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Manchester Airport is the busiest airport outside London, serving around 30 million passengers a year across three terminals. It’s the main departure point for most of the north of England, covering a huge catchment area from Yorkshire across to Lancashire and beyond. Here’s what NHS staff need to know about parking there.
Is there an NHS discount on Manchester Airport parking?
Manchester Airport doesn’t run its own NHS discount scheme directly. The best options for NHS and Blue Light Card holders are through Holiday Extras and APH, both of which cover Manchester and offer discounts on parking, hotels and transfers. Holiday Extras can offer up to 30% off depending on how early you book, while APH offer 15% off their branded car parks.
Manchester Airport has three terminals. Which one do you need?
This is probably the most important thing to check before you book parking. Getting the wrong terminal at Manchester can mean a significant walk or a transfer bus, and it’s an easy mistake to make if you’re not paying attention.
- Terminal 1 — used by easyJet, TUI, Jet2 and several other carriers. The largest terminal.
- Terminal 2 — used by British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Ryanair and others. Recently expanded and modernised.
- Terminal 3 — smaller terminal, used by a handful of airlines including some charter flights.
Always check which terminal your airline uses before booking parking. Some car parks are closer to certain terminals than others, and meet and greet services will specify which terminal they operate from.
What parking options are available?
- Short stay — on-site, closest to the terminals. Most expensive but most convenient for quick trips or if you’re being collected.
- Long stay — further from the terminals with a shuttle bus transfer. The bus is generally reliable and runs frequently. This is the most popular option for holidays.
- Meet and greet — a driver meets you at the terminal drop-off zone and takes your car away to be parked while you head straight to check-in. Costs more but removes the shuttle journey from your morning entirely.
- Off-airport car parks — independent operators near the airport. Pricing can be very competitive, especially for longer stays booked several weeks in advance.
Tips for getting the best deal
Book as early as you can. Manchester parking prices are dynamic and the same space can cost twice as much if you book the week before compared to a month out. School holiday periods are particularly expensive, so if you’re travelling during half term or summer, get your parking locked in as soon as your flights are booked.
Always book in advance rather than just turning up. On-the-day rates at Manchester are significantly higher than pre-booked prices, sometimes by 50% or more.
Getting to Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport has its own train station with direct services from Manchester Piccadilly (roughly 20 minutes), Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. If you’re coming from within Greater Manchester it’s worth considering whether you need to drive at all, as the train can work out cheaper than parking for short trips. For longer holidays, driving and parking is usually the most practical option.
Using a different airport? We cover Heathrow Airport parking for NHS staff, saving on Stansted parking and Bristol Airport parking too. Browse all our NHS airport parking discounts for the full list.
