Manchester Airport arrivals: when to leave to collect someone
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Collecting at Manchester
- Terminals 2 and 3
- Manchester announced on 11 March 2026 that it is now a two-terminal airport and Terminal 1 can fully close. Ryanair uses Terminal 3 and every other airline uses Terminal 2 — a rule clear enough that we show the terminal on a Manchester result whenever the flight data names the airline.
Manchester Airport pick-up pagechecked 6 Oct 2026
- £6.60 for 15 minutes
- Express Pick Up, at Terminal 2 or 3. There is no barrier: pay online or by phone by midnight the next day, or set up AutoPay. No cash.
Manchester Airport pick-up pagechecked 6 Oct 2026
- Overstay and it is £60
- Fifteen minutes is not long enough to sit out a delay. And never collect from the Drop Off zone: Manchester charges £100 to anyone attempting to pick up there.
Manchester Airport pick-up pagechecked 6 Oct 2026
Prices from Manchester Airport’s own website (see its pick-up page), the only place they are current; last checked 6 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions about collecting someone from Manchester Airport
What time should I leave to collect someone from Manchester?
It depends on the flight and on your traffic, which is what the planner above works out. The passenger has to get off the aircraft, clear the border and collect bags before they reach the kerb: our planner allows around 20 minutes for that after a domestic or Irish arrival, and nearly an hour after a long-haul flight, because it assumes a checked bag there. Those are our own planning figures, not the airport's, and your drive time goes on top.
Where do you pick someone up at Manchester Airport?
At Express Pick Up, which Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 each have: £6.60 for up to 15 minutes. Overstay those 15 minutes and the charge is £60, so it is not somewhere to sit and wait on a delayed flight. There is no barrier and no paying on exit — pay online or by phone by midnight the following day, or set up AutoPay. Cash and cheques are not accepted.
Can I wait in the free drop-off area?
Manchester does not say whether you may collect there. Its free drop-off area is at JetParks 1, and its free shuttle runs one way only, from the car park to the terminal, so there is no ride out for the person you are meeting. Do not collect from the Drop Off zone: Manchester applies a £100 charge to anyone attempting to pick up passengers there. If the flight is running late, time your arrival rather than park somewhere cheap and hope.
Where do I pick someone up now Manchester has two terminals?
At Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. Manchester announced on 11 March 2026 that it is now a two-terminal airport; Ryanair uses Terminal 3 and every other airline uses Terminal 2. Each has its own Express Pick Up. For Terminal 2, use postcode M90 5PR and follow the signs for P3; for Terminal 3, use postcode M90 1QX and follow the signs for T3 Express Pick Up. When the flight data names the airline, we show the terminal on the result.
Does PlanMyFlight arrange the car?
No. It is a free planning tool and nothing more. We do not operate vehicles, employ drivers or take payment for journeys — we tell you what time to set off, and you drive.