Manchester Airport Taxi from Kent

A Manchester airport taxi from Kent takes from about 4 hours off-peak from Dartford, over the Dartford Crossing and up the M1 and M6. Airport Taxi Kent passes your request to licensed private hire operators, and the operator that takes it quotes you and drives you to Terminal 2 or Terminal 3.

Why fly from Manchester instead of London?

Manchester has both short-haul and long-haul flights, including Virgin Atlantic services to the United States. From Kent it is a long way, though, so most flights from Manchester also have a London alternative worth comparing. Kent travellers usually choose Manchester for a particular flight, date, fare or package, or when the trip includes a visit to the North West. Compare the total cost and time, including the road journey, before you decide.

Which Manchester terminal are you flying from?

Manchester now runs two passenger terminals. Terminal 2 handles most airlines, and Terminal 3 is used by Ryanair. Check the terminal on your airline booking and add it to your quote request.

How do drop-off and pick-up work at Manchester?

The Terminal 2 drop-off zone charges £5.50 for up to 5 minutes, with a 30-minute maximum stay, and the charge is paid by midnight the next day. The drop-off zones are for dropping off only: arriving passengers are collected from the pick-up areas in the terminal car parks. [HOLD-QUOTE-RULE: the operator’s quote includes the drop-off charge and the Dartford Crossing charge for your route, so there is nothing extra to pay on the way or at the kerb. If you are being collected, the quote also says how any pick-up parking while the driver waits is charged.]

How long does a Manchester airport taxi from Kent take?

Off-peak drive times start from:

• West Kent (Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge): from about 4 hours off-peak from Dartford.
• Mid Kent (Maidstone, Medway, West Malling): from about 4 hours 15 minutes off-peak from Medway.
• East Kent (Canterbury, Margate, Dover): from about 4 hours 45 minutes off-peak from Canterbury.

Which way does the taxi go?

From almost every Kent town, the fastest route crosses the Thames at the Dartford Crossing, follows the M25 north, takes a short A-road link across to the M1, then runs up the M1 and M6 and along the A556 and M56 to the airport. Only from Westerham does the fastest route go west round the M25 to the M40 instead, with no crossing.

What should you allow for on a long run?

The off-peak times above assume no traffic. The M25, M1 and M6 often carry roadworks and heavy traffic, so Airport Taxi Kent suggests allowing at least 1 hour 30 minutes more than the off-peak time, before your airline’s check-in deadline. On a run of four hours or more, expect at least one stop: the Highway Code recommends a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving. Mention it in your request if you want a break on the way. Long-distance runs like this are taken on, so the length of the journey is no barrier.

What happens if your flight into Manchester is delayed?

Give your inbound flight number and terminal when you request a quote, and tell the operator straight away if your arrival time changes. Give a valid flight number and the operator monitors your flight, adjusting the collection time at no extra charge, subject to driver availability. Airport collections include up to 60 minutes of free waiting from the actual landing time. After that, waiting may be charged at £5 per 15 minutes, plus any extra airport parking, and the quote sets this out before you accept.