Another passenger's view of the fast lane
31.12.07
We published an article with a reader's view on the Liverpool Airport Fast Lane (express lane through airport security) in October. Another passengers has shared his recent experience, and we thought we would close the year with it. Our reader says:
'Your news article on the passenger view of the Fast Lane at Liverpool Airport is far too restrained. The Fast Lane is an utter disgrace and one of the worst scams I have come across whilst flying extensively in Europe. I shall not be using this airport again until they sort it out.
Booked on a flight from Liverpool at 06:30 two weeks ago, and having already done the Ryanair 'Check & Go' routine that allows you to bypass normal check-in and arrive at the airport a little later, I was gob-smacked to turn the corner at the top of the first floor at 05:20 to find a very, very long queue.
It took 40 minutes of shuffling to get to the security check. All along the queue, were little pop-up banners saying '30 minutes queue from here - beat the queue and buy a Fast Lane ticket' - '20 minutes from here, etc' - '10 minutes wait from here, etc' and, as you previously said, the security staff were walking up and down the line encouraging people to 'beat the queues' by buying the £2 fast-lane tickets.
I was incandescent, but because I'd arrived slightly earlier than planned, had just enough time to avoid having to cough up the £2. It was clear to me, having used Liverpool Airport several times this year and the previous occasion was only about four weeks earlier when hardly anyone seemed to be using the Fast Lane, that careful and calculated changes had been made to create an intimidating queue and force people to have to buy, either because they would miss their flight or because the queue looked far too long for them to stay standing.
For example, the queue arrangement at the bottom of the stairs just before the scanners has been changed so that about 10 metres of queue previously at the bottom of the stairs (and unseen) is now displaced to the top floor, making the queue appear much longer.
Two points: firstly, creating huge numbers of people queuing and blocking the retail areas creates a massive security risk -remember, this queue is BEFORE bags have been checked at security; do the police and government know and approve of this arrangement?
Secondly, if you spend 40 minutes in a queue, that's 40 minutes less time to buy food, drinks, books or whatever. The scheme must be completely counter-productive as far as revenue is concerned.
I made my views known calmly and politely to one of the security guys - told him what a very bad impression this left of Liverpool - but he turned his head away and said nothing.
I made six flights over the following two days in Europe. Nowhere else was there a queue for security and certainly there was no rip-off 'Fast Lane'. I'll be avoiding the airport from now on. Liverpool Airport: You should be disgusted with yourselves.'
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