French airport trials free ‘no queue’ security lane booking system

PASSENGERS AT LYON TERMINAL 1 CAN RESERVE 15-MINUTE SLOTS TO PASS THROUGH SECURITY France’s fourth-busiest airport is trialling fast-track security lanes, a first in the country. The

‘ZenDesk’ system is being trialled in Terminal 1 at Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport with the hope it will considerably cut down on security lane congestion. It is free to use. Similar systems for

‘priority passengers’ at security lines are available at some other airports in France, but do not include booking a timeslot in advance as with ZenDesk, and are usually paid for (or come

as a benefit with certain ticket purchases).  “The teams at Aéroports de Lyon and Vinci Airports are reaffirming their commitment to putting passengers‘ needs at the heart of their

priorities,” said Cédric Fechter, Chairman of the Aéroports de Lyon Management Board, quoted in Le Figaro.  The fast-track security option gives travellers “the means to control their

journey time to the airport and provide them with an ever more pleasant journey,” he added. Traditional security lane options without a time-slot are still available at the terminal. Read

more: French police arrest stowaway after flight from New York HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK? Travellers can book a 15-minute slot to use the service between seven days and 24 hours before their

flight is scheduled, using either the airport’s website or smartphone app.  When arriving at the airport, they scan their boarding pass at the ZenDesk security line as opposed to queueing

for the general security lane. You can only enter the ZenDesk line during your time-slot, and there are controls on the number of people offered a slot in each 15-minute period to prevent

queues and congestion.  Passengers will still need to pass through the typical airport security measures (including getting cabin bags x-rayed and potentially being stopped and searched).

The system does not include checking-in larger hold luggage including suitcases. Travellers with hold luggage must plan for depositing these before using the ZenDesk service. Passengers who

already have priority access do not need to use the service, nor do disabled passengers, who are given their own security service (if they inform the airport or airline in advance).  Read

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