how long to clear customs manchester airport

jhe

we are due to land manchester airport 6am dont really want to drive 3hrs home after a long haul flight and time difference,so we are looking for alternative transport.
seems the cheapest transport is national express coach but this leaves at 7.20am.so assuming the flight is on time does anyone think its possible to make the coach or is it cutting things a bit fine getting through customs collecting luggage etc.

Voyager2002

Customs will probably be a matter of seconds (just walk through the green channel). Immigration will of course take much longer.

In reality you have no idea whether your flight will arrive on time. Then there are any number of things that can go wrong on the ground leading to delay. What time is the next coach departure? And how much money would you save by booking in advance rather than just buying the ticket immediately before getting on the coach?

phatbear

I never get tired of hearing "i've got a bus to catch" or "i never put that in there".

As previously stated you cant account for all the possible delays involved with flying into the uk, just buy the ticket when you get to international arrivals

jhe

thanks voyager,yes i know there could be delays, i have flown a few times the last few years from manchester but have never taken notice how long things take as we have always taken our car.
the next coach isnt until 10.50am so if we cant make the 7.20am will have to rule the bus out.will have to look into the price difference but to prebook for 2 of us is around £70 return with an amendable ticket.

jhe

thanks phatbear but i am not intending to say to anyone at the airport i have a bus to catch and anything in my case i am responsible for.
we dont actually fly until february but i am trying to weigh up the options.
plenty of trains although as yet i cannot get prices for february,i can only price up as far as october and it seems we would be cheaper getting a taxi than book an open return ticket!.

Barneysmom

Where do you have to go, I'm just thinking you'd be better with a train in February when the snow usually arrives.

2 friends of mine used the coach once to go up the M6 and it took so long they missed their flight.

jhe

Barneysmom wrote: »

Where do you have to go, I'm just thinking you'd be better with a train in February when the snow usually arrives.

2 friends of mine used the coach once to go up the M6 and it took so long they missed their flight.

we wont have a problem on the outbound flight we are staying over at the raddisson the night before.
its just the homeward journey we are trying to plan
travelling to the north east, trains seem really expensive but will price up nearer the time. thanks barneysmom

Murphy_The_Cat

If your destination is compatible with a TransPennineExpress train route, then your ticket is valid on the next available train if your incoming flight delays you.

p.s I've just spotted that you're travelling to the North East and that uyou are travelling in February. Advance tickets come out about 12 weeks before the travel date and typicaly (when I use TPE) 10-11 weeks is the optimum time to buy ticket from them.

jhe

yes thanks murphy-the-cat it is the transpennine. i know the prices are not available yet but pricing to get a rough idea of prices it is going to cost around £166 return for us both, whilst a taxi would cost around £100 each way, the bus is a lot cheaper but if its unrealistic to make the 7.20am bus will have to rule the bus out.
so if i was to buy the cheapest train fare i thought it was for a fixed time train, if the flight is delayed do you mean they allow me to use the same ticket for a later train? thanks again for all replies.

apologies i worded the title wrong. i should have said immigration(thanks voyager), hopefully i wont get stopped at customs so that should just be a walk through the green channel fingers crossed. its the baggage collection that will probably take the longest! we land at terminal 2 then will have to walk to the train/bus station

joerugby

Not sure where you live but a flexible off peak return from Newcastle is £76 per person and there are three trains per hour.

I'd go for this since the TPE flexibility on advance tickets only covers delays up to 3 hours

dug123

Hi, I arrived back at 12:30 (noon) on Thursday and was through passport control and waiting for suitcases by 12:45, there was a sign saying all luggage would be through by 13:15, ours was through at 13:05 so by 13:15 we were out of the arrivals hall waiting for our bus to take us back to the car park.
The problem is that flights can be delayed and passport control can be busy etc etc. I was surprised at how quickly we managed to get through.