At some European airports, passengers can book a time slot to go through security for free. Find out which airports offer these time slots and how to use them
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Passengers at a number of European airports can book a specific time slot for security screening free of charge, without having to wait in the regular line. This option can be particularly convenient during peak periods when passenger traffic at airports increases. Which.co.uk reports on this.To use the service, you must reserve a security screening time in advance on the respective airport’s website, specifying the flight number and the number of passengers. After booking, the passenger receives a QR code, which must be presented at the entrance to the dedicated security lane.Read also: How to get through airport security quickly: the best ways to speed up the screening process.At which airports can you book a security screening time for free?Free advance booking is available at a number of major airports in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions vary by airport.Amsterdam Schiphol — Security Time SlotAt Amsterdam Airport, passengers can use the Security Time Slot service. A 15-minute slot can be booked no later than three days before departure. Up to 10 passengers can be included in a single booking. After making the reservation, the passenger receives a QR code to access a dedicated security lane.Rome Fiumicino — QPassRome Fiumicino Airport offers the QPass service. Reservations can be made up to seven days before the flight. The service is available in Terminals 1 and 3. Passengers are allowed a 15-minute window—they can arrive a little early or be a little late within this time frame. Up to nine passengers can be included in a single reservation.Frankfurt Airport — FRA SmartWayIn Frankfurt, passengers can use the FRA SmartWay service. Bookings open 72 hours before departure and remain available up to seven hours before the flight. A 15-minute grace period is provided, and a single booking can include up to five passengers.Don’t want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!Düsseldorf Airport — DUSgatewayDUSgateway is available at Düsseldorf Airport. You can book a slot 72 hours before departure, and reservations close one hour before the flight. The grace period is five minutes. A single reservation can be made for up to five passengers.Cologne Bonn Airport — CGN GatewayAt Cologne/Bonn Airport, the service is called CGN Gateway. A key feature is the ability to book well in advance: reservations open 100 days before the flight. However, you can book a slot no later than one hour before departure. The security check interval is 10 minutes, and a single reservation can include up to five passengers.Hamburg Airport — Slot & FlyThe Slot & Fly service is available at Hamburg Airport. Bookings open 72 hours before departure and close one hour before the flight. The grace period is 15 minutes. A single reservation can be made for up to five passengers.Hannover Airport — HAJwayPassengers at Hannover Airport can use the HAJway service. Slots are available for booking four days before departure and no later than one hour before the flight. The security check interval is five minutes. A single reservation is valid for up to five passengers.Lyon Airport — ZenLineLyon Airport offers the ZenLine service. Reservations can be made seven days before the flight and close four hours before departure. The priority security check interval is 15 minutes. Up to 10 passengers can be included in a single reservation.London Luton Airport — Prebook SecurityAt London Luton Airport, passengers can use the Prebook Security service. Bookings open four days in advance and are available up to one hour before security screening. However, the service has restrictions: it operates from 3:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is not available for all flights.Manchester Airport — TimeSlotManchester Airport offers the TimeSlot service. You can book a security screening time up to 60 days before departure. The service is available from 3:00 AM to 10:00 PM. A single booking is valid for a group of up to six passengers.Is it worth booking a free slot instead of Fast Track?The option to reserve a time slot for security screening for free can be a convenient alternative to the paid Fast Track service, especially if a passenger wants to better plan their time at the airport.At the same time, as Which.co.uk notes, at most airports, the average wait time in the regular line is less than 20 minutes. Therefore, paying for Fast Track isn’t always justified. It may be more useful during periods of high airport traffic or in situations where a passenger risks missing their flight.Tip: If you’re planning a trip abroad, it’s worth taking care not only of a convenient time for going through security at the airport but also of basic preparations for the trip itself. In particular, you can purchase travel insurance for trips abroad in advance online at Visit Ukraine to ensure you have the necessary coverage and don’t waste time on organizational matters right before your trip.How do you use the free airport check-in service?The general principle behind these services is the same: the passenger selects an available check-in time in advance, enters the flight details and the number of people in the group, and then receives a QR code.On the day of travel, you must show the QR code at the entrance to the dedicated lane. At the same time, it’s important to consider the rules of the specific airport: booking start and end times, the number of passengers per slot, and the allowed delay time may vary.Therefore, before your trip, be sure to check the specific terms and conditions of the airport you’re departing from, and don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservation.We remind you! Every day, thousands of passengers experience lost luggage, but only a few manage to obtain full compensation from airlines. Taking timely action before leaving the airport is your best chance to avoid losing money. Read how to properly report a lost suitcase, meet the deadlines, and get the carrier to cover your out-of-pocket expenses.Photo: standret / freepikWant to know more? 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