The journey through ‘hell’ that is Manchester T3

[davefl]

Meltdown again this morning but not the airports fault apparently.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/easyjet-passengers-slam-shambles-battle-27653049

Blame the pax for arriving on time for 21 scheduled flights. Will this improve when EZY move to T2, who knows?

All I know is that I went through Vienna last week, massive hall of automated bag drop machines for Ryanair, once you tagged your own bag you dropped it on the belt, scanned it yourself with a bar code reader and off it went into the bowels of the terminal. All really smooth. Doubt T2 will ever match that.

[NorthernLass]

We didn’t use bag drop but I can’t even remember security at VIE in July, it must have been completely uneventful!

We stayed at the Britannia once, many years ago when we were still booking holidays off Teletext. I can’t recall anything about the room but I remember there were various dodgy-looking characters hanging around in the corridors all night. It was hard to tell whether they were fellow guests, burglars/drug dealers etc, or just sheltering from the MAN weather! (Possibly all three)

[QwertyKnowsBest]

T3 baggage belt routine can actually be amusing, even after waiting a long while. Goes along the lines of buzzer/siren sounds and strobe flashes (then dies). Crows (credit Lady London) move right up to belt. Nothing happens. Crows look at each other. Minutes pass. Then a baggage handler appears, looks up and down belt, and crows look at him to evaluate if a threat. Baggage handler ignores crows and proceeds to walk length of belt hitting each emergency stop button with force. Nothing happens. Baggage handler retreats to baggage handler sanctuary.

More time passes, baggage handler returns with older and more experienced baggage handler who walks with purpose to a specific emergency stop button, holds it in with foot until belt starts. Crows breath out enmass. Both baggage handlers retreat to sanctuary and have a tea break. Cases appear 20 minutes later.

I kid you not, watched this unfurl several times. If you want to know the ‘secret’ emergency stop button to hold in with your steel cap booted foot, DM me with a word of your choice.

[BJ]

@Anna, good news on the trains. I rarely travel the West Coast line these days but quite a few family members did this year. All were fortunate to somehow avoid disruption from both works and strikes.we might manage a weekend in November but will come by car.

[Super Secret Stuff]

BJ wrote:

@Anna, good news on the trains. I rarely travel the West Coast line these days but quite a few family members did this year. All were fortunate to somehow avoid disruption from both works and strikes.we might manage a weekend in November but will come by car.

Even with Avanti delays and awful service, I’d still rather take the train than deal with MAN. Although if MAN – LGW started again, I’d happily fly to avoid Avanti, Euston and the northern line to Victoria

[travelwell]

This has been an exceptionally funny read. It seems like many of us have been there before with this experience! I do miss the LBA-LHR connection

[Super Secret Stuff]

A long wait at passenger assistance despite numerous staff members say around doing nothing.

Just gone through Manchester T1 with my guide dog, they literally asked me at the boarding pass section of security “is there anything else I need to check for him?”. Then had to ring someone who didn’t know and check a manual for the process. So I guess they only partially make it up as they go along?!

Then at the metal detectors they had to ask each other what “what do we do?”. For some reason they then swabbed my guide dog, he enjoyed it, but fairly sure they’re not meant to do that!

Straight into the aspire lounge though.

As I type this, my flight to Newquay is already 25 mins late, urgh. Thanks easyJet and MAN

[AJA]

@SSS the mind boggles – where did they swab your guide dog such that he enjoyed it? Or did you mean he enjoyed the attention?

[Super Secret Stuff]

AJA wrote:

@SSS the mind boggles – where did they swab your guide dog such that he enjoyed it? Or did you mean he enjoyed the attention?

Hahaha, I realised that after I said it. He enjoyed the attention but struggled to concentrate on guiding for the next few mins! (Obviously couldn’t stop them like I do with the general public). Although he did want to eat the swabbing machine 🤣

[NorthernLass]

Only at MAN – that is one patient dog! I would have been tempted to tell them that he was trained to sniff out drugs and explosives and would do a better job than them …

It is difficult with the public, people always wanted to make a fuss of the dogs and horses at work and they can be a bit temperamental if they get distracted from the task in hand.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

Just passed through T3 security. No massive queues and fast trackers were straight up to the belt. Screen on belt said rejection rate was 4.4%. Baffling how it can vary so much.

