Express Pass

The Express Pass (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 a penalty, with the exception being the Fast Forward and Double Battle, and immediately receive the next clue. Introduced in The Amazing Race 17. the pass can be used up until the leg that it expires. The pass may be awarded to the team who arrives at the Pit Stop first on a certain leg (usually the first leg) of the race, given by another team who were awarded two Express Passes, or by winning it in a separate, optional task.

If a U-Turned team uses an Express Pass to skip a Detour, that team must still complete the other side of the Detour. Additionally, a team that is U-Turned may use an Express Pass to skip the other side of the Detour.

As first seen in The Amazing Race 25, the Express Pass may be rewarded as part of an optional searching task on the second leg.

17x1 Express Pass — Jill & Thomas win the Express Pass on Season 17.

Express Pass Twists[]

Double Express Pass[]

From The Amazing Race 22 to The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2014), the first place team in the first leg was awarded 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 seasons).

Internationally, the Double Express Pass has been seen in The Amazing Race: Ecuador, The Amazing Race: Australia v New Zealand, The Amazing Race Canada 1 to The Amazing Race Canada 4, and all seasons of The Amazing Race China.

Hand-Off Express Pass[]

The Amazing Race 27 introduced a twist with a single Express Pass. Once used, the Express Pass users would have to relinquish it to another team, who would only have until the next leg to use it.

Three Express Passes[]

In the The Amazing Race Canada 5, three separate Express Passes were up for grabs for any team to get. It is 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.

The Amazing Race Canada 7 had three Express Passes as well, but the first leg winners won the usual Double Express Pass while the second leg winners won a single Express Pass.

Triple Express Pass[]

In The Amazing Race Canada 8 , the first place team in the first leg was awarded three Express Passes. and in The Amazing Race Canada 9, there was an optional task for teams to search for 3 Express Passes. One is for them to use while the other has to be given to two other teams before the end of a designated leg.

Hybrid Express/Salvage Pass[]

The Amazing Race Vietnam 2019 introduced an Express Pass that had an additional ability to save another team, similar to a Salvage Pass.

Express Pass Winners[]

The Amazing Race (US)[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Clue Type	Notes
The Amazing Race 17	"They Don't Call It The Amazing Race for Nothin!"	1	Winning Leg	Jill & Thomas	"We Should Have Brought Gloves and Butt Pads"	4
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business	"Head Down and Hold On"	1	Winning Leg	Gary & Mallory	"Don't Ruin the Basketball Game"	5
The Amazing Race 19	"Kindness of Strangers"	1	Winning Leg	Ernie & Cindy	"Move Goat"	7
The Amazing Race 20	"Tears of a Clown"	1	Winning Leg	Rachel & Dave	"Bust Me Right in the Head with It"	3
The Amazing Race 21	"Long Hair, Don't Care"	2	Winning Leg	Natalie & Nadiya	"We Was Robbed"	8
The Amazing Race 22	"Business in the Front, Party in the Back"	1	Winning Leg	Jessica & John	Eliminated while in Possession in "I Love Monkeys!"			First time a team was eliminated while in possession of the Express Pass.
The Amazing Race 22	"Like James Bond Again"	3	Second Express Pass from Jessica & John	Dave & Connor	"Like James Bond Again"	3		First use of the Double Express Pass.
The Amazing Race 23	"We're Not in Oklahoma No More"	1	Winning Leg	Tim & Marie	"Get Our Groove On"	5
The Amazing Race 23	"Get Our Groove On"	5	Second Express Pass from Tim & Marie	Nicole & Travis	"One Hot Camel"	8
The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2014)	"Back in the Saddle"	1	Winning Leg	Jet & Cord	"Donkeylicious"	8
The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2014)	"Baby Bear's Soup"	2	Second Express Pass from Jet & Cord	Caroline & Jennifer	"Baby Bear's Soup"	2
The Amazing Race 25	"When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go"	2	Optional Task	Adam & Bethany	"Hot Sexy Knights"	8
The Amazing Race 26	"Great Way to Start a Relationship"	1	Winning Leg	Jelani & Jenny	"Moment of Truth"	8		After using their Express Pass, Jelani & Jenny were U-Turned by Matt & Ashley; requiring them to go back and complete the other Detour task.
The Amazing Race 27	"A Little Too Much Beefcake"	1	Winning Leg	Tanner & Josh	"Good Old Fashioned Spit in the Face"	4		This Express Pass was required to be given to another team, who could only use it on the next leg, once used by the original owners.
The Amazing Race 27	"Good Old Fashioned Spit in the Face"	4	Used Express Pass from Tanner & Josh	Denise & James Earl	"King of the Jungle"	5
The Amazing Race 28	"Let the Good Times Roll"	6	Winning Leg	Brodie & Kurt	"I Have a Wedgie and a Half"	8
The Amazing Race 29	"We're Coming for You, Phil!"	1	Found in Starting Line Task	Becca & Floyd	Not Used; Expired in "Have Faith in Me, Broski"			First time an Express Pass was left to expire in the US version. They were also used the Fast Forward.
The Amazing Race 35	"The Amazing Race Is Back!"	1	Optional Task	Morgan & Lena	"No Sleep and a Million Dollar Dream"	3
The Amazing Race 35	"A Planes, Trains and Automobiles Day"	8	Optional Task	Rob & Corey	"Everyone Loves a Comeback Story"	10
The Amazing Race 37	"Chaotic, Crazy, That's What We're Used to"	3	Optional Task	Jonathan & Ana	"There's No Addresses in the Jungle"	4
The Amazing Race 37	"We're Letting Race Brain Win"	8	Optional Task	Alyssa & Josiah	"Up the River Without a Joust"	10

