You can’t beat the excitement of going on holiday and for most of us it begins right when you arrive at the airport. After months of planning you want everything to go as smoothly as possible and for your holiday to get off to a good start.
But some passengers can get caught out when they turn up at the airport. Arriving late, forgetting important documents or discovering your bags are overweight can all ruin the start of your trip - and can even mean that your holiday doesn’t get off the ground.
Manchester Airport has shared several useful tips on how to ensure check-in goes without a hitch. It has also highlighted some common pitfalls which can catch out travellers, including airlines which can charge for printing off boarding passes.
READ MORE: TUI expands Thailand holidays from Manchester Airport
One thing which is important is to check is which terminal your flight is departing from as several airlines have moved over to the new-look Terminal 2 in recent weeks as the airport undergoes its £1.3billion transformation project. Read on for more of Manchester Airport’s top tips.
When to arrive
The check-in process is managed by your airline, rather than the airport, so guidance differs here – but as a general rule, you will need to have checked in and be ready to go through security at least two hours before your flight departure time. For a long haul flight, you might want to consider arriving up to three hours before departure.
Always check your airline’s advice on when to arrive – most will send you an email in the days leading up to your flight which will offer guidance on this and other topics.
Finding your check-in desk
Before you set off for the airport, the first and most important step is to make sure you’re headed to the right terminal – and this will again depend on the airline you’re flying with. You can find information on which terminal your airline flies from here.
On arrival at the airport, locate one of the departure boards to find out which check-in desks you need – these are displayed on digital screens in the check-in hall. After you’ve checked in, it is advisable to go to security straight away, to maximise the amount of time you have to relax and prepare for your flight in the departure lounge.
Self-service check-in
The distinctive lime green self-service check-in machines are located throughout the terminals at Manchester Airport, offering you a hassle-free way of checking in at no extra cost. The quick and easy to use machines help to eliminate queues, allowing you to confirm your booking and print your boarding card in no time at all.
If you have baggage, you can then take it to a bag drop, or if you only have hand baggage you can proceed straight to security.
Online check-in
Online check-in offers you the ability to check yourself in from the comfort of your own home, or on the go – although be aware that a printer may be required, depending on your airline’s policy. Once you get to the airport, if you have baggage you can take it to the bag drop, or if you only have hand baggage you can proceed directly to security.
Be aware that some airlines charge for checking in at the airport if you have failed to do so online prior to your arrival.
Express check-in
You can get through the airport quicker with the help of our self-service Express Check-in kiosks. User-friendly touch screen kiosks help to eliminate queues and hassle, enabling you to check-in and print your own boarding card in no time at all. Self check-in kiosks are located within the departures areas of Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
There are five simple steps to using the Express check-in kiosks
Identify yourself by entering your passport, credit card or e-ticket number;
Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm your booking;
Print and collect your boarding card;
If you have bags, drop them off at one of the special bag drop desks (follow the signs to locate your nearest bag drop kiosk);
Proceed directly to security.
Twilight Bag Drop
Passengers travelling with eligible airlines (including Virgin Atlantic, TUI, Lufthansa, Jet2.com, Ryanair and easyJet) can drop their bags off at the airport the night before they fly – and can now benefit from free parking at one of the airport car parks to do so.
Simply take a token at the entry barrier and proceed to check-in and drop off your bags. Attend the ticket desk with your boarding pass and car park token to validate your token. Return your token at the exit barrier when you leave the car park, and the barrier will rise.
Accessibility
Passengers requiring accessibility services will find plenty of help available to check-in at Manchester Airport.
Find out more about accessibility at Terminal 1 Check-in A
Find out more about accessibility at Terminal 1 Check-in B
Find out more about accessibility at Terminal 2 Check-in
Find out more about accessibility at Terminal 3 Check-in
