Use the private terminal at Manchester for less
Aether often run discounts. This 40% offer is one of their biggest yet, although it comes with limitations. If you’re looking to upgrade your experience at Manchester Airport (which means avoiding the main airport building completely), then it could be very helpful.
What is Aether?
Aether is arguably the best “lounge” in the UK. It’s technically a private terminal, located far from the main terminal building, rather than a lounge inside the airport. Using Aether, you avoid Manchester airport completely, up until the point you need to board your aircraft.
I first used Aether just after it launched, and it was an outstanding experience. You park up outside the building, walk twenty steps to the front door and then check in. It’s a stress-free process.
When it’s time to board your plane, you go through a private security process in the Aether building, then you’re driven to the terminal in a BMW. You’ll be walked through a door nearest to your gate, then the Aether staffers will take you to the front of the boarding queue.
I wrote a long review of Aether if you want to understand what it is, and what it’s actually like to fly from there.
Whilst it’s not cheap, it is absolutely worth it. Aether isn’t just for departures; you can also use it in reverse when you land at Manchester. You are met as you get off the plane, walk out of the building to a car and then get driven to Aether. You go through a private passport control, and then sit in the dining room until you want to drive home.
What’s the current Aether offer?
Valid until the 30th April 2026, for journeys upto the 30th April 2026.
For a short period, you can get 40% off Aether arrivals where the total cost is £300 or more. Aether says this is automatically applied at checkout, however this did not happen for me. Use the code 40OFFARRIVAL if the discount doesn’t appear.
The discount does not apply to the outbound (departures). You can still, however, book an outbound and inbound package, apply the discount code and get the 40% off the arrivals element. The £300 you need to reach to get the discount to work can be across both inbound and outbound.
At the time of writing, there are three arrival packages on offer: Express, Inclusive Cabin Bags and Inclusive Checked Bags.
- The Express option is the cheapest, starting at £99. This allows you cabin bags, but no checked bags, and you will not get any food or drink in the dining space.
- The Inclusive – Cabin Bags option starts at £179. It does include food and drink, but does not include checked bags.
- The Inclusive – Checked Bags option is the most expensive, at £199. That gives you food and drink, plus you can take cases.
Aether does charge a reduced rate for children 2 – 12. Kids under 2 are free, whilst those over 12 are charged at an adult rate.
For two adults on the best Inclusive – Checked Bags option, the cost of £398 becomes £238.80. That’s a decent saving.
What offers have Aether run in the past?
The 40% off discount has the best headline rate, but don’t forget it’s only on inbound packages. Earlier this year (2026), Aether offered 30% off both outbound and inbound. That would, if you required both, have given you a much bigger discount. That offer was active for a shorter period of time, but the dates you could use it on were much wider: April to September 2026.
The best way to keep on top of Aether offers is to sign up on their website.
Which airlines can you use Aether with?
This depends on which package you choose. If you’re arriving and departing with cabin baggage, then Aether works with any scheduled flight.
If you’re taking checked baggage, Aether is usable on the following airlines:
- Aer Lingus
- Austrian Airlines
- British Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
- Hainan Airlines
- Lufthansa (and Lufthansa City)
- SAS
- Swiss
- Turkish
- Virgin
The biggest, premium operator missing from that list is Qatar. It’s a surprising omission given the volume of flights each day and the size of the business class cabins.
If you’re flying with EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair or Tui, you can drop off your luggage the night before (in the main terminal) and then use Aether. Each airline has its own specific rules around who can use the Twilight bag drop:
- EasyJet: Flights departing before 8:30am can drop off bags between 6pm and 9pm the night before
- Jet2: Flights departing before midday can drop off bags between 4:30pm and 9pm the night before
- Ryanair. Flights departing before 8am can drop off between 7pm and 10pm the previous day
- Tui: Flights that depart before midday can drop off between 2pm and 9pm the previous day.
Add a comment