The Amazing Race Australia[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race Australia 1	"Nothing's Smooth Sailing with Us"	1	Winning Leg	Sam & Renae	"We've Got Pain, but We've Not Lost Any Weight"	3
The Amazing Race Australia 2	"We Only Picked Good Looking Ones"	2	Winning Leg	Sticky & Sam	"How Do You Fold Liquid?"	7		This Express Pass, along with the Detour it was used to skip was unaired.
The Amazing Race: Australia v New Zealand	"I Gotta Have Two Legs to Run the Race!"	1	Winning Leg	John & Murray	"Like Four Seasons in a Day"	2
The Amazing Race: Australia v New Zealand	"Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance"	3	Second Express Pass from John & Murray	Carla & Hereni	"We Have a Lot of Experience with Poo"	4

The Amazing Race Canada[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race Canada 1	"Where in the World Is Ogopogo?"	1	Winning Leg	Kristen & Darren	Eliminated while in Possession in "Grab a 'Nug"
The Amazing Race Canada 1	"Grab a 'Nug"	4	Second Express Pass from Kristen & Darren	Vanessa & Celina	"Grab a 'Nug"	4		First international use of the Double Express Pass twist.
The Amazing Race Canada 2	"What's It Take to Get a Cup of Tea?"	1	Winning Leg	Natalie & Meaghan	"Snakes and Liars"	3		First time the Express Pass holders used their Express Pass before giving their second Express Pass to another team.
The Amazing Race Canada 2	"Who Designs These Torture Tests?"	5	Second Express Pass from Natalie & Meaghan	Pierre & Michel	"She's the Pierogi Poobah"	6
The Amazing Race Canada 3	"We're Going to Dance!"	2	Optional Task	Hamilton & Michaelia	"We're Going to Dance!"	2
The Amazing Race Canada 3	"They're Harshing Our Mellow"	4	Second Express Pass from Hamilton & Michaelia	Brent & Sean	"I Dream About Eating Sandwiches"	7
The Amazing Race Canada 4	"Deal Guys? Deal! Deal!"	2	Optional Task	Steph & Kristen	Not Used; Expired in "I Could Be Prime Minister"			First time an Express Pass was left to expire.
The Amazing Race Canada 4	"Shine Your Light"	4	Second Express Pass from Steph & Kristen	Frankie & Amy	"Am I Actually Operating the Plane?"	7
The Amazing Race Canada 5	"You've Got to Leave My Hose Alone Dude"	2	Found at Roadblock Site	Kenneth & Ryan	"It's Like Ducks in the Forest"	3		Kenneth & Ryan obtained all three Express Passes; requiring them to give up two of them to two other teams.
	"You've Got to Leave My Hose Alone Dude"	2	Second Express Pass from Kenneth & Ryan	Karen & Bert	"It's Like Ducks in the Forest"	3
	"It's Like Ducks in the Forest"	3	Third Express Pass from Kenneth & Ryan	Megan & Courtney	Eliminated while in Possession in "It's Like Ducks in the Forest"			First time a Third Express Pass was offered.
The Amazing Race Canada: Heroes Edition	"Fiddler's Fart"	2	Found in Route Marker task	Todd & Anna	"Sounds Like a Wild Boar"	3
				Nancy & Mellisa
				Leanne & Mar
The Amazing Race Canada 7	"Canada Get More Maps"	1	Winning Leg	Dave & Irina	"I Love Geologists"	4
	"We'll Let the Peasants Fight for Last Place"	3	Second Express Pass from Dave & Irina	Anthony & James	"I Love Geologists"	4		First time the Double Express Pass twist was used while Three Express Passes were in play.
	"Our Competition's Not That Smart"	2	Winning Leg	Aarthy & Thinesh	Not Used; Expired in "Balls, Balls, Balls"
The Amazing Race Canada 8	"Come on Doodlebug"	1	Winning Leg	Brendan & Connor	"What the Duck Is Going On?"	7		First time the Three Express Passes were used with the traditional "Double Express Pass" format.
	"Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways"	4	Second Express Pass from Brendan & Connor	Jesse & Marika	"Racing for Our Lives"	6
	"Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways"	4	Third Express Pass from Brendan & Connor	Franca & Nella	"What the Duck Is Going On?"	7
The Amazing Race Canada 9	"I Hate Pancakes"	1	Optional Task	Ty & Kat	"This Is Going to Be a Spicy Leg"	6
	"My First Experience"	2	Second Express Pass from Ty & Kat	Tyler & Kayleen
	"Bribery Always Works"	3	Third Express Pass from Ty & Kat	Ben & Anwar
The Amazing Race Canada 10	"Call Me the Olive Man"	2	Optional Task	Michael & Tyson	"I Smell Like Carcass"	4

