Express lane security

mu0u207b

We are flying from Birmingham in June and I have just seen on their website that they have an express lane security that they offer. We will be travelling with a 2 year old and it is the first time we have been away as a family so we are quite nervous, and we are unsure whether this is worth doing or just a waste of money.

Has anyone used this before and is it worth it?
Thanks!

eDicky

How much does it cost?

Is it the possible queuing time that makes you nervous?

agrinnall

I used it once when I was switched onto a flight that was just about to board so I had to hurry to get to the gate and the check in desk added express security. It makes little difference once you actually get to security but it should speed up the time it takes to get there. If you are flying at a busy time of day then the queues to get to security can be quite long, but I've found they generally move quite quickly. Using the express lane will bypass the queue, but if a lot have people have paid for it then you'll find yourself in another queue.

Personally I would just allow plenty of time and not bother with paying the extra, but I've never travelled with a 2 year old!

carly

Depends on the flight times and destination. OH flew from Bham on Monday this week. He had been persuaded by his fellow travellers to pay for the express lane. It turned out that there was a bigger queue in the express lane and the normal queue was processed quicker. This was at 6:30 a.m ...... it might be more beneficial at busier times

zagfles

I've not flown from Birmingham but at other airports you can buy fast track security passes where you're there, so if you're running very late or can see the queue is massive you can buy then. But as above even big queues tend to move quite quickly - the airport knows how many flights they've got so know what to cater for.

daveyjp

Largely just another wheeze to get money out of passengers. Arrive in plenty of time and there should be no issue.

Ive noticed the airports are now generally well equipped to deal with the liquids issue, laptops etc etc. Its when things change that problems start.

First year of no liquids we arrived at the gate just as they were boarding, yet we had checked in with almost three hours in hand. Severe lack of staff and passengers not knowing what the rules were.

EssexExile

Is Birmingham ever that busy?

ibizafan_2

It certainly is busy, as it draws passengers from a wide area and has lots of British Airways and Flybe business flights to Europe. Emirates and Qatar operate flights from Birmingham as well, and it is now my favourite airport for flying to Australia. The improvements that have been made in the last couple of years have made it much nicer than Luton for example, and if you live up this way, it avoids having to use the dreaded Gatwick, by far my least favourite airport.

poppystar

EssexExile wrote: »

Is Birmingham ever that busy?

Oh yes! A very small queue can turn into one that winds itself up and down and around the cafes in little time at busy periods. Despite checking in immediately it opened last June if I'd had to stay in the usual queue which seemed to spring up almost out of nowhere (it was a lunchtime flight) I'd have been very worried about making my flight.
Fortunately I had fast track - although it took a while to find out where to go as the huge queues for non fast track meant they had put up barriers and I had to ask to be let through. Once through the staff were very pleasant and extra helpful and I would certainly purchase it again if I was travelling at the same time of day/year. It took the stress out of one part of the journey - and I didn't have the extra task of a two year old to amuse:)

colcheslad

Under 5s go free, so at £7.50 for all of you, if you're nervous and this would help then it's probably money well spend!