Fast track security Manchester airport

pollypenny

US Airways are using terminal 3 now, as they are linked to BA. It's the smallest terminal and very crowded.

We flew out two weeks ago and there were long queues. For that price, I'd go fast track.

katies_mum

pollypenny, that was my next job (finding out which terminal). Thank you will definitely book the fast track

Alan_Bowen

There really is no need to be there 4 hours before departure, T3 has a duty free shop, a very small Boots and Dixons and a WH Smith, and that's it. You will be bored out of your mind.

I get fasttrack as part of my ticket, 4 weeks ago it still took 20 minutes to get through security and the main queue was well over an hour. Last weekend, there were 4 people in the fasttrack and about 10 in the main queue, both were at identical times on the same day. Whether they have actually worked out how to cope with peak travel or there was simply no one travelling, which seems unlikely, I cannot say. T3 is my usual terminal, I must admit on my rarer trips through 1 and 2 they did seem a lot slower. 1425 is very late for a transatlantic flight and I suspect it won't be busy at 1200 and you can then get something to eat or twiddle your thumbs for the next couple of hours

shoppaholic_returns

Massive queues a couple of weeks ago early morning T1, was so glad we had fast track.

Some people were over an hour getting through! Was well worth it.

Definitely problems with early morning queuing.

DomRavioli

Saint_Chris wrote: »

the problem seems to be early morning flights, and from reading other forums, the security staff are employed by agencies on minimum wages, and on a daily basis they ring in sick. Which doesn't help.

The security staff are recruited directly by Manchester Airport Group - not agency staff, as the background checks needed are mental, and cannot be provided by agencies.

Also OP, it depends on how many departing flights are in your terminal on the day which will determine security queues.

pennypinche5

We used fast track last year has we have 2 children and they get bored really easy only been 2 and 3 years for 3.50 it was a god send the queue for normal security were out the main door in a snake effect and would have lasted a good couple of hours the fast track queue only had 2 people and tok us round 10 min to get to the boarding areas well worth the money if you have little ones too.

rustyboy21

Used fast track at T3 a few times and found it worth it.


As your flight is at 2.25pm you will have missed the major rush in the morning and will be missing the other major rush of early evening, but for £10 I think it is worth it. You join the same queues but jump straight ahead.


Used it at Liverpool at Xmas. Was told the plastic bag I was using was too big ( even though OH got through with same bag.) Had to rush to buy another one and they just let me jump back in the queue again, in front of everyone.


T3 is a bit erratic, as used by Ryanair, BA, KLM,Flybe etc, so mostly short haul domestic flights, so always lots of people walking around.


VIP Parking good there though. Always had great service and 30 seconds from terminal .

pattycake

pennypinche5 wrote: »

We used fast track last year has we have 2 children and they get bored really easy only been 2 and 3 years for 3.50 it was a god send the queue for normal security were out the main door in a snake effect and would have lasted a good couple of hours the fast track queue only had 2 people and tok us round 10 min to get to the boarding areas well worth the money if you have little ones too.

If you have young children, especially in a buggy, they usually direct you into fast track any way. I have experienced that myself when travelling with a grandchild and also seen it happen on a number of occasions.

ellay864

Paid for it for trips from T1 and T2 but in each case found queues small anyway. Never had it when travelling on company business from T3 and seem to spend hours in the queues there. Can't be many more soul-destroying places than Manchester T3 and it's even worse now there's building work reducing the already meagre facilities

wazza99

Used it twice at Manchester T2, 1st time was great large queues and we just walked to front, 2nd time waste of money no queue at all. We actually felt quite embarassed walking down fastrack !! lol...

But hey its only £7......(ok not money saving i know) but its one less stress to worry about.