Priority security

[Plump82]

After a huge wait to get through security last September we're thinking of getting priority security for our holiday next month.

I was wondering if someone could help me with a couple of questions.

Does priority security mean you still need to wait to go through the passport gates (before security) and then youre fast tracked, or can you get through the barriers without queuing. In September the queue was before the passport gates. And online it asks for a time to book, would this be the time we are at the airport or when our flight is.
We're flying from Glasgow Airport if that makes any difference to procedure.

Thank you!

I have never heard of "priority security"

I've travelled to lots of different countries

We always allow 2 to 3 hours to get through security

Last year, I travelled to a European country, it took about 2 hours to queue to get through security. The queue was huge. This was coming out of the European country

Or do you mean, travel assistance through the airport to the plane ?

It's a separate, short security queue. Much quicker than normal queue. Comes as standard with business/first class tickets, or you can pay for it. For easyJet at Gatwick it's about a fiver. Well worth it.

i don't think you can use it to jump the queue to go through the initial passport barriers, but it does save a lot of time skipping the main security queue (the one where you have to put liquids in small bag, iPads out in tray etc).

I think from memory, when booking it, I have booked for the flight time, but I also seem to recall that when booking it it's the flight time and number that's asked for online.

We did it LGW last august, it's for the security screening not the passport gates, they are in the country you fly into - border control.

I booked for the time we arrived at the airport. Tbh I wouldn't book again, there was no queue in the main line and if I had wanted to could have just booked the fast track when we got there.

I always buy 'fast track' security tickets.
This enables me to get through security quickly on the way out and passport control on the way back.

For both you join a separate smaller queue and get priority.

It is especially worth it for passport control. I travelled into Heathrow and was through passport control within 5 minutes. The standard queue was a minimum of an hour long.

I use meet and greet parking and add on 'fast track' when I book it. Usually costs around £5 per person

I know it as Fast Track , it's after passport control.

I think it’s worth it, not expensive, we usually take this option, one thing less to worry about.

Where/how does one book it?

On the airline website you book with usually.
There's no passport control as such on leaving the UK, only coming in. The airports I use (south east) all have automated gates to get through to security where you just scan your boarding pass. Fast track does have a lane there, though, and then moves you on quicker to actual security. Tbh, even though queues have often been massive, I've never been more than 15-20 minutes, especially with the biometric lanes now readily available.

I agree with pp that if you're in a rush it might be worth having for coming back into the UK where there is border control and likely to take longer.

Least helpful tweet of the day and it’s only 6am…!

Fast track or priority security is a separate section or lane normally accessed by business and first class passengers that means you can skip the queues. Think of it like the fast pass lane at Disney, chessington, Alton towers if you will. Some airports allow you to buy access in advance for eg £25pp.

OP to answer your question I think it depends on the airport and I don’t know Glasgow (also unhelpful). At Gatwick, there is a whole separate area for fast track which includes its own passport scanners. At LHR, I think you all go through the same passport scanners then the lanes are segregated after that. There are relatively few delays at the passport scanners. Bear in mind we usually go T5 (BA).

Worth noting in the summer we paid to go through fast track because of all the news stories about delays, but so had everyone else so the priority security lane was slower than the normal one as it had more passengers and less staff.

OP, I think you were maybe just unlucky. I fly from Glasgow regularly and I’ve never had to wait in a queue at security for more than 10 minutes. Check out how many flights are departing around the same time as yours and then decide.

I meant when you scan your boarding pass sorry

Sorry for the confusion, it's called Fast Track as well!

When we last flew we were queuing for nearly 2 hrs in total before the gates where you scan your passport and then beyond that to get to security. It was first thing in the morning and we both ended up very grumpy as didn't have time to eat before the flight so a great start to the holiday! 🤣
We didn't have suitcases to check in so I'm concerned if the queues are that long again and we only have 2 hrs due to the bag drop in opening 2 hrs before then it could be another stressful start.

For £6 each I think we'll just do it

@AgentProvocateur where can I check for future flights would you know? I can only see today's flights on Glasgow Airports website.

I've just checked on their website and no mention of flight numbers, just what time. I'm wondering if it's the time you'll be going through?

Stansted has Fast Track security outbound, & FT passport control inbound.
Well worth it.

I book fast pass through holiday extras.com when I book car park.
There is a separate queue for security. Last , April it saved us a very long wait at Leeds Bradford.
Flew last week and there was literally no-one else going through security.
I'll still get it though as only £5 each.

Btw, Jet2 do twilight bag drop. If you have a morning flight you can dump luggage the evening before. Saves time checking bags.

I just arrive in plenty of time and rarely have I waited more than 10 minutes anyway

@Plump82 they used to have a list of what destinations they flew to, sorted by days of the week, on their website but I’ve just looked and it’s not there any more. Sorry

We live no where near the airport unfortunately and neither of us drive or we'd definitely do that.