Stansted Airport FastTrack security tested
A travel expert compared the airport's FastTrack service to standard security during peak holiday times.
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A travel expert compared London Stansted Airport's FastTrack security service to the standard queue on 23 July 2026. The FastTrack service cost £9.34 per person during the test, according to Cheap Holiday Expert founder Chelsea Dickenson. The standard queue was described as busy at 10:30am on a weekday during the first week of school holidays.
Dickenson, who tested the service with her video editor Jack, documented the experiment in a TikTok video. She entered the standard queue while Jack used the FastTrack lane. Dickenson stated that the standard queue was "very busy" and had "started already".
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Jack reported his experience in the FastTrack lane was going "very quickly". He completed security in seven minutes. However, Dickenson was delayed by a bag search before being reunited with her shoes, ultimately finishing at the same time as Jack.
Dickenson concluded that the £9.34 cost for FastTrack resulted in a time saving of approximately 12 seconds. She noted that while FastTrack did not necessarily guarantee record speed, it could offer a less stressful experience than navigating busy standard queues.
According to London Stansted Airport's website, the FastTrack security service costs £6.49 per person. This service provides access to a dedicated security lane.
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Questions this report answers
+How much does Stansted's FastTrack security cost?
Stansted’s FastTrack security costs £9.34 per person during the test, though the airport’s website states the standard price is £6.49. This means passengers can pay extra for a dedicated lane, though the test showed only a small time saving.
+How long did the FastTrack security take in the test?
In the test, the FastTrack user completed security in seven minutes, while the standard queue was delayed by a bag search. This means the FastTrack lane was quicker, though the overall time difference was minimal.
+What did the travel expert say about the FastTrack service?
The travel expert concluded that the £9.34 FastTrack cost saved only about 12 seconds compared to the standard queue. She noted it could offer a less stressful experience despite the small time difference.
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