Both T3 escape lounges open. The ‘premium’ one for pre-bookers and BA Group 1/2 is chocka. Even the gallery section usually populated with single chairs and tables – someone decided to put 2 massive armchairs beside each tiny table.

[Super Secret Stuff]

NorthernLass wrote:

Only at MAN – that is one patient dog! I would have been tempted to tell them that he was trained to sniff out drugs and explosives and would do a better job than them …

It is difficult with the public, people always wanted to make a fuss of the dogs and horses at work and they can be a bit temperamental if they get distracted from the task in hand.

Only at MAN!

Exactly! My guide dog in particular, if he gets distracted, takes a few mins to refocus which is PITA if I’m doing literally anything

Blair Waldorf Salad wrote:

Just passed through T3 security. No massive queues and fast trackers were straight up to the belt. Screen on belt said rejection rate was 4.4%. Baffling how it can vary so much.

Both T3 escape lounges open. The ‘premium’ one for pre-bookers and BA Group 1/2 is chocka. Even the gallery section usually populated with single chairs and tables – someone decided to put 2 massive armchairs beside each tiny table.

That’s baffling how it’s calm one side and just a mess the other. I forgot to add, whilst I was waiting for the swab result, they switched the entire lane to ladies only because all the male staff had gone. To the extreme frustration of multiple men waiting with there wives or children on the other side…

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

Ladies only?!? Good grief; my motto is whatever gets me through security, no matter who is doing it. Pat away!

There’s a lady security officer in SFO I should probably be at least still a penpal acquaintance of considering the rummaging around she gave me.

[Super Secret Stuff]

Blair Waldorf Salad wrote:

Ladies only?!? Good grief; my motto is whatever gets me through security, no matter who is doing it. Pat away!

There’s a lady security officer in SFO I should probably be at least still a penpal acquaintance of considering the rummaging around she gave me.

Hahaha, sounds like you rather enjoy it!

After a few minutes they said if you pass first time go for it but if you fail, you’re waiting 🤣

[Super Secret Stuff]

Why has MAN invented biometric thingy gates for domestic flights? Literally why…

[strickers]

@SSS As someone who works in the industry I think for every step forward we take two back. At the airport I fly from passenger assistance was outsourced and shockingly poor, the number of times I waited 30 minutes plus on the aeroplane to make sure they were looked after became unsustainable. I’d end up out of hours for the next days duty because of it. Thankfully, the airport took it back from the contractor and provided the service themselves. It’s not perfect now but it’s a million times better than it used to be. Unfortunately, I still think we are many years away from a sustainable solution, but when a passenger who doesn’t need assistance arrives at the exit at the same time one that does we will be close. I find your resilience and that of your companion refreshing, fortunately most people who need that extra support are of the same ilk. Without that resilience and tenacity my job would be much harder; the best part of those waits has been the banter and gossip. I might miss that but I will be very very happy when it never happens again.

[Super Secret Stuff]

strickers wrote:

@SSS As someone who works in the industry I think for every step forward we take two back. At the airport I fly from passenger assistance was outsourced and shockingly poor, the number of times I waited 30 minutes plus on the aeroplane to make sure they were looked after became unsustainable. I’d end up out of hours for the next days duty because of it. Thankfully, the airport took it back from the contractor and provided the service themselves. It’s not perfect now but it’s a million times better than it used to be. Unfortunately, I still think we are many years away from a sustainable solution, but when a passenger who doesn’t need assistance arrives at the exit at the same time one that does we will be close. I find your resilience and that of your companion refreshing, fortunately most people who need that extra support are of the same ilk. Without that resilience and tenacity my job would be much harder; the best part of those waits has been the banter and gossip. I might miss that but I will be very very happy when it never happens again.

I feel that way too. The outsourced solution isn’t sustainable and airports and airlines need to be incentivised to deliver actual services through heavy fines.

