I’m onboard IB3175 to Madrid (departs 10:50 - arrives 14:15) Got to T3 about 8:30. I’m flying business, so I had fast track but even so it took a full hour to get through security. I waited in line for 40 minutes to get upstairs to the fork where fast track branches off.

The Cathay Lounge was very full, even in First, but I only had 20 minutes since it’s a 10-15 minute walk to gate 29 and boarding was to commence at 10:10. By the time I got to gate 29 (at 10:05), the flight was boarding and no one was left in the lounge. We pushed back about 11:00 and took off at 11:15. We’re scheduled to arrive a few minutes early at 14:07.

Bottom line, without fast track, I might not have made this flight. I arrived 2 hours and 20 minutes before my flight and it was just enough to get through security and have a coffee in the lounge. The regular line was easily another 40-45 minutes. But the flights are running to schedule, at least today.