Britons traveling to Europe are facing extensive queues at airports, leading to missed flights as new border checks create disruptions across the EU. Frustrated travelers have taken to social media to express their dismay over being stuck in crowded terminals within the Schengen zone, turning their leisurely trips into stressful ordeals due to long waits at passport control.
One Facebook user, Clarissa Ward, vented her frustration after experiencing what she described as the longest line of her life, witnessing elderly individuals, families with young children, and others missing connections and flights. She highlighted the preferential treatment given to TAP passengers by airport staff when close to missing their flights, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves amidst the chaos following the delayed implementation of the new system in various European cities.
Another traveler, Craig Hackett, shared his ordeal of arriving early and checking in promptly only to face a massive queue that resulted in him and several other passengers missing their flights despite their efforts. He criticized the lack of prioritization for those at risk of missing flights and the absence of assistance from airport personnel or airline representatives.
The delays stem from the recent introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12, 2025, mandating non-EU travelers, including Britons, to provide fingerprints and undergo photography when entering or leaving the Schengen area. The Schengen zone, comprising 29 European nations, serves as the world’s largest free-travel zone, with EU officials emphasizing that the enhanced checks aim to bolster border security and curb illegal immigration.
In response to the prolonged waiting times, airlines have taken to social media to call for a suspension of the new Entry/Exit system (EES). Ryanair, for instance, urged the Portuguese government to halt the EES until after the peak summer season, citing significant delays at Lisbon’s border control that exceed the average flight duration, cautioning against excessive queues during the busy summer period.
