Wizz Air's recent advice for passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight has been branded 'useless' for most UK travellers by a travel expert. The budget airline issued the guidance earlier this month amid the rollout of new border control checks under the Entry Exit System (EES).
Background on EES and Wizz Air's Advice
Managing director Yvonne Moynihan warned that holidaymakers have missed return or connecting flights due to lengthy queues since the EES was launched in April. As more people pass through airports this summer for the first time since the regulations changed, travellers may face delays.
On TikTok, travel specialist Kate Donnelly argued that the airline's advice is unhelpful for most people flying this summer. She explained: 'We know when you're travelling short haul that the general advice is to get to the airport two hours before your flight. Wizz Air is advising people to arrive three hours before their departure to beat queues and reduce the risk of missing their flight due to the EES system.'
Why the Advice Falls Short
Kate noted that while the advice seems sensible, most check-in desks open only two hours before departure, sometimes two and a half hours. This means arriving three hours early could result in unnecessary waiting. Only certain travellers would benefit from arriving three hours before take-off.
Details on Wizz Air's website as of June 7 state: 'Airport check-in and baggage drop-off start two hours and close 40 minutes before departure. It's worth noting that at some airports, the check-in desk may open or close earlier.'
Exceptions and Hand Luggage Travellers
Nearly all airports with earlier check-in times are international. London Luton Airport is the only UK airport with differing rules, where check-in desks open 180 minutes (three hours) before departure for all travellers, according to the Express.
Kate suggested that passengers travelling with hand luggage only could gain the most from arriving early. Without luggage to weigh and drop off, the process is faster, allowing them to go straight through security and into duty-free.
Airport Delays Beyond Check-In
Even for early arrivals, airport layout can cause delays. Kate claimed: 'A lot of airports have more than one border control, meaning that you are still going to have to wait until the announcement is made for your gate so that you know which border control you need to go to.'
General Advice on Airport Arrival Times
To avoid issues, passengers should check with their specific airline about the earliest check-in time. Arriving as early as possible can provide extra time for delays, but arriving too early may lead to pointless waiting.
Kate advised: 'If you are travelling to the Schengen area this summer, two hours before your departure is enough time, based on the fact that the airport processes have not changed. Unless airlines decide to start opening check-in desks earlier and announcing gates sooner, you might as well stick with the two-hour rule.'
The Schengen area is a border-free travel zone encompassing 29 European countries, including popular summer destinations like Spain, Turkey, and Greece. Many British holidaymakers will encounter EES checks there.
Delays are likely from first-time EES users, who must scan their passport, have a photo taken, and submit a four-fingerprint scan (children under 12 are exempt). This creates a digital record valid for three years; on subsequent trips, travellers only need to scan their passport and provide one biometric identifier (photo or fingerprint).
