Is airport fast track worth it?

The biggest benefit of investing in fast track passes is getting through the airport more quickly than you otherwise would have. Airport fast track passes typically offer:

• Security fast track allows you to bypass queues at security
• Passport control fast track gives you access to a priority lane upon landing
• Airport fast track is not the same as priority boarding – fast track passes are sold by some airports to help passengers bypass queues at security and passport control. Priority boarding is a service offered by airlines where travellers who pay for priority are allowed to board the plane first

At the airport and can’t wait to get to your gate? Invest in a fast track pass and you should be able to speed through departures, arriving airside in record time. Upon landing, many airports also offer dedicated priority lanes intended to cut your waiting time in the passport control queue.

But are airport fast track passes worth the cost? And what can you expect for your money?

What is airport fast track?

Airport fast track is a service designed to get you through the airport faster. In departures, passengers with a fast track pass will usually have access to a dedicated (much quieter) fast track lane, allowing them to bypass queues. In arrivals, some airports offer the same service for passport control.

If you don’t have much time to spare – perhaps you’re a business traveller, in a rush to get somewhere, or simply can’t wait to get your holiday started – fast track can help to ensure you’re not delayed by long queues. If you tend to become stressed about the risk of missing your flight, pre-booking a fast track pass can also give you some peace of mind.

Each airport has its own fast track offering, so the exact service you can expect differs from place to place.

What’s the difference between fast-track and priority boarding?

Fast track passes are sold by some airports to help passengers bypass queues at security and passport control. The exact service varies by airport.

Priority boarding, on the other hand, is a service offered by airlines. While the exact service varies depending on your airline, generally travellers who pay for priority are permitted to board the plane before their fellow passengers. You can typically buy a priority boarding pass no matter which class you’re booked into, although higher end tickets often come with priority as standard.

Not only does choosing priority boarding cut your waiting time at the gate and get you in your plane seat faster, but it ensures you’ll have plenty of room to store your hand luggage. Economy passengers who board when the plane is fuller may be split up from their hand luggage, which can make disembarking tricky.

How much does airport fast track cost?

How much is airport fast track? While each airport sets its own fast track fees, this service often costs less than you may expect. Fast track security passes are often priced at around £5 per passenger. Passport control fast track typically costs a little more, averaging around £20 per person.

For exact prices, check with your departure and arrival airports.

Is airport fast track worth it?

It depends on your priorities. If you’re planning to arrive at the airport in plenty of time and you’re happy to queue, or you’re travelling on a tight budget, then it may not be worth investing in airport fast track. However, if you’re in a rush or find airports stressful, it could be worth the cost.

Pros and cons of airport fast track

• The biggest benefit of investing in fast track passes is simply that you should get through the airport more quickly than you otherwise would have. This makes for a less stressful time in departures, giving you more time to find your gate. It also means that if you’re a little on the late side, you’re not going to be unpleasantly surprised by any big queues at security.

• Instead of waiting in line, you should have more time to enjoy the bars, restaurants, shops and lounges of your departure terminal.

• In arrivals, opting for fast track means you won’t waste a second standing in line when you could be getting your holiday started. After all, the sooner you get through passport control, the sooner you’ll arrive at baggage claim, and the sooner you can exit the airport. Or, if you’re on your return journey, the sooner you’ll get home. If you’re travelling with hand luggage only, fast track can make leaving the airport an incredibly speedy process.

Overall, fast track passes for departures are designed to give you a more relaxing airport experience.

There aren’t any major red flags when it comes to fast track. The worst that could happen is that, when you turn up at security or passport control, there’s no queue anyway – meaning there was no need to pay out for fast track. However, if you’ve spent time in many airports, you’ll know this is a relatively unlikely scenario.

Fast track: what do the UK’s airports offer?

The general idea of a fast track scheme is to get you through the airport more quickly. However, the exact perks and prices of fast track packages vary from airport to airport. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect from fast track schemes at the UK’s eight busiest airports.

1. London Heathrow airport fast track

• London Heathrow fast track security: £12.50 per person
• London Heathrow fast track passport control: £35 per person

As the busiest airport in the UK (and the fifth busiest airport in the world), a fast track pass could certainly come in handy at Heathrow.

