Manchester Airport - landing to train - how long?

[DeeGee]

I'm planning a trip to Poland in September. Ryanair are offering an excellent fare with a decent departure time. Only dilemma is that the return flight is scheduled to come in at 19:05, and my last train home is, I believe 20:47. This would be nice, though, as it effectively gives me a free extra day in Warsaw.

I know it's not a massive airport, but I also know that there are always queues to get through immigration.

Is 1:42 cutting it a bit fine to land, get off, clear immigration and get to the airport? If so, I'll consider another route.

 

[crispy1978]

It was fine for my wife and I when we came back from Benidorm in September - we sailed through security, and actually caught an earlier train than we had previously planned (had open tickets)

I didn't time it - but it was way less than 1 hour 42 minutes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not used that airport myself though I do know the station. I would suspect OK - but there is always a chance that a delay to the flight could muck things up, and low-cost airlines have a much higher chance of delays later in the day. So if having to pay (or claim on your travel insurance) for a hotel or taxi and/or take a day off work would be an issue it might not be a great idea.

Neil

 

[DeeGee]

Oh, would insurance cover an extra night's hotel if there was a delay like this?

 

[Adam0984]

I'd say that that's long enough. I did the rather fast walk from terminal to train in 5 to 10 mins. Ryanair are normally generously timed so have a tendency to arrive early. You always risk a delay with flights

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh, would insurance cover an extra night's hotel if there was a delay like this?

Some policies will, some won't, some might specify a minimum connection time. The important thing is to always read your insurance policy in full, and you know what you're covered for. Not just the summary, all of it. They vary wildly.

Neil

 

[Ash Bridge]

Unless your plane is seriously late on arrival, 1hr 40mins to get from Terminal 3 to the Rail terminal is plenty of time. Your options between the two terminals are free shuttle bus, or from the adjacent Terminal 1 (which I would do) take the travelator to Rail Terminal,with the 2nd option no more than 12 mins walk. Basically, from stepping off plane to stepping on station platform 30mins, if waiting for hold luggage 1hr. Max.

 

[starrymarkb]

I understand NatEx recommend a minimum 90 mins. Main risk is UKBA being a pain (it's taken us 45 mins to get through passport control before (not at MAN but it's possible anywhere), our bags had been taken off the belt)

 

[Crossover]

Under normal circumstances, I would say that is enough time, but if delayed too much, it may be an issue. From past experience, you can probably get from plane to railway station within an hour or so if on time and the luggage gets sorted in a sensible time

 

[crispy1978]

If you have one of the newer chipped passports, go to that queue - was significantly quicker for us.

 

[gordonthemoron]

depends on the terminal, but with only hand luggage I can do it in less than 30 mins from plane to train

 

[Puffing Devil]

Ryanair use T3 which does not have any eGates for Border Control. It can have very nasty queues if a number of flights arrive at the same time. Waits of an hour still can happen at T3: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...nchester-airport-passengers-slam-hour-5795760

You also need to consider bag delivery times (if you have a checked bag and sail through passport control).

I would also say that the walk from T3 to the railway station is a good 10 minutes - if you know where you're going. The signing is not always clear and you're on an outside path for the initial slog from T3 to T1.

If you do miss the train, what are your options? Are you prepared to spend the night in the station? Will your travel insurance cover you?

 

[ainsworth74]

Have you got luggage in the hold? If it's only hand luggage then as long as the flight isn't delayed 1hr 40min is more than sufficient as I did it inside of half an hour from walking off the plane to stepping onto a train.

 

[Puffing Devil]

Have you got luggage in the hold? If it's only hand luggage then as long as the flight isn't delayed 1hr 40min is more than sufficient as I did it inside of half an hour from walking off the plane to stepping onto a train.

Was your plane late? Did you have any bags? Any delays at Passport Control? All these can bite you in the @rse, and you're stuffed if you miss the last train home.

All depends on how much risk you want to take and what the fallback plan is.

 

[ainsworth74]

Was your plane late?

Covered that when I said 'as long as the flight isn't delayed'.

Did you have any bags?

I thought it was clear that I didn't when I said 'If it's only hand luggage'.

Any delays at Passport Control?

Nope I was straight through.

Of course everyone needs to make their own assessment of risk. My point was quite simply that if all you have is hand luggage then it is perfectly possible to get off the plane and on a train in thirty minutes. I wouldn't leave that much time in any circumstance if it was my last train home but it is possible to do.

 

[Puffing Devil]

Covered that when I said 'as long as the flight isn't delayed'.



I thought it was clear that I didn't when I said 'If it's only hand luggage'.



Nope I was straight through.

Of course everyone needs to make their own assessment of risk. My point was quite simply that if all you have is hand luggage then it is perfectly possible to get off the plane and on a train in thirty minutes. I wouldn't leave that much time in any circumstance if it was my last train home but it is possible to do.

It looks like you had a good trip, as many do. I use the airport almost weekly and can state from experience that the time taken to transit from plane to train can be very variable.

 

[DeeGee]

I'll be hand luggage only, and if I should miss the last train I'm more than happy getting as far as I can and overnighting. It's a slim chance, though, I'd have thought.