Jet Bridge at MAN?
Jun 13, 2019, 7:08 am
#1
Original Poster
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Jet Bridge at MAN?
I recently booked a flight for my mum from MAN to LHR, and she needs assistance when going up the stairs but not down. Unfortunately I cant remember if the BA flight from Manchester boards via a Jet Bridge or stairs so I don't know if I need to book assistance. Does anyone here know how the BA flight from MAN is boarded?
Thank you
Thank you
Jun 13, 2019, 7:12 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2014
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Usually a jet bridge and no stairs from departure lounge the aircraft. (On arrival there are a series of stairs to go down but won't impact on your mother.)
If using the BA lounge this is upstairs but there is a lift.
Distance wise MAN isn't too bad. Lounge to gate in a minute or so. The issue will be security which can be problematic.
Personally I would book assistance in case it is needed on the day. Much easier to have and not need it than need it and not have it.
If using the BA lounge this is upstairs but there is a lift.
Distance wise MAN isn't too bad. Lounge to gate in a minute or so. The issue will be security which can be problematic.
Personally I would book assistance in case it is needed on the day. Much easier to have and not need it than need it and not have it.
Jun 13, 2019, 7:43 am
#7
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Also, MAN assistance is based very close to all of the gates which BA uses and they're generally quite efficient for up to 4 wheelchairs. After that they can start to run out of staff without needing multiple runs to and from the aircraft. But, as others have said, if it's outbound only I have never needed to use stairs (and that's using the service maybe 50 times over the last 11 months)
Jun 13, 2019, 9:04 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2014
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Also, MAN assistance is based very close to all of the gates which BA uses and they're generally quite efficient for up to 4 wheelchairs. After that they can start to run out of staff without needing multiple runs to and from the aircraft. But, as others have said, if it's outbound only I have never needed to use stairs (and that's using the service maybe 50 times over the last 11 months)
Also, assistance may be advantageous on arrival at LHR, especially if a bus gate is involved.
Jun 13, 2019, 10:14 am
#9
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Normally that is the case, and almost certainly to be the case for the OP's mother, however I have this year boarded from Gate 44 - which is steps down to the boarding area and then steps up to the aircraft door. That is only once in many years of flying BA from MAN and after many, many flights. Worth bearing in mind, and perhaps pre-book special assistance as a precaution.
Jun 13, 2019, 10:26 am
#10
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I've also had the gate 44/144 treatment twice (in 100+ trips though).
I don't know if they still use gate 18 occasionally - when that's been used, IME steps were used for the rear half of the aircraft (i.e. down the airbridge, out the door, down the steps and up the back).
I don't know if they still use gate 18 occasionally - when that's been used, IME steps were used for the rear half of the aircraft (i.e. down the airbridge, out the door, down the steps and up the back).
Jun 13, 2019, 10:49 am
#11
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This came about because of the need to separate departing and arriving passengers. Historically, you'd just leave the plane and enter the departures area and find your way back to the exit (as per US domestic and a lot of other European countries). Now, all departing and arriving passengers have to be kept separate, so you need all the upstairs/downstairs business.
Jun 13, 2019, 11:25 am
#12
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Most of the time MAN departing is a jet bridge but I’ve found in irrops where there are two BA aircraft in at the same time a gate where you walked out to the plane and used Steps was utilised. The BA staff passes wouldn’t open the doors so they had to call for security to come and open it for them. Interestingly arriving passengers came in through the doors escorted by the cabin crew as BA staff didn’t have a hi vis jacket. The ground staff then inadvertently shut the doors again and we had to wait for security to come down and for the other flight to depart before someone with a hi vis jacket came to board our flight.
Jun 13, 2019, 11:29 am
#13
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I've also had the gate 44/144 treatment twice (in 100+ trips though).
I don't know if they still use gate 18 occasionally - when that's been used, IME steps were used for the rear half of the aircraft (i.e. down the airbridge, out the door, down the steps and up the back).
I don't know if they still use gate 18 occasionally - when that's been used, IME steps were used for the rear half of the aircraft (i.e. down the airbridge, out the door, down the steps and up the back).
This came about because of the need to separate departing and arriving passengers. Historically, you'd just leave the plane and enter the departures area and find your way back to the exit (as per US domestic and a lot of other European countries). Now, all departing and arriving passengers have to be kept separate, so you need all the upstairs/downstairs business.
Jun 13, 2019, 11:35 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2006
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I’ve had boarding the front rows through the airbridge and the rest through the back stairs. I politely declined to use the stairs as my mum is not good with stairs. They eventually let us board through the airbridge.
Jun 13, 2019, 12:41 pm
#15
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