the airlines are doing a good job of papering over the cracks for the benefit of the PAX. Maybe the scheduled airlines are doing a better job that the charters?

[usernothername]

I find myself in agreement with Land After. Manchester isn't the best in the world but it is a very long way from being the worst. I no longer operate from there so I'm a little behind on the state of the concrete and the marshalling etc so please excuse me if I don't address those issues. From a pax point of view (I travel through weekly) it is better than most in the UK and many in Europe.

Sure there are problems like the ridiculous T1 security queue and the walk back along the piers post Sept 11, but taken as a whole I'd rather be there than a lot of other airports.

I think the term stuck in a time warp was used. I hardly think that can possibly apply. Look at the development (most very beneficial) over the last 10 years. How many new runways have been built in the UK lately? Come on it's not perfect but they are moving forward and when they do build they look after the place so the pax don't feel as though they are walking through a building site, unlike Luton.

As for the car parks and operating matters, the sentiment here may be well made but it's only part of the story.

[Landing_24R]

usernothername/land after

Couldn't agree more. Manchester is far from the worst, although it does have its' problems. I suppose you have to take into account the enormous structural change the airport has 'suffered' over the past 5 or 10 years- Terminal Three, Runway 2, the southside taxiways, segregation in T1, the T1 airside makeover- the list is endless.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that T1 Piers A/B were never built originally to handle anywhere near the amount of traffic they do today. A Pier has faired better with the opening of T3, but B Pier has simply been adjusted and added to as time and passenger numbers have dictated. This is one of the reasons we see ourselves in the mudled situation we are in today, in my opinion.

Landing_24R

[TBadger]

The reality is that no one from The Worlds Worst Airport Management Team has the guts to address the issues raised by staff who work for or fly from this dump. The reason, they are so smug and complacement and they truly do not care.

They are only interested in gathering vast unjustified salaries and awaiting their OBEs.

In fairness to the airport, their incompetence sickness has spread to the handling agents who have no concept as to how to turn an aircraft around on time.

Thank God for Liverpool which I always use when travelling as a passenger to a destination served by their ever expanding network.

[BillTheCoach]

Gosh aren't we all getting our knickers in a twist about nothing !

Manchester has problems like any other airport and has had to cope with the demands placed upon it by Government post 9/11. And let's be fair, as a rent paying tenant at EGCC, I have more cause to complain than anyone since my staff and customers all work here.

However, there are forums in which to channel your comments/complaints. Sounding off here just vents anger - if you are unhappy then discuss it with YOUR management and get THEM to do something about it. If YOUR management don't listen or do anything then that is not MAplc's fault. After all YOUR employers are tenants as well and should act in a responsible manner towards their employees.

My staff all have car parking in T1/2 MSCP - why ? Simply because we pay for it. Yes, it is an expensive cost, but I consider our staff to be worth it ! Do YOUR employers think the same when bussing you to Staff West ?

If your employers want something done, they should act - we work closely with all airlines, handling agents and MAplc - heck we even designed the new road layout at the Bus Station to ensure that the staff buses can get through the traffic jams there caused by "meeters and greeters" who would prefer to burn off fuel than pay to park their cars !

Yes there are lots of problems at EGCC but EVERY airport has them ! None of us live in an ideal world !

EGCC - home of Britain's lowest flying airline !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TBadger]

BTC

It is quite obvious from your post and profile that you have no concept of what goes on Airside, and as you and your staff do not use Staff West, no concept of the problems. It is naive to suggest that airlines should move their staff to the short term car park, what is needed is a proper provision of staff parking facilities. Car Parking is but one issue in a whole catelogue of problems resulting from the head in the clouds, arrogant management.

In the past I have participated in some of the forums suggested, nothing is achieved, they are talking shops full of hot air and booze.

The time has come for Manchester Airport PLC to move into the 21st Century and to be run by a team of Directors and Management who are competent and understand the needs of a modern airport.

