US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Manchester UK Airport Info

I'd probably have posted this in a different forum, but on the airports page there is nothing dedicated to Manchester UK. So....

Anyone here fly US into Manchester? I'm arriving there this Friday AM and am scheduled to meet with a friend who's arriving on American. According to the airport website, we arrive at different terminals and we're trying to figure out where to hook up.

Basically, is there different baggage claim and customs/passport control at each of the three terminals? That's what I'm presuming at this point and thought it best that we meet at the car rental office. Might anyone who knows that airport have better ideas?

Thanks!

US is in their newer terminal, from what I recall being there last year. The other terminals are a shuttle bus ride away. Whomever is arriving first should probably go to the other person's terminal and wait at that car rental desk (some rental companies have a desk in each terminal).

There's a map at www.manchesterairport.co.uk (http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk)

AA and US are in separate terminal buildings.

Warning to all who need to transfer to another carrier upon arrival on US at MAN; allow plenty of time! We got nailed twice at MAN last week while connecting with SAS. The "transfer desk" is run by some lovely little ole ladies who do mean well, but when you combine them with the third world system at this airport, it spells nail-biting fears of missing your connecting flights. The transfer desk has 4 buzzers and you ring these ladies who come out some time later from behind the locked door, and take a few tickets and passports and then disappear into the inner sanctum of heaven knows what. (I've since learned they are calling a US agent to manually assist in rechecking you and transferring your luggage) They handle many carriers and there is no queue or logic to who handles which carriers, although the signs indicate desk buzzer you should use. You have no idea when they will return with your documents and allow you to proceed through security to your connecting flight.

If you have to change terminals, they call for a shuttle bus, which can also take a while. Allow at least 1.5 hours from the time you arrive at the transfer desk to get to your new gate.

I've seen much better systems in Third World nations, but at least they do speak English http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I once connected in MAN to an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin. Different terminals...I didn't know about the shuttle bus, and was jetlagged, and knew i missed my connection since we left PHL 3 hours late, so I walked it. Took about 10 minutes walking.

I have found in MAN that is it much much easier to go through immigration and check in at the ticket counter than to go through the transfer desk.

An old and a new terminal (which USAIR uses) at MAN. Simple solution meet at the SAS hotel lobby which in the walkway between the two terminals, maybe a 7 minute walk for each.