British holidaymakers and other non-EU travellers are expressing growing frustration over significant delays and confusion at European airports, attributing the problems to the European Union's newly implemented Entry/Exit System (EES). The digital news publication, UKPulse Media, has gathered feedback from its community, highlighting widespread disruption at popular destinations including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece.
The EES, designed to register non-EU citizens' entry and exit data electronically, including biometric information such as fingerprints and facial scans, has been criticised for its poor implementation. While the system aims to modernise border controls and enhance security, many travellers report that it is achieving the opposite, leading to extended processing times and missed flights.
A common complaint centres on the repetitive nature of biometric checks. Readers question why, after initial registration, they are still subjected to lengthy queues and repeated fingerprint and facial scans on subsequent visits. Stories of malfunctioning e-gates, instances requiring manual passport inspections, and a perceived lack of dedicated queues for repeat travellers are frequently cited as key issues contributing to the chaos.
Some passengers have recounted arriving at airports several hours before their scheduled departure only to miss their flights due to being stuck in passport control queues. This has led to calls for improved airport infrastructure, better staffing levels, and greater flexibility to suspend checks during periods of excessive delay. While the post-Brexit status of British travellers means they are now subject to these new checks, many argue that the core issue lies in the system's flawed design and execution, rather than the principle of border controls themselves.
The feedback suggests that a system intended to streamline and modernise Europe's borders is currently generating more frustration and inefficiency than it is convenience. The Independent newspaper has also reported on these issues, citing warnings of queues stretching up to six hours and incidents of dozens of Ryanair passengers being left behind in Athens due to the new system.