THERE are few things more infuriating than turning up on time for your flight, only to get snagged in a long line at airport security.
However, there's a way to make sure you get through to your departure lounge quickly, regardless of how busy the airport is.
A new system called Reserve by Clear has been introduced at some of Europe's biggest airports, allowing customers to save a spot in the security line for free.
When they arrive at the airport, using the new system, they're able to jump to the front of the line, no matter how long it is.
To avoid lengthy queues, travellers simply need to enter their details and the time they expect to arrive at the airport online.
They are then sent a QR code, which they scan when they arrive for their allotted time slot.
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Currently, the system is in place atAmsterdam Schiphol, Berlin Brandenburg, Frankfurt, Hannover Airport, London Heathrow and Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci.
However, it's not yet available for all flights from all terminals.
At Heathrow, the service is only available for passengers going through security a Terminal 3.
The terminal is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and a few others.
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This is only a three-month trial, lasting from October until January.
Passengers can book their window up to three days before flying, and bookings can be made for groups of up to five people.
Whether or not the system will be brought in permanently after the trial remains to be seen.
However, a Clear spokesperson told AFAR they are keen to provide queue jumping for as many people as possible.
They said: “We are continuing to add new partners in new locations.
“We are always working with our airport partners to expand the program to serve more travellers.”
For those who aren't able to book a time slot, there are ways in which they can speed up their passage through airport security, including by changing their outfits.
Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for the American Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said that footwear was a big problem for some passengers.
In an interview with AFAR she recommended: "Wear something you can easily slip off and on."
Lisa also suggested passengers check their clothes for metal before to make sure they won't set off the scanners.
She said: "Many travellers can get held up at security because they forget about metal buttons in their shirt or metallic studs in jeans. Even underwire bras can get flagged by metal detectors."
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Meanwhile, these are three cheap and free ways to skip airport queues.
And these Brits used an "unacceptable trick" to skip airport lines.
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