Manchester Airport has shared a handy guide for passengers who are travelling through the airport.

Going to the airport can be exciting but also stressful for some passengers so knowing a bit more about it could help ease the worry.

Whether you’re looking for a restaurant to enjoy a bite to eat before your flight or you’re rushing to make a connection, Manchester Airport’s guide on getting through the airport could help you out – let’s take a look.

Manchester Airport issues passenger guide for travelling through the airport

Passport Control

The UK Border Force, a branch of the Home Office, a UK Government department, controls Passport Control at Manchester Airport.

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While the airport isn’t involved in administering this process, staff will be allocated at peak times to support Border Force colleagues by directing passengers through this part of their journey.

When you arrive at the border, you’ll be pointed in one of three directions with designated passport lanes – British passport holders, EU, EEA or Swiss nationals and Non-EU nationals.

Wait times can vary depending on how many passengers are arriving at the same time as you but Manchester Airport says its waiting times are typically under 15 minutes.

You can pay for Passport Control Fast Track from just £5 per person which allows you to use a dedicated express lane.

The airport asks that people have their passports open on the photo page ready for scanning.

Mobile phones cannot be used when in this area.

Flight transfers

If you need to catch a connecting flight from a different terminal and only have hand luggage, you can transfer directly between Manchester Airport’s three terminals via a transfer bus service.

This service operates between the Terminal 2 Flight Transfer Centre, Terminal 1 Gate 20C and Terminal 3 Gates 150A/150D.

If you’d like more information, you can speak to a member of the Customer Experience team.

Collecting your bags

When you land and head to collect your bags, the details for your relevant carousel will be displayed on the information screens when you arrive in the baggage reclaim hall.

With hundreds of pieces of luggage on busy flights, you can help yourself identify yours quickly by adding a distinguishing luggage tag or sticker.

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Staying over at the airport

If you want to stay close to the airport, there are plenty of hotel options on the airport site for a one-night stay to suit all budgets, the airport says.

These include:

  • Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport
  • Holiday Inn Manchester Airport
  • ibis budget Manchester Airport
  • Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport, an IHG Hotel
  • Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Airport

The airport adds: “The Radisson Blu is directly accessible via the Skylink glass bridge between the Airport Station and Terminal Two, while the Holiday Inn and ibis budget are also directly opposite Terminal Two.

“The Clayton Hotel, Crowne Plaza and DoubleTree by Hilton are all walking distance from Terminals One and Three.”

Places to eat and drink

There are plenty of places to enjoy food and drinks in the arrivals area once you have collected your bags.

Terminal 1 has options such as the Hangar restaurant, Greggs and Pret-a-Manger.

Starbucks, M&S Food and more can be found in Terminal 2.

Arriving passengers can enjoy food and drinks at places like Caffe Nero, WHSmith and there is also a Hangar restaurant available.

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Public transport

Manchester Airport adds: “The Airport Station is a centralised hub for public transport links, comprising of a train station, tram station and bus / coach station.

“Fast and direct train services into the middle of Manchester run up to every 15 minutes throughout the day, with direct links also available to places like North Wales, the Lake District, the North East and Crewe.

“Bus and tram services provide a network of local links across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and west Derbyshire, while coach services offer longer-distance connections to other major UK cities.”