Airline security lines can be a nightmare. But one airport in Germany seems to have figured out a way to get people vetted and on to their gates rather efficiently.
As reported by Travel Update, Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport now offers a free service called BER Runway, a reservation system that passengers can use to schedule a time to go through the first part of their security check.
“BER Runway allows you to go directly to security control in Terminal 1 using an extra entrance where your reservation and boarding card are checked, therefore avoiding longer waiting times,” the airport’s website notes. “We currently expect the waiting time to the start of the security control to be around 5 to 10 minutes thanks to the provision of a separate entrance. Reservations are possible from three days before your flight.”
The good news is that even if you miss your slotted time, you can still use the regular security line. The time slots are valid 10 minutes before and after the reservation time. It’s operated by Clear, a service you’ve undoubtedly seen in every major American airport. And while checking the reservation and boarding card are only the first part of the security process, this system will still probably help you shave off several minutes of time between entering the airport and getting to your gate.
Obviously, this is only a useful perk if you’re flying from Berlin. Otherwise, some European airports offer a Fast Track service for expedited screening (usually tied to frequent flyer programs); in the U.S. and at least one international destination, there’s TSA Pre-Check. But if every airport offered a simple security reservation system like BER Runway? That’d be a game changer.
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