A new trial at Heathrow Airport that allows passengers to fast-track the security queue will start on Tuesday.
Heathrow is trying to change the travel experience for passengers with a new system that allows people to pre-book security slots through their website.
The initiative, called Heathrow Timeslot, will begin on a six-month trial basis and will be available in Terminal 3. The free service gives passengers a designated time and entry point to the security search area and speeds up the process.
It is currently open to American Airlines, Delta, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic, with plans to introduce Heathrow Timeslot to other airlines during the trial.
Mark Powell, Operational Planning Director at Heathrow, said: “Everyone is familiar with airport security, but at Heathrow we’re constantly thinking of innovative ways to boost the safety and streamline the experience for our passengers.”
“This new trial will give passengers that extra added bit of certainty and reassurance ahead of their journey and we think it will be particularly popular for those with families or nervous travellers who may want a bit more confidence in their journeys.”
“We look forward to seeing the data come in to give us some learnings on how we can roll this out more widely across Heathrow.”
The average waiting time at Heathrow airport’s security is between three to six minutes, typically depending on the passenger’s time of arrival. Heathrow says the new timeslot will give passengers “peace of mind” when travelling, cutting the hassle of queueing for security shorter.
Other airports like Manchester and Birmingham offer a similar fast-track services that cost £5 per person. Heathrow said, depending on the success of the trial, they will introduce this system more widely across the airport.
