Introduced in Season 17, the Express Pass, also called as the Pase Directo in the Latin American version and as the Fripass in the Norwegian version, allows a team to skip any task, of their choosing without penalty, the only exception being the Fast Forward, and immediately receive the next clue. The pass can be used up through the eighth leg. The pass is awarded to the team who arrives at the Pit Stop first on the first leg (with some exceptions) of the race. If one team uses an Express Pass to skip a Detour and that team is U-Turned, the U-Turn will have no effect on that team.
Starting from Season 22, the award for placing first in the first leg was two Express Passes (one for the team to use for themselves and one for another team).
Starting from Season 22, the award for placing first in the first leg was two Express Passes (one for the team to use for themselves and one to give away before the fourth leg). This concept of the Express was used until Season 24, as it returned to only one Express Pass rewarded in Season 25.
Additionally, in Season 25, the Express Pass was rewarded and can be received as part of an optional searching task on the second leg.
Jill & Thomas win the Express Pass on Season 17.
Double Express Pass
Starting from season 22, the first place team in the first leg was awarded with two Express Passes. One is for them to use while the other has to be given to another team before the end of a designated leg (fourth leg for season 22, fifth leg for subsequent season). The Double Express Pass was continued until Season 24.
Latin America season 5, Australia season 3, the first four Canada seasons and The Amazing Race 1 (China) were the only international versions to give the Double Express Pass.
Three Express Passes
In the fifth Canadian season, three separate Express Passes were up for grabs for any team to get. It's possible that one team could get multiple Express Passes, but that team must give their extra pass(es) to another team (or two teams) before the end of the third leg.
Express Pass Winners
The Amazing Race (US)
The Amazing Race 17
- Jill & Thomas were awarded the first Express Pass for arriving to the Pit Stop first in Eastnor, England. They used it to skip the Beds Detour in the fourth leg.
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business
- Gary & Mallory were awarded the Express Pass for arriving to the Pit Stop first in Sydney, Australia. They used it at the end of the fifth leg (a no-rest leg) at a roadblock when all other teams had already arrived and were working on the puzzle.
The Amazing Race 19
- Ernie & Cindy were awarded the Express Pass for arriving to the Pit Stop first in Taipei, Taiwan. They used it on the seventh leg to skip the Dugout Detour.
The Amazing Race 20
- Rachel & Dave were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Santa Barbara, Argentina. They used it on the third leg to skip the Strung Out Detour.
The Amazing Race 21
- Natalie & Nadiya were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Surabaya, Indonesia. They used it to bypass the roadblock in Leg 8.
The Amazing Race 22
- Jessica & John were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Motu Piti A'au, Bora Bora, French Polynesia; but however, in a new twist, an additional Express Pass shall be given to another team of their choosing before the end of the fourth leg. Jessica & John decided to give their other Express Pass to Dave & Connor while traveling from Bora Bora, French Polynesia to Christchurch, New Zealand in leg 3. In the fourth leg, Jessica & John were eliminated while in possession of the Express Pass becoming the first team to do so.
- Dave & Connor used their Express Pass on the third leg to bypass the Reel It In Detour, and became the first team in the standard version to arrive the Pit Stop in 1st place after using the Express Pass.
The Amazing Race 23
- Tim & Marie were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Iquique, Chile and they used it to bypass the Pose Detour at the fifth leg in Gdańsk, Poland. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to Nicole & Travis at the start of the fifth leg.
- Nicole & Travis later used their Express pass to bypass the detour on the eighth leg in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2014)
- Jet & Cord were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Guangzhou, China and they used it to bypass the Donkey Build Detour at the eighth leg in Bagnoregio, Italy. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to Caroline & Jennifer during the 2nd leg.
- Caroline & Jennifer immediately used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock on Leg 2.
The Amazing Race 25
- Adam & Bethany were awarded the Express Pass by taking the optional Express Pass searching task in Oxford, England. They used it to bypass the Flag Detour on Leg 8.
The Amazing Race 26
- Jelani & Jenny were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the Pit Stop first in Tokyo, Japan. They used it to bypass the Play Detour on Leg 8. However, they were U-Turned by Matt & Ashley before reaching the U-Turn board, forcing them to go back and complete the other side of the Detour.
