Manchester Airport Live Departures
Manchester Airport Check-in
Upon arriving at Manchester Airport’s Departures Terminal 1, 2, or 3, simply check the screens to find out which check-in desk applies to your flight, so you can check in and drop your bags off. If you’re unsure of which terminal you’re departing from, you can see the information on our Manchester Airport live departures board.
If you’d prefer to speed things up, you can check in online in advance or use the lime green self-service machines dotted around the airport terminals. Remember that if you’re travelling with hold luggage, you’ll still need to proceed to the bag drop kiosks, even if you’ve already checked in. Those with hand luggage only can head straight through to security.
Manchester Airport Departures Terminal 1
Check-in is located on the Ground Floor and Level 1, including self-service and express check-in options.
Manchester Airport Departures Terminal 2
Check-in is located at Level 1, including self-service and express check-in options.
Manchester Airport Departures Terminal 3
Check-in is located at Level 1, with self-service and express check-in available.
When to arrive at Manchester Airport?
Manchester Airport recommends arriving three hours before your flight. However, this is typically for long-haul flights, those travelling with kids, or excess luggage. You can arrive two hours before departure for European flights and one hour for Domestic flights.
What’s next?
Once you’ve checked in and dropped your bags off, have your boarding pass ready and head straight through security to get to the Manchester Airport departures terminals where you’ll find your gate.
Make sure you’ve checked what you can and can’t take before arriving at the airport, you can find this information in the airport’s official Security Guide. Remember to pack all your liquids in one transparent, resealable bag of 20cm x 20cm. Place your liquids and any laptops or tablets separately from your hand luggage and walk through the security scanner.
Manchester Airport security wait times average at around 15 minutes. However, busy periods can extend Manchester Airport security queues so that you could be waiting 30-45 minutes, especially in the oldest terminal (T1).
*If you’d rather skip the queues, Manchester Airport Security Fast Track services are available at an extra cost.
What to do in Manchester Airport Departures?
Manchester Airport’s Departures areas allow passengers to relax before their flight, with lots of amenities, facilities and services to choose from. Whether you fancy shopping or want to grab a bite to eat, the departures lounges in each terminal offer a selection of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, Duty-free stores, and private lounges. You’ll also find kid’s play areas and prayer rooms.
*Find out more about what’s on offer in each terminal in our Manchester Airport Guide.
It’s important to note that if you’re shopping at the Duty-Free in the departure lounges, you should check the tax-free entitlement of the country you’re flying to. If you exceed the entitlement, you could end up paying the difference in your final destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What terminal is Departures at Manchester Airport?
Generally, short-haul and domestic airlines depart from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, while Terminal 2 hosts international flights. Checking Manchester Airport’s live departures board is the best way to be certain.