[Firestorm]

So how is it that my case, clearly marked 'CREW' in large print regularly gets off loaded at EGCC? Luckily I don't have to go into the terminal ever, so I don't know about any other problems. But it does often take 45 minutes to turn a 34 seat aircraft around (and we are scheduled for a 30 min turn around). ATC is brilliant though.

[763 jock]

BTC

The airlines are not really tenants. If my outfit were to upsticks and move ops to LPL then T1 would probably close! The AIRLINES are the CUSTOMERS who provide the passengers. A lesson in customer service is what is needed for the arrogant suits at MAN. By the way, yet more staff parking spaces fenced off at the railway this week!:mad: :mad:

[jetset445]

did somebody actually design the new road system at t1, i thought it just appeared like the other nightmare things that keep happening

[Ringwayman]

It's been reported that Manchester is the best UK airport (http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/content.cfm?story=439911) in a survey.

What's been said on this thread doesn't seem to tally with that report!

[LS2002]

Sorry to shatter you beliefs Ringwayman, but the link you posted was related to the a local manchester evening newspaper.

MANs resident reporter is employed by this newspaper and like all of the airport, is controlled by the individuals on the top floor of Olympic House.

It is commonly known that the beneficial stories are allowed to be reported, with the bad things being refused publication at high levels.

This practice continues unchalenged as the newspaper can not afford to upset the applecart and risk being removed from the airports residency. Heaven forbid they would miss a photo of Beckham.

As an ex MAPlc employee, can i say to anyone considering challenging the ivory tower of Olympic House to be very carefull. It is surprising how underhand and ruthless the MAPlc management team can be. Dont for one moment be tricked into thinking....... 'They wont do that................. will they ???'

[Astronut]

I know this sounds odd but do MAplc own the roads into the airport or do the council? There seems to be new speed cameras
on the approach into the airport on the gantry outside the Holiday Inn/ Hilton just before the departures ramp upto T1. Who gets the fine? MAplc or the council? Can MAplc impose speeding fines? IF its private land ie not council , can they fine you.?

[sharpshot]

Well said article says voted the best for second year running.
Goes on to quote, "totally focussed on excellence" !

It's good to hand out the forms to trusted friends, but if this thread continues to hammer EGCC and they are the best, where does that leave all the rest:D :D

[jocko0102]

Saying that Man is a dump or the worlds worst airport is stretching it a bit.No airport is perfect but when you travel a lot as passenger or crew you get to see many more airports and then you are better able to compare.
So while there are problems covering all sorts of issues here lets not go off on some crazy notion that if its at Man it must be crap,that simply is not true.Anyone who thinks that all the other airports in the UK are better obviously have not really thought about the reasoning behind that very well.
Man has been developing non stop for over the last 10 years and will continue to so problems are going to occur.
I dont think management at MAPlc are fully in touch with the real world but dont you think that the individual companies that employ lazy,ignorant and badly trained staff are also to blame?
The fact is that whether you like the place or not it has provided tens of thousands of jobs and generated a lot of money for the economy.

[forget]

The airports in UK are disgraceful; to call them third-world is a slur on most of Africa and Asia. Take Stansted; the 'flagship'. The man who designed it (Foster?) was given some fancy 'architectural' award yet he didn't have the wit to separate 'pick-ups' and 'drop-offs'. The result, you have the two sets of road traffic both scrambling for the one area. What's made it much worse was the 'Stansted solution'. For the past year or so they've had red and white bollards stuck along the road to 'separate' traffic. Now what really irritates me is this. The bollards are now dark grey and black - filthy. In over a year, and the airport manager must see it everyday, no has had the gumption to tidy the bloody place up! Picky picky? Not so. It's an indicator of how the airport is run, and evidence to our foreign visitors of what a shabby country we really are, and that we can't even put right our cock ups to any effect.

