Emirates Lounge Manchester Airport: Wigan Pies, Vimto Cocktails and Direct Boarding
By Mr Plane Guy, airport lounge reviewer, frequent flyer and occasional pre-flight prosecco enthusiast
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A Wigan pie before a flight to Dubai? That wasn’t on my Emirates bingo card.
The Emirates lounge at Manchester Airport is now open in Terminal 2. It’s the first UK location to receive the airline’s new lounge design, following a £10 million investment. Alongside the expected Champagne and polished interiors, Emirates has added live cooking, Manchester-inspired food and a Vimto cocktail.
The headline feature, though, might be direct boarding from the lounge to the aircraft. So who can get in, and should everyone else look at another Manchester Airport lounge? Here’s what you need to know.
Plane Honest note: Emirates announced the lounge’s opening on 24 September 2026. I haven’t visited yet, so this is a guide to the announced facilities and access rules, not a first-hand review.
Quick Answer Express: Emirates Lounge Manchester
Question | Answer |
Where is the lounge? | Manchester Airport Terminal 2 |
Is it open? | Yes, Emirates announced its opening on 24 September 2026 |
Who gets complimentary access? | Eligible Emirates First Class and Business Class passengers, plus Skywards Platinum and Gold members |
Can Economy or Premium Economy passengers enter? | Yes, with eligible Skywards status; other Emirates customers can ask about paid entry |
Can you use Priority Pass? | Emirates does not list it as an access option for this lounge |
What’s included? | Food, drinks, quiet and work areas, showers and direct lounge-to-aircraft boarding |
When can you enter? | Emirates says the lounge opens up to four hours before departure |
Check your eligibility and the current access terms with Emirates before travelling, particularly if you intend to pay at the lounge.
What’s Inside the Emirates Lounge at Manchester Airport?
This is Emirates’ first UK lounge using its new signature design concept. The airline says it has made more than 50 design enhancements and arranged the space into areas for dining, working, socialising and relaxing.
There are seats with wireless charging and power access, shower suites stocked with VOYA toiletries, prayer rooms and a Quiet Zone with soft lighting and sleep amenities. You’ll also find Emirates touches such as its signature scent and Rolex clocks displaying international time zones.
It sounds impressive on paper. But a lounge earns its reputation when the flights are busy, the showers are in demand and everyone wants a seat near a charger. I’ll judge those details when I visit.
Wigan Pies, a Vimto Cocktail and a Live Kitchen
The food gives the new Manchester Emirates lounge some local character. Its Made in Manchester menu includes Wigan meat and potato pie, Fleetwood king prawns and sea bream, Lancashire smoked trout and Cheshire cheeses. There’s also a wider international menu and an open kitchen preparing dishes to order.
At the bar, the signature Made in Manchester cocktail mixes Vimto Summer, grenadine, lemonade and fresh strawberry. There’s a dedicated mixologist, a barista serving coffee with Manchester bee designs, and Emirates’ usual selection of wines, spirits and Moët & Chandon Champagne.
Wigan pie and Moët in one sitting? Very Manchester, very Emirates and exactly the sort of combination I’d have to investigate for the blog.
Food and drinks are included with lounge access. Whether the live kitchen delivers during the rush before departure is a question for a future Plane Honest visit.
Who Can Use the Emirates Lounge Manchester Airport?
Emirates says complimentary access is available to eligible First Class and Business Class passengers, as well as Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members. Those status members can enter even when travelling in Premium Economy or Economy.
That distinction matters: a Premium Economy ticket by itself isn’t listed as giving complimentary lounge access. If you’re considering that cabin, read my Emirates Premium Economy seat guide and my first-hand Emirates A350 Premium Economy review before booking.
Other Emirates customers can purchase lounge access on arrival, according to the airline. Emirates hasn’t supplied a Manchester entry price in its opening announcement, so check the current cost and availability directly before deciding whether it’s worth paying.
Does Priority Pass work at the Emirates lounge in Manchester?
Emirates does not list Priority Pass as an access option for its Manchester lounge. If you have a membership, check the available alternatives in the Priority Pass app and see my Manchester Airport lounges comparison before you travel.
Can You Board Directly from the Emirates Lounge?
Yes. Emirates says passengers can board their aircraft directly from the Terminal 2 lounge and describes itself as the only airline at Manchester Airport offering this.
That could be the biggest practical upgrade. Instead of leaving the lounge early to find your gate, you may be able to stay settled until boarding begins. Follow the lounge team’s instructions for your specific flight.
Emirates currently operates three daily flights from Manchester to Dubai. If you’re unfamiliar with the airport’s newer layout, my Manchester Airport Terminal 2 guide covers the terminal, lounges and other useful pre-flight details.
