Manchester airport is conducting the trial of an escort service that it describes as ‘friendly guides’.
The service has been introduced so that ‘friendly guides’ can help arriving and departing passengers through the airport. Departing passengers will be met at check-in and have the service of their guide until they board their aircraft. The £50 cost includes up to four departing passengers in a party, while the cost for a party of four arriving passengers is £40. There is a £5 per person charge for additional members of a group, up to a total group size of six.
The concept of using knowledgeable members of staff to guide passengers is one that has been adopted by a number of other major airports.
Tricia Williams, Manchester airport’s customer service director, said, ‘The purpose of this service is to take the stress out of travelling. The ‘Friendly Guide’ will be your dedicated guide to meet you at your point of arrival, whether that be at a car park, bus stop, taxi drop off or the train station and take you to your check-in desk before fast-tracking you through security.
‘We recognised from feedback that some passengers who drop off relatives are not familiar with the airport and that this small gesture would be greatly appreciated. With this service, people can relax safe in the knowledge that their relatives have been looked after from the moment they’ve arrived at Manchester airport and be told the moment their family member is on the correct flight.’
Initially the service will only be available for the trial period in Manchester airport’s Terminal 2, but the intention is to make it available to all terminals in time for the big summer getaway.
