Airport Lounges

Manchester Airport Lounges: The Complete Guide (5 Lounges)

This Manchester airport lounges guide reviews every single lounge available to passengers at the airport – from airline and alliance lounges to independent paid-for entry lounges.

Manchester International Airport (IATA code: MAN, ICAO: EGCC) has 2 terminals: T3 and T2 and is the third busiest UK airport behind London Heathrow and Gatwick. It is located some 14 km (9 miles) south-west of Manchester.

Manchester Airport Lounges – Quick Summary

The access rules for each Manchester airport lounge is explained. Lounges are marked by airline/alliance and whether entry is possible by payment, via the Priority Pass or DragonPass annual lounge access programs or directly by American Express Platinum or Centurion cards.

Manchester Airport Lounges – Terminal 2

Lounges at Terminal 2 Manchester are located on Level 4, one level above departures. Go through security and Duty Free following signs to ‘Premium Lounges’. Opposite Gate 209 you can take the stairs or lift up the one level.

There are 3 lounges at Manchester T2:

  • Escape Lounge Manchester T2 [Book]
  • Executive by Escape Manchester T2 [Book]
  • Aspire Lounge (C Gates) [Book]
  • Aspire Lounge (D Gates) – opens 18 August 2026

Emirates will be opening a lounge in T2 sometime in mid-2026.

Escape Lounge Manchester T2

PAIDPRIORITY PASSDRAGONPASS – Escape Lounges are run by CAVU, part of Manchester Airport Group (MAG).

The renovated Escape T2 lounge offers a decent self-service buffet, bar drinks including wine/beer/spirits/tea/barista coffee (champagne charged extra), stylish seating areas, work spaces and free WiFi.

The lounge is set to expand into the space of the formerly adjacent 1903 lounge which closed on 30 June 2026.

escape lounge manchester t2
Escape Lounge Manchester T2

Paid entrance is available from £41.99 by booking online in advance whilst the walk-in price is £55.

Free entry is granted to Priority Pass and DragonPass holders subject to availability – pre-booking for a guaranteed entry can be done for £6.

The lounge is also used for premium customers of British Airways, Air France and KLM.

The lounge is located past security and duty free on the upper level, turn right at the top of the escalators.

Open daily 03:00-20:00.

Book via the official Escape Lounges site here

The Executive by Escape Manchester T2

PAID – A new premium lounge offering from CAVU (part of Manchester Airports Group) opened 29 June 2026.

Facilities include designer interior, buffet dining, barista coffee, premium drinks, bathrooms, free WiFi and floor to ceiling windows with runway views.

escape executive lounge manchester t2
Executive lounge Manchester T2

The lounge has 3 buffet dining areas – The Loom (hot food with live cooking), Leaf & Loaf (deli-bakery) and The Humm (salad bar and light bites). From autumn 2026 The Boll seated restaurant will be introduced.

Paid entry is open to travellers on any airline and costs from £58 per person. The walk-in rate is from £70. Entry is available from 2.5 hours before departure for a total stay of 2 hours. Airline passengers get 3 hour access.

Access will be granted to Virgin Atlantic premium customers. Access is NOT available to Priority Pass and Dragonpass holders.

The Executive lounge is located on the upper level and is adjacent to the T2 Escape lounge.

executive escape lounges at t2 manchester - location map
Map of Escape & Executive lounges at T2 (credit: Escape lounges)

Open daily 03:00-20:45.

Aspire Lounge (C Gates) Manchester T2

PAIDPRIORITY PASSDRAGONPASS – A compact lounge at terminal 2 run by Swissport. It offers drinks and snacks, comfy seating, business zone and free WiFi/Gold Key Media content app.

aspire lounge t2 manchester
Aspire Lounge Manchester T2

Paid entrance for a 3-hour stay is from £45.

The lounge is used for premium customers of a number of airlines: Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal and Turkish Airlines.

