I presume they have a head honcho at Manchester Airport?

If you live in the vicinity of Manchester Airport then, like ourselves, you will probably enjoy offering hospitality to friends and acquaintances as they use Manchester Airport to travel afar.

Previously we would drop and pick people up, but the Airport didn't like people doing that (or, like hospitals, are short of cash) and started charging us for the priviledge. Perhaps it was coincidence, but as there was a lot of outrage at the introduction of the charges and the Airport organised an excellent bus service; drop your friend off at the Airport bus car park and a bus will drop/collect them at which ever terminal is required; free of charge. It works well. It's a bit uncomfortable hanging around in the open air but this is Manchester Airport. Especially thanks to the bus drivers who are very helpful.

Alternatively, take a short train ride from Heald Green station. This also works well. However, I can only assume the top Airport managers never do this journey or the experience might be improved. Businesses in Stockport fret that Stockport station isn't quite as sparkling as they'd like and doesn't reflect the new Modern-Growing-Stockport image. The Airport isn't so bothered.

Its a shoddy experience. Arriving at Manchester Airport rail station: rust streaked girders. Broken escalator. The spanking new ticket barriers on the main concourse didn't recognise our tickets. Our last guests from the USA had bought train tickets to Liverpool by mistake, The place is a signage smorgs borg, guaranteed to confuse the hapless traveller. Buying a train ticket? Join the long queue to the manned kiosk or the long queue to the ticket machines. Two of the machines were out of action. Traversing the airport is a challenge. The travellators were out of action with a sign displaying a pathetic apology stating the obvious: they were broken. The British weather is cold in winter and a lot of the journey on foot will take place outside. Along corridors that appear to be Heath Robinsonish and a new cleaning contractor wouldn't go amiss. I find it embarrassing.

I think the idea is that travellers should arrive at Manchester Airport and think 'now this is modern well run city'. I suspect they won't but maybe compare us to a third world country. (Sorry third world countries).