Holidaymakers urged to do 1 thing in airports to avoid passport chaos | Travel News | Travel

Holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being urged to get through passport control before browsing shops, grabbing a meal or heading to airport lounges, as disruption linked to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) continues to cause major delays. The warning follows reports of passengers missing flights after becoming stuck in lengthy queues at European border controls since the biometric system was rolled out.

One widely reported incident saw an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester depart with just 34 passengers after more than 120 travellers failed to clear passport control in time. Some passengers said they waited up to three hours despite arriving well before departure. Travel experts are warning that similar disruption could occur throughout the summer as passenger numbers increase across popular destinations including Spain, Italy, Portugal and France. Reports of significant delays have also emerged from airports in Lisbon, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Faro.

Jürgen Himmelmann, Co-Founder at Global Work & Travel, said: “Many travellers still have the old airport mindset of arriving, checking in and then spending an hour shopping or having a meal before heading towards the gate.

“This summer, that could be a costly mistake. If you’re travelling through an airport affected by EES checks, your priority should be getting through security and passport control as quickly as possible. The shops, restaurants and lounges can wait.

“A lot of airports now have food outlets, coffee shops and retail stores beyond passport control. Once you’re through, you can relax. Until then, you’re taking a risk because queues can build incredibly quickly and move far slower than people expect.”

Under EES, non-EU travellers, including UK passport holders, must have biometric information recorded when entering or leaving the Schengen Area. The process includes passport verification and fingerprint and facial recognition checks. However, industry groups have warned that the system is creating significant bottlenecks at some airports, with delays of up to three hours reported and concerns that summer travel periods could place additional pressure on border infrastructure.

Mr Himmelmann added: “One of the biggest issues is unpredictability. Travellers know how long security usually takes. They know roughly how long bag drop takes. With EES, the experience can vary dramatically depending on the airport, staffing levels and how many first-time registrations are being processed.

“Even arriving three hours before departure is not always proving enough in some cases. If you’re travelling through a busy European airport this summer, particularly if you’re heading home from Spain, Italy or Portugal, treat passport control as the first job, not the last.”

The leading travel brand has also recommended passengers arrive earlier than usual, head straight to security and passport control after check-in, leave shopping and dining until after border checks, allow extra time when travelling with children and monitor airport updates for delays.

“The travellers least likely to be affected are the ones who make getting through border control their main priority,” Mr Himmelmann added. “The biggest mistake we’re seeing is people assuming they have plenty of time because they’ve already checked in. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what many of the stranded passengers thought too.”

So far, Greece is the only European country to have officially suspended EES biometric checks, exempting British passport holders from this registration at its border crossings for the peak summer season.

While the European Commission stated that blanket exemptions are not permitted under the rules, several countries have adopted relaxed, on-the-ground approaches to manage severe queues and technical difficulties. In Italy, for example, passengers are allowed to enter on a traditional passport stamp rather than via the biometric system when delays build up.