The Amazing Race 27
- Tanner & Josh were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the Pit Stop first in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. This Express Pass had a new twist: once they used it, they had to give it to another team, to be used on the following leg. They used it to bypass the Roadblock on Leg 4, and then gave it to Denise & James Earl.
- Denise & James Earl used their Express Pass to bypass the Crocs Detour on Leg 5.
The Amazing Race 28
- Kurt & Brodie were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the Pit Stop first on Leg 6 in Yerevan, Armenia. They used it to bypass the Roadblock on Leg 8.
The Amazing Race 29
- Becca & Floyd were awarded the Express Pass after taking one of the 22 suitcase available at the luggage shop. The Express Pass was usable until Leg 5, but Becca & Floyd allowed it to expire, opting to take the Fast Forward instead.
The Amazing Race Australia
The Amazing Race Australia 1
- Sam & Renae were awarded the Express Pass for arriving to the Pit Stop first in Bali, Indonesia. They used it on the 3rd leg to skip the roadblock arrange the zodiac.
The Amazing Race Australia 3
- John & Murray were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Geraldine, New Zealand. They used it to bypass the Roadblock in Leg 2 at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to Carla & Hereni at the leg 3 pit stop as the host Grant Bowler being mention at the pit start that the 2nd express pass was required to hand over the other teams by the end of leg 3.
- Carla & Hereni used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock in Leg 4.
The Amazing Race Canada
The Amazing Race Canada 1
- Kristen & Darren were awarded 2 Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They gave the second to Vanessa & Celina on leg 4. Kristen & Darren were eliminated in the same leg while in possession of the Express Pass.
- Vanessa & Celina used their Express Pass on the fourth leg to bypass the Klondike Gold Rush Detour.
The Amazing Race Canada 2
- Natalie & Meaghan were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They used it to bypass the Kung Fu Master Detour in Leg 3 in Hong Kong. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to Pierre & Michel at the start of the fifth leg.
- Pierre & Michel used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock in Leg 6.
The Amazing Race Canada 3
- Hamilton & Michaelia were awarded with two Express Passes by taking the optional Express Pass searching task in Santiago, Chile. They immediately used theirs to bypass the Dance Detour on Leg 2. They gave the second Express Pass to Brent & Sean on Leg 4.
- Brent & Sean used their Express Pass to bypass the Route Marker task on Leg 7.
The Amazing Race Canada 4
- Steph & Kristen were awarded with two Express Passes by taking the optional Express Pass searching task in Calgary, Alberta. They gave the second Express Pass to Frankie & Amy on Leg 4. They did not use it by the deadline at the end of Leg 7 and were required to hand it to Jon at the Pit Stop.
- Frankie & Amy used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock in Leg 6.
The Amazing Race Canada 5
- While all three Express Passes were separate and up for grabs during the roadblock in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Kenneth & Ryan managed to receive all three of them. They gave one to Karen & Bert during the same leg, and the third to Megan & Courtney at the beginning of Leg 3. All three Express Passes were used during the third leg. Karen & Bert bypassed the coffee Route Marker task, Kenneth & Ryan bypassed the Detour, and Megan & Courtney were eliminated while still in possession of theirs.
The Amazing Race China
The Amazing Race 1 (China)
- Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in New York City, USA and they used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour after they were U-turned on Leg 3 in India. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to Zhang Tielin & Yueliang during the 3rd leg.
- Zhang Tielin & Yueliang used their Express Pass to bypass the task at Eagle Films Studio on Leg 3.
The Amazing Race 2 (China)
- Yang Qianhua & Ding Zigao were awarded with two Express Pass for arriving at the Pit Stop first in Sydney, Australia. They would later use their Express Pass on Leg 4 to bypass the Detour. They gave Zeng Zhiwei & Zeng Baoyi the second Express Pass the same leg.
- Zeng Zhiwei & Zeng Baoyi used their Express Pass to bypass the historical puzzle task on Leg 4.
