Is Manchester airport the worst in Europe?

[Dirty Harry]

In about 1986 me n pals used to go the airport for the day. Not plane spotting, just pissing about. It seemed no where was off limits. Would be going through all sorts of doors, behind walls, mental really that we had so much access

That’s so true mate, much of my childhood was spent growing up a stones throw from the airport , and we got literally everywhere, but there’s a particular incident that still scares the shit out of me to this day some 40/50 years or so on, it was when they’d built the multi story car park and you could drop a couple of levels onto a roof to get on the pier, I’d got over hanging down to drop, looked down and thought “shit, that looks like big drop”, so decided climb back up to go to an edge with a plastic drainpipe down to floor level (so some 5/6/7 stories down), I climbed over with the intent ‘shimmying down’, and at the last second though ‘fuck it’ I can’t be arsed and got back up, when I’d matured a bit and my ‘danger’ trigger was a bit more evolved, I looked at it and thought OMFG, what was I thinking !

Up until recent times I could see this drainpipe and drop every time I went to the airport and would break out into a cold sweat as I’d surely have died that day.

The airport back then was a godsend for some kids during the holidays who had free school meals or lost out on them during the holiday period), they’d go just to eat scraps off the plates etc left behind because their parents were out pissing the money up the wall, very sad.

 

[Barcon]

Never seen a bag pile like it on arrivals, and this was 4 years ago. Was only a couple of hours wait. Outbound with the ipad beer ordering though, I'll take it.

People are just leaving it now and going home without it.

 

[Bluesince1979]

That’s so true mate, much of my childhood was spent growing up a stones throw from the airport , and we got literally everywhere, but there’s a particular incident that still scares the shit out of me to this day some 40/50 years or so on, it was when they’d built the multi story car park and you could drop a couple of levels onto a roof to get on the pier, I’d got over hanging down to drop, looked down and thought “shit, that looks like big drop”, so decided climb back up to go to an edge with a plastic drainpipe down to floor level (so some 5/6/7 stories down), I climbed over with the intent ‘shimmying down’, and at the last second though ‘fuck it’ I can’t be arsed and got back up, when I’d matured a bit and my ‘danger’ trigger was a bit more evolved, I looked at it and thought OMFG, what was I thinking !

Up until recent times I could see this drainpipe and drop every time I went to the airport and would break out into a cold sweat as I’d surely have died that day.

The airport back then was a godsend for some kids during the holidays who had free school meals or lost out on them during the holiday period), they’d go just to eat scraps off the plates etc left behind because their parents were out pissing the money up the wall, very sad.

We’d spend all day there. 368 bus there. Not being overly nuisances is really

 

[Dirty Harry]

We’d spend all day there. 368 bus there. Not being overly nuisances is really

368 and 369 from Stockport iirc ?

 

[mike1923]

went through this morning. Big queues but moved really quickly, helped by a guy moving down the line checking people in and a self service baggage check in

 

[Big mals fedora]

That’s so true mate, much of my childhood was spent growing up a stones throw from the airport , and we got literally everywhere, but there’s a particular incident that still scares the shit out of me to this day some 40/50 years or so on, it was when they’d built the multi story car park and you could drop a couple of levels onto a roof to get on the pier, I’d got over hanging down to drop, looked down and thought “shit, that looks like big drop”, so decided climb back up to go to an edge with a plastic drainpipe down to floor level (so some 5/6/7 stories down), I climbed over with the intent ‘shimmying down’, and at the last second though ‘fuck it’ I can’t be arsed and got back up, when I’d matured a bit and my ‘danger’ trigger was a bit more evolved, I looked at it and thought OMFG, what was I thinking !

Up until recent times I could see this drainpipe and drop every time I went to the airport and would break out into a cold sweat as I’d surely have died that day.

The airport back then was a godsend for some kids during the holidays who had free school meals or lost out on them during the holiday period), they’d go just to eat scraps off the plates etc left behind because their parents were out pissing the money up the wall, very sad.

We used to do exactly that DH. Hung from that multi storey and dropped down, must have been a 15ft drop, but once I landed awkward and thought I’d broke my back!! All me mates laughing and I was in agony. Still suffer with bad backs to this day!!

 

[Dirty Harry]

We used to do exactly that DH. Hung from that multi storey and dropped down, must have been a 15ft drop, but once I landed awkward and thought I’d broke my back!! All me mates laughing and I was in agony. Still suffer with bad backs to this day!!

Are you sure it wasn’t 115 mate ;-), felt like it when I was a kid, but yeah I wonder how many kids still have injuries from that drop ? bet there’s quite a few, think the worst I got was a couple of sprained ankles over the years so was quite lucky.

 

[Big mals fedora]

Are you sure it wasn’t 115 mate ;-), felt like it when I was a kid, but yeah I wonder how many kids still have injuries from that drop ? bet there’s quite a few, think the worst I got was a couple of sprained ankles over the years so was quite lucky.

Yeh I remember it looked a long way down, but once we’d done it a couple of times it didn’t seem so bad, even to a scrawny 12-13 yr old!! Until I landed awkward, never did it again! Think we used to jib over some turnstiles to get on the piers after that

 

[Franny 1234]

My son and family went through Manchester Airport today 1pm on route to tenerife no issues or delays.

 

[dickie davies]

Or you could pay 10/20p and go on top of the terminals with the plane spotter's.

What a wonderful safe world it was as a kid.

