I fly year after year from Manchester and although i live nearer to Liverpool id still choose manchester as Liverpool Airport is S**T. We always fly with ThomsonFly from Terminal 2 but i have had use of the other terminals using Monarch, Thomas Cook and British Airways. The other airlines using terminal 2 are Virgin, First Choice, Alitalia, PIA, Emirates, Air Europa, Jet 2 and many more, Termianl 2 is by far the best out of the three terminals here at Manchester. Upon arrival at the Terminal you are greeted by the check in desks although many of the airlines have now resorted to using self service check in using the touch screens, there isnt that many facilities before passport control but there is an odd coffee shop, WH Smith and a small cafe. Check in at manchester is 3 hours prior to departure for long haul flights (Unless you are travelling on upgrade) and 2 hours for short haul (less than 5 hours). We were on the long haul option so we had 3 hours to use up in the terminal. After check in we went straight through Passport Control and through Security, The ques can build up here especially during peak times 06.30-09.30, 11.00-14.00 and again at 17.00-19.30, between these times its normally straight through.
After you have proceeded past security there is nothing really exciting here to do except wait for your flight however there is a number of shops to buy food/gifts and things for your flight. The shops here at Manchester T2 are a Dixons tax free, Waterstones, WH Smith, A Very SMALL Boots, and thats it for the shopping, however there is an Alpha Duty Free which stocks perfume, cigarettes, alcohol etc (the usual Duty Free Stuff). If you want to grab something to eat then there is a Burger King and a cafe although the prices at these places are very high a sausage on its own was £2.00. You can take your own food past security so take your own.
Also in the departures hall there is a money exchange (Comission rates are very high), Payphones and also a Cash Machine (Free of Charge).
Thats it really at Terminal 2 although there is a small arcade, seating is also very limited here. Gates can be a very long walk from the main shopping area so make sure you check the screens for your flight, the furthest gate 215 is a good 13 minutes walk from the shops, also if you are boarding at gate 300 then be very careful as this is an add on gate and so there is 4 parts to it, gate 300a, 300b, 300c and also 300D, gate 300 is located directly opposite gate 206 and down the stairs, make sure you get there in plenty of time as ive noticed that these flights always leave on time and they will unload any passengers. Also if you are travelling from a gate 300 then you will be bussed to your aircraft as there are no tunnels at this gate.
The terminal building has been the same as long as i can remember, it does need updating.
Arrival at Manchester is the same as any arrival at any other airport - boring. After youleave the aircraft you walk to immigration, this can sometimes be a very long walk especially is you have just arrived from one of the Gate 300's. Past immigration you have baggage reclaim and them customs. Facilities in the terminal arrivals hall atre bvery limited i noticed they had a few payphones, an odd vendng machine and also a money exchange bureau.
I hope this helps all you Terminal 2 Passengers!
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Don't agree with your Liverpool airport comment!!! I think Liverpool is much easier to get through etc....
paul1958 25.09.2006 01:02
good review mate I am flying out to Cyprus from Manchester,so having never flown from there your review was helpful thanks,do your self a favour though don't listen to the negative comments,you will develop your own style,I have given up writing reviews on here as 2 many folk take it so seriously,cheers mate
Nick_Endeavour 18.09.2006 20:34
A quick review of 5 lines doesnt really cut it matey. If you expand I will be happy to re-rate though
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Sep 17th, 2006
(Sep 19th, 2006)
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