Pregnant - can I used the security fast track lane at Heathrow?

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As in the title really! Don’t fancy standing for 30 mins in the queue!

You'll have to pay

Gosh really! So they make families with prams/young children pay too? That’s awful. At Birmingham the family/SEN lane is no charge. I was hoping that the same would be true at Heathrow and that pregnant women could also use it! How disappointing.

Not that awful imo.

It's only about a fiver if you don't want to queue. I was there last week and was barely a queue.

I think it’s pretty poor that they make families and disabled people pay. Will stick to regional airports next time!

They sometimes have let us use it when DS was young and just pulled us out the queue but, generally, Heathrow (T5 at least) isn't that slow.

Heathrow security is generally really quick.

Disabled people definitely get pulled out the queue including those with sunflower lanyards.

I fly frequently and have never taken 30 minutes in the security queue. I'd feel very hard done by if it was 10 minutes. But it's nearly always less.

I was at Heathrow on Thursday (really busy with Easter traffic and peak time of day) and was in the queue for maybe 15-20 mins max. They're very good and queue management at the moment.

People using special assistance don’t pay and generally families with young kids don’t either. I’m not sure about your specific terminal, but as you’re not ill or disabled then if you want to use fast track then you will have to pay for the privilege!

Pregnant is not disabled.

Incorrect. The fast track lane at Birmingham is free for children under five if accompanied by a paying adult.

You won’t queue for more than about 10-15 minutes at Heathrow security at the longest. Certainly not for half an hour. I was through without any queue at all last time I passed through as a passenger. I work at Heathrow, and although I find security frustrating it is not a particularly lengthy process. Sometimes they do have family lanes, eg in the school holidays. However, at the busiest times in the school hols there are a larger number of families travelling anyway, so I don’t think there is anything to be gained there.

In order to gain access to the Fast Track lanes, you have to pay for them, either by virtue of the larger fee Heathrow Airport takes from the airlines for First or Business travellers, or just by buying a Fast Track pass.

Airports are businesses, there to make money, and if there is a way they can, they will. Certainly you don’t get a freebie because you have children. As for being pregnant - you are not the first pregnant person that ever travelled anywhere you know! Why do you think you should get a service with a cost attached for free?

I flew recently pregnant and just had to queue. It was fine - if I’m well enough to go on holiday I’m well enough to stand for 20 mins or so.

Agree with PPs, you're pregnant not disabled. If you really can't wait for 15 mins (Heathrow have really good queue management) then pay for fast track - it's really not difficult, or anything to get worked up over 🤷‍♀️

Surely you’re not that heavily pregnant/unwell if you’re ok to fly? Why don’t you just buy a pass if you’re adamant you need one, I don’t think they’re expensive.

oFWIW we fly business through Heathrow fairly often and the fast track is often pretty much the same time as the regular queue given then have a smaller number of scanners dedicated to it. It’s not like a regional airport where they just take you to the front of the queue, at least not in T5.

I haven’t at all said it was. Perhaps re-read:

At Birmingham the family/SEN lane is no charge. I was hoping that the same would be true at Heathrow and that pregnant women could also use it!

To everyone else - thank you - perhaps there isn’t a separate lane at Heathrow because it is a more efficient airport and so not required!

You sound incredibly entitled.

What makes you so special?

Can pregnant women use the lane at Birmingham for that reason only?

Ive only used a family lane a couple of times and it takes soooo long as the person in front of you generally has a faff that makes it longer than going through the standard queues.

If you can't make it through the 10 mins tops at security then you probably should stay at home!

Wow some really nasty replies on here. I’m pregnant and suffer from bad hip pain so 30 mins standing up and not moving much is really difficult for me and I would be in excruciating pain. Does that make me super special?? 🙄
I get you OP you are not entitled at all.

I travelled at seven months pregnant from another major UK airport. I could walk long distances fine but really struggled with queues as felt faint quickly when standing still. I just mentioned it to a staff member I saw at passport control (not security as I recall as it was straight through) and got skipped ahead no bother. Airport staff are generally good if you request any assistance or help. They’ll want to make the process easier and safer for everyone.

Think people are confusing the security fast track that you pay for (express) and the assistance lane (access). You could probably explain you can't wait and see if they let you go through assistance.