Birmingham airport security fast track
Discussion
gr1340 said:
Flying from Birmingham later this year and last year on the return journey, the queue for security took over an hour.
I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
Yes. There's isn't an inbound fast track option (that I know of). I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
IIRc Stansted trialed fastback passport control but ended up being just as busy as the non fast-track lines.
Have you seen the current situation at Birmingham?
In order toe benefit from the fast track you would have to actually be able to access security in a timely fashion. There are currently three standard passenger lifts servicing every single passenger going through the international portion of the terminal to get from check in to security.
I travelled solo to MUC last month on a work trip (I live 30 mins away but usually get a taxi to LHR) and that is the last I will ever travel through BHX for work or holidays. Absolute shambles.
In order toe benefit from the fast track you would have to actually be able to access security in a timely fashion. There are currently three standard passenger lifts servicing every single passenger going through the international portion of the terminal to get from check in to security.
I travelled solo to MUC last month on a work trip (I live 30 mins away but usually get a taxi to LHR) and that is the last I will ever travel through BHX for work or holidays. Absolute shambles.
wrencho said:
Have you seen the current situation at Birmingham?
In order toe benefit from the fast track you would have to actually be able to access security in a timely fashion. There are currently three standard passenger lifts servicing every single passenger going through the international portion of the terminal to get from check in to security.
I travelled solo to MUC last month on a work trip (I live 30 mins away but usually get a taxi to LHR) and that is the last I will ever travel through BHX for work or holidays. Absolute shambles.
Has something changed at BHX?In order toe benefit from the fast track you would have to actually be able to access security in a timely fashion. There are currently three standard passenger lifts servicing every single passenger going through the international portion of the terminal to get from check in to security.
I travelled solo to MUC last month on a work trip (I live 30 mins away but usually get a taxi to LHR) and that is the last I will ever travel through BHX for work or holidays. Absolute shambles.
Always used to be far preferable to East Mids and Manchester.
We went through Birmingham last month on our way to Berlin and it was terrible. As mentioned, all passengers having to use three lifts 'to break up the delivery of passengers to security' at the top. Sounds good in theory but it just relocated the queue, to the one for the lift!
Absolute carnage, I would be amazed if it there weren't hundreds of people that missed their flights that day.
Absolute carnage, I would be amazed if it there weren't hundreds of people that missed their flights that day.
wrencho said:
There are some construction works ongoing so rather than go up the escalators from check in to security you now have to travel up in a lift. During busy times, and with lots of people taking enormous carry on luggage, it is total carnage because the capacity of the lifts is so low.
Any idea how long that is going on for? We live down south but my Mum lives 6 miles from BHX so often fly from there so we can see her and leave our car there for free. Was just about to press the button on some August flights to Spain.
Last summer, flying with Jet2, was one of the smoothest check-in experiences I've ever had in 30+ yrs of regular air travel.
CouncilFerrari said:
Absolute carnage, I would be amazed if it there weren't hundreds of people that missed their flights that day.
Oh s
t. Any ideas when they're supposed to finish?Is there any Brit airport that's doing it right*? We used Gatwick a few years ago and really wished we hadn't...
* I want to say Heathrow, but I think I'd need to wash my mouth out afterwards...
havoc said:
Oh st. Any ideas when they're supposed to finish?
Is there any Brit airport that's doing it right*? We used Gatwick a few years ago and really wished we hadn't...
* I want to say Heathrow, but I think I'd need to wash my mouth out afterwards...
This press release says June 24, but as it's the UK.... maybe Christmas it'll be done? t. Any ideas when they're supposed to finish?Is there any Brit airport that's doing it right*? We used Gatwick a few years ago and really wished we hadn't...
* I want to say Heathrow, but I think I'd need to wash my mouth out afterwards...
https://www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/resource...
I have found East Midlands and Leeds Bradford to be better but that was a couple of years ago. They're much smaller though, so less routes offered.
gr1340 said:
Flying from Birmingham later this year and last year on the return journey, the queue for security took over an hour.