I've got a spare day next week. Would anyone at Stansted mind if I turned up with a bucket and sponge, and maybe a broom? The only proviso is, I won't use your long term car parks. Life's too short to spend that amount of time on an airport shuttle bus.

[Indiana Jones]

Lets put this all into perspective,...MAN,LGW,LHR are not the worst in the world, far from it, but for a country that is supposedly so 'cool Britannia' our major three airports arn't! They are not the 'Welcome to Britain, what a great first impression' they are supposed to be.....they are under funded, ill conceived and generally becoming dark,dank dingy in airline related areas, yet well lit, sexy and wonderful in the shopping areas.The fact that £478m of the £553m BAA earnt last year came from the shops bears testimony to that. The airports suffer from many bolts on and more sticky back plastic than in the average episode of Blue Peter.LHR and LGW's long and winding corridors are another good example of underfunding. The yanks build the better terminals, look at Pittsburgh, Orlando and the new terminal in Detroit.....have the airline and their customers first, well thought out terminal, light and spacious.At a recent Fire Seminar for LGW, was asked what would I do if the fire alarms went off...'clap' was the answer, as that would be the only way of getting a replacement South Terminal.....anyway, been a long day,...worked at worst airports, such as Mogadishu, D Day plus 1 in 1992, Minsk2 1993 and Vnukova in 1994........but come on BAA MAN PLC and the Government, sort yourselves out and do something about the state of our airports!!!..........
PS Dead chuffed BAA might not get a dual till as a result of the latest comment of the CAA.....they wanted to keep the revenue that our passengers bought them in the shops and increase the airline user fees by having two tills........

My vote for Londons South East additional runway is Lakeside or Blue Water.......hahaha

[sapco2]

Indiana Jones

LGW & LHR are good examples of poor gateways to Great Britain but neither of these airports even begin to compare with the bad management attitude to customers and staff at Manchester.

Manchester airport has got to be voted the the Worlds worst, ask anyone based there or who uses the airport regularly. The airport directors are extremely content to march briskly backwards at an increasingly confident pace.

[jocko0102]

why is man worse then, give an example of heathrow/gatwick outclassing it.
the way people are rubbishing man you would think that it was at a standstill and there were no freindly people there.

[canberra]

personally i think management at man have got smug and complacent. theyve tried to become lhr 2 and its not working. it would be great if woodford became an executive airport, but i somehow cant see it happening. what i can see happening is lpl taking a lot of business at man. and to think that burtonwood was offered to both councils in the late fifties as a joint airport!

[unwiseowl]

One thing that Manchester has and Gatwick lacks - RUBBISH and lots of it. MAN is The FOD capital of Europe!

[Moneyshot]

Happened to stop at MAN Post House/Crown Plaza the other day. My courtesy bus driver said that all the alterations being made to the hotel are purely for the games. Afterwards it's all going to be changed back. I didn't ask why because I would not have been surprised at the answer.

[Rongotai]

Here is a customer response. I am a British citizen living in New Zealand. I am SLF into Europe about 6 times a year, and have been doing this for the past 10 years.

Since changed schedules made it impractical for me to finish off my 28 hour trips by flying from the US into Glasgow, I now specify AMS or FRA as my first European stop and get over my jetlag there, rather than through ANY British airport. They are all utterly awful (with the possible exception of Barra).

However last month I ended up at Heathrow despite all efforts to avoid it. Arriving over Southend from SIN (where touchdown to kerbside had taken 25 minutes) at 05.40 we touched down at 06.15, then waited for a gate at Terminal 4 until 06.50, disembarked at 07.05, got my luggage at 07.45, and then (heading for Sussex) spent a happy 90 minutes on the M25.

Four days later I flew LGW-AMS, and from touchdown to my Central Amsterdam hotel took 50 minutes. However checking in at the Gatwick North terminal had earlier taken me over an hour.

If any of you feel inclined come back with rude comments about Wellington - you must have been there within the past four years in order to say anything that is currently correct.

