Manchester Airport has changed shape. Terminal 1 has closed, almost every airline now flies from the rebuilt Terminal 2, and the forecourts outside both terminals charge to stop. None of that is a problem if you know it before you set off. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Manchester: your terminal and its postcode, what drop-off and pick-up cost and how to avoid paying, how early to arrive, and which parking suits your trip.
Terminals and postcodes
Two terminals are in use. All airlines except Ryanair depart from Terminal 2; Ryanair uses Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is closed, so ignore older instructions that mention it, and confirm your terminal on the airline's booking page the week before you travel.
Use the terminal postcode to reach the right side of the airport, then follow the signs. Car parks have their own postcodes, and the one in your parking confirmation always wins.
- Terminal 2: M90 1QX. Check-in desks are on the upper level. See parking near Terminal 2.
- Terminal 3: M90 1RY. Ryanair passengers use the Terminal 3 Departures entrance for bag drop and departure, and Ryanair asks you to check in online before you arrive. See parking near Terminal 3.
The terminals sit either side of the railway station, linked by walkways, roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk apart. If you land at a different terminal from the one you left, follow the signs back to your car park.
Drop-off and pick-up charges, and how to avoid them
Stopping on the forecourt outside either terminal is charged. There is no barrier or pay machine: cameras read your plate and you pay afterwards.
- Drop-off at either terminal: £5.50 for up to 5 minutes, £6.50 for up to 10 minutes, £25 for up to 30 minutes, the maximum stay. Terminal 2's zone is at M90 5PH, with an upper forecourt by check-in and a lower one on the arrivals level (2.0m height limit). Terminal 3's is at M90 1NN.
- Pick-up at Terminal 2: the Express Pick Up zone (M90 5PR, follow signs for P3) costs £6.60 for up to 15 minutes, with a £60 charge for overstaying, and cars must not be left unattended. To meet someone inside, use the Short Stay levels of the same car park.
- Pick-up at Terminal 3: designated bays in the Pick Up Zone of the T3 Multi Storey, P14. It is charged by the length of stay, paid in the same way as drop-off; Manchester Airport's pick-up and drop-off page lists the current prices.
- Pay by midnight the next day, online at pay.manchesterairport.co.uk or by phone. Miss it and a £100 parking charge notice follows, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Picking someone up in a drop-off zone attracts a £100 charge on its own.
The free alternative is the free drop-off area at JetParks 1 on Thorley Lane, sat-nav M90 5AZ, signposted from the M56. A free shuttle runs to both terminals 24 hours a day and takes about six minutes. It is one-way, car park to terminal, so it is for dropping off only. Blue Badge holders can use the terminal forecourts free for drop-off only, by showing the badge to the marshal on the way in.
If you are parking rather than dropping someone, none of this applies: Meet & Greet handover points and the car parks are all away from the forecourt, and your confirmation email says exactly where to go.
How early to arrive
The airport's own advice is to be checked in and ready for security at least two hours before departure, with the airline's check-in deadline as the real cut-off. Work backwards from that:
- Park & Ride: allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in, covering parking, the shuttle wait and the transfer.
- Meet & Greet: be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time.
- On-airport parking: a 5 to 10 minute walk, longer with children or cases.
Security no longer asks for liquids in a plastic bag, but the 100ml limit per container still applies. Electrical items can stay in your bag, pockets are emptied into it, and watches stay on. Some airlines offer a twilight bag drop the evening before early flights, with free parking in the T2 West Multi Storey (P3) or T3 Multi Storey (P14) while you do it; check the hours with your airline.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists every Manchester Airport car park we sell in one table, cheapest first, with transfer times and security accreditation. Three types cover almost every trip:
- Park & Ride for a week or more away. You keep your keys, park in a secure compound a short drive from the terminals and take the shuttle. It is the lowest daily rate for a fortnight away.
- Meet & Greet for families, early flights and heavy luggage. You drive to the operator's handover point, a driver takes the car, and you walk into the terminal. It is waiting at the same point when you land. Photograph it at handover.
- On-airport parking for short trips when the walk from a multi-storey is worth more than the saving. Note that the T2 West Multi Storey (P3) is barrierless, so follow the instructions on entry and exit.
Whichever you choose, book the flexible rate if the dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounges and hotels on site
Both terminals have lounges you can pre-book: Escape Lounges in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, The Executive by Escape Lounges in Terminal 2, and the adults-only 1903 Lounge in Terminal 3. Entry is timed, typically two to two and a half hours before departure, so arrive within your window. Compare and book on our Manchester Airport lounges page; pre-booking is cheaper than walking up. At the Terminal 2 Escape Lounge, for example, Escape lists pre-booked entry from £41.99 against £55 on the door.
For a very early flight, an airport hotel the night before often costs less than a pre-dawn taxi. The Radisson Blu, Crowne Plaza and ibis Budget are within walking distance of the terminals. Search Manchester Airport hotels.
Getting there
By car, the airport is nine miles south of Manchester city centre with direct access from the M56, which links to the M6, M60 and M62. For Terminal 2, leave the M56 at junction 5, keep left up the slip road and follow the Terminal 2 signs; the drop-off forecourts are signposted from Flag Island. Terminal 3 is signposted from the same junction. Our directions to Manchester Airport page has the route from each direction.
By train, Manchester Airport station sits between the terminals: about a five-minute walk to Terminal 3 and ten to Terminal 2. Trains to Manchester Piccadilly take around 20 minutes and run every 10 minutes; the first to the city leaves at 04:12 and the last at 01:34. The station also has Metrolink tram, bus and coach connections.
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal do I need at Manchester Airport?
Terminal 3 for Ryanair, Terminal 2 for every other airline. Terminal 1 is closed. Check your airline's booking page before you travel.
Can I drop someone off at Manchester Airport for free?
Yes, at the free drop-off area in JetParks 1 on Thorley Lane (M90 5AZ), with a free 24-hour shuttle to the terminals. The terminal forecourts cost £5.50 for 5 minutes and up to £25 for 30 minutes, paid online by midnight the next day.
How much is pick-up at Manchester Airport?
The Terminal 2 Express Pick Up zone is £6.60 for up to 15 minutes, with a £60 charge for overstaying. Terminal 3 pick-up is in the T3 Multi Storey, P14, and charges apply. For longer, use the short stay car parks.
How early should I get to Manchester Airport?
Be checked in and heading for security at least two hours before departure, then add the time from your car park: 25 to 35 minutes for Park & Ride, 10 to 15 minutes for Meet & Greet, and a short walk from on-airport parking.
What is the cheapest way to park at Manchester Airport?
For a week or more, Park & Ride is almost always the lowest daily rate; for a short trip, on-airport or Meet & Greet can work out similar once you count the time. Book as soon as your flights are confirmed and compare every Manchester car park for your real dates.
Sorted before you fly.
