Travel expert Chelsea Dickenson, founder of Cheap Holiday Expert, conducted a real-world test at London Stansted Airport to determine whether paying for FastTrack security is worthwhile during peak school holiday periods. The experiment, shared on TikTok, pitted Dickenson in the standard queue against her video editor Jack in the FastTrack lane.
FastTrack vs standard: the race begins
At 10:30am on Thursday, July 23, during the first week of the school summer break, Dickenson and Jack headed to their respective queues. FastTrack cost Jack £9.34. Dickenson noted that while she normally advises against FastTrack off-peak, this was a peak time. She described the standard queue as “really busy” with queues already forming, while Jack reported his FastTrack experience was going “very quickly”.
Close finish and surprising result
Dickenson felt she had chosen the right queue as it moved constantly. However, she was subjected to a security search, causing a delay. She finished in seven minutes but had to wait for her shoes. Jack reached the finish line seconds before her. Dickenson concluded: “Technically we may have finished at the same time… but because FastTrack is further up, you got out in front of me. So we're calling it £9.34 for literally 12 seconds.”
Public reaction to the FastTrack test
TikTok users had mixed opinions. One said they used the accessible queue and got through in five minutes with a family of nine, though bag searches caused delays. Another praised FastTrack, calling it “a lot calmer, no rush, staff more patient and nicer. It's worth the money in my opinion.” A third noted that when they used FastTrack, the baggage hall was often quiet even at busy times.
Stansted FastTrack: cost and details
FastTrack at London Stansted Airport costs £6.49 per person for a dedicated security lane. It can be booked online by entering departure and arrival dates and number of guests. Options include FastTrack Security for departing flights and Passport Control FastTrack for arriving flights. While it doesn't guarantee record speed, it may offer a less stressful experience compared to regular queues.