The Amazing Race China 3
- Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang were awarded with two Express Pass for arriving at the Pit Stop first in Athens Greece. They would later use their Express Pass on Leg 4 to bypass the Detour. They gave Jin Xing & Hans the second Express Pass on Leg 3.
- Jin Xing & Hans immediately used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock on the same leg.
The Amazing Race: China Rush
The Amazing Race: China Rush 3
- Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Yangcheng, China. They used it to bypass the detour in leg 7. They became the first team to arrive the Pit Stop in 1st place after using the Express Pass.
The Amazing Race (Latin America)
The Amazing Race 3 (Latin America)
- Felipe & Alejandro were awarded the Express Pass for arriving to the Pit Stop first in El Calafate, Argentina. They used it on the seventh leg to skip an additional task in the Puritama Hot Springs.
The Amazing Race 4 (Latin America)
- Renata & Ana Paula were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Brasíli, Brazil. They used it to bypass the detour in leg 8.
The Amazing Race 5 (Latin America)
- Evelyn & Jorge were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Cartagena, Colombia. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to their compatriots Astrid & Aleja at the start of the fourth leg. Evelyn & Jorge used it to bypass the second roadblock on Leg 3.
- Astrid & Aleja used their Express Pass to bypass an additional task in the Club Universitario de Regatas during Leg 5.
The Amazing Race 6 (Latin America)
- Stefanía & Felipe were awarded with two Express Passes for arriving at the pit stop first in Quito, Ecuador. They would later use their Express pass to bypass the second roadblock on Leg 6. They gave the 2nd Express Pass to Juan & Cecilia
- Juan & Cecilia used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour on Leg 4.
The Amazing Race Norge
The Amazing Race Norge 1
- Cathrine & Michelle were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Jaipur, India. They used it to skip an additional task in leg 4.
The Amazing Race Philippines
The Amazing Race Philippines 1
- Marc & Kat were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Bontoc, Mountain Province, The Philippines. They used it to bypass the Roadblock in leg 5.
The Amazing Race Philippines 2
- Vince & Ed were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Manila, The Philippines. They used it to bypass the Route Information Task on Leg 4.
The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc Đua Kỳ Thú
The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc Đua Kỳ Thú 2012
- Thanh Thủy & Minh Thoa were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Hanoi, Vietnam. They used it to skip the roadblock in leg 3 (Hoa Binh → Ninh Binh) but later got eliminated in the same leg.
The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc Đua Kỳ Thú 2013
- Linh Chi & Phúc Vinh were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and they used it to bypass the Roadblock in leg 11.
The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc Đua Kỳ Thú 2014
- Sơn Ngọc Minh & Mint were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Quang Ninh Province. They used it to bypass the U-turn in leg 5
The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc Đua Kỳ Thú 2015
- Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh were awarded the Express Pass for arriving at the pit stop first in Quang Ninh Province. They used it on the fifth leg (Luang Prabang , Laos) to skip an additional task in the Luang Prabang Night Market.
The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc Đua Kỳ Thú 2016: All Stars
- Lincoln & Tiến Đạt were awarded the Express Pass for arriving first at the Pit Stop in the Yên Bái Province. They were required to hand it over to host Huy Khánh at the Pit Stop on Leg 9, the last leg in which it was usable, becoming the first team to never use it without being eliminated.
Trivia
- Ernie & Cindy were the first team to win the race after winning the Express Pass.
- In Season 2 of the Australian version, the Express Pass was replaced by the Salvage Pass.
- Thanh Thủy & Minh Thoa were the first team to win the Express Pass and be eliminated first.
- Marc & Kat were the first team to win both the Express Pass and the Salvage Pass.
- Jessica & John were the first team to get eliminated while in possession of the Express Pass.
- Natalie & Meaghan were the first team to use their Express Pass before giving the second Express Pass to another team.
- In Season 27, a new twist was added that saw the single Express Pass act as a double Express Pass. Once used, the recipient team had to immediately give it to another team, to be used on the following leg.
References
| The Amazing Race Format |
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Challenges: Assist · Clues · Clue Box · Double Battle · Express Pass · Resurrection Card · Salvage Pass · Save |