Fast Track services at Marrakech Airport?
Apr 12, 2017, 12:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,723
Fast Track services at Marrakech Airport?
Is it worthwhile to buy fast track services at Marrakech Airport? I've read countless horror stories about security/immigration queues there.
70 EUR seems reasonable, but from the description it seems they only get you through security, not passport control.
https://fasttrack-marrakech.com/
Any suggestions?
70 EUR seems reasonable, but from the description it seems they only get you through security, not passport control.
https://fasttrack-marrakech.com/
Any suggestions?
Apr 13, 2017, 9:00 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,723
Oct 17, 2018, 11:41 am
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
Feb 2, 2020, 1:44 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 53
Having read differing views regarding passing through Marrakech Airport I thought I would share my experience with fast track on both arrival and departure. We were in two minds about using fast track, some reports said the airport was a nightmare to get through and others said it was OK. In the end we decided to use Pearl Assist on arrival and deferred booking for departure until we had experienced the arrival experience.
It's also worth noting that many reviews of this airport mention the need for landing and departure cards. The airport website still allows these to be downloaded and completed in advance, however they are NOT required; this was stopped a few months ago (good).
Also a word of caution, we were traveling in January outside peak season (quiet), with arrival Friday evening (busy?) and departing Saturday middle of the day (quiet?)
Arrival: Our flight was slightly delayed landing at 20.46hrs. We took our time and were pretty much last off the plane, then we used the first available toilet and as a result we were well behind all the other passengers. The Pearl service escorts passengers through the process and their representative was waiting, not at the gate as described, but at the bottom of the escalator just ahead of the immigration hall. The regular queues in the hall were long, there must have been a few flights arrived just ahead of us. In contrast the fast track lane was completely empty. The immigration control consists of the passport being machine read and getting a stamp in the passport. The reader seems to take an age which must contribute to the reported delays on arrival. Once past this there is another passport check (not a separate fast track, but no queue) before entering baggage reclaim. This is where the value (or otherwise of fast track becomes apparent) and I was surprised to see all the bags on the carousel. We were the only people there (everyone else still in the immigration queue). Bags collected, they are then scanned (no queue) before leaving the airport. Time from exiting the plane to leaving the airport (including toilet stop) circa 15 minutes; one of quickest I've ever done on an international flight with hold baggage.
Departure: Due to the good experience arriving we decided to book fast track for departure. Clearly this is more limited in value as no matter how quick you get to airside the flight won't leave any earlier, but I just hate standing in line. Pearl meet at Entrance 2 of Terminal 1, but this is not clear in their info and their representative did not hold a name board (unlike for arrival). Luckily my hotel rang them in advance to get this information and ensured our driver was briefed. The airport was very quiet. All pre-printed boarding passes need to be validated and stamped by the airline at bag drop (even for hand baggage only). We were flying easyJet and had access to the dedicated bag drop as part of our ticket. No queue but the "standard" line was long; this was probably the biggest time saving but not part of the Pearl service. I lost count of the number of times our passports / boarding passes were checked, at least 5 times(?). Most of these were not dedicated fast track, the only fast track lines were for immigration / hand baggage scans and were empty. The normal lines also had very limited queues. Like arrival, the process was quick however I estimate we only gained us 10 minutes.
As an aside we did consider lounge access as part of the departure service however all the information suggests the lounges are in Terminal 1 (check-in is in T1 but our flight was from T3) and you can't move between terminals once in airside. I can confirm there is a Pearl lounge in T3 but the airport was so quiet I didn't feel I'd missed out.
Summary: Whilst everyone values their time differently I would book fast track for arrival but not for departure. For departure the main time saving is having a priority check-in / bag drop with the airline.
It's also worth noting that many reviews of this airport mention the need for landing and departure cards. The airport website still allows these to be downloaded and completed in advance, however they are NOT required; this was stopped a few months ago (good).
Also a word of caution, we were traveling in January outside peak season (quiet), with arrival Friday evening (busy?) and departing Saturday middle of the day (quiet?)
