Quick answer: For most flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), plan to arrive about 2 hours before a Schengen departure and roughly 2 to 2.5 hours before a non-Schengen or long-haul flight. BER now runs new CT scanners on some security lanes, where liquids of up to 2 litres are allowed and electronics can stay in your bag. But you cannot choose or predict your lane, so the safe move is to pack liquids by the old 100 ml rule anyway. That way you are fine at every checkpoint.
What changed at BER security in 2026?
Two things changed this year, and they are linked. First, BER rolled out new CT scanner technology on several security lanes, which allows a more relaxed liquids rule and lets you leave electronics packed. Second, because those lanes move passengers through quickly, the airport ended its "BER Runway" slot-booking service.
BER Runway let you reserve a time slot at an extra security access point. According to the airport, take-up dropped sharply once the new CT lanes opened, so slot booking was discontinued on 26 May 2026. BER has said the Runway checkpoint area is due to receive the same CT technology by autumn 2026, and a possible re-launch of the service "will be evaluated" at that point. Until then, treat Runway as unavailable and plan your timing the normal way.
Which lanes have CT scanners?
As of mid-2026, the airport states that security control areas 1 and 5 in Terminal 1, plus the security control area in Terminal 2, are equipped with the new CT scanners. Control areas 2 and 4 in Terminal 1 still use conventional X-ray equipment and the older rules.
Here is the catch that trips people up: you do not get to pick your lane. Passengers are routed to whichever checkpoint is open and flowing, so on any given day you might land on a CT lane or a conventional one. BER expects the rollout to continue through the year, but the mix of new and old lanes is the reality for now. The airport plans to have the remaining areas upgraded around autumn 2026, though exact dates can shift, so verify before you fly if it matters to your packing.
What liquids can you bring through BER security?
On a lane with a CT scanner, you may carry liquids of up to 2 litres per person, and you do not need to take them out of your bag. Electronics such as laptops and tablets can also stay packed. It is a genuinely easier experience when you get one of these lanes.
On a conventional lane, the long-standing rule still applies: containers of no more than 100 ml each, all fitting inside a single transparent, resealable bag of about 1 litre, taken out and screened separately.
Because you cannot know in advance which lane you will use, the airport itself recommends preparing to the 100 ml rule. This is the single most useful takeaway in this guide: if you pack liquids to the 100 ml standard, you will pass every checkpoint at BER without repacking or losing items. If you happen to get a CT lane, you simply keep more in your bag and move through faster. Duty-free liquids bought after security, or bought elsewhere and sealed in a tamper-evident STEB bag with the receipt, are handled under separate rules, so keep that receipt if you are connecting.
How early should you arrive at BER?
The airport does not publish a single fixed number for every flight, so treat these as sensible planning ranges rather than guarantees:
- Schengen flights (within most of the EU): aim for about 2 hours before departure.
- Non-Schengen and long-haul flights: aim for roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, and lean toward the higher end for the United States and Israel, where an additional security screening at the gate can apply and takes extra time.
Add a buffer if you are checking bags, travelling with children, need special assistance, or fly during the summer and December peaks, when BER is at its busiest. If you only have hand luggage and a mobile boarding pass, you can often move faster, but airline check-in and bag-drop deadlines still apply, so confirm your carrier's cut-off times. When you are still finding your feet at the airport, our first-timer's guide to arriving at BER walks through the layout and the basics.
When are the security queues worst?
The early morning wave is the one to watch. Queues tend to build during the roughly 6 to 8 am window, when a cluster of departures pushes a lot of passengers through security at once, and there is often a second busier stretch in the late afternoon. If your flight falls in one of these windows, add time rather than trimming it.
You do not have to guess. BER shows live security waiting times in the flight information on its website, in the BER app, and on monitors around the terminals. Checking before you leave for the airport, and again once you are inside, helps you judge how much of a cushion you actually need. If you are flying out very late or landing in the small hours, transport and facilities work differently, and our guide to arriving at Berlin Airport late at night covers what stays open.
What speeds you up at BER security?
A few habits make the biggest difference:
- Check in online and use a mobile boarding pass so you can head straight for security if you have no bags to drop.
- Pack liquids to 100 ml in one clear bag, so a conventional lane never slows you down.
- Keep boarding pass and ID easy to reach, and empty pockets before you reach the belt.
- Check the live waiting-time display in the BER app to time your run at security.
- Travel light on hand-luggage clutter, since fewer trays means a faster tray.
Some airlines and fare classes offer their own priority security access for eligible passengers. That is set by the carrier rather than a general public fast-track, so check whether your ticket, status, or lounge access includes it. If you would rather not haul everything through the terminal while you wait, see our note on luggage storage at BER. Arriving into the city instead? Our guide on getting from BER to Berlin Hauptbahnhof covers your options.
At a glance
| Your situation | Recommended arrival | How to pack liquids |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen flight, hand luggage only | About 2 hours | 100 ml rule to be safe on any lane |
| Non-Schengen or long-haul flight | About 2 to 2.5 hours | 100 ml rule; keep duty-free receipts |
| Flying to the US or Israel | Toward 2.5 hours, extra gate check possible | 100 ml rule; allow more time |
| Early morning (about 6 to 8 am) departure | Add a buffer to the above | 100 ml rule; check live wait times |
| You end up on a CT scanner lane | Same planning, faster in practice | Up to 2 litres allowed, electronics stay packed |
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring more than 100 ml of liquids through BER security now?
Only if you happen to pass through a lane with a CT scanner, where up to 2 litres per person is allowed. You cannot choose your lane in advance, so the airport advises packing to the 100 ml rule so you are covered at every checkpoint.
Is the BER Runway slot-booking service still available?
No. Slot booking for the BER Runway was discontinued on 26 May 2026 after the new CT lanes reduced demand for it. The airport has said the Runway checkpoint should get CT technology by around autumn 2026, and a possible re-launch will be evaluated then.
Do I need to take my laptop out of my bag at BER?
On a CT scanner lane, electronics can stay in your bag. On a conventional lane, you may still be asked to remove laptops and larger devices. Since you cannot predict your lane, be ready to unpack electronics just in case.
How early should I get to BER for an early morning flight?
Use the normal guidance of roughly 2 hours for Schengen and 2 to 2.5 hours for non-Schengen flights, then add a buffer, because queues tend to build during the 6 to 8 am window. Check the live waiting times in the BER app before you set off.
Where can I see current security wait times at BER?
BER shows live security waiting times within your flight information on its website, in the BER app, and on monitors inside the terminals. Checking before and during your trip helps you judge how much of a time cushion you actually need.
Is there a fast-track security lane at BER?
There is no single public fast-track available to everyone, but some airlines and fare classes offer their own priority security access for eligible passengers. Check whether your ticket, frequent-flyer status, or lounge access includes it, as this is set by the airline.
About the author. Lena Hoffmann writes practical guides about Berlin Brandenburg Airport and travel through Berlin for international passengers.
Security procedures and rules reflect Berlin Brandenburg Airport guidance as of July 2026 and can change. Verify current rules at ber.berlin-airport.de before you fly.
