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Stop paying for security fast track: here are the UK and European airports where you can skip the security queues for free
Find out how to book express security lanes for free at London Luton, Manchester and more airports across Europe
Booking a free security slot could speed up your journey through the airport.
Paying for security fast track is rarely worth the money, but it’s now possible to skip the line for free at some airports.
Although priority security lanes are usually reserved for select passengers, some airports let you access them for free if you book a timed slot in advance. In the UK, you can use the service at Manchester and London Luton – airports that customers in our survey told us had them waiting an average of 23 minutes and 22 minutes, respectively. Some pre-booking systems, also known in some airports as ‘virtual queues’, open as early as 60 days before your flight (for example, Manchester), while others release slots just two to three days before (for example, Amsterdam Schiphol).
You can reserve a slot on an airport's website using your flight time and group size. A selection of recommended times to pass through security will then pop up, which typically include a brief grace period before and after. Read on to learn how to skip the line for free.
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There isn’t one. Airports offering the service for free seem to be doing so to help to manage queues and ease congestion.
Manchester Airport originally trialled its free first-come, first-served slots in 2020 amid following the coronavirus pandemic, but it also said the approach would allow the airport to ‘manage the volume of passengers coming through security more efficiently and help keep queues shorter’.
Better yet, several busy airports across Europe, including in Rome and Amsterdam, let you book the priority queues for free, too.
How does it work?
You’ll need to book your slot online in advance. Different airports have different rules – we’ve shared links and instructions for London Luton, Manchester and the European airports we spotted offering the service below.
Free passes can fill up fast, and they may not be available at busy times. If you can't get one, you'll either have to join the regular queue or pay for an express queue. Also, faster wait times aren't guaranteed in the dedicated queues.
Unlike most paid-for fast-track systems, the free pass is usually bound to a time slot (with a grace period sometimes as little as five minutes), so you could miss your slot and be asked to join the standard queue if you're delayed getting to the airport or at the check-in desk.
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UK airports with free priority security
Most UK airports only offer express security if you pay for it. But two large hubs have a free option.
London Luton Airport Prebook Security
Luton's Prebook Security allows you to reserve a 30-minute window to go through security in a dedicated lane and skip the main queues. You book a slot online from four days to 60 minutes before you plan to arrive at security. It's completely free for all passengers, but the airport limits the number of slots available.
Once booked, you'll receive a QR code by email to show a member of the security team on arrival, who will direct you to the correct queues. You can arrive from 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after your slot.
The perk is currently only available for those arriving at security between 3am and 3pm, so it's not worth looking into if you have a night flight – luckily, queues tend to be shorter at off-peak times anyway. Luton Airport also states that it's not available for every flight or airline.
Manchester's free airport security express lane option is called TimeSlot. This involves booking a specific time to enter a dedicated security lane up to 60 days before departure for up to six people.
It's available from 3am to 10pm. When you enter your flight details, the system will suggest a recommended time to pass through security. A QR code is sent to your email to access the TimeSlot lane. Your time slot has a 15-minute grace period before and after your booked time. If you miss it, the airport states to speak to a member of staff who will be able to assist you.
You can grab a slot for free, although others cost up to £4.99 per person and we found lots for between 99p and £3 when we checked. Either way, it's cheaper than the official paid FastTrack, which starts at £5.49 per person and can be booked up to 12 months in advance.
Frankfurt Airport's FRA SmartWay. A slot opens for booking seven to 72 hours before your flight, with a 15-minute grace period. Max five people per booking.
Rome Fiumicino's QPass. Available in Terminals 1 and 3 for up to nine passengers per booking. Opens seven days before flight with a 15-minute grace period.
Düsseldorf Airport's DUSgateway. Available to book 72 hours to one hour before departure with a five-minute grace window. Up to five people per booking.
Cologne Bonn Airport's CGN Gateway. Bookable up to 100 days in advance until one hour before departure with a 10-minute grace period for five people.
Hamburg Airport's Slot & Fly. Opens 72 hours to one hour before flights, with a 15-minute grace period, for a maximum of five people.
Hannover Airport's HAJway. Available to book from four days to one hour before your flight with a five-minute grace period. Five people can be on one booking.
Lyon Airport's ZenLine. Book between seven days and four hours before departure with a 15-minute grace period. It can be booked for up to 10 people.
Is paying for fast-track security ever worth it?
On a typical day for most passengers, paying for airport fast track is a waste of money. Our latest survey revealed that passengers are likely to wait less than 20 minutes, on average,in the standard queue.
However, if you're travelling during peak holiday periods and at large, busy airports known for long queues, paying to skip the queue can help you avoid bottlenecks. It's also worth considering whether there are operational disruptions at the airport, whether you're running late or whether you have a tight connection.
