How to navigate the security chaos

Passengers flying out of Birmingham Airport continue to face long queues that have stretched beyond the gates since 4am. Travelers at Britain’s third-largest airport outside London reported a “chaotic” and “stressful” experience navigating queues before departure on Friday morning.

Ongoing construction work to renovate the security screening area at the airport, along with confusion over hand luggage and security rules, are contributing to the significant ground delays that have continued since last week.

In the same month that airports were supposed to introduce enhanced security scanners, a last-minute Department for Transport (DfT) directive effective June 9 restricted all liquids in hand luggage to containers of 100ml or less, regardless of whether they are scanned in the new generation of scanners.

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Birmingham Airport has already introduced these new high-tech 3D scanners as part of a £60m security upgrade – the first major UK airport to do so – but has yet to allow passengers to take liquids over 100ml due to pending regulatory approvals. He blamed the DfT change on passenger confusion, leading to many arriving with non-compliant hand luggage. The airport says it “continually” has non-compliant bags with liquids over the allowance “resulting in longer waiting times for customers”.

Travel experts have warned that delays and long queues at Birmingham Airport are likely to continue. According to Rob Burgess, editor of the frequent flyer website Head to the points, “in reality the delays are primarily due to major construction work taking place at the airport coinciding with the first wave of summer holiday traffic. It’s hard to see it getting better while construction is going on.”

Birmingham Live reported last week that the airport was “overstaffed”, with workers “struggling” and “overworked”. An anonymous employee told the news outlet, “I think it’s going to stay that way until at least the end of August and into September.”

For passengers flying out of Birmingham in the coming weeks, here’s everything you need to know.

Prepare your hand luggage before arrival

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Birmingham Airport confirmed: “All passengers departing from BHX can only carry 100ml containers of liquids, pastes and gels in their hand luggage. Do not put them in plastic bags and do not dispose of them under security conditions. There is no restriction on how many 100ml containers can be carried.”

All electrical components can be left in your hand luggage during the security check. However, don’t leave anything in your pockets.

As the queues extended beyond the terminal doors, make sure you are dressed warmly and have an umbrella. It is also advisable to bring water, snacks and maybe something to read or to help entertain the children.

When to arrive and where to go

EasyJet and Tui Airways advised passengers to arrive up to three hours before their flight’s departure time.

Queues are likely to be longest first thing in the morning as the highest concentration of flights depart early in the day. Some passengers posted pictures on X of the departures terminal at midday and early evening with minimal queues.

Know your check-in area before you arrive:

Zone A for Jet2

Zone D for Emirates

Zones B and C for all other airlines

If you’re traveling with Tui or Jet2 and your flight leaves before noon, you can leave your checked (checked) luggage the night before your flight. Don’t forget to bring your passport and documents to use this service. On the day of travel, you can head straight to security downstairs.

Jet2.com Twilight Check-in is available daily from 16:30-21:00 in Zone A.

The Tui Twilight Bag Drop is available daily between 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM in Zone B.

Fast security

The Express Lane at Birmingham Airport is a separate entrance to the security area, designed to speed up the process. Real-time queues cannot be confirmed, but a passenger posted on X on Friday: “Traveled from Birmingham Airport this morning. From the check-in entrance to the departure lounge it took only 25 minutes. He did have a fast track to security though. Normal tails looked pretty bad.”

Express Lane access can be pre-booked online for £5 per person (accompanying children under five free), with limited passes available to buy at the airport for £7.50 per person. The number of tickets for each time slot is limited. Passengers using the express lane should proceed to the security entrance in the BC areas.