British Airways Manchester Lounge
Lounge is Permanently Closed
The Manchester British Airways Lounge is a bit of an oddity in the British Airways lounge network, and that it survives at all is both a surprise, and also down to the railways.
For a start, the Manchester British Airways Lounge is an old Terraces style lounge: this design was rolled out in 1998 and the then vast lounge in Manchester was actually the show piece test lounge, when BA revamped the lounge concept back, and it still shows its style - and size - today.
The BA MAN lounge gives the impression of the airport being designed around it, which in all fairness that is exactly what happened, when Terminal 3 was built.
After you walk up the stairs from the main waiting hall below, there is a desk at the top, and then the main feature strikes you - the huge circular central rotunda, around which the lounge is based.
You can see all the way down into where those in economy wait for their flights below.
To kind of rub the point in, some of the bar stools are arranged looking into the main circular waiting hall.
There is also a long straight wall, which overlooks the runway, and it is along this wall that there are racks of seats. Further along there are some rather uncomfortable leather sofas.
As you carry on, spot the ancient and large CRT TV. This was state of the art 15 years ago.
There is a nook around the circle, with the Combiz business centre, with a coffee machine near it. Few people use this area any more, as most passengers take their own devices - since the turn of the Millennium.
Going back to the main lounge the main World Wine Bar overlooks the circle, with the once famous, but now completely unique curvy bar.
The Manchester British Airways Lounge was designed for the regular transatlantic BA flights from Manchester, which were cancelled nearly two decades ago, and so you might imagine that this lounge would close too. But no, it's got a little smaller, but the Manchester to London flights are packed in Business Class every day, with up to one an hour. Why?
Quite simply, because train fares are so expensive, it's cheaper to fly in Club Europe for a 22 minute flight. And that gives lounge access. Hence, it is cheaper for BA to keep this lounge going, in all it's 1990 glory.
Bar
The Manchester British Airways Lounge has an old Terraces curvy type of bar, with 4 whites, 4 reds, all the usual beers, and a special treat: Boddingtons - the Cream of Manchester. Don't miss the large line up of spirits.
Food
Food is rather poor, but at least it is still there, with the usual slices of shortbread, plus breakfast (to 1130) and sandwiches (12-2, and 5-7pm) but these are very plain ham or cheese. There are chunks of cheddar in the fridge at all times.
Business Facilities
There is a Combiz business centre, with plenty of desks, but only two rather ancient computers and a printer, and a meeting room table, which is part of the main lounge, and not very private, with a coffee machine near it. Free wifi. There are several newspaper racks in the lounge, with a full selection of all the UK dailies, however despite the appearance of a library, there are no magazines.
Bathrooms
In lounge, and very large. Showers are available too.Access
Access to the Manchester British Airways Lounge is given to Silver & Golds, plus those in Business Class (Club Europe). If transferring flights, make sure you go upstairs when you disembark, and don't exit the terminal - otherwise you'll have to get back in again, and security queues can be really, really, long!
Video: British Airways Lounge
View photos of British Airways Manchester Lounge
Manchester Ringway Airport Guide
| British Airways Manchester Lounge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating |
Video walkthrough and Image gallery by Loungeindex.com
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| Location | Terminal 3, up stairs near central rotunda | |
| Opening hours | Permanently closed | |
| Access | Gold & Silver Executive Club members and oneworld Emerald & Sapphire, and those connecting to Club World or First | |