I flew out of Birmingham airport and passengers in the security queue were asking the same question

We didn’t have any checked bags but we turned up at Birmingham airport three hours before our flight on the May Bank Holiday as instructed. I had been looking forward to this trip to Tenerife with my boyfriend for months, but all that excitement was currently crushed by a big knot of anxiety in my stomach.

There is something about flying that is inherently stress inducing. And I had heard the horror stories of three-hour lines and passengers missing flights – even the day before. I would text my friend in a panic, telling him that we should give ourselves even more time to get through security, just in case.

I emerged from the tunnel that connects the far parking lot to the airport entrance, and immediately, the building looked different from my last visit 12 months earlier. Scaffolding was erected near the arrivals door and part of the road was blocked, with a walk set up to the premium pick-up area.

Read more: Key dates Hand luggage rules change at Birmingham, Manchester, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports

Security queues

I cut in at the departures entrance and followed the building to security. Instead of catching the escalator upstairs, the queue started downstairs (“the new normal”, according to BHX bosses) and had around 200 people waiting in it when we arrived at lunchtime.

The area was hot and I heard a few people mention as much as we wound our way back and forth around the belt barriers. Fortunately, it moved quickly and we were loaded into industrial-sized elevators within ten minutes.

At the top, the tail continued to stretch steadily through a better ventilated room. Within three minutes, I was through the electronic boarding pass gates and 15 minutes later, I was entering a large security hall that looked totally different from the one I had used the year before. The Fast Track was moving even faster.

New scanners, new rules

Four of the six or so lanes were open and the new equipment looked like something sent from the future. A large sign told us that “body scanners” were in operation.

There were no signs reminding us to unpack our liquids or stations set up with plastic bags to put them in. Everyone in line seemed to be asking each other – and the security guards as they walked by – the same question: “What do we do with our liquids?”

Birmingham Airport is still undergoing a £60m refurbishment to build a new security hall with state-of-the-art security scanners which will end the 100ml liquid limit and allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in hand luggage during the period. screening. The scanners aren’t scheduled to officially launch until June 1st, but some have been tested as far back as April, and it looked like we were among those who got to try them out early.

The news was that we could keep our liquids in our bags and when we got to the front of the queue an airport worker confirmed this. People were clearly confused – some were removing their liquids anyway, others were frantically stuffing theirs back into their bags and some had to be told to take off their jackets. We could have done with a few signs telling us what to do, but there were plenty of staff on hand to offer advice, at least.

Body scans

It’s our turn to step up and grab a gray tray. There was a brief hold when our lane ran out of trays, but it was resolved within minutes. My friend was called back for not pushing hers onto the conveyor belt (“you have to push your tray,” the woman manning the belt announced at the line), then we joined the short line for the body scanner.

I realized that every passenger was being scanned, instead of going through an arcade and being checked with a hand-held metal detector only if the alarm sounded, according to the old system. I didn’t expect this part, but the nice guard at the front of the queue explained how it all worked – just stand on the steps and raise your arms. After a few seconds I was standing like a human starfish, I was done and my bag was already waiting for me on the other side.

I checked my watch. It took us 43 minutes from joining the security queue to get to the departure lounge – not nearly as bad as we feared, although it’s worth noting that other travelers who flew on the same day reported much longer queues long on Twitter.

The security queue at BHX (at least at the time of our arrival) had been long but well managed, although some signage would have been useful to allow travelers to prepare ahead of time. Of course, the new security hall could look a lot different after June 1st, and while there are bound to be some hiccups, it’s safe to assume that wait times will decrease once everything is up and running and once passengers are familiar with the new rules.

Birmingham Airport Advice

Birmingham Airport’s current advice for passengers flying over the next few months is to arrive three hours before departure if you have no hold baggage and have already checked in online. Those with luggage should check the airline’s advice and arrive when the check-in desk opens.

In terms of security rules, the official advice for passengers flying before June 1 is to follow current guidance – keep liquids in containers under 100ml in a resealable plastic bag and remove large electronics from bags for screening separated. That way, even if you end up using the new scanners, you’re still prepared for every eventuality.