A regular passenger's view on the 'fast lane' charge
19.10.07
As we said when Liverpool Airport announced that only 10% of its passengers were paying to its 'fast lane', where they pay an additional £2 to be fast tracked through security, we have only received positive feedback on the service. One passenger even suggested to us that other airports should follow suit. However, a reader and regular travellers has readdressed this view today, and in spades!
The passenger writes: 'The first thing that needs to be clarified, in my view, is that the fast lane is not, and never was, a security charge. It was conceived initially, and remains, albeit on a much smaller scale than planned, as a money making venture. Having seen budget airlines charge for anything from standing at the front of the queue to carrying hold baggage, Liverpool Airport [which is making losses] decided to jump on the moneymaking bandwagon.'
'Thwarted by legal threats from easyJet and Ryanair when it said all travellers would have to pay the charge, the airport had to rethink its strategy. In an embarrassing climb-down, it downgraded the charge from compulsory to voluntary by introducing the fact track airport security channel.'
'Now at the airport, just as on the M6 Toll road, passengers have to make a conscious decision to veer off left onto the - not so wide - free lane in order not to incur a charge. A Berlin Wall has been erected on Levels 3 and 2, leading to the security search area, which is deliberately high enough for 90% of passengers not to realise that they have only 25% of queuing space, and are unable to see the 10% of passengers, who are happy to pay £2 per head (including babies heads) merely to jump a queue, have 75% of the total queuing area.'
'As if this wasn't enough, those using the fast track lane also have a new staircase, a re-commissioned escalator and their own lift. Had these additional facilities been in place for all passengers, those paying the £2 could have saved themselves the fee, and queues for paying and non paying passengers would be a rarity.'
'Those using the airport should beware too. I have witness that, even when there is absolutely no 'free' queue, hapless passengers (often those in advancing years, or non English speakers), can still be seen buying fast lane tickets right under the noses of G4S security staff, who say and do nothing to prevent them making the unnecessary purchase.'
'This week, whilst at the airport, I witnessed an army of G4S security staff (whom, you would expect, would be at the head of the queue processing passengers) touting fast lane tickets along the queue of non-payers. Those not taking up the £2 queue-jumping offer were told: "You must enjoy queuing." Most security staff do not want to do this, but (I have been told), they have been threatened with disciplinary action if they refuse.'
'How can Robin Tudor [the airport spokesman] claim 10% take up of the £2 fast lane means that it is being well received - when 90% clearly don't agree. The fast track security lane is a mistake that next year may see mass migration to Manchester.'
So there you have it. A regular passengers view of Liverpool Airport's fast track security. Feel free to let us know if you agree, or disagree.
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