You think about that now and what an enormous security risk it was
Either someone from the pier throwing a weapon down to a boarding passenger, or even walking down the steps at the end of the pier onto the apron themselves

 

[jimharri]

Quick question. What's the situation re getting through security in T3 (the Ryanair terminal)? Has the mayhem of the summer (the long delays) eased a bit? I'm over for the Saints game, and will be flying back home the day after.

 

[Big mals fedora]

You think about that now and what an enormous security risk it was
Either someone from the pier throwing a weapon down to a boarding passenger, or even walking down the steps at the end of the pier onto the apron themselves

True story this, a good few yrs after my escapades hanging from the multi storey car park to get on the piers, me and a few mates were on the piss in the Ship Inn behind the airport, walking home, rocked a car when we saw a couple shagging in there, then climbed over the fences onto the grass at the side of the runways, walked over the runways and climbed out near the cargo centre. Never got challenged (well except off the guy in the car who wasn’t too happy) all the way over the runway. Don’t think that would happen now!!

 

[maccieblue]

Quick question. What's the situation re getting through security in T3 (the Ryanair terminal)? Has the mayhem of the summer (the long delays) eased a bit? I'm over for the Saints game, and will be flying back home the day after.

Seems to be bad days and good days, the airport web home page will tell you the estimated waiting times but that isn't a lot of use when you need to plan in advance what time to get there

 

[RadcliffeRick]

Yeh I remember it looked a long way down, but once we’d done it a couple of times it didn’t seem so bad, even to a scrawny 12-13 yr old!! Until I landed awkward, never did it again! Think we used to jib over some turnstiles to get on the piers after that

Jib over turnstiles??? RAWK is that way -> :-)

 

[fanatic1]

2 hours delay in queue for Tenerife - Terminal 2 September 6th outward. Disney style system. Pathetic - the peak holiday season is long passed now. Friend was in security at Gatwick 15 years ago. Says that all X-ray baggage course took less than one week to train thoroughly and plenty vacancies now.

 

[citydad]

Quick question. What's the situation re getting through security in T3 (the Ryanair terminal)? Has the mayhem of the summer (the long delays) eased a bit? I'm over for the Saints game, and will be flying back home the day after.

Went Milan for England game. Flew Ryanair Thursday morning at 6-50am. Was busy but looks like new staff are all in place. Got through security in 20 mins. Got back 8-30am this morning and absolutely no problems. Apart from southgate.

 

[jimharri]

Went Milan for England game. Flew Ryanair Thursday morning at 6-50am. Was busy but looks like new staff are all in place. Got through security in 20 mins. Got back 8-30am this morning and absolutely no problems. Apart from southgate.

Cheers for the heads up fella. Sorry about the result, but at least you can say that you've seen a game in the iconic San Siro stadium.

 

[wahablue]

Arrived terminal3@ 12:25, through to departure area 12:50 this afternoon.Things have improved.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

We flew out last week and had no problems with security. We had an hour's delay which isn't too bad though.

However, on the way back into Manchester was the usual experience. Took a while for the bus to come out to the plane then the bus had to queue up to let us off - never seen that before! Passports was great, very quick.

The baggage hall was a joke. When we went to the belt there must've been 100 bags just either lying around in the hall or constantly going round and round the belt. After 45 minutes we were told to go to another belt, then after 30 minutes waiting there we were told to go to another belt. It took nearly 2 hours to get our bags and the level of communication was dreadful. And all the while you'd see piles of bags that were clearly not collected!

Went to get a taxi home which is about 25 minutes from the airport and was quoted £55. Absolute rip off. And they make it harder than necessary to get picked up by other people too.

We ended up getting the train into Piccadilly for £7 and a taxi back home for £15.

I detest that airport, it shames the city. I'm only going to fly from there in future if I have no choice.

I've done a fair bit of travelling in my time and it's the worst airport I've flew from/into by a long distance. I've never had a "nice" experience in it.

 

[RobMCFC]

We flew out last week and had no problems with security. We had an hour's delay which isn't too bad though.

However, on the way back into Manchester was the usual experience. Took a while for the bus to come out to the plane then the bus had to queue up to let us off - never seen that before! Passports was great, very quick.

The baggage hall was a joke. When we went to the belt there must've been 100 bags just either lying around in the hall or constantly going round and round the belt. After 45 minutes we were told to go to another belt, then after 30 minutes waiting there we were told to go to another belt. It took nearly 2 hours to get our bags and the level of communication was dreadful. And all the while you'd see piles of bags that were clearly not collected!

Went to get a taxi home which is about 25 minutes from the airport and was quoted £55. Absolute rip off. And they make it harder than necessary to get picked up by other people too.

We ended up getting the train into Piccadilly for £7 and a taxi back home for £15.

I detest that airport, it shames the city. I'm only going to fly from there in future if I have no choice.

I've done a fair bit of travelling in my time and it's the worst airport I've flew from/into by a long distance. I've never had a "nice" experience in it.

We’ve been through twice in the last few weeks and both times it was OK - but that is because we had carry-on only.

But I echo your general thoughts - every airport I’ve been through in the last 20 years is streets ahead of Manchester in terms of the efficiency, especially getting through security and check-in. CDG, Barcelona and Madrid are some of the busiest in Europe and it always seems effortless. Why don’t Management at Manchester send people to those airports and look how it’s done? It can’t be that difficult.