Excellent £99 offer for the aether private terminal at Manchester Airport

aether, as regular readers may remember, is the ‘pay to use’ VIP terminal at Manchester Airport.

It originally opened in November 2019 as PremiAir. Little did we know that covid was around the corner, causing the terminal to shut before it could get established. After a closure of almost five years, the terminal re-opened its doors in November 2024 under a new name – aether.

The key thing to know is that ANYONE can use aether if they are flying on a participating airline. 

We ran a detailed review of aether here so we won’t repeat ourselves.

The key things to know are:

• aether is nowhere near the main terminal and you cannot walk between them.  It was built next to the Runway Visitor Park, on a land which was originally given over to plane spotters.

• aether is located on the edge of the airfield facing the runway. It is astonishing how close you are to passing aircraft.

• There are no shops, no takeaways and no long walks through busy crowds. You literally have your own private security and immigration channel, plus your own driver to take you to your aircraft.

• aether has teamed up with Manchester chef Adam Reid to create its menus. All food is served a la carte and is cooked to order, and everything is included in your entry fee.

What does aether usually cost?

Here are the current standard rates for aether – I’ll get to the summer special deal in a minute:

• Express – for hand baggage only passengers who do not want to eat, you can pay £99 per person.  You will clear immigration and security in aether and be immediately driven across the airport to your departure gate.  You need to arrive at aether 60-75 minutes before departure.

• Inclusive with cabin baggage – for hand baggage only passengers. You pay £179 and can arrive from three hours before departure. You have full access to the facilities including food and drink. You will clear immigration and security in aether and be driven across the airport to your gate 60 minutes before departure. 

• Inclusive with checked baggage – as above, but your luggage is taken from you when you arrive and transferred separately to the main terminal. The cost is £199.

What is the aether summer deal?

If you book by 31st July, although you can travel at ANY future date, aether is running a special deal which is very attractive.

Essentially, you get a slightly limited version of the £179 package for the same £99 price as the standard ‘no lounge, go straight to security’ package.

For £99, you get:

• Entry to aether from two hours prior to flight departure
• 1 hour in the lounge area
• 1 welcome drink
• 1 drink with a main
• 1 dish from a set menu
• Tea and coffee
• Private security screening
• Chauffeur-driven car to your gate

You’re not getting unlimited alcohol and you’re not getting to choose from the full food and drink menu, but £99 is laughably good value – especially when compared to the standard Manchester Airport experience over in the main terminal ….

You can find out more, and book, on this page of the aether website here. You’ll also find details on how you can combine it with valet parking if you are coming in your own vehicle.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (June 2025)

Here are the six options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

Your best value option (but no points):

The cheapest route to a Priority Pass airport lounge card is via the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard.

The credit card has a fee of £15 per month, and comes with a Priority Pass which gives unlimited free access for the cardholder. If you add a free supplementary cardholder, they will also receive unlimited free access.

Unlike the version of Priority Pass you receive with American Express, the Lloyds Bank version also lets you access £18 airport restaurant credits.

Even better, the credit card has 0% FX fees and comes with 0.5% cashback. Full details are in my Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard review.

Lounge access via American Express cards:

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our in-depth review of The Platinum Card from American Express is here.

You can apply here.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card review here.

Lounge access via HSBC Premier credit cards (Premier account holders only):

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider The American Express Business Platinum Card which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.