Berlin Airport Now Offers Timed Security Line Reservations

Berlin Brandenburg Airport check-in hall
Berlin Brandenburg Airport check-in hall. Photo: Matt Graham.

Long waits at airport security have been a common traveller complaint in recent months. This has been a particular problem in busy European airports where chaotic queues have stretched into the hours at times, causing many to miss their flights.

If you’re flying in Business or First Class, or have elite status with a frequent flyer program, you may be able to access priority security lanes which can save a lot of time. For example, Qantas offers priority security lines (or in the case of Brisbane, a premium lounge entry) at some major domestic Australian airports. Virgin Australia also recently reinstated priority lanes for frequent flyers and Business Class passengers in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Virgin Australia recently reopened its Premium Entry at Brisbane Airport
Virgin Australia recently reopened its Premium Entry at Brisbane Airport. Photo: Virgin Australia.

Some European airports, such as London Gatwick, will even let anyone access the premium security line for a fee.

But one European airport has recently introduced a unique concept that is free, available to all passengers and could potentially save a lot of time.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which opened in 2020 after many years of delays, now offers a complimentary service called “BER Runway”. This service allows passengers to pre-book a specific time to clear security at a dedicated entrance in Terminal 1 which is only available to people with BER Runway bookings.

Bookings are free of charge and can be made any time from 3 days until 2 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time. This service is operated by CLEAR, which offers security fast-track subscriptions to customers in the United States.

Time slots are available to clear security up to 1 hour prior to departure for Schengen flights, and 90 minutes for international non-Schengen flights. Passengers may enter the queue up to 10 minutes before or after the booked time and require only their boarding pass and BER Runway QR code. Bookings can be made on the BER Runway website.

If you arrive early or late, it’s still possible to use any other general security line.

As well as offering a convenient service to passengers, this system helps the airport to spread out the flow of passengers through the security checkpoints by limiting the number of spots available to book for each time slot. The airport estimates that passengers using this service would need to wait no more than 5-10 minutes for security.

It’s an interesting concept. Who knows – if this is successful, perhaps it could be rolled out at even more airports?

 

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum.

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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Sounds like it‘s designed for those who want to minimise their airport time ie regular business travellers?

One good thing about BER is the distributed security points. If you don’t like the look of the Q at one walk to the next until you find a quiet one.

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Since 2018 I have been using Munich Airport's ePassport line to exit Immigration and Passport Control to the gate. The lane is at the extreme end of the hallway you enter to go through through to the transit area. The particular gate is for ePassport holders only from the EU but also Oz, NZ, Canada. You have to have 20/20 vsison to spot and resd the small signage hanging above that queue. cheers, William

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Since 2018 I have been using Munich Airport's ePassport line to exit Immigration and Passport Control to the gate. The lane is at the extreme end of the hallway you enter to go through through to the transit area. The particular gate is for ePassport holders only from the EU but also Oz, NZ, Canada. You have to have 20/20 vsison to spot and resd the small signage hanging above that queue. cheers, William

Thanks for this. We fly out of Munich in 2 weeks.

Reply 1 Like

Sounds like it‘s designed for those who want to minimise their airport time ie regular business travellers?

One good thing about BER is the distributed security points. If you don’t like the look of the Q at one walk to the next until you find a quiet one.

It was just pointed out to me that there is also “Priority” entrance - possibly the same area. See photo in this article.

SYD+1 noticed it a couple of weeks ago leaving on QR (flying J but also OWE). One or both of those allow the BP to scan and open the smartgate to the otherwise empty security screen lane.

When we both flew out of BER in April (BA J to LON) we were told that there wasn’t a Priority lane. So apparently rolled out since then.

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It was just pointed out to me that there is also “Priority” entrance - possibly the same area. See photo in this article.

SYD+1 noticed it a couple of weeks ago leaving on QR (flying J but also OWE). One or both of those allow the BP to scan and open the smartgate to the otherwise empty security screen lane.

When we both flew out of BER in April (BA J to LON) we were told that there wasn’t a Priority lane. So apparently rolled out since then.

There was definitely a priority lane in May. (I was able to use it as *G flying LH J.)

Not sure if this is the same one, but it was in the middle of Terminal 1.

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There was definitely a priority lane in May. (I was able to use it as *G flying LH J.)

Not sure if this is the same one, but it was in the middle of Terminal 1.

Yes. I believe the photo in the link is the Priority line *and* would appear to be the same place for new timed entry?

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BER has two dedicated lanes for those who book in advance. It is free and can be used by anyone. You can book online on BER Runway (website). You select which airline and what time you want to go through. You can also book for your whole party - so if you are a family traveling together, you just make one reservation. After booking, you receive a QR code which you scan at the e-gate. Other airports offering this service include Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Newark, JFKT4, Orlando, Phoenix, Calgary + more . its called SEA Spotsaver, LAX reserve, Newark reserve, etc.

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BER has two dedicated lanes for those who book in advance. It is free and can be used by anyone. You can book online on BER Runway (website). You select which airline and what time you want to go through. You can also book for your whole party - so if you are a family traveling together, you just make one reservation. After booking, you receive a QR code which you scan at the e-gate. Other airports offering this service include Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Newark, JFKT4, Orlando, Phoenix, Calgary + more . its called SEA Spotsaver, LAX reserve, Newark reserve, etc.

Welcome to AFF @Procter & thank you for the informative first post 🙂

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This is a pilot program by Changi Airport and is currently on trial with selected Singapore Airlines flights:

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