Just a word of warning after the experience my parents recently had at EMA. They live near jcn 31 of the M1 so EMA is currently their most convenient airport. They have used it for years, but their last experience has left a bitter taste and they may not return.
They arrived at the airport over 2 hours before a flight to Palma – first issue, no drop off of pax or luggage outside the terminal unless you go to the short term car park and pay – even if you are a passenger who is going to park in the long term parking after.
Second issue – bus from the long term car park to the terminal. My father and his friend waited 45 minutes for a bus to the terminal which then took over 20 minutes to get to the terminal – over 65 minutes in total. As you can imagine my mother and her friend wondered what had happened – they checked in with 45 minutes to go. The long term parking at EMA is so far away walking is not an option.
Third issue – arrived back and they once again had to wait 40 minutes for a bus to the car park – after 20 minutes someone else waiting went in to the terminal building and a bus had to be called which still took 20 minutes.
Why do EMA seem to have such problems? At other airports 10 minutes wait is a long time for a car park bus.
By: G-OJET - 3rd December 2004 at 18:33
Its getting crazy at EMA with parking etc.
Have you seen the latest hike in short-stay prices? At one time you leave your car in the short stay for a long weekend and it wouldn’t cost much more than the long stay. Now you need a small mortgage for more than 5 minutes there, its obscene!
By: G-OJET - 3rd December 2004 at 18:33
Its getting crazy at EMA with parking etc.
Have you seen the latest hike in short-stay prices? At one time you leave your car in the short stay for a long weekend and it wouldn’t cost much more than the long stay. Now you need a small mortgage for more than 5 minutes there, its obscene!
By: cheesebag - 3rd December 2004 at 15:33
Last time I flew EMA (with JMC) I dropped wife and kids off at terminal then jogged from long stay. It seemed qiucker than waiting for the bus!!!
By: cheesebag - 3rd December 2004 at 15:33
Last time I flew EMA (with JMC) I dropped wife and kids off at terminal then jogged from long stay. It seemed qiucker than waiting for the bus!!!
By: Skymonster - 3rd December 2004 at 14:27
One final thought… Your parents were lucky – often as I drive round the airport one of the car park buses is broken down by the side of the service road (because they have acquired Manchester’s old bangers which were pretty muck knackered before they got them!). At least your parents made it back to the terminal without having to be rescued by a “back-up” bus!
Andy
By: Skymonster - 3rd December 2004 at 14:27
One final thought… Your parents were lucky – often as I drive round the airport one of the car park buses is broken down by the side of the service road (because they have acquired Manchester’s old bangers which were pretty muck knackered before they got them!). At least your parents made it back to the terminal without having to be rescued by a “back-up” bus!
Andy
By: Skymonster - 3rd December 2004 at 14:25
Because EMA cater for cheap and nasty airlines who don’t pay much to use the facilities, so EMA can only afford to provide cheap and nasty facilities for the passengers. Where passengers have to pay (for car parking, catering etc) they are ripped off compared to other airports in compensation for the airport not charging the airlines much. And finally, if you think the car parking arrangements are bad you want to see how long the lines are for security on a Monday morning – because the airport is too cost-focused (sorry, mean) to provide enough scanners, x-ray machines and staff to cope with their peak volumes with a reasonable queue wait.
One thing in their defence though (and contrary to your report), for what its worth the short term car park is free for 15 minutes, so even though you have to go into the short term car park drop off and pick up doesn’t actually cost anything.
Andy
By: Skymonster - 3rd December 2004 at 14:25
Because EMA cater for cheap and nasty airlines who don’t pay much to use the facilities, so EMA can only afford to provide cheap and nasty facilities for the passengers. Where passengers have to pay (for car parking, catering etc) they are ripped off compared to other airports in compensation for the airport not charging the airlines much. And finally, if you think the car parking arrangements are bad you want to see how long the lines are for security on a Monday morning – because the airport is too cost-focused (sorry, mean) to provide enough scanners, x-ray machines and staff to cope with their peak volumes with a reasonable queue wait.
One thing in their defence though (and contrary to your report), for what its worth the short term car park is free for 15 minutes, so even though you have to go into the short term car park drop off and pick up doesn’t actually cost anything.
Andy
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December 3, 2004 at 2:16 pm