Manchester Airport Guide

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!

Terminal 1

• Escape Lounge (Terminal 1) – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, Executive Lower Level. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
• Aspire Lounge (Terminal 1) – Location: Terminal 1, Airside. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.

Terminal 2

• Escape Lounge (Terminal 2) – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, opposite Gate 209. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
• 1903 Lounge – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Upper Level.  Lounge Access: Pay at the Door (£45).
• Aspire Lounge (Terminal 2) – Location: Terminal 2, Airside. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.

Terminal 3

• Escape Lounge (Terminal 3) – Location: Terminal 3, Airside, Gate 19. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: Manchester Airport Lounges

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Manchester Airport including one that is connected to the terminals:

• Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport – Connected to the terminals.  Access from Terminals 1 and 2 via a covered, moving walkway called Skylink.  » Check Rates
• Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport – Five minute walk from the terminal. Free 24-hour airport shuttle.  For pick up at the airport use a courtesy phone located in the Arrivals Hall and at Information Desks. The driver will inform you of pickup spot.  » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Manchester Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

Airport WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available in Manchester Airport for up to 4 hours, within a 24-hour period of time. Connect to the “_FreeWifi” network. You may also opt to purchase the faster, premium service at the following rates: £1.00 per hour, £10.00 per day or £30.00 per month.

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport

Communications

• Postal Services – Mail out those last minute postcards at the Spar (Terminal 1) which provides post office services (postal counter).
• SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
• WiFi – see “Airport WiFi/Internet” above.

Family Services

• Baby Care Facilities – Baby changing facilities are located in or near the women’s restrooms. All baby changing facilities have comfortable chairs for breastfeeding. Boots Drugstore, located both landside and airside, offers a pre-order service for baby milk. Simply place your order five days before your travel, and pick up post security, freeing up space in your hand luggage for other essentials. You can warm up baby bottles at Starbucks in Terminal 1, Broderick’s or Caffe Nero in Terminal 2, and Costa Coffee or Caffe Nero in Terminal 3.
• Children’s Play Area – When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to the children’s play area. Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Departure Gate 213.
• Family Services -Travellers with children in strollers are allowed free fast lane service through the security checkpoints. The airport is trialing a breastfeeding facility in Terminal 1, Departure Lounge. The room allows up to four women to use the room at once. Please note this facility is for breastfeeding mothers only, and if they are travelling alone their young children may accompany them. Opposite the facility is a Children’s TV Zone, so partners and children can comfortably make use of this area whilst waiting.

Food & Drinks

• Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the airport operate from first flight departure of the day until the last flight departure of the day. At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options. If you are Airside in Terminal 1 there is a Grain Loft which is open from 6:00AM – 4:00AM or you can head to Terminal 3, Landside where WHSmith is open 6:00AM – 4:00AM.
• Grocery Store – If you need to pick up groceries on your way home to your destination in Manchester, stop at Spar. A wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches, take-away meals and general groceries are available. Location: landside in Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Hours: 24 hours.

Luggage

• Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available. Rate: £1 coin or 2 euro coin.
• Luggage Storage & Lockers – Location: Terminal 1, Arrivals Level. Rates: £5 per item per 24 hour period.

Medical Services

• Pharmacy – Boots Pharmacy has 2 locations, airside, in Terminals 1 and 3. Hours: T1 (3:30AM-7:00PM/ 4:00AM-8:00PM). T3 (4:00AM-7:00PM).

Mobile Charging

• Mobile Charging – A reader tells us one place to charge your devices is in Terminal 3 arrivals (a table near the information desk).

Money

• ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs, operated by Travelex, are available. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: in all three terminals including currency ATMs.
• Currency Exchange – Travelex currency exchange is available throughout the airport in all three terminals.

Prayer

• Prayer Room – Four multifaith prayer rooms are available in the airport. The rooms are deliberately kept neutral, aside from the “qibla” directional sign for Muslim visitors. Religious prayer books and Muslim prayer mats are available from the Chaplaincy. Special “wudu” washing facilities for Muslim visitors are available landside and airside in Terminals 2 and 3. Here are the locations of the four prayer rooms:
  • Terminal 1: Christian prayers are held at 8:30AM (Mon-Fri). Location: T1, landside, Ground Level Check-In, next to the Chaplaincy’s main office (There are no airside prayer rooms in T1).
  • Terminal 2: Locations- airside, Departures, in the main retail area • landside, Main Arrivals concourse at Ground Level, near the Chaplaincy’s T2 office.
  • Terminal 3: Jummah prayers (Islamic) are held every Friday at Friday at 13:00 GMT, 13:30 BST. Location: on the far right of the building (from the kerbside), on the first floor (below Departure level, above Arrivals).