Free access is possible for Priority Pass and DragonPass holders. Note, this lounge can get very busy in the morning and entrance can sometimes be restricted. There are no bathroom facilities in the lounge.

Open daily 04:00-23:00 (April-Oct), 04:00-22:00 (Nov-Mar).

Book Aspire lounge T2 here with LoungePair which offers flexible entry passes with no set date/time and guaranteed usage terms. This is cheaper than booking direct with Aspire.

Aspire Lounge (D Gates) Manchester T2

PAID – Swissport will open this new lounge at Manchester T2 from 18 August 2026.

The lounge will offer dining area with drinks and bites, comfortable seating for over 300 guests, work zone, 2 private booths and free WiFi. There are bathroom facilities – but no showers.

The lounge has no windows so lacks natural lighting.

Paid access is possible from £47 for a 3 hour stay. It is likely that Priority Pass and DragonPass holders will get access though not yet confirmed.

Located past security towards the D Gates, near the Great Northern Food Market.

Open daily 04:00-23:00 (April-Oct), 04:00-22:00 (Nov-Mar).

Manchester Airport Lounges – Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is being expanded into the adjoining space that was the former Terminal 1.

Lounges at Terminal 3 Manchester are located on Level 4, one level above departures. Go through security and Duty Free following signs to ‘Premium Lounges’. Take the stairs or lift up the one level.

There are 2 lounges at Manchester T3:

  • Escape Lounge Manchester T3 [Book]
  • Aspire Lounge Manchester T3 [Book]

Escape Lounge Manchester T3

PAIDPRIORITY PASSDRAGONPASS – Escape Lounges are run by Manchester Airport Group (MAG) and have lounges at each terminal.

The Escape Lounge at T3 is a decent-size offering with a bar/cafe area and some basic hot/cold food offerings, drinks including wine/beer/spirits/tea/barista coffee, comfy lounge seating areas, a quiet zone and free WiFi.

escape lounge manchester t1
Escape Lounge Manchester T1

Paid entrance is available from £36.99 by booking online in advance whilst the walk-in price is £49.

Free entry is granted to Priority Pass and DragonPass holders subject to availability – pre-booking for a guaranteed entry can be done for £6.

Currently this lounge is open to Ryanair passengers departing T3.

The lounge is located past security and duty free, on the mezzanine level by Gates 34-36.

Open daily 04:00-20:15.

Book via the official Escape Lounges site here

Aspire Lounge Manchester T3

PAIDPRIORITY PASSDRAGONPASS – This is a spacious lounge at Manchester Terminal 3 run by Swissport.

It offers bar and buffet area, comfy seating, floor-to-ceiling windows with runway and apron views, work booths, family booths and free WiFi/Gold Key Media content app.

aspire lounge t1 manchester
Aspire Lounge Manchester T1

Paid entrance for a 3-hour stay is available from £40, free access is given to Priority Pass and DragonPass holders, subject to capacity.

Currently this lounge is open to Ryanair passengers departing T3.

The lounge is located past passport control and duty free, turn left and take the stairs to the lounge.

Open daily 04:00-21:00 [Apr-Oct] and 04:00-19:00 (Thu-Mon), 04:00-17:00 (Tue-Wed) [Nov-Mar].

Book Aspire lounge T3 here with LoungePair which offers flexible entry passes with no set date/time and guaranteed usage terms.

aether Private Terminal at Manchester

PAID – Manchester has its own private high-end facility for those who wish to avoid the main terminals. Book aether (cabin bags only) via Escape

aether private terminal manchester
aether Private Terminal Manchester (source: experienceaether.com)

The terminal has its own private security with lounge facilities on offer including private dining with a curated menu by chef Adam Reid.

