Free fast lanes at German airports: book a slot from 48 hours to 100 days before departure

Passengers at German airports can book faster security checks, a service that is almost always free. BER was the first to launch this with BER Runway in August 2022. The move responded to post-pandemic chaos. As passengers returned in large numbers, security staffing remained low. The result was unpredictable, often multi-hour queues, crowds spilling out of terminals, and missed connections.

How it works

The principle is simple: you book a time window, not a place in the queue. At BER, passengers could book a 15-minute slot at a dedicated security line for themselves and up to four companions, starting three days before departure. Those who arrived on time cleared security in minimal time.

Today, the key parameter is when booking opens, which differs by airport. In Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf, slots become available exactly 72 hours before departure. In Hanover, the window is 96 hours. In Stuttgart, it is 48 hours. In Cologne/Bonn, you can book up to 100 days in advance.

BER withdrew the service

The Berlin airport switched the service off in May 2026. This was not due to a crisis. The port is better equipped, and all security lines now feature the latest CT scanners. These do not require passengers to remove laptops or liquids. Liquids can now be carried in double the usual quantity, up to two litres.

That does not mean the service has lost its purpose. In Germany, unlike in the United Kingdom, it is almost always free, which made it popular. However, its actual effectiveness remains an open question. F.A.Z. describes a study assessing the usefulness of these solutions from the passenger's perspective.

The service only makes sense if the airport has unused security capacity. Booking a slot does not create an extra checkpoint or hire new staff; it only changes the order of entry. It works when the bottleneck is queue organization, not security throughput itself.

Differences in booking deadlines show that German airports have not established a common standard. Each sets its own window and rules for access to the dedicated line. Many passengers do not even know they can book a slot, as the service is not promoted as widely as paid extras.

Traffic volume means security throughput will remain a bottleneck. In 2026, airlines are expected to carry 5,085 million passengers, 118 million more than in 2025.