THERE’S nothing worse than arriving to the airport to join what feels like a never-ending queue for security.
Thankfully, there’s a handy hack you can use to cut down your time – and it’s completely free.
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Whether you’re cutting it close for a flight or navigating long wait times with your little ones, airport security can be a stressful experience.
And while there is nothing we can do to help you with random bag checks, we can share a trick for skipping the crowds for screening.
TikTok user Elaine Poon (@travelainewithme) shared the best hack she has discovered on her travels.
According to the 33-year-old, there is a little-known route you can take when it comes to security at Stansted Airport.
Stansted hack
By following her advice, airline passengers may be able to whiz through to security in less than a minute.
In a viral video, which attracted 360,000 views, Elaine demonstrated the simple step.
As she headed towards the security gates, the TikToker pointed out the entrance most people typically use.
However, instead of continuing straight on to the main electronic gates, she takes another route.
“Instead, turn right and walk straight through here,” Elaine advised her viewers.
She pointed out that the fast track sign leads a lot of people to believe there is no general entry to the right.
However, this is not the case as the fast track entry only applies to the very right lane.
“As you can see, this whole middle section is free for us to go through,” Elaine explained.
After easily passing through, the TikToker briefly filmed the “crazy” queue on the other side.
A long line of people can be seen waiting for their turn at the security scanners.
However, Elaine managed to “skip all of that and go straight through to the front”.
Top 15 busiest airports in the UK
Here are the 15 busiest airports in the UK by passenger numbers in 2023
- London Heathrow – 79.2 million
- London Gatwick – 40.9 million
- Manchester – 28.1 million
- London Stansted – 28.0 million
- London Luton – 16.4 million
- Edinburgh – 14.4 million
- Birmingham – 11.5 million
- Bristol – 9.9 million
- Glasgow – 7.4 million
- Belfast International – 6.0 million
- Newcastle – 4.8 million
- Liverpool – 4.2 million
- Leeds Bradford – 4.0 million
- East Midlands – 3.9 million
- London City – 3.4 million
She pointed out that majority of the time anyone living in London who flies with Ryanair will likely find themselves at Stansted Airport.
Elaine added that regardless of the time, the terminal tends to be busy.
She revealed that her video was filmed at the early hour of 5am.
The TikToker advised her audience to take her route the next time they are flying to save themselves the long wait times.
Online reactions
TikTok users shared their thoughts on the handy tip in the comments section.
“Only flown through Stansted once, will definitely use this hack next time I fly, thank you!!” said one viewer.
“I’m going this year. I need to tell my mum about these hacks,” wrote another person.
“I don’t get why people say this is a hack people have been doing this for years,” pointed out a third commenter.
Meanwhile, one flyer put the hack to the test and shared their experience.
“Thank you, just went through and it was super quick, no queue at all,” they wrote.
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