[frazhm]

Well has EGCC bribed someone to win awards??? I seem to recall that they have won a number of these things over the past number of years- is it a fluke or what??

Fundamentally any airport with such a huge catchment area, population wise, is always going to be an economic success even if has been controlled in the past by people more familiar with organising refuge collection and allocating school crossing patrols- only joking!!!

No seriously. with a motorway on the doorstep and 10M+ people within 1 hrs drive how could they fail?? It does seem that the airport has grown very quickly in the past 10 years in particular and has suffered from being badly hamstrung from the lack of space for expansion. With forecasts, even post 9/11, of 40M by 2015 things may get worse before they get better.

Soddit- I noticed several replies back that consultants have suggested developing Woodford. As a point if interest who were these people? E-mail privately if you want.

[EGCC4284]

Why not develop Barton into Manchester's 2nd Airport

[usernothername]

Barton is a waterlogged field. What possible advantages does it have over any other waterlogged field in the Cheshire/Lancs area that make it a candidate for development into an airport.

[BryanC123]

The MAN Apt thats there is fine it just needs a face lift. As in MAJOR face lift......................:mad:

[ShotOne]

I don't think any of us have a problem with the individuals employed ther, 24R (except perhaps some of the rough characters employed by Excel parking). The lack of concern for airline staff comes down from the top.

Airline staff are treated far worse than passengers, and slightly less well than on-site staff in terms of amenities generally and specifically for the important matter of parking. For example, most airport staff responsible for overseeing parking work in Hale Top House -where they can park outside theie office. Perhaps if they had to put up with the hassle suffered by the rest of us, things might be better.

[Scottie Dog]

I understand that EGCC bosses have possibly seen these pages and that action may be taken - or possibly even has started to be taken.

About time in anycase - having frequented the airport since the mid-50's - I have seen the vast development that has gone on and the lowering of standards over the last year. EGCC can be a good airport but just needs - as previously stated by numerous souls - a management team that is permitted to spend money at a time when income is lean.

How about some constructive comments rather than just moans. At the end of the day we are all looking for the same results. Perhaps the boss raptors might take heed of helpful suggestions.

Lets get the place moving in the right direction!

Scottie Dog



ps - Most be Commonwealth Games opening day as the clouds have been spreading from the west all day!!

:rolleyes:
:rolleyes:

[AOG-YYZ]

MAN can only be the worlds second worst airport, after YYZ. But! soon we will open the new 60mil capacity terminal, then close the two cattle pens T1 & T2.

But what do you think of the UK Governments proposals for the furure of UK air travel? A third runway for MAN? Now someone is really dreaming in Technicolor.:D

[spud]

If they do ever build a third runway, it would be nice to break with tradition and build a level one.

[cargo boy]

www.thetimes.co.uk

Manchester airport 'dowdy and dank'

AS THE Commonwealth Games begin, Manchester airport is defending itself against allegations made by pilots that it is the “worst in the world” and suffers from being “dowdy, dirty and dank”. The accusations were made on the Professional Pilots Rumour Network, an internet site (www.pprune.org) that provides an anonymous debating forum for pilots. Complaints include problems with slow baggage handling and broken-down travelators.

“Manchester has the worst airport in the world. I am based there so I should know,” says one entry. “Book your holidays now out of East Midlands Airport or John Lennon Liverpool airport.”

Another says: “It is scrimping on non-essential maintenance, such as escalators and lifts.”

But the airport authority says the complaints are “unfair” and that travelator problems and baggage delays are rare. It also points out that it is organising a programme of entertainment during the Games including jazz bands, clowns, jugglers and special catering reflecting participating countries.

John Spooner, managing director of Manchester airport, said: “We’re not going to say we’re always perfect, but I think the complaints are grossly unfair.

“We want people who use our airport to get a good impression.”

