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There is no British Airways Fast Track security at Nice Airport

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Reader Justin sent me a photo of the Fast Track lane at Nice Terminal 1 which is a relatively new development over the last year or so.

As you can see, despite the heavy Club Europe loads on flights to Nice, the signs imply that British Airways has chosen not to pay the airport to let BA passengers use Fast Track.

A quick dig around online confirmed that this was the case.

Over the last year British Airways has been signing a few lounge access deals in airports where there was a lounge but they had previously refused to pay for it.

It would be good if this could be extended to Fast Track security access too.


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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)

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Comments (115)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Billy says:

    How do you know BA “refuse” to pay for it?

    • Rob says:

      What’s the alternative answer, given that this line is a pure money grab by the airport? That they decided to keep it uber-exclusive by only inviting better-dressed SWISS short-haul passengers?!

  • Bob Jones says:

    O/T If you have status with a hotel chain e.g. Hilton do you still get any of the benefits if you booked the room through a site such as hotels.com. I.e. would you get late check-out, room upgrades etc. If you get the status through amex plat to me the hotels.com reward nights might be more valauble than booking direct with Hilton.

    • Genghis says:

      Not officially with Hilton, but you might get get lucky. Marriott currently give status benefits on third party bookings but I think nothing has yet been confirmed in the new scheme? Also Shangri-La.

    • Rob says:

      No, and Hilton has specifically made rule changes in recent years to make this clear.

    • KevMc says:

      Hilton don’t officially.

      However, I have had luck emailing/calling them after booking and asking them to add my HH number to the booking ‘so that I can see the stay in my Hilton app to make it easier’ – did this for a stay at the Waldorf in Shanghai back in May and got all Diamond benefits including breakfast and an upgrade to a huge suite. Only thing I didn’t get was the Hilton points (which I definitely wasn’t expecting anyway).

      Not sure if this will be hotel-specific, but nothing ventured = nothing gained

  • Stuart says:

    BA don’t even pay for fast track at Newcastle nevermind Nice!

  • Kevin H says:

    If the FT link above is correct, it’s at almost 60% of European airports where BA refuses to pay for fast-track security. Incredible!

  • Alan says:

    Glad the new ‘save details’ option is here on the desktop version, Rob – could you change it though so that the the save details box is pre-ticked if you’ve already agreed? Otherwise I’ve found it works the first time you submit a comment (as the name/email are prefilled), but if you don’t tick the box again it then forgets them again! Given folk have already consented couldn’t it be pre-ticked for those that have agreed to save the details and left unticked for new users or those that have unticked it before? On the plus side tab from comments also now puts you into the name box rather than back to the start of the page 😉 Just need mobile comments to save details and email alerts to return and we’ll be fully back up and running again 😀

  • Mr Dee says:

    Good about the comments, my hand started to hurt from retyping so much

    • Mark2 says:

      my browser has always remembered the details.

      • Rob says:

        As has mine, so I was never sure why others were not, but hopefully now fixed for everyone.

  • VJ says:

    O/T : Any arrival lounge in Amsterdam (Accessible with Amex Platinum)

  • BJ says:

    OT: In south by car next month and would like to spend a few days in London. Can anybody recommend a suitable hotel with free or cheap parking close to tube or train for easy connections to the centere?

    • Rob says:

      Coming from which direction?

      From the north, you might find Luton, Milton Keynes etc better value if you don’t mind a longer train trip – albeit one many people do daily as a commute!

      • BJ says:

        Oddly, all around it as I need to be in Canterbury and Reading. I was thinking of Hilton Watford but recall adverse comments about it here. Was hoping for something within walking distance of a station. I’ll check parking charges at Wembley.

        • Lady London says:

          Decent hix at Watford junction close to station. I think you pay for parking there but not outrageous. Some Heathrow hotels are quite reasaonable price for guests.

    • Nick_C says:

      How about Stevenage? 20 to 25 minutes from King’s Cross. Couple of hotels across the road from the station.

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