As the new European Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on Friday (10 April), travellers have had mixed experiences.
While some have landed to holidays and met by lengthy queues, others have been surprised to breeze through smoothly despite warnings of waits.
But it’s truly been a bit of a nightmare for the over 100 people who were left stranded in Milan on Sunday.
It’s reported that an EasyJet flight to Manchester set off with just 34 passengers yesterday, as 122 others were left behind in border check queues.
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And to top it off, the heat in Milan’s Linate airport took its toll. Brits have spoken out more on the hellish experience as it’s reported that passengers were vomiting and passing out in the queue with the situation out of EasyJet’s ‘control’.
Kiera, 17, added to the BBC that she and her boyfriend had a 20-hour wait for their new flight (to London Gatwick, not Manchester) as she explained the conditions in the airport.
“We got here at seven-thirty for our flight at eleven so were super early,” she explained.
"We got to Border Control and it was a massive queue of people. I wasn't feeling great anyway because I think I'd got food poisoning.
"At about ten-fifty they brought some water over for people, and when we got to the front of the queue someone asked us if we were going to Manchester, and told us our flight had just gone.
"There were only about 30 people got on the plane, and about 100 people didn't."
Adam Lomas, was on holiday with his wife, Katy, and their four-month-old daughter when they ended up spending ‘hours’ at the airport.
As others said they couldn’t get a flight for four days, he explained some had driven to Pisa.
"The airport and EasyJet have spent hours arguing with each other about who is to blame,” he claimed.
A spokesperson for EasyJet told LADbible: "Due to delays in EES processing by border authorities, some passengers departing from Milan Linate yesterday experienced very long waiting times at passport control.
"We held flight EJU5420 from Milan to Manchester for nearly an hour to give passengers extra time but it had to then depart due to crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours.
"Customers who missed the flight have been offered a free flight transfer.
“We continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while EES is implemented, to avoid these unacceptable border delays for our customers.
“While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused."
EES impacts British citizens travelling to a country within the Schengen area, as those going for a short stay using a UK passport may be required to register fingerprints and a photo.
The FCDO explains: “EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.
“EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.”
The LADbible Group has contacted the European Commission and Società Esercizi Aeroportuali for comment.
Full list of the 29 countries that use the new EES system
The EES system is used by all EU countries in the Schengen zone of free movement, and this includes some popular holiday destinations for Brits. The affected countries are as follows:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Jess Battison