Review: British Airways Lounge Manchester

BA used to have direct flights to Europe from MAN but discontinued them several years ago. It puts them at a disadvantage IMHO as connecting via LHR is time consuming and....well you know.

Glad you enjoyed MAN.

I live not to far from MAN so fly from there regularly. I quite like the BA lounge as it's generally quiet compared to LHR, which is always mad busy when I go. The MAN loung is a little tired in places but on the whole fulfills its remit.

BA used to fly to NYC from MAN, I think the last flight was 2008 and it was a 767. They are now very much 'Via London Airways' rather than British Airways. I can't remember the last time I was on a BA flight from MAN to London that was not full or at least almost full, so the demand is there. Guess the economics don't stack up for MAN and BA.

I'm flying EK on Friday from MAN and the EK lounge at MAN is better than BAs with good views of the tarmac and in generally better condition.

American flies from Chicago, New York and Philedelphia to Manchester. They don't fly from Miami to Manchester.

I believe the AA flights are to JFK, PHL and ORD. I jumped at the suggestion of MIA, but I can't find it in the schedule

It's funny to hear your comments on BA at Manchester.

When it was opened the BA lounge (which was in the BA terminal) included the Escape lounge, but it was divided in two when BA exited Manchester some years ago.

Delta, American, Virgin and United all operate daily flights to the US from here, and there are about 10 wide bodies a day to the middle east including A380. AF operates to five times as many destinations from here as BA, who mostly manage a handul of A320s to LHR.

You have stumbled across why many folks from here call BA "London Airways".

While MAN has more non stop destinations than any other UK airport, when connection is required many locals prefer to connect at ABL (Anywhere But London).

Even SQ has half the capacity at MAN that BA have.

I have been pretty partial to taking one of the Virgin trains from Manchester to London as long as my final destination is London.

You're confused both that BA's presence is pitiful & AA even fly there at all.
Surely you understand this is the whole point of the Oneworld alliance? Just like how BA will operate LHR-SJC instead of AA.

Terminal 3 is the smallest terminal at Manchester Airport which might be the reason for the 'simple' tarmac traffic!

As others have said, now you understand why so many of us call them London Airways! They're big into the hub model.

Overall looks like a decent lounge the food and drink spread is a massive step up on Admiral's Club and you have to pay for those!

Did have a chuckle about the stairs comment, for one floor up I wouldn't dream of using the lift!

Great TR as ever. However, your surprise at the flight schedules in and out of Manchester is pretty parochial (bein generous). The airport serves as the main international airport for both the Manchester and Leeds metropolitan areas- combined population of 5 million plus. Hardly surprising that there are a few transatlantic/ transcontinental flights...

The lounge in Manchester is great and whilst the bathrooms need a refurb, they're still better than the disgraceful ones in Heathrow.
Unfortunately BA seems to hate the regions nad a couple of years ago pulled its other Manchester flight which went to Gatwick and was great for leisure connections. It's effectively London Airways and for One World loyalists, the AA and Cathay presence is very welcome! The UK has an obsession with Heathrow and various other UK airlines such as Virgin and BMI (now swallowed by BA) have teased Manchester by offering a range of international routes for a short time before moving most of them down to Heathrow as soon as the slots became available. Other than low cost airlines like easyjet or dedicated leisure carriers like Thomson, it's foreign airlines that see the value in Manchester, with direct flights to China on Hainan airlines and multiple flights to hubs in Europe with KLM, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines.
In terms of the airport itself, they come up with a new ;strategic plan' every now and again, but security and immigration facilities get worse every year. T3 is tiny, but they've insisted on cramming far too many airlines in there with the result that at certain times of the day, people are queueing right back into the check in area to get through security. It used to be so efficient, but over the past couple of years I've never waited less than 20 minutes for my luggage.
It sounds like you didn't get the best of Manchester - you needed a local to guide you! Hotel-wise, you'd have been better off at the Gotham or King St Townhouse, but they aren't part of any international chains, so the Radisson may have been a better option for you - massive rooms!