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Old Apr 10, 2022 | 5:42 am
  #3  
ColinP
All eyes on you!
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 23
If you are flying Club (business class), you can use the fast track security lane ("Checkpoint 3"), if it is open. The same would apply if you had a gold card (I see you are a silver card holder from your profile). Don't be perturbed if there is a queue there. In my experience (I went through BER twice last month, using fast track both times), 80% of the people queueing there are not entitled to use fast track and are sent away. I was through security in less than 5 minutes each time (early Saturday mornings). Even when I last used a "normal" security lane at BER, it didn't take more than 30 minutes to get through (that wasn't during school holidays, though). Check the monitors in the departure area (or on the airport website) to see which checkpoints have the shortest queues. Most people without fast track entitlement seem to head to "checkpoint 2", so it's worth checking whether checkpoints 1 and 5 are open and have shorter wait times- unless you can use fast track, which is obviously the best bet.

If you have to check bags, you may have to wait around 5-10 minutes to check in (there is a priority line, which you can use as a silver card holder). I don't know when exactly check-in opens but I have never arrived at BER more than 2 hours before my flight. The last time I checked in 75 minutes ahead of departure to drop a bag, which was fine and gave me plenty of time to visit the lounge.

Based on my few times flying through BER, I wouldn't get there 4 hours ahead but if you are travelling with hand baggage only and you wished to spend some time in the lounge before your flight (the lounge never seems to be full in my experience) then you could arrive that early if you wished. It pretty much also depends on your risk tolerance. I doubt Tuesday will be as busy as it has been these last 3 days but you never know at BER. Safe travels.
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