If you’re flying at 6 AM on a Tuesday, you probably don’t need Fast Track. The airport will be empty, and you’ll feel like you bought a gold ticket for a nearly empty roller coaster. Save your money for the overpriced airport socks you’ll inevitably buy.
But if you’re traveling during school holidays, a Friday afternoon, or anytime between May and September, buy it without thinking twice. It’s the same as buying a skip-the-line pass at a theme park—except instead of getting on a ride faster, you’re avoiding a small panic attack about missing your Ryanair flight.
Especially if you’re traveling with kids, a partner who packs like they’re moving house, or a grumpy parent. Fast Track isn’t a luxury then; it’s a survival tool. It’s like putting on noise-canceling headphones in a screaming baby’s presence—it just makes everything better.
Passengers arriving at East Midlands Airport to face delays as Border
A Real-Life Anecdote (Because I’ve Been There)
Last summer, I was flying from East Midlands with a group of friends. One friend was a notorious “I’ll just be five minutes” person, which always translates to thirty. We bought Fast Track passes online the night before, and he scoffed, “What a waste of a fiver.”
We sailed through security in twelve minutes. He, on the other hand, spent thirty-five minutes in the standard queue, got randomly selected for a full bag search, and had to throw away his expensive sunscreen because it was over 100ml. He joined us at the gate looking like a sweaty, defeated warrior. Guess who bought Fast Track for the return journey? Exactly. The man learned a valuable lesson.