Rest & Relaxation

• Hotels – see “Airport Hotels” above.
• Lounges – see “Airport Lounges” above.
• Rest Zones – A reader tells us “There is a quiet zone in T3 (labelled Additional Seating but with signs asking for quiet) at airside past duty-free. (December 2022)

Security

• Fast Track Service – As a premium service, customers with Fast Track security passes will be given priority service to ensure that waiting is kept to a minimum. Cost: £5.00. Book on-line.

Shopping

• Duty Free & Shopping – Biza Duty-Free shops are available in all three terminals, along with a small selection of popular retail shops. WHSmith shops are available in each terminal and operate according to flight schedules.

Showers, Salon & Spa

• Showers – Freshen up before or after a long flight with a shower at the Radisson! You can opt for basic access to shower and change facilities at £6.50 per person, or for £12.00, you can shower, change and use the hotel’s leisure facilities. Location: Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport in Terminal 2, accessible by elevated walkway from all terminals. Hours: Open from 6:00AM-9:00PM (Mon-Fri) and 8:00AM (Sat,Sun).  Dean tells us the “shower facilities close at 21:00 even though the gym facilities they’re attached to close at 22:00. Really inconvenient.” (July 2022)
• Spa & Salon Services – Pamper yourself before your flight with an express beauty treatment, manicure or massage at AeroSpa. Location: T1, airside.

Smoking

• Smoking – Designated smoking areas are available in Terminal 1 (access through food court) and Terminal 2 (by Gate 300). At the time of this update the airport is investigating adding a smoking area in Terminal 3.

Things to do & see

• Runway Visitor Park – Watch planes take-off, enjoy exhilarating views of the runway from the onsite restaurant, or take a guided tour of the Concorde Hangar at the Runway Visitor Park. An aviation-themed gift shop, orbital cycleway, raised viewing mounds, and children’s play area are available. Entry to the park is free for visitors who arrive on foot, bicycle or public transportation. Location: Less than 3 miles walk from the airport. Hours: 8:00AM – 4:00PM (winter months) 8:00AM – 6:00PM (spring and autumn months) 8:00AM – 8:00PM (summer months).

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.   A reader tells us “Security gates at Terminal 3 close at 11pm and dont open again until 3.30am. ” (February 2020)

Airlines

Manchester airport is served by the following airlines: Aegean Airlines • Aer Lingus • Air Arabia • Air Canada • Air France • Air Malta • Air Transat • Air Baltic • Aurigny • Austrian Airlines • Balkan Holidays • Belavia • Biman Bangladesh • Blue Islands • British Airways • Brussels Airlines • Cathay Pacific • Corendon • Delta Air Lines • EasyJet • El Al Airlines • Emirates • Enter Air • Ethiopian Airlines • Etihad Airways • Eurowings • Finnair • Free Bird • Hainan Airlines • Iberia • Icelandair •Iran Airways • Iraqi Airways • Jet2 • Jetsgo Holiday • KLM • Loganair • Lufthansa • Norwegian • PIA • Pegasus Airlines • Qatar Airways • Ryanair • Sardatur Holidays • SAS • Saudia • Singapore Airlines • SunEXpress • Swiss • Tailwind • TAP Portugal • Titan Airways • TUIFly • Turkish Airlines • Virgin Atlantic Airways • Vueling.

Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Bus and Coach

MAN airport is well connected to the local and long-distance bus system with at least 9 buses connecting at the airport. Bus 43 (Piccadilly Gardens – Manchester Airport) operates 24 hours a day. For routes, schedules and more information, visit the Manchester Airport website.

Car Rentals

Onsite car rentals are handled in a designated facility known as the Car Rental Village, linked to the airport terminals by free shuttle bus service, with departures available every 10 minutes. The following car rental agencies are available: Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Hotel Shuttles

A few area hotels provide airport shuttle service: Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport  •   Etrop Grange.

Courtesy phones are located on the arrivals level, near the Information Desk.

See also Airport Hotels above.

Metrolink

Metrolink light rail trams serve the Greater Manchester Area with 92 stops along the line. The Metrolink stop is right inside the airport itself, adjacent to the rail platform Trams depart every 12 – 15 minutes during service hours. Automated ticket vending machines are available at all tram stops. For tram routes and stops, timetables and fares, visit the Metrolink website.

Taxi

“Black Cab” taxis are available in the ground transportation area of the terminal on a 24-hour basis. Fares for trips within the Manchester Licensed Area are charged according to the meter. However, drivers are not required to use the meter for trips outside of the licensed area. A list of maximum fares is available at the taxi rank, to help you negotiate a fair price for your journey.

Train

Manchester Airport Station is served 24 hours a day by local and regional trains operated by TransPennine Express and Northern Rail. Trains depart every 10 minutes, travelling between the airport and Manchester Piccadilly in the city center (total trip time 20 minutes). Some of the destinations connected to Manchester Airport by train are Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and more.