£5 Fast Track security lane launched
02.01.08
As we exclusively revealled this week, Leeds Bradford Airport has introduced a 'Fast Track' security lane, following Liverpool Airport's lead. Unlike Liverpool, however, Leeds Bradford is charging up to an eye watering £5 for passengers (including children and infants) to use the express lane. It must be pre-booked online and the passenger must specify a time slot.
The Fast Track lane is already bookable via the airport's website, but we can find no press release for it. It is not on the airport's 'news' page, or in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Bradford Telegraph or anywhere else we can see. A very low profile launch.
We checked prices for the service and they appear to vary depending on the time of the day. Peak periods cost a massive £5 per passenger, with the cost £3.00 at other times - even on weekends. So, for example, on Sunday February 10 at 06:00 and 06:30 costs £5, whereas at 11:00 it costs £3. On Saturday May 10 at 06:30 the service costs £5 and at 16:00 it costs £3. At Liverpool Airport the Fast Track is £2 per passenger throughout the day.
The airport's information page calls Fast Track a 'swift, stress free access through the passenger security area', adding 'this premium pre-book service provides passengers swift access to the airport’s security area, bypassing standard queuing.'
Access is gained through the Fast Track lane upon presentation of a valid booking confirmation for each person travelling. There is no discount for children or infants and tickets are only valid on the day of travel between the times specified within the booking - which asks for 15 minute time slots.
Yorkshire Executive Club members and passengers of Eastern Airways and Manx 2 Gold can also use the fast track channel, along with passengers of KLM and bmi holding certain ticket types by presenting a their boarding card.
The airport says that the benefits of using this service are that it provides passengers with the ability to avoid waiting in the standard queue to the security area that can develop at peak times. Typical wait times at peak periods can reach 20 to 25 minutes.
[Peak periods at Leeds Bradford Airport are normally between 06:00 and 07:00, 09:00 and 10:00 and between around 16:30 and 17:30. However, during the summer months it can be extremely busy throughout the day between 06:00 - 18:00.
The airport normally operates 3 channels in the morning peak, reducing to 2 in the afternoon, one being a Fast Track already in use for Eastern Airways, KLM and bmi business passengers. There is talk of an extra Fast Track channel but nothing confirmed as yet but it is looking likely.]
The airport points out that passengers booking the service are not guaranteed that they will not to have to wait in a queue and that they still have to comply to the same Government security restrictions.
Passengers can book up to 6 months ahead of their travel date and 24 hours before arrival time at the airport - it looks like passengers will not be able to pay at the airport, unlike the service at Liverpool Airport. Passengers also cannot amend or cancel any booking and will not receive a refund if they wish to cancel.
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