13
May
2019
|
17:43
Europe/Amsterdam

Top travel tips from Manchester Airport - week 2

this week we bring you advice on booking assistance for those who need some help getting through the three terminals.

Last month, Manchester Airport changed its special assistance provider and is committed to ensuring the best possible experience for all. Assistance should always be booked in advance and is done directly through a passenger’s airline. Each carrier should have information on their website when you book with them, so keep an eye out. As you would expect, the service can be less smooth when passengers don’t pre-notify they need assistance and the team are not expecting them.

On arrival, passengers requiring assistance should report to the dedicated reception area in each terminal. However, if you need help from your vehicle or public transport, there are assistance call points in these locations and a member of staff will happily come and assist from these.

Passengers who self-mobilise should also register at the Special Assistance reception to agree a suitable time to meet the provider at the aircraft, which allows time for their specialist equipment to be safely loaded on the aircraft.

As the airport grows and offers even more destination choice for its passengers, it is necessary for the size of the campus to also grow. This is why the Northern hub is currently spending £1bn to transform the airport for all. What this growth in size means is that there will be varying walking distances to certain gates or parts of the terminal buildings. This could be a surprise to infrequent travellers who consider themselves fully able, so it is worth questioning whether to book assistance, if additional walking could cause an issue. Staff are always on hand to help and additional members have been deployed en-route to the new pier that opened last month.

Another area where Manchester Airport provides assistance, is for those with hidden disabilities. If this applies to you or someone you're travelling with, the airport can offer you a special lanyard to wear on your journey through the airport. This will identify you to staff as someone who may need additional support or understanding. Staff have been specially trained to recognise the lanyards and act accordingly. This lanyard permits access to the family and priority lanes at security, as well as the use of special assistance lanes at the UK Border on arrival into Manchester Airport. Lanyards can be collected from the assistance reception areas in all three terminals.

For more information on special assistance at the airport check out this link: www.manchesterairport.co.uk/help/special-assistance-home/