The Amazing Race China[]

Season4	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season4	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race 1 (China)	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang	Episode 3	3
The Amazing Race 1 (China)	Episode 3	3	Second Express Pass from Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang	Zhang Tielin & Yueliang	Episode 3	3
The Amazing Race 2 (China)	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Yang Qianhua & Ding Zigao	Episode 4	4
The Amazing Race 2 (China)	Episode 4	4	Second Express Pass from Yang Qianhua & Ding Zigao	Zeng Zhiwei & Zeng Baoyi	Episode 4	4
The Amazing Race China 3	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang	Episode 4	4
The Amazing Race China 3	Episode 3	3	Second Express Pass from Jin Dachuan & Liu Chang	Jin Xing & Heinz	Episode 3	3
The Amazing Race China 4	Episode 1	1	Found in Route Marker task	Fan Bingbing & Xie Yilin	Episode 2	2
The Amazing Race China 4	Episode 4	4	Second Express Pass from Fan Bingbing & Xie Yilin	Zheng Yuanchang & Wang Likun	Episode 4	4		First time an Express Pass was used on a Face-Off.

The Amazing Race: China Rush[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race: China Rush 3	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Liu Weiwei & Lei Sheng	Episode 7	7		First time a team used an Express Pass and won the leg.

The Amazing Race (Latin America)[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race 3 (Latin America)	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Felipe & Alejandro	Episode 7	7		First international use of an Express Pass. First time an Express Pass was used on a Route Marker task.
The Amazing Race 4 (Latin America)	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Renata & Ana Paula	Episode 8	8
The Amazing Race 5 (Latin America)	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Evelyn & Jorge	Episode 3	3
The Amazing Race 5 (Latin America)	Episode 4	4	Winning Leg	Astrid & Aleja	Episode 5	5
The Amazing Race: Ecuador	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Stefanía & Felipe	Episode 6	6
The Amazing Race: Ecuador	Episode 3	3	Second Express Pass from Stefanía & Felipe	Juan & Cecilia	Episode 5	5

The Amazing Race Norge[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race Norge 1	Episode 3	3	Winning Leg	Cathrine & Michelle	Episode 4	4

The Amazing Race Philippines[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race Philippines 1	Unknown	3	Winning Leg	Marc & Kat	Unknown	5
The Amazing Race Philippines 2	Unknown	1	Winning Leg	Vince & Ed	Unknown	5

The Amazing Race Vietnam[]

Season	Awarded			Owner	Used On			Notes
Season	Episode	Leg	via	Owner	Episode	Leg	Task	Notes
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2012	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Thanh Thủy & Minh Thoa	Episode 3	3		First time a team used an Express Pass was eliminated in the same leg.
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2013	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Linh Chi & Phúc Vinh	Episode 11	11
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2014	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Sơn Ngọc Minh & Mint	Episode 5	5		First time an Express Pass was used on a second Detour task as the result of a U-Turn.
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2015	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh	Episode 5	5
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2016	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	Lincoln & Tiến Đạt	Not Used; Expired in Episode 9
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2019	Episode 1	1	Winning Leg	ST Sơn Thạch & Bình An	Episode 5	5	Used to save Minh Triệu & Kỳ Duyên	This iteration of the Express Pass had an additional power to save a team from elimination; similar to a Salvage Pass

Trivia[]

Ernie & Cindy were the first team to win the Race after winning the Express Pass.
Dave & Connor were the first team to use a Express Pass and win that leg in the American version.
Marc & Kat were the first team to win both the Express Pass and the Salvage Pass.

References[]

The Amazing Race Format
Challenges: Assist · Clues · Clue Box · Double Battle · Express Pass · Final Memory Challenge · Resurrection Card · Salvage Pass · Save Pit Stops: Elimination · Finish Line · Marked for Elimination · Megaleg · No Penalty · No-Rest Leg · Non-Elimination Leg · Pit Start · Pit Stop · Starting Line · Superleg Rules: Money · Rules and Penalties Others: Date Night · Discharged · Ejection · Evacuation · Medically Exempt · Overnight Rest · Quit · Switchback Twists: City Sprint · Departure Time Penalty · Driver's Seat · Double Elimination · Double Your Money · First Class Pass · Fork in the Road · Hazard · Marked for Elimination · Marked for Surrendering Money · On Ramp · One Way · Partner Swap · Pass · The Scramble · Salvage & Sabotage · Starting Line Task · Surprise Elimination · Surrender Money · Surrender Money and No Supplied Vehicles · Surrender Money and Possessions · U-Turn · Valet Roulette · Yield