Cheap flights to Manchester for 2021

Manchester is the gateway to the north of England. You may know it as a football city (if Manchester United F.C rings a bell) or as the culturally rich city similar to London, yet much more affordable. Manchester is compact, so world-class museums, art galleries, nightlife and theatres are never too far away.

Take a look at our offers that will get you a great deal and cheap flights to Manchester.

Our top Manchester flight deals

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Flights to United Kingdom from $1,026 return

Available on select flight dates to Manchester, Edinburgh and more. Sample fare is Perth-London with Philippine Airlines.

Last verified 20 Apr 2021

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Deal ends 7 May 2021

What's considered a cheap flight to Manchester?

You can fly to Manchester from Australia with one stopover, usually via the Middle East. Here's what's considered to be a good deal compared to the average cost of a flight.

Manchester flight times

• From Sydney: 24 hrs with a stopover
• From Melbourne: 23 hrs 20 mins with a stopover
• From Brisbane: 24 hrs with a stopover
• From Perth: 20 hrs 20 mins with a stopover

Airlines that fly to Manchester

• British Airways
• Etihad
• Emirates
• Qantas
• Qatar

Manchester insider flight tips

• If you prefer to only stop once, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar all operate direct flights from Australia to the Middle East and from there to Manchester. These flights tend to cost a fair bit more than flying with two stops, unless there is a sale. Fortunately, these sales tend to happen regularly. Sign up for the newsletters from these airlines so you’ll be alerted as soon as they have any special fares.
• If you’re struggling to find a flight deal to Manchester, compare the flights to London as there are normally more options. You can then book a train ticket from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Manchester Piccadilly train station, with the transfer from the airport to London Euston train station included. The train journey is just over two hours and tickets are cheap if you book in advance.
• Unless you’re flying from Perth, China Southern and China Eastern often have among the cheapest fares to Manchester from Australia, involving a change in China and a second change in Paris or Amsterdam. Both layovers tend to be long, extending the journey time significantly. Consider booking your flights to one of the major European hubs and spending a day or so there. You can then book an onward flight to Manchester with one of the major airlines or a low-cost carrier like Ryanair or Easyjet.

How to get around Manchester from the airport

Manchester Airport (MAN) is around 13 kilometres from the city centre and is well served by public transport. Public transport in Manchester and further afield is not always cheap and it’s worth getting daily or weekly passes if you’ll be using it extensively. Do some research in advance regarding where you’ll need to go and how you’ll get there so you can get the best value.

You can take a train from the airport to Manchester Piccadilly, the city’s main central station, which only takes around 20 minutes. From there, you can take a train to other towns or cities. You can also get to different parts of the city and the surrounding area on the extensive Metrolink network. The stop is adjacent to the rail platform and runs from 3:20am-11:30pm. National Express operates coach services from the airport across the country and can be booked in advance or at the airport. Various public bus services also go to the city and surrounding area. Here is a list of the destinations. Private taxis and minibuses can be booked in advance or at the airport. You can also take a black cabs from outside all airport terminals, but they are generally pricier. Lastly, you’ll find all major car rental companies at the airport too.