Outsourced passenger assistance is usually horrendous. MAN outsource to ABM, LHR outsource to a local company, both awful.

Newquay were amazing particularly considering it was 2 members of airport staff doing passenger assistance for the entire airport.

I do enjoy the chats with the crew though, it’s nice albeit frustrating. Had a full tour of a cockpit once whilst waiting that was fun, although at 1am I’d rather be in bed

[yorkieflyer]

Now I’m not a snob, but… in Escape lounge at T3 enjoying the BA premium experience at the start of our trip in Club to Singapore. I’ve dallied with T3 in Ryanair occasionally and accepted rubbing shoulders with trailer trash with as much good grace as I can muster. However not tried BA Club Europe from Manchester since pre pandemic.
En route to the airport get a text saying sorry no food or drink down to London and have a voucher. Club checkin, queue ignored by staff at other counters when staff goes awol, bag drop would have been miles quicker. No greeting, acknowledge smile or any human response from automaton checking us in. No mention of f&b situation till I ask and told use voucher no alcohol. Security boarding passes fail to scan no help from staff till requested. Usual secondary screening, pleasant chap admits they are more thorough than other airports. Now in the lounge along with all the tangoed heavy drinkers. Flight currently 30 mins late.
T2 with Qatar and 1903 lounge is a world away from this scabby carry on

[NorthernLass]

Where could you use the voucher? There’s not exactly a host of gourmet options in T3!

I think the bar staff in Escape have the same approach to making up the rules as security at MAN, last month they told me that they’re not allowed to serve neat vodka or rum. But brandy and whisky they can, apparently, so go figure!

[davefl]

NorthernLass wrote:

Where could you use the voucher? There’s not exactly a host of gourmet options in T3!

I think the bar staff in Escape have the same approach to making up the rules as security at MAN, last month they told me that they’re not allowed to serve neat vodka or rum.

Yeah, we don’t get many russians or cubans through T3, so there’s no call for it 😉

[yorkieflyer]

NorthernLass wrote:

Where could you use the voucher? There’s not exactly a host of gourmet options in T3!

I think the bar staff in Escape have the same approach to making up the rules as security at MAN, last month they told me that they’re not allowed to serve neat vodka or rum. But brandy and whisky they can, apparently, so go figure!

Didn’t use the voucher in the end due to a huge queue at Costa, best option as not even a prets unlike T1. Now sat in the tranquility of the B gates lounge with a glass of on request champers, usual crap food, dodgy curry, faux chicken tajin and dry fish cakes. Just relieved to be at LHR on the way and hoping sleep not interrupted by dreams of the ghastly folk in the Escape lounge. Is that what happens when you give Wetherspoons customers a few quid?

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

“Club checkin, queue ignored by staff at other counters when staff goes awol, bag drop would have been miles quicker.”

This drives me nuts. When I arrive, there tends to be no one in the CE check in line so inevitably the agent manning that desk has become involved in an am-dram recreation of ITV’s beloved Airline – dealing with some group of passengers connecting at LHR who have a problem but do not possess even an ounce of agency in their own life so the check-in agent is doing the heavy lifting for them on the phone or with a manager.

Meanwhile the other check in agents simply bellow “Next” as the ET queue moves towards them.

[yorkieflyer]

First experience of Club suites now aboard BA11 to Singapore and do far positive re the hard product, tho a chase through the tunnel from B to C when departing from C gates changes to boarding to final in 10 mins! Then a leisurely queue with the great unwashed on the jetty, sigh. BA ground handling crap as ever. BA matronly crew very pleasant as ever

[Super Secret Stuff]

So refreshing to be in Manchester T2 today, security still make up their rules based on how they feel, but at least it’s a nicer terminal.

Escape lounge annoyed me though, said they’re full for priority pass, virtual queue only so I walked away and got lunch

[NorthernLass]

Where are you off to, @SSS? I am staying at the HI tonight so I think I will need to enter T2 to access the Skylink to T3 at some ungodly hour tomorrow morning for my security “experience”!