There are various packages available:

  • Inclusive Cabin Bags – this is available for any departing/arriving passengers with cabin bags with use of the lounge on offer and a chauffeured transfer to/from the aircraft. The cost is from £199 per person. Arrive up to 3 hours before departure. Book aether (cabin bags only) via the official Escape Lounges site here (make a search and you should find aether as an option)
  • Inclusive Checked Bags – this is the same as above except it includes checking in your baggage with partner airlines. The cost is from £199 per person. Arrive up to 3 hours before departure.
  • Suite – Includes a private suite for your party and service-on-demand. Costs from £250 per person.
aether lounge at manchester
aether Lounge at MAN

For the checked bag service It is open to passengers (in any class) of the following partner airlines:

Aer Lingus, Austrian, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Finnair, Hainan Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Saudia, Swiss, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

The aether terminal is located on Wilmslow Old Road on the southwestern side of the airport.

Which Manchester Terminal?

Note that T2 has undergoing a £1.3bn “transformation programme” to modernise the terminal and double its size. T1 will eventually be closed down.

Manchester Terminal 3Ryanair

Manchester Terminal 2 – Airlines at T2 are Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, airBaltic, Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Aurigny, Austrian Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Corendon Airlines, easyJet, EGYPTAIR, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Finnair, Gulf Air, Hainan Airlines, Iberia Express, Icelandair, IndiGo, Jet2.com, Juneyao Airlines, KLM, Loganair, Lufthansa, Luxair, Norse, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian), Saudia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SunExpress, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic International, Vueling.

Manchester Airport Lounges Summary

Manchester Airport Lounges By Numbers:
5 Manchester airport lounges
5 open access lounges
5 Priority Pass lounges
4 DragonPass lounges
3 lounges Manchester airport Terminal 2
2 lounges Manchester airport Terminal 3
0 airline lounges
1 private terminal
0 arrivals lounge

Which Manchester Airport Lounges can be accessed with Priority Pass?

5 lounges – Aspire Lounge T2, Aspire Lounge T3, Escape Lounge T2, Escape Lounge T3 and 1903 lounge (with supplement).

Priority Pass holders also get a £18 credit at The Evergreen Bar & Brasserie (T2).

Purchase a Priority Pass membership at a 10%-30% discount here

priority pass card and app

Which Manchester Airport Lounges can be accessed with DragonPass?

4 lounges – Aspire Lounges T2/T3, Escape Lounges T2/T3.

Is there an American Express Lounge at Manchester?

No. There are no American Express branded lounges at Manchester airport. Amex Platinum card holders can get lounge access via the Priority Pass program.

Is there am Oneworld lounge at Manchester?

No there are no Oneworld lounges since British Airways closed down its lounge facility. Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways premium/Emerald elite passengers can use the 1903 lounge. BA/Iberia and Qatar Airways (sapphire) use the Escape lounge T2. Finnair uses the Aspire T2.

Which lounges can Star Alliance Gold members use at Manchester?

Star Alliance Gold members at Manchester will mainly get access to the Aspire T2 lounge if on Air Canada,  Lufthansa Group airlines or Turkish Airlines, Escape T2 lounge if on Aegean Airlines or Singapore Airlines.

Are there Skyteam lounges at Manchester?

No, there is no dedicated Skyteam lounge. Business Class/Skyteam elite Plus passengers on Air France-KLM are directed to use the Escape Lounge (T2).

Saudia uses the Aspire Lounge T2.

Looking for a ‘meet and greet’ taxi service to/from Manchester airport? Then book a Manchester taxi with Welcome Pickups – this is a highly-rated platform which offers transfers with vetted drivers. We have used them multiple times and have found them very reliable and good value.

Heathrow vs Gatwick vs Manchester Lounges: London Heathrow has 43 airport lounges compared to the 12 London Gatwick airport lounges and 5 Manchester airport lounges.

For more on lounge access in general please see How To Get Airport Lounge Access – The Ultimate Guide

  • Last update 17 June 2026.
  • First published in 2018, the original complete guide to MAN lounges.
  • Links at AirTravelGenius.com may pay an affiliate commission. Lounge opening times can change, always check with the operator.

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