The Amazing Race Wiki

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
Episode Leg via Episode Leg Clue Type
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 Detour
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business "Head Down and Hold On" 1 Winning Leg
Gary & Mallory
"Don't Ruin the Basketball Game" 5 Roadblock
The Amazing Race 19 "Kindness of Strangers" 1 Winning Leg
Ernie & Cindy
"Move Goat" 7 Detour
The Amazing Race 20 "Tears of a Clown" 1 Winning Leg
Rachel & Dave
"Bust Me Right in the Head with It" 3 Detour
The Amazing Race 21 "Long Hair, Don't Care" 2 Winning Leg
Natalie & Nadiya
"We Was Robbed" 8 Roadblock
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.
"Like James Bond Again" 3 Second Express Pass from Jessica & John
Dave & Connor
"Like James Bond Again" 3 Detour
  • 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 Detour
"Get Our Groove On" 5 Second Express Pass from Tim & Marie
Nicole & Travis
"One Hot Camel" 8 Detour
The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2014) "Back in the Saddle" 1 Winning Leg
Jet & Cord
"Donkeylicious" 8 Detour
"Baby Bear's Soup" 2 Second Express Pass from Jet & Cord
Caroline & Jennifer
"Baby Bear's Soup" 2 Roadblock
The Amazing Race 25 "When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go" 2 Optional Task
Adam & Bethany
"Hot Sexy Knights" 8 Detour
The Amazing Race 26 "Great Way to Start a Relationship" 1 Winning Leg
Jelani & Jenny
"Moment of Truth" 8 Detour
  • 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 Roadblock
  • 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.
"Good Old Fashioned Spit in the Face" 4 Used Express Pass from Tanner & Josh
Denise & James Earl
"King of the Jungle" 5 Detour
The Amazing Race 28 "Let the Good Times Roll" 6 Winning Leg
Brodie & Kurt
"I Have a Wedgie and a Half" 8 Roadblock
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"
The Amazing Race 35 "The Amazing Race Is Back!" 1 Optional Task
Morgan & Lena
"No Sleep and a Million Dollar Dream" 3 Route Information
"A Planes, Trains and Automobiles Day" 8
Rob & Corey
"Everyone Loves a Comeback Story" 10 Roadblock
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 Roadblock
"We're Letting Race Brain Win" 8
Alyssa & Josiah
"Up the River Without a Joust" 10 Route Information

The Amazing Race Australia[]

Season Awarded Owner Used On Notes
Episode Leg via Episode Leg Task
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 Roadblock
The Amazing Race Australia 2 "We Only Picked Good Looking Ones" 2 Winning Leg
Sticky & Sam
"How Do You Fold Liquid?" 7 Detour
  • 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 Roadblock
"Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance" 3 Second Express Pass from John & Murray
Carla & Hereni
"We Have a Lot of Experience with Poo" 4 Roadblock

The Amazing Race Canada[]

Season Awarded Owner Used On Notes
Episode Leg via Episode Leg Task
The Amazing Race Canada 1 "Where in the World Is Ogopogo?" 1 Winning Leg
Kristen & Darren
Eliminated while in Possession in "Grab a 'Nug"
"Grab a 'Nug" 4 Second Express Pass from Kristen & Darren
Vanessa & Celina
"Grab a 'Nug" 4 Detour
  • 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 Detour
  • First time the Express Pass holders used their Express Pass before giving their second Express Pass to another team.
"Who Designs These Torture Tests?" 5 Second Express Pass from Natalie & Meaghan
Pierre & Michel
"She's the Pierogi Poobah" 6 Roadblock
The Amazing Race Canada 3 "We're Going to Dance!" 2 Optional Task
Hamilton & Michaelia
"We're Going to Dance!" 2 Detour
"They're Harshing Our Mellow" 4 Second Express Pass from Hamilton & Michaelia
Brent & Sean
"I Dream About Eating Sandwiches" 7 Route Information
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.
"Shine Your Light" 4 Second Express Pass from Steph & Kristen
Frankie & Amy
"Am I Actually Operating the Plane?" 7 Route Information
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 Detour
  • Kenneth & Ryan obtained all three Express Passes; requiring them to give up two of them to two other teams.
Second Express Pass from Kenneth & Ryan
Karen & Bert
Route Information
"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 Route Information

Nancy & Mellisa
Route Information

Leanne & Mar
Route Information
The Amazing Race Canada 7 "Canada Get More Maps" 1 Winning Leg
Dave & Irina
"I Love Geologists" 4 Roadblock
"We'll Let the Peasants Fight for Last Place" 3 Second Express Pass from Dave & Irina
Anthony & James
Roadblock
  • 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 Route Information
  • 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 Detour
Third Express Pass from Brendan & Connor
Franca & Nella
"What the Duck Is Going On?" 7 Route Information
The Amazing Race Canada 9 "I Hate Pancakes" 1 Optional Task
Ty & Kat
"This Is Going to Be a Spicy Leg" 6 Detour
"My First Experience" 2 Second Express Pass from Ty & Kat
Tyler & Kayleen
Roadblock
"Bribery Always Works" 3 Third Express Pass from Ty & Kat
Ben & Anwar
Roadblock
The Amazing Race Canada 10 "Call Me the Olive Man" 2 Optional Task
Michael & Tyson
"I Smell Like Carcass" 4 Route Information

The Amazing Race China[]

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

The Amazing Race: China Rush[]

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

The Amazing Race (Latin America)[]

Season Awarded Owner Used On Notes
Episode Leg via Episode Leg Task
The Amazing Race 3 (Latin America) Episode 1 1 Winning Leg
Felipe & Alejandro
Episode 7 7 Route Information
  • 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 Detour
The Amazing Race 5 (Latin America) Episode 1 1 Winning Leg
Evelyn & Jorge
Episode 3 3 Roadblock
Episode 4 4 Winning Leg
Astrid & Aleja
Episode 5 5 Route Information
The Amazing Race: Ecuador Episode 1 1 Winning Leg
Stefanía & Felipe
Episode 6 6 Roadblock
Episode 3 3 Second Express Pass from Stefanía & Felipe
Juan & Cecilia
Episode 5 5 Detour

The Amazing Race Norge[]

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

The Amazing Race Philippines[]

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

The Amazing Race Vietnam[]

Season Awarded Owner Used On Notes
Episode Leg via Episode Leg Task
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2012 Episode 1 1 Winning Leg
Thanh Thủy & Minh Thoa
Episode 3 3 Roadblock
  • 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 Roadblock
The Amazing Race Vietnam 2014 Episode 1 1 Winning Leg
Sơn Ngọc Minh & Mint
Episode 5 5 DetourU-Turn
  • 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 Route Information
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