MANCHESTER Airport’s revamped private terminal – called Aether – opened its doors for the first time to passengers this week.
The Sun was the first newspaper invited to experience the luxury
concept, which costs from £90 to £170 per person. So is it worth the
money?
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The last time I arrived at Manchester Airport, it was peak summer season.
My cabbie dumped us outside terminal 2 as quickly as possible, no doubt keen to dodge any “drop-off” parking charges.
We hauled our own luggage to check-in, went through security and spent the next couple of hours enjoying some food and a drink in the £34-a-head Escape Lounge.
The grub was decent and the bar well-stocked, but it was very busy.
This time I am expecting a very different experience.
I arrive at Aether and park outside and walk towards a trendy, modern-looking building where I am greeted by name by two smartly dressed members of staff.
They show me into the building and I am offered the chance to leave my bags with them.
I only have a cabin-sized rucksack but if I had checked baggage there
are two machines which spit out the necessary labels and you can forget about them until you land at your destination.
I am then taken into the Aether lounge, which unusually for airports
is an oasis of peacefulness and calm.
Indeed during the three hours I spent in the terminal, the attentive
staff outnumber the guests – and apparently that remains the plan.
The helpful manager Suzanne explains they hope for no more than a
dozen or so customers every hour, so the space never feels busy.
The friendly head chef pops out to say hello and we discuss the food
menu on offer, which has been curated by legendary Manchester chef Adam Reid, who is a double winner of TV programme Great British Menu and is chef patron at Manchester’s acclaimed restaurant The French.
Like most northerners, I start with a cup of tea and have a little
wander to the window, where a huge Airbus A330 slowly taxis along the runway.
The thick glass windows ensure none of the engine noise comes through, so business customers can get on with some work undisturbed after logging onto the wifi.
Unlike other lounges, Aether also welcomes guests who are not travelling, so families wishing to enjoy a long goodbye can use their services.
While I wait, I have a poke around and check out the drinks on offer.
A good selection of red and white wines along with bottles of Asahi,
Corona and Moretti lager and a fridge packed with champagne.
The usual soft drinks – Coke, fruit juices and still and sparkling
water are all on offer too.
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The toilets get the luxury touch too with Molton Brown soap and hand lotion, gold taps and large mirrors.
Onto the food. First up is a plate of vegetable crisps on a bed of pea puree which was very moreish, and should be served with a spoon so no pea is left behind.
Then a hefty chunk of malt loaf with whipped beef butter, some
beautiful cold ham, smoked salmon and a pickled vegetable garnish.
After my guest arrived, we asked the chef to give us a little
something of all the main courses on offer.
Reading them on the menu, they don’t sound too filling – a crumpet
topped with shrimp and tomato butter, Mincemeat gravy on toasted malt loaf and a rye bread rarebit with mushroom and walnut
ketchup.
All were delicious and of restaurant quality.
The portions were hearty and by the time we’d had a desert Crumble
bowl with this season’s stewed fruit and three good-sized pieces of
cheese and crackers, we were stuffed.
If I was getting on a plane after the food, I would not need to pay £5
for a small box of Pringles or £10 for a stone-cold toastie.
Infact, I’m not sure I would need to eat again.
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Staff in the lounge know which flight you are booked on, and monitor the departure board for you until they feel it’s time for you to pass through the private security lane.
The room is next door – and while rules prevent it from being
photographed – the body scanning equipment is state of the art and the lack of other passengers ensure there is no queuing.
Once through, you are handed a fresh bottle of water (as you are now airside) and escorted to a waiting BMW i7. A driver then takes you along the tarmac to your gate, with the furthest gate being a maximum of 20 minutes drive away.
A staff member then escorts you to the gate where your boarding pass is checked by gate staff and you board the plane.
As I had no flight booked, I couldn’t experience the BMW, but I did
get to sit in one outside and can confirm its the first car I have
seen with a drop down TV screen and Netflix available.
So after all the glitz and glamour, how much does Aether cost and is
it worth it?
Entry level is £90 for the ‘Express’ – for those with just cabin bags,
it provides access to go straight through the private terminal’s
security – thus avoiding the queues, and getting chauffeured straight to your plane.
Then from £150 per person, you get all that plus inclusive alcoholic
and soft drinks, and an a la carte menu and refreshments.
For £170, it works for check-in bags too, which clear security and are then taken to your plane for you. You can also choose to book in for both legs of your journey.
Guests planning on booking a checked bag package will need to be
flying with a partner airline, which includes British Airways and
Cathay Pacific, while all other passengers are able to book the cabin
bag only options.
Non-travelling guests can also enjoy the dining experience from £40pp.
The UK’s top 5 quietest airports
- Humberside – 136,976
Humberside stands out as the quietest UK airport with 136,976 terminal departures in 2023
- Southend – 146,072
Second on the list goes to Southend, as Southend-on-Sea airport had 146,072 departures
- Teesside – 226,557
With 226,557 terminal passengers last year, Teesside International Airport will be one of the quietest for UK travellers
- Norwich – 357,852
Norwich is also one of the quietest airports in the UK with 357,852
- Newquay – 408,870
To round out the list, Cornwall airport in Newquay ranks inside the top 5 with 408,870 passengers
Prior to experiencing Aether, I was sceptical about the cost.
As a married dad of two, it’s unlikely I would spend £680 extra so my
family can experience Aether on our next package summer holiday.
I mentioned the terminal to my elderly parents as my dad is a nervous flyer, and his response was “Where do I sign up?”.
Some travellers don’t mind the hustle and bustle of a busy airport and love nothing more than a pint in the airport pub to kickstart their trip.
But if I were travelling with my wife for a weekend away, it would be
a great way to make the airport experience more enjoyable and a £30
budget airline flight to somewhere more bearable.
Aether is also likely to be popular with travellers who have mobility
issues as has no stairs and every aspect of it – food, drink, toilets,
security – is just a few yards walk.
Business passengers are also likely to enjoy its benefits given the
wifi is unlimited and quick to access, and parts of the lounge can be
partitioned off for more privacy.
Will it be a success? I think so – and we’ll know if it has been as
more Aether lounges are likely to pop up at airports around the world.
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