Passengers flying from Manchester Airport face long queues and delays this week as the Easter holidays get underway. Disruptions at the airport, caused by staff shortages and high demand, have left many travellers stranded and unable to get to their desired destination on time.
The chaos came as Easyjet cancelled a wave of UK flights due to staff sickness. Over the weekend, the airline axed at least 222 flights across Saturday and Sunday with some holidaymakers reporting they were stuck abroad with no explanation or alternative route home.
Manchester Airport has asked people to arrive for flights at the earliest possible time the airline allows, and warned that the disruption could last for weeks as passenger numbers grow.
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Amid the chaos, some travellers will be looking for ways to avoid the queues and get through security to the departure lounge in the quickest way possible. Manchester Airport offers a FastTrack option, which could allow holidaymakers to get through the airport more smoothly than they would with a standard pass.
FastTrack travellers are provided a dedicated lane straight to the security checkpoint, easing the pressure of getting to your gate on time before your flight departs. It could allow travellers at Manchester Airport to skip the long queues seen in recent days and get on their flight much quicker.
Here's what you need to know about the option and how to book it.
How much is FastTrack and how do you book it?
Manchester Airport offers FastTrack passes for as low as £4 per person. Passes can be booked up to one hour prior to departure and are subject to availability. There are a limited number of passes available each day so the airport advises booking well in advance.
The airport also offers a Passport Control FastTrack option which allows travellers returning from their journey to have access to a dedicated lane and a faster route through Passport Control.
Due to the limited availability of the FastTrack passes, travellers will only be able to book them at certain times. Times also vary depending on which terminal someone is going through - here are the times you can book a FastTrack pass at each terminal.
Security FastTrack
Open 2.30am until 11pm. Security FastTrack is currently open at T1 and T2.
Passport Control FastTrack
Passport Control FastTrack is currently only open at T1, from 07:00 - 04:30.
Not everyone can buy a FastTrack pass. For the Passport Control FastTrack, bookings must be made by someone over the age of 18 - it is also not available to passengers arriving from Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
Furthermore, only a maximum of nine passes can be purchased per booking. It's also important to note that using a FastTrack pass will not exclude you from going through passport checks and border control.
Passes can be booked on Manchester Airport's website here.
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