- It is free, and reserves you a 30-minute slot at security.
- Only if you arrive between 3am and 3pm. Outside those hours it is not offered at all.
- Book from 4 days ahead, up to 60 minutes before you reach security.
- No account, no login. You get a QR code.
- Arrive 15 minutes either side of your slot and the QR code still works.
- It is not Fast Track. Fast Track is a separate paid lane, from £4 online or £8 at an airport kiosk.
A free security slot saves you queueing, not the cost of leaving the car. Compare every Luton car park in one search, live prices for your dates.
Compare Luton parking →Luton is one of the few UK airports offering a genuinely free fast-track-style service. PreBook Security is a slot-booking system that lets you reserve a 30-minute window at the security lane for nothing. Here is what it is, how to book it, when it actually helps, and what it does not cover.
What is Luton PreBook Security?
PreBook Security is a free service offered by London Luton Airport that lets you reserve a guaranteed 30-minute window to clear security. You book online before travel, choose a slot, and are admitted to the lane during that 30-minute window without queueing for the general security wait.
It is not Fast Track. Fast Track at Luton is a separate paid service (from £4 online, £8 at an airport kiosk) that gives you a dedicated lane. PreBook Security puts you in the standard security flow but at a guaranteed time.
How to book PreBook Security
- Go to london-luton.co.uk/inside-lla/security/prebook-security
- Enter your departure date and pick a 30-minute slot.
- Slots are booked in 30-minute windows; pick one that aligns with arriving at security with 10 to 15 minutes of buffer before your slot opens.
- You receive a confirmation email and QR code.
- At the airport, scan the QR code at the PreBook entry point to be admitted during your slot.
Slots are typically released 7 days before travel and can fill up at peak times. If the slot you want is unavailable, the standard security lane is still open without a booking.
When PreBook Security actually helps
- Early-morning departures. Luton's first wave of flights leaves between 5:30 and 6:30am; security opens around 3:30am for the early rush. PreBook can save you 20 to 40 minutes during this peak.
- School holiday weekends. The Saturday morning peak in summer can mean 30+ minute security queues. PreBook bypasses the worst of it.
- Anyone whose airline has tight check-in deadlines. If you are cutting it fine for online check-in, PreBook gives you a guaranteed time.
It is less useful at quiet times. Mid-morning and afternoon weekday departures rarely need it.
What PreBook Security does not cover
- It does not skip bag drop. If you are checking a bag, you still queue at the airline's bag drop.
- It does not include lounge access. Lounges at Luton are paid separately (No1 Lounge and Aspire, from around £37.99 in advance).
- It does not exempt you from security rules. Liquids are still capped at 100ml at Luton (the airport's CT scanners are installed but the 2-litre allowance has not been signed off yet).
- It does not guarantee gate-side. Once you clear security, you walk to the gate as normal.
PreBook Security vs paid Fast Track
| PreBook Security | Fast Track | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | From £4 online |
| Time saved | Variable, depends on slot vs general queue | Usually 5 to 15 minutes |
| Lane used | Standard security with priority entry | Dedicated Fast Track lane |
| Booking | 30-minute slots, can sell out | Available on the day, almost never sold out |
| Best for | Cost-sensitive travellers planning ahead | Last-minute or peak-hour bookings |
Working out what time to arrive
A PreBook slot is a time you have to hit, so the honest question is how long the last leg takes once you have parked. At Luton that varies more than people expect.
- Short Stay sits next to the terminal, so walking time is negligible.
- Mid Stay is about a five-minute walk. It is also where meet-and-greet operators take the car from you.
- Long Stay is about a 10-minute shuttle ride, and it is free for up to two hours, which is the cheap way to drop someone off rather than paying £9 for twelve minutes at the terminal.
- Off-airport car parks south of the airport and around Slip End run shuttles every 7 to 15 minutes, around the clock. Compounds south of the M1 tend to beat the Sundon Road operators on transfer time.
- Arriving by DART from Luton Airport Parkway takes four minutes, with trains every four minutes in the day and every 7 to 10 minutes overnight.
The practical version: if you are parking off-airport, build in the shuttle wait as well as the ride, because a 10-minute transfer means 10 minutes of driving plus however long you stand waiting for the bus. If your slot is early morning and you are on a 15-minute shuttle interval, that is the difference between comfortable and running.
Compare every Luton car park by transfer time and price, so you can pick the one that fits the slot you booked rather than the other way round.
Frequently asked questions
Is PreBook Security really free?
Yes. The airport recovers the cost from improved passenger flow at peak times. Luton wants the queue managed, not the revenue.
Can I book PreBook Security on the day of travel?
Subject to availability, yes. Slots near departure may show as full at peak times.
Does PreBook Security work for families?
Each passenger needs their own QR code. Book one slot per person on the same booking; the system processes a family group together.
Is the 100ml liquid rule still in effect at Luton?
Yes, as of May 2026. Luton has CT scanners installed but the DfT certification for the 2-litre allowance has not been issued. Liquids and electronics no longer have to come out of your bag, which is the immediate benefit. Full status: UK liquid rules 2026.
What if I miss my PreBook slot?
You join the standard security queue. The slot is non-refundable in time, but since the booking itself is free this is not a financial loss.
Plan your Luton trip
If you are driving to Luton, the airport's £9 Express Drop Off charge can be avoided by using the Long Stay car park (free for up to 2 hours). Luton drop off charges 2026. For longer stays, prebooked parking is almost always cheaper than the airport's day rate.
Compare Luton Airport parking with live prices and Park Mark accredited operators.
Information verified May 2026 against london-luton.co.uk/inside-lla/security/prebook-security. Service availability and slot policy may change; always check on the day before travel.