Our Review of Manchester Airport

Table of contents: Our Review of Manchester Airport Pros and Cons of Manchester Airport Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Manchester Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

Manchester Airport (MAN) has a poor overall reputation among passengers, with average user scores around 3.0–3.1 out of 5 on Google and very low user ratings on Skytrax, despite an official 3‑Star Skytrax certification. A fair combined assessment is around 2.5 out of 5.

Sources and overall scores

Google Reviews show Manchester Airport with roughly 31,000+ reviews and an average rating of about 3.1 out of 5, indicating a clearly below‑average satisfaction level for a major hub. Skytrax officially certifies Manchester as a 3‑Star Airport, but the user review score on the Skytrax site is extremely low (around 2 out of 10) with more than 1,300 reviews, reflecting strong passenger dissatisfaction. Independent consumer surveys, such as Which? in 2025, repeatedly rank Manchester (especially Terminal 3) at or near the bottom of UK airports, with low scores for security queues, seating, and overall experience.

Main complaints from reviews

Many Google and Skytrax reviewers describe the airport—particularly Terminals 1 and 3—as dated, dirty in places, poorly maintained, and “not fit for purpose” for current passenger volumes. Common negative themes include overcrowded and chaotic security areas, rude or aggressive security staff, long walking distances, confusing layout, and poor value extras such as parking charges, drop‑off fees, and fines from the barrierless road system.

Passengers frequently mention a lack of seating in some areas, insufficient or congested lounges, and underwhelming food and retail options outside the newer parts of Terminal 2. External review platforms like Trustpilot reinforce this pattern, highlighting dirty toilets, confusing signage, parking and meet‑and‑greet problems, and the perception that the airport is “there to rip off the public” with fees and penalties.

Positive aspects highlighted

Not all feedback is negative, and several recent reviews point to improvements, especially in Terminal 2. Some passengers report smooth experiences with quick check‑in and security, calling the redeveloped Terminal 2 “clean, bright and well appointed” and a “revelation” compared with the older Terminal 1. Operationally, security performance has improved at times: in March 2025, Manchester reported that 85% of passengers cleared security in under 5 minutes and almost all within 15 minutes, even during a record‑busy month.

Passengers who use fast track, travel at quieter times, or depart from the newer T2 often describe an efficient journey from car park or JetParks shuttle through to the gate, with acceptable shopping and dining once airside. These positive experiences help explain why aggregated scores are not even lower, and why the official Skytrax certification remains at 3‑Star level despite poor user comments.

Final rating and justification

Taking into account the middling Google rating (~3.1/5), the extremely low Skytrax user score (around 2/10), the 3‑Star Skytrax certification, and repeated “worst in the UK” style rankings from independent surveys, a balanced overall rating of 2.5 out of 5 is justified. The airport offers some strong points—especially the modernised Terminal 2 and periods of very quick security processing—but these are offset by persistent complaints about crowding, cleanliness, staff attitude, fees, and the poor experience in older terminals, which significantly drag down passenger satisfaction.

Pros and Cons of Manchester Airport

PROS

Location: Manchester Airport is conveniently located about 14 km southwest of Manchester city centre, making it easily accessible. It serves as a gateway to Northwest England and is well-connected to the city by road, rail, and public transport.

Hub: Manchester airport is a hub for Virgin Atlantic and a Focus city for Aer Lingus UK, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI Airways.

Left Luggage: Operated by Excess Baggage, including Bag Wrapping, Travel Goods & Bag Weighing services.

Accessibility: Provides easy access from the city centre and a range of transportation choices, such as buses, trains, and taxis.

Clean & Modern Facilities: There are many different stores, eateries, and lounges in the airport, among other contemporary amenities.

CONS

Capacity Restrictions: The airport may get crowded during periods of high travel demand, which might result in longer wait times and an unpleasant experience.

Limited Long-Haul Connectivity: Manchester Airport is not an important hub for international airlines; it provides fewer international long-haul destinations compared to other European airports.

Immigration Queues: Extended waiting times at immigration have been a notable issue, with some reports of delays during busy periods.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

There are Three Terminals: Manchester Airport consists of three passenger Terminals. Terminal 1, 2 and 3. Transfers between terminals may require a shuttle bus, so ensure you know which terminal your flight departs from to plan your time accordingly.

Transport to and from Manchester: There are several ways to get to and from the airport, including buses, trains, taxis, and private shuttles. There is a rail station at the airport with regular service to Manchester Piccadilly and other locations. Private transportation and taxis are dependable choices, particularly if you arrive late at night.

Check-in Areas: Each terminal has its own check-in area:

Terminal 1: Check-in area is located in level 3
Terminal 2: Check-in area is located in level 2
Terminal 3: Check-in area is located in level 3

Shopping & Dining: The airport features a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes across all terminals. Whether you’re looking for duty-free shopping, dining options, or last-minute travel essentials, you’ll find plenty of choices.

Lounges: The airport is home to a number of different lounge options. Before your flight, lounges like the Escape Lounge provide food, drinks, cozy seats, and a quiet area to unwind.

Additional Services: The airport provides free Wi-Fi, special assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility, and various business services including meeting rooms and work-spaces.

Tips: Arrive early during peak travel times to avoid long queues, especially at check-in and security. Utilize the airport’s official app for real-time updates on your flight and other essential information.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation