Hello,

Next wife my wife and I are flying in business class:

CLT - PHL - MAN - BRU with the first two legs on US Airways and the last leg on Brussels Airways.

We will have only carry-on bags.

We have three questions:

1) What are our options for an arrival shower in MAN? We land at 0840 and depart at 1040.

2) What lounge access do we have that would make the most sense? I believe our PHL flight lands at Terminal 2 and the BRU flight departs at Terminal 3. How do we make this transfer? We will be flying US Airways Envoy class, I am a US Platinum, my wife a US Chairman, and I also have SAS Eurobonus Gold status. I have a DinersClub and She an AmexPlatinum with Priority Pass.
3) If we did check our bags, could we check them all the way to BRU in CLT? Or would we have to re-check them anyway in Manchester.

Best regards,

Beofotch

There is no arrival lounge in MAN but I understand Envoy passengers are given a voucher to use shower facilities at the Radisson Blu which is adjacent to T2. You'll have to clear passport control to go landside if you want to use shower facilities.

T2 to T1 are connected by a walkway but in order to go to T3 (although it's joined to T1) you'll have to go outside and follow the path. Allow 10 minutes from T2 to T3. The route is reasonably well sign-posted.

If you don't want to clear passport control to enter the UK, I think there's a bus service for transfer passengers but I have no personal experience. Follow the signs for Transfer. You may have to wait for someone to come and escort you.

I'm not quite sure about lounge access in T3 following the closure of the BMI lounge, though SN was using the Flybe lounge a couple of years ago even though the BMI lounge was available. There are no shower facilities in T3 lounges.

Bags can be checked through to BRU. Theres no need to collect and recheck in Manchester.

Please report back if you do manage an airside transfer from T2 to T3.

I will report back. Thanks for the responses. We are going to carry-on, and try to do the T2 -> T3 airside transfer to check our bags on the final leg MAN - BRU, and then slip out to the Raddisson for a shower.

You should be able to check your bags through to BRU in CLT or PHL. There's no need to do an airside transfer you if are going to the Radisson for a shower as you will have to clear passport control to get to the hotel.

My wife prefers for us to carry-on as much as possible to avoid the chance a bag is lost to start the trip. Because BRU - MAN is on a Dash-8 prop, I doubt they will allow our hand luggage. Because of this, we will have to check it before check-in closes. With immigration, shower, terminal transfer, and check-in, we might be cutting it close for a 2 hour connection. If we check the bag first, than we can be done with it, and then head to the raddison, and last to the gate.

Hand luggage allowance is explained here and the last drop-off time for checked luggage is 40 minutes.

You will be cutting it close if you go to T3 to chek-in your bag firsst, return to T2 to go to the Radisson for a shower and to return to T3 for your flight as it will probably take up 30 mintes of your connecting time. I have no personal experience but going from T2 to T3 airside might actually take longer than clearing passport control and walking there yourself. Also if you manage an airside transfer you will end up in the departure area of T3 from which there is no obvious way to go through passport control and go landside again. It should be possible but you may have to negotiate your way out. I don't think there is a bag drop counter in the departure area so you won't gain anything by staying airside.