September 7, 2026, 11:22 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Long lines at security checkpoints can significantly complicate the start of a vacation. However, many airports offer a way to bypass the crowds. A recent analysis shows which airports make booking a so-called Fast-Track access worthwhile and where the fast lane offers little advantage.
European Airports with the Greatest Fast-Track Advantage
The passenger rights portal Airhelp examined which of the 30 largest European airports offer travelers the most time savings with a Fast-Lane access. Experts analyzed the longest wait times on individual weekdays and calculated an average “worst-case” value. They compared this with a Fast-Track control, which according to Airhelp, typically takes about 15 minutes.
The potential time savings are particularly significant at Spain’s Barcelona-El Prat Airport. There, the average wait time in the worst-case scenario is one hour and 47 minutes. Using the Fast-Track could save up to 92 minutes.
Other top spots include London-Stansted with a potential time savings of 79 minutes and Manchester with 75 minutes. In Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, the savings potential is 73 minutes each.
Amsterdam, Vienna, and Heathrow in the Middle Range
Even at some busy European hubs, the fast lane can offer noticeable advantages. Airhelp calculated a potential time savings of 38 minutes for Amsterdam Airport. In Vienna, it’s 28 minutes, while travelers at London-Heathrow can reduce their wait time by about 18 minutes.
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Frankfurt Leads the List of German Airports
Among German airports, Frankfurt offers the greatest savings potential according to the analysis. Passengers can save around 41 minutes by using the Fast Track. Hamburg follows in second place with a possible time savings of 36 minutes. In Düsseldorf and Stuttgart, it’s about 12 minutes each.
The situation is different in Munich and at Berlin’s BER Airport. According to Airhelp, there is no regular Fast-Lane access there. Consequently, no savings potential was identified for these airports.
Overall, nine of the 20 largest German airports have a Fast Lane, which corresponds to 45 percent. At German airports with this option, Airhelp states that an average of about 25 minutes of wait time can be saved.
Where the Fast Lane Offers Little Advantage
The cost for a Fast-Track access ranges from 5 euros to 25 euros per person. According to Airhelp, it is only available for free in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Amsterdam. And the extra cost is not always worth it. In Brussels, the assumed duration of the Fast-Track control at 15 minutes is exactly the same as the regular wait time, offering no time advantage. In Istanbul, according to the study, travelers reach their destination faster through the normal security check than via the fast lane.
To generally keep wait times at European airports as short as possible, travelers should also consider the day of travel. According to Airhelp, wait times at security checkpoints are longest on Mondays.