Arrival: Our flight was slightly delayed landing at 20.46hrs. We took our time and were pretty much last off the plane, then we used the first available toilet and as a result we were well behind all the other passengers. The Pearl service escorts passengers through the process and their representative was waiting, not at the gate as described, but at the bottom of the escalator just ahead of the immigration hall. The regular queues in the hall were long, there must have been a few flights arrived just ahead of us. In contrast the fast track lane was completely empty. The immigration control consists of the passport being machine read and getting a stamp in the passport. The reader seems to take an age which must contribute to the reported delays on arrival. Once past this there is another passport check (not a separate fast track, but no queue) before entering baggage reclaim. This is where the value (or otherwise of fast track becomes apparent) and I was surprised to see all the bags on the carousel. We were the only people there (everyone else still in the immigration queue). Bags collected, they are then scanned (no queue) before leaving the airport. Time from exiting the plane to leaving the airport (including toilet stop) circa 15 minutes; one of quickest I've ever done on an international flight with hold baggage.
Departure: Due to the good experience arriving we decided to book fast track for departure. Clearly this is more limited in value as no matter how quick you get to airside the flight won't leave any earlier, but I just hate standing in line. Pearl meet at Entrance 2 of Terminal 1, but this is not clear in their info and their representative did not hold a name board (unlike for arrival). Luckily my hotel rang them in advance to get this information and ensured our driver was briefed. The airport was very quiet. All pre-printed boarding passes need to be validated and stamped by the airline at bag drop (even for hand baggage only). We were flying easyJet and had access to the dedicated bag drop as part of our ticket. No queue but the "standard" line was long; this was probably the biggest time saving but not part of the Pearl service. I lost count of the number of times our passports / boarding passes were checked, at least 5 times(?). Most of these were not dedicated fast track, the only fast track lines were for immigration / hand baggage scans and were empty. The normal lines also had very limited queues. Like arrival, the process was quick however I estimate we only gained us 10 minutes.
As an aside we did consider lounge access as part of the departure service however all the information suggests the lounges are in Terminal 1 (check-in is in T1 but our flight was from T3) and you can't move between terminals once in airside. I can confirm there is a Pearl lounge in T3 but the airport was so quiet I didn't feel I'd missed out.
Summary: Whilst everyone values their time differently I would book fast track for arrival but not for departure. For departure the main time saving is having a priority check-in / bag drop with the airline.
Mar 30, 2022, 1:14 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,287
The usual line was OK too, but one good (or not so good) - is that before security you will be searched and questioned by a customs officer - mostly checking if you are smuggling assets and especially Moroccan Dirhams out of the country. Since it was quiet, he did a very thorough job looking into your carry-ons and asking questions - including the other pax who came right behind us. This same process happens at the normal line too, but most probably not being so detailed since they have more pax to process.
Cheers!
Mar 23, 2024, 5:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MIA beach
Posts: 162
I’ll be flying out of RAK on a Tuesday 9am flight on Ryanair, so no fast track based on cabin class, and I need to drop off bags. Never flown out of RAK so have no clue what time to be there. I’ll be happy to pay Pearl Assist, does anyone have recent experience re how long it takes with or without paid fast track? THANKS!
Mar 26, 2024, 6:00 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2004
Location: TPE
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 507
Much of this depends on luck. We arrived about 3 p.m. and left at about 10:30 a.m. We had fast track and were thankful we did. The woman who escorted us said that we'd otherwise would've been stuck in the immigration line that snaked quite far back for over an hour. Fast track takes out the uncertainty of not knowing whether you'll be stuck in long lines should a bunch of flights arrive/leave around the same time.
What ended up taking the longest for us was getting our boarding passes (which we'd already printed out) stamped by East Jet. We paid for Speedy, but were still stuck in that line for nearly 30 mins. We only had carry-on bags, but those who needed to check luggage had to wait much longer still.
What ended up taking the longest for us was getting our boarding passes (which we'd already printed out) stamped by East Jet. We paid for Speedy, but were still stuck in that line for nearly 30 mins. We only had carry-on bags, but those who needed to check luggage had to wait much longer still.