Tom Chesshyre

[SPIT]

I worked at Liverpool Airport ??? for appro 3yrs.
In the 50s when Lpool and Manch were still Ministery bases they were given a chance of developing for the future by the Govt of the day. Whilst Liverpool sat with their fingers up their bums and brains in Neutral trying to decide if they could afford this |Manch said go ahead and dam the cost.
While Lpool stayed as a second or third rate airport until the 80s Manch developed. The way Manch is going the situations COULD REVERSE as Manch seem to have siad WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH and dam the pax. Lpool are now developing and Manch will NOT except this as they still want to be No 1.
Well I have had my say so off to bed for me.:confused: :(

[sky9]

I suppose that Mr Spooner considers it an unfair criticism that the baggage system that was installed in T2 when it was opened continually broke down because it was designed for parcels rather than baggage.

It was only replaced this year when the airlines read the "Riot act" to the airport after years of delayed flights.

[chiglet]

Just a comment.
I park in Staff 7 [Northern side of T2] and wend my way to the Tower Block. The Travelator but one [T2 to Radisson] has been u/s and barricaded for over THREE MONTHS :mad:
This is NOT a "minor" snag. It' a Flamin' disgrace...Oh yeah, last week, a work man changed the oos signs for brand new ones :rolleyes:
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

[spud]

I'm afraid that seeping down from the government's lead is the idea that marketing a product, a service or whatever, is far more important than doing a good job or producing a good product.
We shouldn't be told that criticisms of MAN are unfair, no more than the British soldiers in Afghanistan should be told that their misfiring rifles are really very good underneath it all. The effort shouldn't go into denying the criticsm, it should go into correcting the problems (which, at MAN, are legion).

It really is Manchester International Blairport and it needs to raise it's game.

[SLT]

Mr (Egg and) Spooner (!) reckons the complaints are unfair. Baggage handling and travelator problems are rare are they???? Mybe he should come down from his ivory tower and smell what he's shovelling!! :mad: Baggage belt problems have become so bad in T1 that one airline has had to make a special provision in its wait/don't wait for bags policy for it!!!! I park in the (now smaller) station car park and I can't remember that last time I walked along a travelator that works in the tunnel.

And another thing - my colleagues and I really couldn't give a toss about jugglers and jazz musicians etc. that are there for the Commonwealth Games. It's good that a real effort is being made for the Games - shame the airport can't make that much of an effort for those pax (sorry, customers) and crew that have to use the airport on a daily basis. It's gonna take more than a few jugglers to hide MAPlc's inefficiencies.

PS Why bother getting clowns in from outside for the Commonwealth Games entertainment??? There are plenty hanging round Hale Top House.

[sky9]

I was walking from carpark 7 to Terminal 2 yesterday; there is so much rubbish in the shrubs it is growing roots.

Possibly some "clowns" could clean it out. :rolleyes:

[Knobbies]

I feel I should apologise to the pax on behalf of MANplc for the bumpy ride when taxiing around the back of stands 28 through to 29 due to the pot holes and metal plates. Ruff...

What about the lead in guidance onto most stands, basic at best, I can imagine what a "new" pilot into MAN for the first time must think of the mirror, stand 28, [if he can find it] or old flourescent tube method on the other stands.

Malaga and Dalaman put MAN to shame......

Rant over, sorry if this has all be said before.

:-((

[Mr A Tis]

Yup Manchester is far from perfect, certainly scope for significant improvements. However, unfair to single out MAN , arrived this morning at LHR from Trinidad on a BWIA A340-300 - It took a full hour to organise steps and sufficient transport to the terminal. Resulting in multiple missed connections for all concerned.:mad:

[763 jock]

I made a transit stop at BRU today. From a pax point of view it was heaven. Fantastic modern buildings with art/music/shopping etc. No queues for security and every one of dozens of walkways was serviceable. In 4 hours only one announcement about smoking.

