‘The queue was so long that I fainted’: Readers’ experiences of new EU border checks
As we’ve been reporting here in the Money blog, British travellers heading on their spring and summer holidays face changes at borders after the rollout of the EU’s entry-exit system.
EES, which replaces passport stamping for all non-EU citizens, is scheduled to be active across all Schengen area border crossing points by 10 April.
This is the third instalment of our series sharing how Money readers have experienced the new system, with some facing hefty queues…
“It was a nightmare at Paris airport on Valentine’s Day weekend. The queue was so long that I fainted.”
Mike
“We arrived at Tenerife on Saturday, one of three UK planes to land within 10 minutes. After three hours they abandoned all hope and just stamped our passports. Two staff to handle everyone, I was told later Saturday had been declared a disaster.”
Brian
“Took two hours from plane landing to queuing through border control to exit airport in Prague two weeks ago. Not enough officials to see through smooth running of new system.”
RK
“Getting into Tenerife was fine, getting out was insane. Stood for almost three hours in queue after queue just to board our flight. No staff to be seen anywhere.”
Keithbrumbeck
“We have just returned from Krakow, and all UK passport holders had to queue and have photos and fingerprints taken multiple times in some cases. It took us over 70 minutes to get through passport control on arrival and 90 minutes on return home.”
TarquinnH-S
“Went to Berlin last weekend. It took a while to get through (it was 10pm, so fewer staff) but the process was simple. One lady said, ‘Ridiculous, Brexit should have got rid of EU bureaucracy’ – while watching EU citizens stroll through in seconds.”
MattGibbo
For others, the process was seamless…
“Travelled into and out of Alicante a few times recently without issue.”
JayKay
“No issues in Dusseldorf! Really straightforward, about 10 minutes, and not much difference compared to before.”
Mark
“We came into Tenerife on 18 February from Manchester and it took 15 minutes to get through everything, including picking up our suitcases. Hardest part was finding the coach.”
JC
This reader had a good experience with Sweden’s app-based system…
“For the EES, there is also an app called Travel to Europe – although this is only currently active for Sweden and only for entry. It actually speed up my entry to a fraction of what it used to be. Although the same could not be said for Italy – with a one-and-a-half hour queue for leaving Pisa.”
Tony
Despite encountering few issues, this reader rues being subject to different rules from other Europeans…
“Flew into Malaga airport and no delays at all. Lots of machines, easy to understand instructions and we were through in minutes. EU entry in southern Spain doesn’t seem to be a problem. The fact that we are no longer classed as Europeans, however, still makes me weep.”
Ninjaboom
You can read more experiences in the first two instalments of our series…