If you’re traveling to or from northern England, Manchester Airport (MAN) is likely to be a part of your journey. When you’re departing from Manchester, knowing how to navigate the airport and surrounding area can save you time and money.
Pre-Book Parking
You’ll save quite a bit of money if you reserve your parking at Manchester Airport in advance. In fact, we often found it cheaper to pre-book parking for up to two weeks at the airport than it would have been to hire a car for our family and all of our luggage to and from the airport. You may be able to book advance parking in the nearest garage to the airport for a comparable rate to long-term lots further away from the airport. So, do your research and pre-book parking well in advance of your departure.
Plan Your Route
The traffic around Manchester Airport can be atrocious, turning 10 miles into hours if you hit the road at the wrong time or misjudge your travel plans. Leave a substantial amount of time to reach your destination. Don’t be fooled by estimates from your GPS or online map websites – you might only be 70 miles from Manchester Airport, but that could easily take two hours. Know the back roads and travel with your GPS, just in case.
Skip Duty-Free
The duty-free shop can be tempting, especially since it’s strategically positioned so you walk through it after check-in and security. However, unless you go in knowing what you’re looking for and what you’d spend retail for the item outside of the airport, don’t buy something you don’t need just to get it without the VAT (value-added tax).
Know Your Terminal
There are three larger terminals at Manchester Airport, and you’ll need to know where you’re heading before you get to the airport. It’ll impact where you park or get dropped off, where you pick someone up, and what you can get to eat and drink while you’re waiting, even. Do your research before you head to the airport and know which terminal you need to be at.
Check In Online
The ability to check in online is available with many major airlines and airports throughout the world. Take advantage of this service to speed your travel through Manchester Airport. When you arrive, you’ll be able to head to a shorter line to check your bags (if you have them), which can minimize your airport wait time.
Manchester Airport is a large airport in England, and if you’re traveling abroad, you can often find inexpensive and frequent flights throughout Europe and beyond. With these simple steps, navigating the airport can be a breeze.