Manchester Airport Terminal 3

Manchester Airport Terminal 3 is a disgrace. It is the smallest of the three terminals at Manchester Airport, and yet it seems like the one that has received the least funding and investment over the years, even for an airport, it is so dull and has no atmosphere.

Despite only being served by a small number of airlines, including British Airways and RyanAir, the queues here always seem to be increasingly long, with wait times of over an hour to drop off and reclaim my baggage before and after my most recent flight, a RyanAir flight to/from Milan Bergamo.

I was unable to find any gluten-free food and drink options here other than crisps and a bland soup. Even beverage options were limited for those that didn't want water or soda.

Boots, Caffe Nero, Costa, KFC and WHSmith all have stores here, there is a BIZA duty-free, which is pretty much the traditional duty-free at an airport, nothing better, nothing worse.

I also found a lack of announcements ahead of my outbound flight to Milan, the flight was delayed and the board simply didn't update, and then it caused a mad rush to the gate when it was announced.

A badly understaffed airport, with awful planning, awful service and only a small number of facilities after going through security, not forgetting the high drop-off charges, this Terminal needs to be knocked down with resources split between Terminals 1 and 2, as this terminal does not do any justice to one of the world's greatest cities - Manchester, nor does it do any justice to Manchester Airport. It's a sad sad mess.

1*

The terminal looked very old and in need of either a complete refurbishment or to be demolished and to start again. Tired all round, long lines at check-in and security was a very long line as well. I couldn't see any self service check-in machines either as all I needed was to print off a boarding card. I was flying business class and if I had checked in an hour before I would have missed my flight. The shopping area had a number of empty establishments that presumably closed down during the pandemic. The corridor for boarding was long and narrow, a perfect breeding ground for covid, colds and flu.

That was hand down the worst airport experience I have EVER had in my life. I am never flying out of this airport again. Aside from the queue to a queue to ANOTHER QUEUE setup. There was no communication anywhere that all of my toiletries had to fit into a clear ziplock baggie rather than my standard toiletry bag, and it took at least 20 minutes for the TSA agent to touch all of my stuff in every pocket of my bag, basically trying to force me to check a bag. It was humiliating for all the other passengers to watch me choose whether I could fit my contacts or my toothpaste!! I think I threw out at least $30 of cosmetics for this arbitrary liquids rule that no other airport enforces so strictly. I will avoid Manchester Airport for the rest of my life.

One of the worst airports that I've travelled through. Like a previous reviewer stated, they are crazy about their liquids; had to throw a few away, while I forgot my antibacterial gel in my purse they went bonkers and then had to search ever inch on my bags. Liquid limit serves no use, it's just enforced to make people feel safe.
All the staff that I encountered through security looked miserable, tired and stressed. Very understaffed and the layout of the airport is hair pulling bad. I'd rather go to any other airport in the UK than go through here again.

This airport is the poster child for why the UK fails to attract foreign investment in Manchester.

This is the most disgusting, slow, rude and filthy airport in all of Britain. God it's awful, and that is before you hit security.

No wonder all of the good airlines and employers have left. Whether a company or individual, one should make sure to avoid this shit hole at all costs.

Manchester....blows.

I am not really a fan of Manchester Airport. I have flown through here a lot and I always feel like it's super crowded and there is not enough seating. Where there is seating there often isn't a board to see flight information and as a result, where the flight information board is fills up like crazy.

You get charged just to drop off at the airport too. So the thanks for a family member driving you to the airport is a £3 charge just for driving down the road. This seems very excessive and given how little seems to be reinvested into the airport itself it is frankly outrageous.

Bathrooms are clean but cramped. You constantly have to move out of people's way coming in and out just to dry your hands because the walkway is so narrow.

My biggest issue though is the food hall area. It doesn't cater for the lone traveler, at all. When it is busy this is even worse. You have to get a table number if you want food and then order at the bar. Well if you are alone this is an issue because by the time you come back, someone else is sat at the table you picked. You could leave your bag but then you risk it being treated as an unattended bag or even worse, something being stolen.

Security today was super fast and efficient but when they are busy it moves super slow and the staff start to get rude and frustrated with people which causes unnecessary stress and tension. I only fly through here when absolutely necessary.

This is not my favourite terminal (T1 is my favourite of the two, I haven't flown from T2). Every time I flown from there, the airport was packed, and I often had to sit on the floor.

Also, there is a design flow: sometimes when you enter the waiting lounge after security, you have to stand for 5-10 minutes, waiting for a flight to disembark. I have never seen such wonders!

It offers free wi-if for an hour, Costa coffee (I'd prefer Starbucks, like in T1), Boots, and a couple of other shops. In Dixons you can charge your phone for free (unless its too old model), if you ask them!

Basic hotel amenities and a weird plane transfer process. I was flying through to head to Paris. When you step in, it feeLs old but clean. Your first told to walk down a dark stairway to wait for a bus. Once there, it's not exactly clear when the bus will come and if there are different terminals. However, once on the bus, the bus driver does guide you a bit. Once you are off, they make you wait in a sitting area until you can pass to the next section. I was waiting for about ten minutes. Next, While in the airport waiting area, expect 1980s style seating with limited food and things to do.

Bottom line: old and not updated airport that has archaic way of moving people from one section to another. Nothing to do during your layover with limited choices to eat or shop.

They charged my father for dropping us off which is criminal then the security was a nightmare

Generally I dislike airport terminals so this was always a hard sell.
Of manchester's 3 terminals this is the middle standard one (1 being worst, 2 being best).
The amenities are average and the shops are pretty uninspiring. Invariably this terminal is packed with people. Quite often stag and hen parties can be found which usually drags the atmosphere down.
As with all airports, the security process is similar to have needles poked in your eyes.
At least they serve alcohol!