Avoid airline check-in Hell!

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If there's one thing that could ruin your summer holiday this year - apart from the weather - then the chances are it could be delays at the airport.

There are so many causes of airport delays that it's worth keeping an eye on the news and thinking up some strategies on how to avoid queues at the airport if the worst does happen.

Delays at passport control

One possible new cause of delays at UK airports this summer is the introduction of e-passports. More than three million e-passports have already been issued containing chips with details of the holder's facial characteristics. You might assume that these are designed to speed up airport queues - and in the long run they may well do so - but teething troubles could lead to delays at passport control this summer.

Passport readers are being installed in airports throughout the UK, but only around half of airports currently have them. The readers take eight seconds to work, and this plus the fact that the technology is still unproven, could mean a long wait at passport control.

One way of speeding up your passage through passport control could be to join the UK Immigration Service's new IRIS programme. If you register at one of the enrolment rooms in the departure lounges at Gatwick - where Immigration officers record your passport information and UK immigration status on a database along with a photograph of the unique iris patterns of your eyes - on your return to the UK you will be able to proceed straight to the unmanned Immigration barriers rather than having to queue to see a passport officer.

Delays at airport security

Tighter security following terrorism threats led to queues at security last summer and more delays could happen this summer. BAA - which runs seven airports around the country including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - is spending £40 million, recruiting 1,400 more security staff and opening 22 new security lanes to try to combat the queues at airport security and avoid a repeat of last year. BAA has pledged to keep queues at security to five minutes or less for 95% of the time, but there are still some sensible precautions you can take to help minimise delays.

Remember, no more than one item of hand luggage no larger than 56cm tall, 45cm wide and 25cm deep. Some airlines ask for smaller hand luggage so check with your airline before you travel.

The main change that came into force following terrorism threats last year applies to carrying liquids. The essential advice here is to place any liquids you don't need during your flight in your hold luggage.

If you do need to take liquids on board these should be in individual containers no larger than 100ml capacity. All liquids must be placed in a single re-sealable transparent bag no larger than 20cm by 20cm and fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened shut. This bag should then be removed from your hand baggage and placed on the conveyor belt at security for X-ray screening.

Tips for avoiding delays at check-in

If delays at security are to some extent out of your hands, then there are things you can do to try to avoid check-in delays.

• Check-in online before you travel. Delays at Heathrow airport, Gatwick airport and other airports can be avoided by checking-in online between 2 and 24 hours in advance from the comfort of your own home or airport hotel.



• The next tip on avoiding delays at check-in is to check-in the day before - particularly if you have an early morning flight. The so-called "twilight check-in" is being pioneered at Gatwick. British Airways and First Choice Airways offer twilight check-in at North Terminal. At Gatwick airport South Terminal, airlines currently offering day before check-in are easyJet, Excel Airways, MyTravel, Thomas Cook, Thomson Fly, and Virgin Atlantic. Most let you check in between 16.00 and 22.00 on the day before your flight - allowing you to relax on the morning of your flight and avoid those check-in delays at Gatwick. But if you've got to the airport on the day of your flight and still haven't checked-in don't worry - there may still be a way of avoiding check-in queues.



• Self-service check-in desks are springing up at more and more airports and can be a good option if the manned desks are busy. Check with your airline before travelling to see if you can use a self-service check-in kiosk. The best times to travel The day and time you travel can have a big effect on airport delays.

By: Nick Purdom