Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark warning to all Brits travelling to Europe this summer, highlighting that the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has caused substantial travel disruption since its full rollout on Friday, April 10. Holiday-makers have faced queues stretching for hours at both arrivals and departures across the EU and Schengen area, with some travellers even missing their flights.
System Causes Chaos at Major Airports
The EES, a digital border system, operates at airport arrivals and departures throughout the EU and Schengen area. Simon Calder confessed that the only "useful" guidance he can offer is to "be prepared for anything" regarding the delays. On his podcast, The Travel Expert with Simon Calder, he said: "It is annoying when you are on the way into a country, when you're standing in line for a couple of hours, when you would rather be on the beach or in my case, in the bar. But when you are coming out and have a plane to catch, lots of people are saying get there three hours in advance. I guess we would say that, but ideally three hours in advance with cabin baggage and nothing to check in."
Calder has urged holiday-makers to allow ample time for airport checks when leaving the EU and the Schengen area, and advises against checking in luggage to save additional time. His co-host, Greg Dickinson, added: "It has been a complete scandal, and it will keep going."
Biometric Data Issues Compound Delays
Greg highlighted that "one of the main frustrations" with the system is that travellers are submitting their biometric data on multiple occasions. He said: "That shouldn't be happening. It should only happen on the first occasion [of entering the Schengen area]. Part of this is because the machines aren't talking to each other. It is not as joined up as you would hope it would be. Many airports don't have a segregated lane for people who have had their ESS checks done already." Greg further stated: "This isn't how it should be working, but in many cases, people are having their fingerprints taken on multiple occasions."
Worst-Affected Airports Identified
Simon Calder had previously branded the system a "Euro shambles" and identified which parts of Europe are most severely affected by the new procedure. The expert singled out Milan Malpensa, Lisbon, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt and Copenhagen as the airports suffering the "worst" delays. Travellers are advised to plan accordingly and expect significant waiting times at these hubs.
