Heathrow has begun trialling a free service to allow passengers to pre-book a security check slot.

Heathrow Timeslot will give passengers a designated time and entry point to the security search area, and the airport says it will ensure ‘peace of mind’ to passengers, help reduce queues and allow staff to plan more effectively.

The trial will be live in Terminal 3 for up to six months and initially be open to passengers travelling with four airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic.

Other airlines may be added during the trial and, if it is successful, the service will be rolled out to other terminals.

Heathrow Operational Planning Director Mark Powell said: “Everyone is familiar with airport security, but at Heathrow we’re constantly thinking of innovative ways to boost the safety and streamline the experience for our passengers.

“This new trial will give passengers that extra added bit of certainty and reassurance ahead of their journey and we think it will be particularly popular for those with families or nervous travellers who may want a bit more confidence in their journeys.

“We look forward to seeing the data come in to give us some learnings on how we can roll this out more widely across Heathrow.”

The Heathrow Timeslot service is subject to availability and if there are no available slots, passengers will go through security as normal. Passengers should still give enough time to clear security at least 45 minutes before their scheduled departure.

Passengers can book via this link on the Heathrow website.