I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
Hopefully I'm not being pedantic, but you're getting your terminology mixed up and it might prevent you from finding what you're looking for.I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
You don't go through security when you arrive into the UK on the return journey, you only go through passport control and customs. Passport control is where the potential delays are. That will be why you're only seeing fast track security for the journey out, as that's the only place where it's applicable.
Fast track for passport control MIGHT be available, but it's generally given out by the airlines for their passengers with more expensive tickets.
They are working to install the new security system that does away with the need for 100ml fluids in a transparent bag, etc. due in June.
We went through a couple of weeks ago (with the new security works - but the escalators at the old BA Terminal 2 (now Jet2) end were working), straight through check in and security with no queueing whatsoever at about 2:00pm on a Sunday, so it’s possibly time sensitive.
Coming back however (10:00pm Sunday) was a different story, no electronic passport readers and just 3 Border Force stations. Then even after a 30 minute delay, the bags still weren’t off the plane, usual BHX then..
We went through a couple of weeks ago (with the new security works - but the escalators at the old BA Terminal 2 (now Jet2) end were working), straight through check in and security with no queueing whatsoever at about 2:00pm on a Sunday, so it’s possibly time sensitive.
Coming back however (10:00pm Sunday) was a different story, no electronic passport readers and just 3 Border Force stations. Then even after a 30 minute delay, the bags still weren’t off the plane, usual BHX then..
omniflow said:
gr1340 said:
Flying from Birmingham later this year and last year on the return journey, the queue for security took over an hour.
I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
Hopefully I'm not being pedantic, but you're getting your terminology mixed up and it might prevent you from finding what you're looking for.I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
You don't go through security when you arrive into the UK on the return journey, you only go through passport control and customs. Passport control is where the potential delays are. That will be why you're only seeing fast track security for the journey out, as that's the only place where it's applicable.
Fast track for passport control MIGHT be available, but it's generally given out by the airlines for their passengers with more expensive tickets.
gr1340 said:
omniflow said:
gr1340 said:
Flying from Birmingham later this year and last year on the return journey, the queue for security took over an hour.
I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
Hopefully I'm not being pedantic, but you're getting your terminology mixed up and it might prevent you from finding what you're looking for.I see you can buy security fast track for £5 per person but is that only for the journey out as the website isn’t clear.
You don't go through security when you arrive into the UK on the return journey, you only go through passport control and customs. Passport control is where the potential delays are. That will be why you're only seeing fast track security for the journey out, as that's the only place where it's applicable.
Fast track for passport control MIGHT be available, but it's generally given out by the airlines for their passengers with more expensive tickets.
I flew out of BHX on Monday lunchtime. It was completely fine, I walked through the terminal & into the lift, then straight through to the queues at security search. Total time elapsed from entering the terminal to clearing security approx 20 mins. I had added an extra hour just to be on the safe side, so had plenty of time twiddling my thumbs in Pret.
Apparently the queues earlier had been horrendous, so I wouldn’t take my experience as representative of flying out at the weekend or during the early morning peak period.
Apparently the queues earlier had been horrendous, so I wouldn’t take my experience as representative of flying out at the weekend or during the early morning peak period.
MrBig said:
havoc said:
Oh st. Any ideas when they're supposed to finish?
Is there any Brit airport that's doing it right*? We used Gatwick a few years ago and really wished we hadn't...
* I want to say Heathrow, but I think I'd need to wash my mouth out afterwards...
T5 - YMMV t. Any ideas when they're supposed to finish?Is there any Brit airport that's doing it right*? We used Gatwick a few years ago and really wished we hadn't...
* I want to say Heathrow, but I think I'd need to wash my mouth out afterwards...
I landed at T4 last night at 20:12 with checked luggage, I was in my car in the long stay car park at 20:42. That’s pretty bloody good.
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