Review: the Aspire Lounge at Manchester Airport Terminal 1

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• Kingy says:

  15 Sep15 September 08:13

  Congratulations on getting Bacon…maybe your early visit explains that.
  I had several visits when on Lufthansa Business flights and there’s usually a queue of complaining guests who have paid for that dream start to their holidays and they can’t get any hot food.
  The Lounge is a good size but generally poor IMO.

• GB74 says:

  15 Sep15 September 08:33

  Sort of on/off topic – I used the MAN T2 Aspire lounge 3 weeks ago – around 10am on the Friday morning with my wife and daughter on our way out to Bali. Both PP lounges had signs outside advising no walk ups with PP, Dragonpass, etc.

  Naturally ignored these and walked up anyway – Escape weren’t prepared to budge. Aspire proceeded to tell us that they were full (despite it clearly being four fifths empty), but relented and allowed us access. Apparently they presell reservations although these aren’t available to the usual card holders. We were in there a good hour (long enough for the 2 VS Orlando 747’s to have filled the lounge if they were going to) and it was no busier when we left than when we arrived. Needless to say had no issue using PP in SIN, DPS or HKG, and more surprisingly no issue using it in a far busier LHR T5 Aspire on Sunday at 7am.

  Obviously their choice on how they run their business, but apparent that T2 at least is of the opinion that they can get far more for their seats from sources other than PP and Dragonpass – had the lounge been only three fifths empty presumably we wouldn’t have got in. Might be worth being aware of if you are planning to pay for one of these cards with the intention of flying regularly out of Manchester.

• Alistair Todd says:

  15 Sep15 September 08:51

  The Aspire and Escape lounges at MAN in all terminals are fine if you’re there early, but most times I’ve been after about 10am they claim to be full and reject Priority Pass customers. Happens nearly every time.

  It should be called Low Priority Pass.

  PS the food, especially the breakfast sandwiches, in the Escape lounge is better.

• czechoslovakia says:

  15 Sep15 September 10:59

  Gave up on Priority Pass here. Not once in the last 12 months (18 visits or so) could you get in. I usually arrive around 11am on Saturdays or Sundays. No problem with LH C ticket though.

• Barry says:

  15 Sep15 September 11:37

  I’ve used this lounge weekly via an Institute of Directors card for an 8am EW flight and never had any problems with entry or getting food. The lack of toilets is an issue though. Staff are very friendly though (although maybe helps I’m a regular) and when entering for a 10am leisure flight on Monday was allowed in with the IOD card and a aspire loyalty card despite the signs saying it was full.

• Mr(s) Entitled says:

  15 Sep15 September 14:27

  I can’t remember if it was Escape or Aspire, but last time I visited both were full although one had an overflow room that I was directed to as a PP holder. Got a decent sausage sandwich brought to the table and a coffee. Had to leave for the toilet also, but better than nothing.

• MikeS says:

  15 Sep15 September 15:45

  I was there on Wednesday and could not get in with PP due to pre-bookings, even though it didn’t look that busy to me so managed to get into the Escape lounge, food tends to be better in Escape – but Aspire have nicer and more comfortable seats. One thing that’s really irritating are the tiny plates they use in Aspire for food, plus the “Quiet zone” which is never quiet…. other than that not a bad lounge.
  I also tried to get into Aspire in T2 in June with 8 family members but they weren’t having it even though it was completely empty but we managed to get into the Escape fine although not the new Escape lounge, the older one – personally think they didnt want 4 kids running around the lounge!

• Anna says:

  15 Sep15 September 16:00

  OT but lounge-related, I am going to Hamburg at the end of November and am wondering if the lounge there is worth using my 2 free Amex Gold passes for? Otherwise we’d use them while waiting for our connection at Heathrow T5, which would give the better experience?

  • Rob says:

    15 Sep15 September 17:25

    The Hamburg lounge is very average – it is open to the terminal, on the mezzanine. Half decent salad bar is about the extent of the food selection. Perfectly functionable but not exciting. That said, the Aspire lounge in T5 is poor.

    However ….. the Plaza Premium T5 lounge is opening in early October (they told me yesterday) so that is the wild card. Hopefully we can get to see it very early on.

    • Alan says:

      15 Sep15 September 23:09

      Just back from the Hamburg one this evening – used my 2xPP to sign in two colleagues. Both were actually quite impressed with it. Spacious and comfy seating, decent number of power points. Sunny with good views of the planes. Decent salad selection, also a machine with surprisingly tasty soup (option of tomato, mushroom and asparagus), sausages (naturally!) and a fridge full of fairly decent bottled beer along with spirits, soft drinks, coffee machines. Two areas open for food (one more extensive than the other). Table football table and some PCs too. WiFi speed OK.

      Overall we enjoyed it, not the best by any means but fairly solid. Terminal was rammed so it was a welcome relief.

      In AMS had yet another KB, from the Aspire this time. Tried 20 min later and got in. Nice decor, fair selection of hot/cold snacks and a Heineken tap to pour your own – helped having a slightly delayed flight!

  • HAM76 says:

    16 Sep16 September 16:22

    Depends on what you expect…. I’d say it’s comparable to the BA lounge in TXL, STR, SEA, or PHX, nicer than the Aspire Arrival lounge in T2… You have the usual set of spirits and alcoholic beverages, two coffee machines, a soda dispatcher… Food depends on the time of the day. There is a soup machine, and at starting at lunchtime the usual German lounge food (sausages, potato and noodle salat, pretzels). In the morning you get a small continental breakfast buffet. At all times the are little snacks such as fruit, sweets, nuts, cookies, etc. They have a fridge with two kind of beers. There are international newspapers, computers, wifi, showers, washrooms in the lounge…. You don’t get the hot food you have in most Aspire lounges or in the BA lounges in LHR. The selection of wines is severly limited (it’s white or red).

    If you don’t want to spend the time in the lounge…. the level below the lounge has a nice observation deck with lounge chairs and several self serving restaurants. If you seek good food that you don’t mind paying for and a bit of of time for yourself with a good view of the tarmac, that might be the better option. It’s usually empty there as most people either wait at the gate or are sitting in the lounges.

    • HAM76 says:

      16 Sep16 September 16:24

      T3 is what I meant to write, not T2.

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