How Does It Compare with Other Manchester Airport Lounges?
If you qualify for complimentary Emirates access, this is an obvious lounge to consider before your Dubai flight. For everyone else, the price of paid entry will matter—and there are other Manchester Airport Terminal 2 lounges to compare.
Lounge | Who should look at it? | My coverage |
Emirates Lounge, T2 | Eligible Emirates passengers and Emirates customers considering paid access | This guide; first-hand verdict to follow |
Aspire Lounge, T2 | Travellers comparing bookable and membership options | |
Escape Lounge, T2 | Travellers seeking a standard Terminal 2 lounge | |
The Executive, T2 | Travellers considering a more premium bookable lounge |
I’ve visited Escape and The Executive, so those reviews tell you what I actually found. I’m due to visit the newly opened Aspire lounge too. For the full comparison, including Terminal 3 and Priority Pass options, read my guide to the best Manchester Airport lounges.
Emirates has done something more interesting than adding another luxury lounge to Terminal 2. The Wigan pie, Cheshire cheese and Vimto cocktail give it a sense of place; the showers, quiet areas and direct boarding could make it genuinely useful before a long-haul flight.
I can’t yet tell you whether it’s Manchester’s best lounge or whether paid entry is good value. That takes a visit and a confirmed price. For now, if your Emirates ticket or Skywards status includes access, I’d make time to see it. If you’d be paying, compare it with the other Manchester Airport lounges before handing over your card.
Is Emirates Premium Economy Worth It?
If you're considering upgrading, Emirates Premium Economy remains one of the strongest Premium Economy products currently flying.
Expect:
Larger seats
Better dining
Increased baggage allowance
More legroom
Emirates Lounge Manchester FAQs
Is the Emirates lounge at Manchester Airport open?
Yes. Emirates announced that its new Terminal 2 lounge was open on 24 September 2026.
Which terminal is the Emirates lounge at Manchester Airport in?
It is in Terminal 2, where Emirates operates its Manchester flights.
Can Emirates Economy passengers use the lounge?
Eligible Skywards Platinum and Gold members can access it when flying Economy. Other Emirates customers can ask about purchasing access on arrival.
Does an Emirates Premium Economy ticket include lounge access?
Emirates has not listed Premium Economy alone as qualifying for complimentary entry. Eligible Skywards Platinum and Gold members can use the lounge when flying Premium Economy.
How much does Emirates lounge access cost in Manchester?
Emirates says customers without complimentary access can purchase entry on arrival, but its opening announcement did not state a Manchester price. Check the current cost and availability with the airline.
Is the Emirates lounge included with Priority Pass?
Emirates has not listed Priority Pass access for this lounge. See my Manchester Airport lounge guide for other options, and confirm current membership access in your Priority Pass app.
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Priority Pass Lounges at Manchester Airport
Many travellers assume airport lounges are only for business class passengers.
But many Manchester Airport lounges can be accessed through lounge memberships like Priority Pass.
Priority Pass gives travellers access to 1,900+ airport lounges worldwide, including several lounges at Manchester Airport.
I almost never pay the walk-up price for airport lounges. Instead, I use Priority Pass.
If you travel even two or three times per year, a membership can easily pay for itself. Especially when lounge entry at airports like Manchester can easily cost £35–£40 per visit.
For most travellers, the Standard Plus plan is the best value. It includes 10 lounge visits per year, which is ideal if you travel a few times annually.
With my reader offer, plans start from around £48, and those visits can quickly pay for themselves.
Plane Tip: Even two lounge visits per year can often cover the cost of a Standard Plus membership.
Lounge Access in Dubai
If you're travelling through Dubai Airport, lounge access can make the experience even better.
I've previously reviewed the Plaza Premium Lounge Dubai, which is worth considering if you're looking for food, drinks and a quieter space before your flight.
Plane Related Manchester Airport Reads
Manchester Airport’s Best Parking (Compare Park & Ride & Meet & Greet)
Manchester Airport Lounges: Everything You Need to Know to Take Off in Style
Priority Pass Review 2026: One Year of Lounge Access, Was It Worth It?
Emirates’ New Premium Economy Seat Is Giving Business Class, But Is It a Game Changer?
Check Out My Manchester Airport Hotel Review
Flying from Manchester? Before you book, read my Plane Honest review of the Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport to see whether it's worth your money.
Emirates Lounge Manchester Airport: Wigan Pies, Vimto Cocktails and Direct Boarding
Airport lounges, free upgrades, travel chaos and the occasional meltdown. Real travel, not influencer nonsense.
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