I tested the UK’s first private terminal – in the country’s ‘worst’ airport
Manchester Airport is renowned. Not for its architectural beauty, its number of routes or the speed of its security procedures, but for the dubious honour of being named Which? magazine’s worst airport in Britain three times in a row. Scenes of snaking queues and piles of unclaimed luggage are familiar to regular users of the north’s largest hub.
Which makes it an unlikely – or perhaps an entirely appropriate – place to find the UK’s only private airport terminal, aether, which opened last week. Its sleek, stylish building sits at the edge of the airport, and promises a decidedly different experience to Manchester’s typical offering. I went on the opening day to see how it all works.
Passengers pay between £90 and £170 for the service (in addition to their airfare), which allows them to entirely bypass the airport’s security checks, baggage systems and lounges, instead using aether’s independent service. The cheaper option includes access to the space and its security area, for cabin bags only, plus a chauffeur-driven car to the gate. Pay full price, and you’ll get all the above plus checked baggage and a “dining experience” that’s somewhat more extravagant than a Pret a Manger sandwich.
Aside from the practical considerations – the ability to move through security in a matter of minutes; the speedy bag check – this is, ultimately, a very fancy airport lounge. Think Scandi-style interiors, plush leather armchairs and gently piped music. There are comfortable seats and wide tables for dining. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the runway, and it is very quiet, as there will never be – for now – more than 12 customers per hour.
This is very unlike the lounges available in the main terminal, where families jostle for seats and elbow each other out of the way for a mediocre breakfast. Aether is spacious, and operates a table service. No more pouncing on empty booths, tables piled high with the remains of the previous occupants’ meal. And, more importantly, given how empty it is, there will never be the hint of a queue.
When I visited, there were just a handful of other passengers, making the experience feel particularly luxurious. My passport was checked at the entrance by an extremely friendly member of staff – no surly border guards here. Then I was whisked into the lounge, sitting right by those picture windows. A coffee arrived promptly, and then it was onto the food.
The airport experience is, usually, one of convenience. There’s no desire to linger. But with aether, I briefly forgot I had a plane to catch. Instead, it felt like I’d arrived at a rather delightful restaurant. The first course on my meat-free menu was a snack of vegetable crisps and pea puree – so far, so good. Then it was on to a luminous slice of melon, dotted with edible flowers. Then delicious rye bread and butter. The main was a truffled Welsh rarebit. Cheese on toast this was not. Dessert was a crumble, then a madeleine, then a cheese board. By my count, that’s seven courses, all created in-house by Adam Reid of The French at The Midland Hotel.
I could easily have spent an afternoon there, grazing on snacks and flicking through magazines, but – all too soon – came the five-minute warning: it was nearly time to go through security. The staff monitor the timings of this process for you, so there’s no need to keep checking your watch. I was whisked into a small side room, where my belongings were swiftly put through the scanner. No need to remove liquids or shoes, as in the main terminal. In stark contrast, the pilot of my flight had been held up in the main terminal’s security queue, leading to a delay in our departure.
Post security, guests are chauffeured – in a luxury BMW, no less – across the airfield. This feels particularly grand, especially as it gives you a view of the landing place for private jets, something rarely seen by the average passenger. The problem, though, is that this journey ends at the terminal, not at the stairs to the plane. I realise this makes me sound like a minor character in Succession. But it means joining the queue at the gate, which I have, obviously, done every other time I’ve ever got a flight and yet, after three hours of pampering, felt like a deflating end to the experience. At most airports, it wouldn’t be an issue. At Manchester, though, it meant being squashed into a narrow corridor while we waited for the captain to arrive.
Paying for aether in addition to an airfare might be too much for some. And yet I know just how bad the Manchester Airport can be – aether changes the game entirely. And given that lounge access in the main terminal can cost up to £54, aether justifies its price point. The lunch I had, on its own, made it worthwhile (especially as it is inclusive of drinks). Frequent flyers will find respite in the space; those looking to start their holiday early be thrilled by its quiet luxury.
How to do it
Access to aether starts at £90 for express departure, rising to £150 to include dining and to £170 for dining plus checked bags. The terminal can be used for both departure and arrival. All ticket classes and airlines are accepted, although checked baggage is only available for those travelling with partner airlines (British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hainan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, SAS and Virgin Atlantic.) Children are eligible for reduced-price dining. Find out more by visiting the aether website.
