A luxury agent has urged clients not to overlook a small but powerful airport upgrade: the fast track security pass.
Donna Bidwell, a Travel Counsellor based in Lowestoft, says the add-on – which starts at £6.49 at Stansted Airport – is a “game-changer” when navigating busy airports.
With over 28 years in the industry, Bidwell shared a recent client experience that has only solidified her belief in the value of fast passes.
“I woke up at 5:10am on Sunday to a panicked WhatsApp message,” she told TTG Luxury. Her client, en route to Antalya, Turkey for an all-inclusive luxury holiday with his family, had arrived at Stansted Airport only to discover he’d left the printed boarding passes at the hotel.
While Bidwell immediately sent over digital versions, it soon became clear that the real issue wasn’t the documents – it was the time. With a flight departure scheduled for 6:30am, the family was still stuck in the regular security queue.
“I told them to ask if they could skip ahead in the line, but then two of the children’s bags were pulled for additional screening,” Bidwell says. “By then it was 5:55am.”
Thinking fast, she sent them the gate number to buy a few extra minutes. Fortunately, the flight was delayed by around 15 minutes, allowing the family to board – but only just.
Now, Bidwell says she’s recommending security fast passes to every client, calling them a “godsend.”
“It can feel like a significant extra cost, especially for larger families, but missing a flight is far more expensive,” she explains. “I think it’s the number one investment you should make.”
Beyond the financial risk, Bidwell points out the emotional toll of a difficult airport experience. “The holiday starts there,” she says. “You don’t want to arrive on the plane feeling stressed.”
She also notes that fast passes are particularly important for those booking airport lounge access: “If you’re paying for a lounge, you don’t want to waste that time standing in a security queue. I now include fast track passes by default when arranging lounge access for clients.”
