Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To warn you not to travel to Prague by plane on a non-EU passport

254 replies

Figmentofmyimagination · 16/10/2026 21:33

Horrible chaos. 2+ hour passport control queues. First a very long queue for the new machine check - eyes, finger prints etc - and then second very long queue for a manual check - why???. V hot. Incredibly stressful and unpleasant experience. No forewarning by easyJet. Never want to do that again. Apparently it will be the same when we leave. Everybody has to do it - even if you have previously supplied your finger prints etc while travelling to a different EU country.

OP posts:
Worndownbyit · Yesterday 18:42

We left the EU in 2016, I've been to Italy in 2018, 2019 and this year and at no point have I had any issues - that's even on my new UK passport.

Havanananana · Yesterday 21:59

Worndownbyit · Yesterday 18:42

We left the EU in 2016, I've been to Italy in 2018, 2019 and this year and at no point have I had any issues - that's even on my new UK passport.

The UK left the EU on 31st January 2020 so your trips before then would have been unaffected.

FFSItsTooHot · Yesterday 23:05

And this nicely sums up why I won't travel abroad any more. Plenty of lovely places in the UK to visit which won't involve spending a day in an airport.

HarlanCobenDogshit · Yesterday 23:11

Notstoppingforredlights · 16/10/2026 22:08

Why? Brexit.

Show quote history

Understaffed passport kiosks!

They never have enough people on that part. Hence the queues.

Mere1 · Yesterday 23:29

nomas · 16/10/2026 21:46

If only there was a way just to make the people who voted to leave the EU suffer.

This!!!

truepenguin · Yesterday 23:33

Germans have it sussed. Go to a police kiosk at an airport, ask for easy pass, takes about 10 mins, after which you do your fingerprints and photo at the booth and then use the e-gates. Valid for a year.

Not at Frankfurt airport.

ErinBell01 · Today 02:04

Ducksurprise · 16/10/2026 21:34

I had this in Spain- despite having already done the finger prints in France , I had to re do the whole thing - I don't understand why

I think the EU is punishing the UK for daring to leave. There is absolutely no reason to keep doing these things over and over.

nomas · Today 02:10

ErinBell01 · Today 02:04

I think the EU is punishing the UK for daring to leave. There is absolutely no reason to keep doing these things over and over.

Show quote history

Why does the EU need to treat British people like EU citizens when we’re not anymore?

StarlightLady · Today 06:21

nomas · Today 02:10

Why does the EU need to treat British people like EU citizens when we’re not anymore?

Show quote history

This. We took the decision to become a third country. This is what you get.

And we let these people have the vote.

StarlightLady · Today 07:14

ErinBell01 · Today 02:04

I think the EU is punishing the UK for daring to leave. There is absolutely no reason to keep doing these things over and over.

Show quote history

The UK is not treated any differently to any other third country.

RedRiverShore6 · Today 07:24

FFSItsTooHot · Yesterday 23:05

And this nicely sums up why I won't travel abroad any more. Plenty of lovely places in the UK to visit which won't involve spending a day in an airport.

Edited

We are the same and don't go abroad any more.

OMGitsnotgood · Today 07:29

truepenguin · Yesterday 23:33

Germans have it sussed. Go to a police kiosk at an airport, ask for easy pass, takes about 10 mins, after which you do your fingerprints and photo at the booth and then use the e-gates. Valid for a year.

Not at Frankfurt airport.

Yup, our worst experience yet was in Germany.

Myli1 · Today 08:21

Ah the joys of brexshit…

oblada · Today 08:26

Munich was perfectly organised and took no time at all. Went there with my friend and she had to do the finger print thing (I don't, I have an EU passport thankfully). France was fine too I believe, husband took the kids there. It'll depend on staffing, flight time, organisation etc. no reason to believe it will not get better once everyone is used to it.

Myli1 · Today 08:26

ErinBell01 · Today 02:04

I think the EU is punishing the UK for daring to leave. There is absolutely no reason to keep doing these things over and over.

Show quote history

Utter nonsense I’m afraid. The UK is treated in exactly the same way as every other third country outside the bloc.

MyballsareSandy2015 · Today 08:27

I really need to crack on with my Irish passport application.

StarlightLady · Today 08:34

MyballsareSandy2015 · Today 08:27

I really need to crack on with my Irish passport application.

I commend anyone for doing this. Unless they voted leave.

TealHacks · Today 08:36

StarlightLady · Today 08:34

I commend anyone for doing this. Unless they voted leave.

Show quote history

I feel such rage when I think about leavers obtaining Irish passports for themselves and their kids.

BrandiedAromatics · Today 09:14

TealHacks · Today 08:36

I feel such rage when I think about leavers obtaining Irish passports for themselves and their kids.

Show quote history

There was a huge uptake of getting an Irish passport - only need one grandparent to apply. You get freedom of movement to UK and to Shengen area.

MyballsareSandy2015 · Today 09:18

TealHacks · Today 08:36

I feel such rage when I think about leavers obtaining Irish passports for themselves and their kids.

Show quote history

Me too!

Redfluffyblanket · Today 09:20

This is what taking back control of your borders looks like. Did everyone think it would only work one way?

Havanananana · Today 10:02

ErinBell01 · Today 02:04

I think the EU is punishing the UK for daring to leave. There is absolutely no reason to keep doing these things over and over.

Show quote history

... and the other 166 non-EU/EFTA countries - are the EU also punishing them, or are the Schengen countries "taking control of the borders"?

TealHacks · Today 10:12

Havanananana · Today 10:02

... and the other 166 non-EU/EFTA countries - are the EU also punishing them, or are the Schengen countries "taking control of the borders"?

Show quote history

Such a puerile thing to say, let alone think. Shows the mentality of those who voted for this shit show.

AngelRoja · Today 14:22

CraftyNavySeal · 16/10/2026 22:02

Brexit doesn’t explain why the system is crap. The EU should have been able to roll out a system that works, and I say that as an EU citizen.

I went to Singapore and Korea this year and got through passport control in seconds after filling in an e visa.

Show quote history

The EU already have systems in place for non EU travellers and have had to change them due to the influx of "new" non EU tourists from the UK. New systems take time to settle. It's not their fault that the UK chose to leave and join a different queue.

Maybe now people will.understand why the non EU queue always seemed to go slower even before the UK joined it.

CosyDenimShark · Today 14:34

OP, We've recently come back from Prague and had the same experience as you on arrival. That being said, it was nowhere near the same going home. We were the only people at the booth for passport control and the guy took my prints and a picture at his booth and we were in.

One important thing to note though. Once through security, there is no baggage xray/security until you are called to boarding gate. Each boarding gate has its own mini security bag scanners in the room for your own flight. We positioned ourselves near a screen and as soon as it announced gate number, we legged it and were second in the queue! Hopefully that saves you a bit of time!