To find travel in Europe too stressful now with all the extra passport palaver

[Pavementworrier]

Why do all these new systems work so poorly? Who is getting rich on the stupid shit eye scanner things?

Please tell me soothing tales of recent visits to Europe where it was fine.

I agree with you but feel I must say it was English AND Welsh people.

(Not me, I always thought it was fucking stupid, but I don’t like the attempts to pretend it wasn’t English idiots and Welsh idiots together - and I usually love all things Welsh!)

It should have been a precondition that all four nations voted for it for it to mean anything though. And a special majority overall.

But the powers that be argued in their utter wisdom that it was only advisory so not necessary 🤔

Actually I haven't seen any sensational media reports.

But Which? have reported on it, including the fact that people are routinely missing flights. That was around late November I think so things may be better now.

It should have been a precondition that all four nations voted for it for it to mean anything though. And a special majority overall

Alex Salmond asked for that - at least needing a majority in all four nations. Funnily enough the government refused - can't think why

I think people accept it when they fly long-haul though and are perhaps spending two weeks at the destination. When you are nipping over to a European city for a long weekend, it takes up a huge chunk of the time!

It should have required at least 2/3rds of the vote. Completely insane that this was allowed.

Do wonder if there will ever be a reversal. Kind of hard to imagine with all the evil influences bedded into politics and media now.

I went to Alicante last week. Took me theee mins to get through the scanning and fingerprint stuff.

Just back from Budapest - very efficient - extra 2 minutes (if that).

Oo how was the snow? (I find that airport a stress even in the before times so maybe the only way is up)

It’s becoming rather unclear now what you actually wanted from this thread. In your OP you asked for ‘soothing tales’ of posters’ recent travels to Europe when they had not experienced problems (paraphrasing here). You have been given these reports from several posters but you are now dismissing us as ‘typists on a screen’.

If you just wanted a rant, fine, but at least be honest and don’t pretend you wanted to hear others’ experiences.

No need to go abroad if you are stressed

Plenty of lovely places to go on holiday in UK

I saw this today and thought of this thread: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/05/travel-industry-fears-summer-disruption-biometric-checks-controls-ees-european-borders

it mentions 7 hour delays at Lisbon airport!

I’ve been through Geneva twice in the last few weeks and haven’t had any opportunity to use this system on either trip. My next trip is to Chambrey in March and then Malaga in May (work trips). Let’s see what happens then!

Geneva isn't in the EU

Deffo wouldn't wanted to be booked for Cape Verdi at the moment.
TUi are being complete arsholes.
They have billions of pounds, yet are refusing to give refunds to people who don't wish to travel.
Solicitors are on the case.
How bloody stressful.

I’m aware of that, but they’re still going to be using the EES system. It’s just been paused on the days that I’ve travelled.

https://www.gva.ch/en/Site/Passagers/Preparation-voyage/Demarches-administratives/Visas-Papiers-identite/Nouveau-systeme-europeen-de-passage-aux-frontieres

Interesting, a relative of mine is currently in Valencia and said it was a right palaver. At least he's tech-savvy! Although thinking about it, 3 minutes extra per person is quite a lot. I know there's more than one machine but multiply that by the number of people on a plane...

A colleague is in Lisbon for the half marathon, I'll ask her about it when she comes back.

I've been to Poland and Spain since the system was introduced and got a new passport in between so had to register on both trips. The Polish airport was very small and most passengers were EU passport holders so third country nationals were a relative minority.

In both instances the screens seemed to really struggle recognising finger prints, it just seemed to fail. On the way into Spain I was sent to the manual desk, I honestly have no idea if I'm registered with my new passport because I tried to do it on my way back and it sent me straight to the e gates and let me out without doing the scan - but they may have suspended it due to difficulties/queues - on the way in at Malaga there's literally dozens of terminals so only a small queue at each one, but many people seemed to be struggling to get it to recognise their fingerprints.

The next big challenge will probably be either the Easter holidays or end of May, whichever one comes first after the date when it has to be properly in place.

I recently flew from Manchester to Basel, entered Switzerland on my Swiss passport.

Was through, got my luggage, got my rental car before any of the British passport holders appeared.

Brexit did a right number on Brits.

What's Switzerland got to do with Brexit?

They’re still doing the EES

But they can do what they like. But they are no in the EU so Brexit irrelevant

True, but it’s the EES that’s adding to delays.

Even though Switzerland is not in the EU, it is in the Schengen Area (which is what EES is about controlling) and travel to Switzerland is impacted because the UK has left the EU. If Brexit had not happened British passport holders would not need to go through the EES system when entering the EU or when entering other Schengen Area countries such as Switzerland, Iceland and Norway that are not in the EU.

Yes, but no guaranteed the weather.