Manchester Airport - advice

Jack_bauer24

Most of you know that I am going to Benidorm in June, first time abroad so I don't know how Airports work. I have got told I need to be at Airport 3 hours before my flight, is this true? and also what happens when I first arrive? do I check in straight away when I get to the Airport? 

Any advice would be great. I have looked on YouTube to see if any videos help but not had much luck. Also, when is the best time to exchange my money to Euros? here in the UK or when I arrive in Benidorm? 

elsien

This seems to cover all the bases.

www.wikihow.com/Check-in-at-the-Airport%3famp=1

Jack_bauer24

That's great, thank you. 

J_B

Which airline?

Which terminal (probably determined by airline!)?

How are you getting to the airport?

Jack_bauer24

J_B said:

Which airline?

Which terminal (probably determined by airline!)?

How are you getting to the airport?

1. Althams with Jet2

2. No idea yet, I will know when I pay my deposit on the 11th January, will Althams tell me then? 

3. I will be getting a taxi to Manchester Airport as I don't drive. 

J_B

1. Althams is your travel agent. Jet 2 is your airline

2 J2 fly from T1 - that will change in July, which doesn't affect you!

Going back to your original questions

3 hours is not unreasonable, especially as it's your first time

The taxi will drop you at the door - J2 is downstairs, maybe taxi will drop you there, maybe not.

Go straight to the J2 desk and get checked in - hopefully your travel agent will have done some/all of this for you, but you will still need to drop your bags

Then go upstairs and go through the melee that is 'security'

Once you've done that wend your way to the arrivals hall.

There are a few shops initially - Boots and Smiths amongst others (we usually buy our 'meal deal' to eat on the plane from one of those)

Then wend your way through 'duty free' to the area where you can sit and eat, drink or just wait. There are a few bars/restaurants upstairs too

Keep an eye on the display boards - it will simply say 'wait in lounge' but look which gates the other J2 flights are going from and maybe send one of your party on a rekkie so you have an idea which general direction to head when the board changed to 'go to gate X'

Get on plane

Enjoy!!

Jack_bauer24

J_B said:

1. Althams is your travel agent. Jet 2 is your airline

2 J2 fly from T1 - that will change in July, which doesn't affect you!

Going back to your original questions

3 hours is not unreasonable, especially as it's your first time

The taxi will drop you at the door - J2 is downstairs, maybe taxi will drop you there, maybe not.

Go straight to the J2 desk and get checked in - hopefully your travel agent will have done some/all of this for you, but you will still need to drop your bags

Then go upstairs and go through the melee that is 'security'

Once you've done that wend your way to the arrivals hall.

There are a few shops initially - Boots and Smiths amongst others (we usually buy our 'meal deal' to eat on the plane from one of those)

Then wend your way through 'duty free' to the area where you can sit and eat, drink or just wait. There are a few bars/restaurants upstairs too

Keep an eye on the display boards - it will simply say 'wait in lounge' but look which gates the other J2 flights are going from and maybe send one of your party on a rekkie so you have an idea which general direction to head when the board changed to 'go to gate X'

Get on plane

Enjoy!!

Thanks for that, but what do mean by rekkie? I am going on my own lol 

eDicky

Jack_bauer24 said:

Also, when is the best time to exchange my money to Euros? here in the UK or when I arrive in Benidorm? 

Best time is at the moment you use your fee-free 'travel' card(s) for payment or ATM withdrawal, making sure to pay in euros and decline 'conversion' offered by ATMs.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/#debit

Most Spanish ATMs now charge a few euros fee, so frequent use is best avoided. Take some cash pounds and your regular cards in case of need, never rely on a single source of funds when overseas.

J_B

Jack_bauer24 said:

J_B said:

1. Althams is your travel agent. Jet 2 is your airline

2 J2 fly from T1 - that will change in July, which doesn't affect you!

Going back to your original questions

3 hours is not unreasonable, especially as it's your first time

The taxi will drop you at the door - J2 is downstairs, maybe taxi will drop you there, maybe not.

Go straight to the J2 desk and get checked in - hopefully your travel agent will have done some/all of this for you, but you will still need to drop your bags

Then go upstairs and go through the melee that is 'security'

Once you've done that wend your way to the arrivals hall.

There are a few shops initially - Boots and Smiths amongst others (we usually buy our 'meal deal' to eat on the plane from one of those)

Then wend your way through 'duty free' to the area where you can sit and eat, drink or just wait. There are a few bars/restaurants upstairs too

Keep an eye on the display boards - it will simply say 'wait in lounge' but look which gates the other J2 flights are going from and maybe send one of your party on a rekkie so you have an idea which general direction to head when the board changed to 'go to gate X'

Get on plane

Enjoy!!

Thanks for that, but what do mean by rekkie? I am going on my own lol 

Sorry, my bad spelling  https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/recce

As you're alone you can recce all you like then sit and eat, drink or relax or all of those!!

Voyager2002

Jack_bauer24 said:

3. I will be getting a taxi to Manchester Airport as I don't drive. 

Manchester airport has its own mainline railway station, so unless you live in the back of beyond there is no need for a taxi there.

You asked about the best time to change money: the extra cost of changing money in the wrong way would be far less than the extra cost of using a taxi rather than public transport.

J_B

Voyager2002 said:

Jack_bauer24 said:

3. I will be getting a taxi to Manchester Airport as I don't drive. 

Manchester airport has its own mainline railway station, so unless you live in the back of beyond there is no need for a taxi there.

And, if you land after midnight, what would you suggest then?