Traveling can be stressful, and for smokers, one big question is always: “Where can I light up?” If you’re flying from Manchester, you’ll want to know about the Manchester Airport smoking area. Knowing where you can and cannot smoke helps your day go a lot easier.
This guide will summarise the rules for smoking Manchester Airport and a few other UK airports. We’ll steer you to the allowed zones so you can catch your breath before boarding.
Smoking Areas at Manchester Airport
Inside the terminal, Manchester Airport strictly enforces a no-smoking rule. That applies to every UK airport, and you’re not allowed to smoke or use e-cigarettes once you’re past security.
So, is there a smoking area in Manchester Airport? Yes, there is, but it’s only before you clear security.
All three terminals at Manchester Airport provide a smoking area located outside the main entrance.
- Terminal 1: The smoking area sits just outside the terminal’s north side, beside the main entrance. Signs are clearly visible to guide you.
- Terminal 2: The smoking area at Manchester Airport for T2 is found on the upper level balcony, right above the departures doors, much the same as T1.
- Terminal 3: You’ll find the T3 smoking shelter immediately outside the front doors of the terminal building; it’s hard to miss.
Keep in mind these spots are the final chance to light up before passing through security. Once you cross to the airside area, all smoking is forbidden, so get your nicotine fix before you step onto the moving walkways.
Is There a Smoky Spot After Security at UK Airports?
This is regularly asked by flyers. The straightforward reply is no, practically everywhere. In 2007 the UK imposed a nationwide smoking ban covering all indoor public venues, and that includes the check-in and boarding areas of every UK airport.
Thanks to that regulation, most major UK airports, including giants like Heathrow and Gatwick, don’t offer a single ashtray past security. Should you catch a pre-arranged taxi to Heathrow or a Gatwick airport taxi, step out and light up at the curb before you check in.
Vaping and e-cigarettes fall under the same no-smoking rule. That means no puffs anywhere indoors, including after you go through security. To make the process smoother, consider scheduling things like booking a Manchester airport taxi in advance. That way, you can pull up, grab your last proper cigarette outside, and stroll inside without a rush.
Why No Smoking Zones Past Security?
So, what’s stopping the airport from building those fancy lounges everyone talks about?
- Health and Safety Laws: The comprehensive UK smoking ban prohibits cigarettes, vapes, and heated-tobacco devices inside any public building,including terminals.
- Fire Risk: No matter how contained, even a small smoking area in high foot-traffic spots creates a fire hazard. The terminals have plenty of flammable materials, from boarding passes to snack wrappers, so the airport isn’t taking chances.
- Ventilation and Cleanliness: Smoke,real or vaped,travels through air ducts. Filtering it out can contaminate other areas, and keeping a lounge clean turns into a messy, costly task. One simple no-smoking rule cuts out the headache.
- Passenger Flow: Airports run like rivers. Adding smoking lounges creates whirlpools where passengers stop, light up, and block the way. To keep everyone moving toward gates without snarls, the no-smoking line remains clear outside.
On account of these rules, you’ll have to hold off on smoking until you’re off the plane and beyond baggage reclaim again.
FAQs
Which UK airports can you smoke after security?
Only a few, like Bristol and Belfast International, have outdoor smoking areas after security. Manchester does not.
Can you smoke after going through airport security?
No, you cannot smoke after security at Manchester Airport or most UK airports.
Why do airports not have smoking areas after security?
UK anti-smoking laws and fire safety rules prevent smoking areas inside terminals.
Does Manchester Airport have a smoking area?
Yes, outside each terminal before security.
Is there a smoking area in Manchester Airport?
Yes, but only outside the terminals before check-in.
Summary
The guideline for smoking at Manchester Airport is straightforward: you can only use the shelters located outside the building. After you check your bag and clear security, you can’t smoke or vape until after you’ve left the terminal, a rule common to most big UK airports.
To avoid feeling rushed, factor in a couple of minutes for a cigarette before you check in. Consider pre-arranging a dependable transport option, such as booking a Stansted Airport taxi, to arrive on your schedule, giving you peace of mind and a few extra minutes for a stress-free start to your journey.