The London airport offers fast track security, which allows you access to a dedicated lane at security. You should pass through security more quickly, shortening the time it takes to arrive at your gate. Book online, up to 24 hours prior to departure, and simply show your booking confirmation to access the fast track lane at security. You can prebook the service for £12.50.

Flying into Heathrow? You can also fast track your way through the passport control queue. Book online up to a day before your arrival, and then, upon landing, follow the signs to the fast track entrance and present your booking confirmation and reference number to the host. This service costs £35 per person when you prebook.

2. London Gatwick airport fast track

• London Gatwick fast track security: From £6 per person
• London Gatwick fast track passport control: From £15 per person

London Gatwick also offers fast track covering both security and passport control.

The security pass, which starts at £6, gives you access to an exclusive security lane, whether you’re in the North or South terminal. You can save £2 from the on-the-day price by booking online, and it’s free for children under the age of two.

Gatwick limits its dedicated fast track passport control lane to just 50 passengers an hour, allowing you to skip any queues. Prices for this option start at £15. The airport’s fast track passport control is available with pre-bookings only – you must book at least four hours in advance and will not be permitted to pay at the airport.

3. Manchester airport fast track

• Manchester airport securityfast track in terminals 1, 2 and 3: From £5.49 per person
• Manchester airport security Timeslot in terminals 2 and 3: £0–£4.99
• Manchester airport passport control fast track: £15 per person

At Manchester Airport, passengers can book security fast track from £5.49 per person, allowing you to skip the queues and get to your gate faster. This service is open from 03:00 until 23:00 at all terminals, and can be booked up to four hours before your departure. However, the security fast track option is not suitable for those travelling with children under three years old, who will automatically be directed to the assistance lane.

If you’re keen to speed your way through security, and you’re travelling from terminals two and three, the airport’s Security TimeSlot offers an alternative to fast track. This allows you to reserve a specific security time slot, with prices ranging from £0–£4.99.

Landing at Manchester? It’s £15 per person to unlock passport control fast track, which gives you access to a dedicated express lane across all terminals.

4. London Stansted airport fast track

• London Stansted Security FastTrack: £6.49 per person
• London Stansted fastTrack Plus: £9.99 per person
• London Stansted passport Control FastTrack: £20 per person

London Gatwick’s Security FastTrack offering allows you to beat the queues at security for £6.49. For added speed and convenience, invest in the airport’s FastTrack Plus (£9.99), which also unlocks the fastest route to departures, bypassing duty free.

You can also access a dedicated, faster lane through Gatwick’s passport control by booking a Passport Control FastTrack for £20 per passport holder. Please note this cannot be used for domestic arrivals.

5. London Luton airport fast track

• London Luton fast Track Security: Starting at £4

If you want to speed through security at Luton, you can invest in a Fast Track Security pass, starting at £4 when booked online in advance, or £8 from airport kiosks. Present your ticket at the entrance to the lane, and you can speed straight through to the security hall.

6. Edinburgh airport fast track

• Edinburgh airport FastTrack Security: around £7, or free with multi-storey parking

Want to bypass the queues in departures at Edinburgh Airport? This is where the airport’s FastTrack Security pass comes in, granting you priority access through security. If you’ve booked multi-storey parking, you automatically get FastTrack passes for no extra fee. Otherwise, it costs around £7.

7. Birmingham airport fast track

• Birmingham airport Express Lane: £6 per person
• Premium arrivals fast track: £20 per person

Birmingham Airport’s Express Lane to security is located in Zone B, and is open to pre-booked customers, those travelling with tickets that automatically give them access, and – at certain times – to those who have paid for access at the airport. There are added perks too. When you pre-book Express Lane access online, you get 10% off when you spend over £99 in the airport’s World Duty Free stores. It costs £6 per ticket, and children aged four and under go free with paying adults.

Meanwhile, a Premium Arrivals Fast Track pass grants you access to a dedicated passport control lane and costs £20 per passport holder.

8. Bristol airport fast track

• Bristol airport fast track security: £6 per person

Passengers flying from Bristol Airport can enjoy fast track security for £6 per person. This premium service grants them priority over other passengers, allowing them to pass through security more quickly. At Bristol, all passengers wanting to use fast track, including infants and babies, will need a ticket.

*The information above is sourced from the airports’ official websites in September 2025.