Is the private terminal at Manchester Airport struggling to sell?
It’s been less than a year since Aether opened. Since then, it has bumped up its prices to what some may consider lofty levels, while others may feel is still quite affordable. It all depends on whether you compare it to a regular airport lounge, or other Airport VIP terminals in the UK (of which there aren’t many). And of course, how deep your pockets are.
What is Aether?
It’s a “private terminal” at Manchester Airport located far from the main terminal. You arrive there, eat and drink there, and then you get driven to your gate. It is without a doubt a fantastic experience. I used it not long after it opened and wrote up a review of Aether. However, I haven’t been back, and that’s down to a number of factors, the main one being price.
You do not have to be travelling in business or first class to use the private terminal.
Ryanair and Easyjet passengers are just as welcome as those travelling with Emirates, although the service on offer does change depending on the airline.
How much does Aether cost?
The headline rates if you’re departing from Aether are:
- From £99 per person if you have cabin bags only and you don’t want to eat.
- From £179 p.p. if you have cabin bags and do want to experience the food (it is worth it)
- From £199 p.p. with checked bags, and full food and drink service.
If you’re flying into MAN then the pricing is:
- From £99 p.p. if you’re landing with cabin bags only via another UK or Irish airport. No food or drink is available.
- From £150 if you’re landing with cabin bags from anywhere else in the World. No food or drink is available.
- From £179 if you’re flying in with checked baggage.
Some quick dummy bookings suggest that these rates don’t change.
All of the above pricing includes being driven to the gate. This is not only a fun experience (they use a range of BMWs, including the i7 and the X7) but it’s also educational. For the first time, you get to see the airport from a different angle.
Which airlines does Aether support?
If you’re flying with hand baggage only, then Aether syncs with any airline that flies from MAN. If you have checked baggage, then the list on their partner page is quite small: Austrian, BA, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hainan, Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss, Turkish and Virgin Atlantic.
There are some notable airlines missing from there: Etihad, Air Canada, Iberia and KLM.
However, both Easyjet and Ryanair are listed in the Aether booking process as allowing checked baggage, so I think the website is a little out of date.
How Twilight bag drop can save you money
I’m not sure if this was allowed when Aether launched, but it certainly is now. You can drop your bags off the night before you fly (if your airline supports it), and then you can go through Aether using the hand baggage only service. That’s going to save you between £20 and £100 per person.
The twilight service operates within the main airport terminals, which means an extra trip to the terminal. It’s also dependent on which airline you fly with. Jet2, Tui, Ryanair and easyJet all offer this service.
What’s changed: 20% off your first booking
If you visit the Aether website and navigate between pages, you’ll receive a “20% off your first booking” pop-up. This is a decent discount, and it would be easy to leverage it multiple times if you’re in a couple. Or if you’re feeling a little cheeky, utilising a number of email addresses.
There are no T&Cs on this offer, and I can’t see a mention of it on the main website terms. The offer does not land immediately after you sign up, so if you want to utilise that discount, I’d suggest you sign up a few days before you want to book. They do specify that this offer does not stack with the next offer.
What’s changed: Summer Special
If you book Aether before July 31st (you can travel on any date), they will enhance the £99/person cabin-bag-only service by adding food and drinks. You get a maximum of one hour in the lounge, a welcome drink, a main course, one additional drink, plus a tea or a coffee.
You’ll still avoid the main terminal, and you’ll also be driven directly to your gate.
What’s changed: Private Jet travellers
If you happen to be travelling into MAN on a private jet, then you can now utilise Aether. They have partnered with Weston Aviation to bring the private terminal experience to PJ passengers.
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