2016 is set to be the busiest Christmas on record for Manchester airport as they see growth of 22% year-on-year.
Manchester Airport has issued festive advice passengers ahead of it’s busiest Christmas season in its 78 year history.
As more than 640,000 passengers get set to fly over the Christmas period, the UK’s 3rd largest airport has issued guidelines to ensure security is a smooth and easy experience and avoid unnecessary delays by unprepared passengers.
Coats, hats, scarves, wrapped presents and even a jar of cranberry sauce or snow globes are potential problems for airports.
Busiest days over Christmas likely to be 23rd, 30th December and 2nd January.
As temperatures plummet, thick winter coats along with hats, scarves and gloves are essentials to beat the cold outdoor weather.
Don’t delay – be prepared!
- Passengers are being asked to remove hats, scarves and gloves once inside the terminal before the security check point – to help speed up security queues and reduce waiting times.
- The airport is also asking passengers to take careful consideration about what they put in their hand-luggage before they get to the airport to avoid Christmas presents being confiscated.
- Many popular stocking fillers actually breach security regulations, typically because they contain liquids, and passengers may be asked to leave items behind if they are not compliant.
The airport has created its own 12 Tips Of Christmas, to download them click here: Christmas Security Tips
PACK IT UP, PACK IT IN, BEFORE YOU CHECK-IN
Christmas is also when airport security officers have to confiscate more items from hand luggage than at any other time of the year because passengers try to carry items that they do not know are prohibited.
Items confiscated are often Christmas presents intended for family and friends. Manchester Airport is urging passengers to carefully consider what they are packing and into which bag – or face having to throw them away.
Most confiscated items include perfume, aftershave, make-up and bottles of champagne, which are prohibited under the liquid restrictions rule.
More unusual items that are not allowed in hand luggage include cranberry sauce, brandy butter and snow globes; all of which must be checked into the hold. This is because the usual rules apply about not having liquids in your hand luggage more than 100ml each, and in a clear re-sealable bag.
Christmas crackers are also an area of confusion. For the vast majority of airlines, they are strictly prohibited from hand baggage, although some do allow one box per passenger to be carried in hand baggage. The decision is down to your individual airline, so please check with them before you fly.
Gift-wrapped presents also cause issues; because if a bag requires a full search, security officers have to unwrap the present to inspect what is concealed beneath the festive wrapping paper.
Andrew Proudlove, Head of Security at Manchester Airport, said: “Winter weather fashion has a surprisingly big impact on airport security, slowing down the screening process and causing avoidable extra waiting times, which is why we are issuing this advice.
“Our advice is to take off your coats, extra layers, big boots, scarves and hats when you are in the security queue itself so you can put it straight in the tray for screening.
“When it comes to what you can and can’t pack in your hand luggage, the rules are exactly the same at Christmas as they are for the rest of the year.
“However, at this festive time of year passengers often travel with gifts of more unusual items, which unwittingly do not comply with the rules. If in doubt, check with your airline first and put it in your suitcase for the hold, rather than your hand luggage.
“Safety and security is always our number one priority, so to help passengers avoid having Christmas treats confiscated and to prevent queues, we’re just reiterating how everyone can help us to help them.
“We dislike queues just as much as anyone else – and we certainly don’t want to ruin anyone’s Christmas by confiscating prohibited gifts.”