Arrived at T1 MAN and had the full "BAGGAGE LEFT UNATTENDED/SMOKING RESTRICTIONS ARE IN FORCE/PARKING RESTRICTIONS......WILL BE TOWED AWAY ETC....". Not only that, but gash everywhere outside of T1, absolute bloody disgrace to the city. These guys need to smell the coffee, look how it's done on the continent before the likes of BRU arrive to take the show over.

Pint of Stella any day!

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[arthur harbrow]

Arrived at Manchester at 7.45 am for AC 841 joined long queue
finally got to desk at 10.25, because of computer problems we were told eventually, not impressed.

[Pink Baron]

I have to agree with Longstay/TBadger/The Slug man/Cargo Boy/
Forgets & Indiana Jones "threads" if I am Allowed to.

Doudy & Dank

First Impressions count.

Foreign visitors

Don't compare TWC as a standard we should strive for the best.

I wonder which Council housing estate Mr. Spooner lives on in Mars?

Bye for now

The Aloof Pompous Idiot

(check the meanings out in the Concise Oxford Dictionary it might improve ones chances of completing The Times Crossword).

[CainanUK]

You are painting all the staff at MAN with a really broad brush. You have obviously not had the pleasure of me dispatching your flights, because with the occasional delay due to a CTOT, I have an exemplary on time performance history. I dont know what you are talking about with the cleaners, but I think they do a good job. Have YOU ever tried cleaning an airplane in the time they have CAPTAIN?? Please understand that we the handling agencies have not a lot to work with, but we do our very best. There is a definate conflict of interest between Ringway Handling, Ops 3 and the PLC. Like it was said in an earlier post, RHC are constantly blocking the baggage halls with upwards of 6 trailers (making the rest of us look like crap) when three is the maximum allowed. When this happens do they get bollocked? No!! Ops 3 are all ex Ringway. RHC is a wholly owned subsidiary of MAPLC. What can we do?http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/gren.gif

[SLT]

Cainan,

No one is having a go at the majority of staff at MAPlc, or the handling companies. In fact, many have gone out of their way to point out this fact. 90% of the MAPlc/handling agent staff work very hard under very tough conditions.
The problem that most of us have is with the MAPlc (mis)management. Things do seem to have improved of late, but there is soooo far still to go. Need more security staff to reduce queueing at security, more cleaners, more baggage handlers, more tug teams............

If there is a problem with RHC blocking the baggage halls, the get the airside police to move them on - they are surely causing an obstruction.
BTW, you'd be surprised how many crewmembers (flight and cabin crew) muck in time and again to get the a/c away when the cleaners don't turn up or the cleaners need some help!

[fac51]

I know this subject has been quiet for a while, bit I just thought I might put my two pence in. I have just used Manchester Airport as a customer this weekend and was expecting, based on the comments on this forum, to walk through a rotting hellhole surrounded by bleary eyed depressives, avoiding the tumbleweed.

Instead, I found a pleasant, efficient airport with smiling helpful staff and no queues. I'm sure that the people who post on this forum hold their Customer's interests as their highest priority and that the myriad of negative comments are in no way a result of either rabid self-interest or anti-Northern sentiment.

Anyway, keep up the good work Manchester and please never turn into another Gatwick.

:)

[dwlpl]

On hearing that ACI have placed MAN at 47th place in the world in terms of passenger throughput, the afore mentioned Mr Spooner was yesterday quoted as saying that MAN "is a world class airport with world class facilities"

[Mr A Tis]

Anyone been to the new revamped Dusseldorf airport?
Bright, spacious , modern and clean. S-Bahn station under the terminal or a monorail to wisk you to either the multi-storey car park or main line train station, where I waited 2 minutes for a train & arrived in the city 5 minutes after that ...all for about £2.

Nah, I suppose it is better to walk 2 miles on broken travelators, or giggle at the queues of trolleys, wheelchairs and buggies waiting for the miniscule lift in T1 to My Travel check-in :rolleyes: