for those using Manchester,NH Airport...

[airhead]

I've already decided I'll be flying from MHT instead of Logan,but now I'm trying to decide if I should drive to the airport and leave my car there for the 10 days or not. anybody familiar with this airport? Is it a safe place to leave my car?

CJ

 

[dznyntnh]

Its definitely safer than leaving your car at Logan!!

Seriously, I have left my car in both the parking garage and in the 'budget' lot and have never had a problem in either place. Budget parking is $6 or $7 a day and I think someone said the garage was currently $14 a day (I'm not 100% sure).

It might cost a lot to park there for 10 days, but I would feel safe as far as leaving your car there.

 

[PalVal]

We have used MHT at least 10 times with no problem what so ever. We left it in the covered garage for 10 days in March. I think it cost $10 a day. I would never use Boston after experiencing Manchester. Southwest's non stop flights to Orlando just sweetens the experience!

 

[MK Familystone]

Hi!
Have you looked into the Hudson or any other Limo price vs ten days parking.
We use our car and park in Lot to the right of the treminal, long term parking and shuttle in the Lot takes you to the terminal.
Also DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT, leave your car by more than 10 feet, if you are dropping off at Airline curb checkin,
I drove up at 45 am for a 6:00am flight, and dropped the wife and kids at the curb. I went to drive away and the wife left a bag in the car , so I jumped out of the car and ran in the terminal to give her the bag, total time 30 secs. came back to the car
" Hel lo, OH! NO!!!, Mr State Trooper", I just looked at him in shock and found out I had to pay $25 in two weeks, I am going away for 8 days. Don't say anything just wimpp away and park your car. then my youngest is asked by the tix agent " has anyone asked you to take anythin gon the plane or bag?" Wht does he say , hummmm , pause and rolled his eyes. "Son" I said , then he said "no?" GUESS WHO GOT PULLED ASIDE AT SECURITY AND TOOK OFF THE SHOES AND ETC.!
Ever have cocktails at 6:30 am at the start of a 5 hour airline
trip with connections in Chicago.

ENJOY!

THE MAGIC HAPPENS!!!

 

[airhead]

After reading your posts,I feel much better about leaving my car there! And there's absolutely no doubt in my mind about flying from MHT instead of Logan! I'll be "looking" for you guys to answer more questions as my trip date gets closer!

thanks again!
CJ

 

[dana99]

We will be using Manchester next month for the first time (we are driving over from VT) and this information was very helpful. So is it worth it to park in the covered area and pay more? Is it safer over there?
Also, am I to understand that SW airlines has curbside check in? We have four children so that would be helpful.
Thanks!

Dana

 

[dec]

We've parked in the uncovered lots many times and never had any problems. I think those are $8 a day and the garage is $12 a day.

dana99-Southwest DOES NOT have curbside checkin! We flew out of there in April with a ton of bags and it was a huge pain. You should have your husband drop you off at the terminal with the kids and luggage. He can then go park the car and take the shuttle to the terminal. It doesn't really take that long.

 

[mcnuss]

Not sure exactly where you guys think you are going with all the questions about safety of parking at MHT but you sure have made my day LOL...

MHT is a nice, little airport in a nice, little city with an unbelievably low crime rate, and it has absolutely 1st class services. The garage is maybe 100 yds from the terminal. The economy lot is about 3 minutes away. From the SW counter to the security gates is maybe 100 feet, including an escalator ride! Baggage claim is at most 50 feet from that same escalator when you come home. The place is a snap and why anyone would fly out of Logan when they could fly out of MHT is beyond me. (And believe me, I am forced to fly out of Logan every other week, so I know whereof I speak!!)

Anyway, there is plenty of food at MHT: a Nescafe Cafe, a pizza place, McDonald's and DD are all before you go thru to Security. There is even a real sit-down restaurant that isn't bad. There is also food on the other side: the McD's as well as a couple of take-out places run by a local restaurant. There are plenty of news shops, etc...

The TSA there is super. Even if the line looks long, I have never waited more than 10 minutes. They pride themselves on moving the line quickly. They are also the friendliest TSA group I've seen.

For any of you coming from a long distance for a very early flight, there are several hotels nearby and on site. SpringHill Suites is brand new and on the premises. There is also an older, but very nice hotel, the Highlander, that offers a park&fly program. About 5-8 mins away, there is a Holiday Inn Express that opened a few weeks ago, a Fairfield Inn & a 4 Points.

I hope you all will enjoy your experience at "my" airport!

 

[airhead]

...And was laughin' my a$$ off!!!! I totally get why mcnuss was amused!!!! Wow! I don't know what I was expecting,I guess when all you know is Logan Airport,its hard to imagine an airport like Manchester!! After my quick look I doubt I'll ever go to Logan again!

CJ

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by airhead
...And was laughin' my a$$ off!!!! I totally get why mcnuss was amused!!!! Wow! I don't know what I was expecting,I guess when all you know is Logan Airport,its hard to imagine an airport like Manchester!! After my quick look I doubt I'll ever go to Logan again!

CJ

You also may have other options (depending on where you live), there is TF Greene in Warwick, RI (very nice small airport) & Bradley in the Hartford area (also nice and small). I was at Logan YEARS ago and it scared me to death!!!! I can only imagine what the years have done to it. MCO is huge, but, so easy to get in and out of and to negotiate once you are in there.

Another airport missed often is Tampa, small. easy to get in and out of and within 75 min. drive to WDW. Sometimes the fares are fantastic into that airport.

 

[PatsMom]

We would only fly out of Logan if absolutely forced to. Manchester is 20 minutes up the road and we think it's much safer and cheaper to leave the car. DH used to travel frequently on business and always left the truck in the open lot. Never had a problem. I shop in Manchester probably every week (I work in Bedford right next door) and I have never locked the car during the daytime in any parking lot. Never had a problem. Southwest's direct flight just makes it better. But if you don't mind a little driving on the other end we've also flown out of Portsmouth to Sanford FL on PanAm and had a good trip. Another small airport with safe, relatively cheap parking.

 

[mcnuss]

PatsMom - depending on which direction you live from MHT, we're practically neighbors 'cause I'm in Londonderry.

Airhead - thank you for taking my comments in such good spirit bc when I re-read my post, I was worried you'd think I was making fun. Glad to see you checked out "my" airport and hope you have a great experience using it.

Little factoid: I belive MHT was the only airport in the NE to increase the number of pax traveling through it in 2001 & 2002. Now you see why! But I am worried every time I talk it up that it's going to get crowded and that they are going to want to make it bigger which will ruin it, so let's try to keep it our little DIS secret.

 

[maps]

the first time i saw the airport, i laughed too--it was so cute! i'm originally from the city in CT and getting used to life in good ol' NH took awhile. people tend to drive really slow (at least 5-10miles UNDER the speed limit) and no one has ever looked threatening to me. it's a good feeling.
i'm trying out SWA there in nov and if all goes well, again in feb.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Actually, I think that having more MA & VT folks using SWA out of MHT has increased the number of non-stop flights to MCO. A few years ago there was only the morning one... now there are at least 3!!! I've become spoiled by this... never want to spend more than 3 hours in the air again!

 

[mcnuss]

tend to drive really slow (at least 5-10miles UNDER the speed limit

How I wish that were true in all of NH...but not down here in the Southern part of the state. 93 should be renamed the SpeedWay. If you drive 70, you are blown off the road.

I also grew up in CT, although in a medium sized town, and I don't see too much difference between here and there, to be honest. Maybe where you live in the more Western part of the state, life is still slower, but down here, I may as well be living in the Boston burbs.