The new EU passport control system for non-EU is totally idiotic and crap and will permanently make holidaying in Europe worse

[Czerwonitz]

Sure, still probably better than the US (and no need to say anything about the UAE etc for now) but still shit.

1. Why are there stupid kiosks dotted randomly about, just put them in the line everyone waits in so the queue can be orderly and everyone literally knows where they stand.

2.Clearly mark the line so people don't wait in the wrong one for an hour before being told they have to go to the back of another.

3.The fingerprints machine cannot properly take fingerprints (anyone who has worked in a fingerprinty job knows this, it's all for show) so maybe just park that or if not then at least get some alcohol wipes for between users.

None of this will happen ofc it's random shitty kiosks til we die. Or rejoin the EU. So the first one.

So far we have Toulouse and Cyprus. Any more? This could be the checklist needed before booking the next holiday!

Fancy paying to line up and be treated like a criminal when undocumented people are turning up in inflatables.

There is a world beyond Europe. Vote with your wallets.

I flew into Munich last week. The process was quick, easy & straightforward. And the border control guy was helpful, friendly & very good looking. 😉

To go where these days?

Cyprus
Toulouse
Munich.

Anyone been to Paris or Italy recently? What about Greece.

This is one reason why I am seriously reconsidering a planned trip to the UK in the next 6 weeks. Loathe to pull out as its a celebration of 50 years since leaving school & would be terrific to catch up with people in person.
I have valid EU and UK passports. I understand that, if I fly, I need to book the outward flight with my UK passport, then change the details during my trip to the EU one. Not entirely sure how this would work.
Am considering driving in my EU car, so assume I just show the UK passport at Calais and the EU one on the return trip, but again not sure how this would work as you need to give passport details when booking the chunnel.
Unless I am now forced to book 2 single journeys, for both scenarios, which will be expensive.
I have always used the EU passport since I got it and gave only once been given the third degree on why I was travelling to the UK in 2023 by some jobsworth at the airport, who started asking me all sorts of questions about my trip, which were, frankly, none of her business. She soon stopped, when I told her I was going to a funeral and would it help if I showed her my UK passport.

Another option is cruises from Southampton or elsewhere in the UK.

Often there are no passport checks at ports in other countries or if so then are nothing like airports. They always check your passport getting on at the port in the UK

Oh, come on. Do you seriously not know how to google 'holidays outside the eu'?

Where would anyone actually want to go

You will have to ask anyone.

“Undocumented” is a very US term

Flying out to Madeira end of April. DM has assistance as she can't do the standing so DF and myself go through security and passport control separately

Berlin airport wasn't a great experience when coming home, but I feel like we (in the collective sense - obviously I didn't vote for Brexit) deserve it for voting to leave the EU.

Dare I ask about Italy (particularly Naples)

Did anyone notice a separate accessible queue?

Oh give over. (Berlin was awful in 2015)

I get you. All the nice easy to get to places are in the EU. What's left? well there's the US, hmmm. Then there's the Far East, and the Middle East, hmmm again with the oil and gas stuff not to mention the war. Canada, South America, Africa etc. All day or night on a plane....

Near enough are Morocco, Tunisia, Montenegro, the Balkans, Turkiye.

There's nowhere like EU Europe though for history, food, culture, sun, ease of access and connectivity from country to country once you get across the English Channel.

I hadn't been before.

But it was just the general experience. In previous airport experiences I have found you can look at the shops, get something to eat. Now that there is all the fingerprint stuff you have to factor in a 30 minute - 1 hour extra queue.

Those e-passport machines where you stuck between gates, are a pain for me. As my passport photo is me without glasses. Take off my glasses and cannot read the screen. Put my glasses, can read the screen but the camera doesn't recognise me with the glasses.

You can have both flights on same passport. You must carry both passports and enter and leave on the same one. I got proper told off by border agent when I first travelled with both and thought what I gave airline should be the same as what I show at border. Apparently not....
So if I fpy to my EU country, I give UK passport to airline, leave uk on UK passport, enter the other and then leave on EU one, re enter uk on UK one. If that makes sense. No need to change details with thr airline.

Why can't your DF accompany her and get all the benefits of the assistance too? My DP gets assistance and I can accompany him on the buggy to fast check in, fast track security, straight through passport contro, and a whizzy buggy all the way to the gate. Ask about it next time.

Edited to add, even if Mum doesn't use the buggy but gets a wheelchair, your Dad can still walk with her and avail of all the fastrack stuff too.

For me, the return to UK is poorly organised. Three flights landed within 20 mins at Birmingham and decided to use ONE luggage carousel. 550-600 people awaiting for their luggage

Then putting emergency stop buttons at the same height as luggage trolley bases (on the side of the carousel) was a bad idea.

DF and I go with DM through the security etc with DM. In the past, DF was able to go on the plane lift. The last time we weren't allowed as no space on that for accompanying passengers as the last flight had 15 people that required assistance. So it was the terminal bus thing

DH and I went to the Netherlands flying into Amsterdam last weekend. Didn’t have any particular issues with passport control - don’t remember it taking any longer than normal

I understand why people wouldnt choose the US right now.

But we had an exceptional experience going via Dublin.

Literally no queue at pre-clearance no fingerprints taken, a lovely chat about why we were flying. Straight into domestic terminal in the states.

Then on the return leg a breeze through the airport US side, v quick passport check in Dublin through the connections corridor. And then on arrival at heathrow we came through domestic arrivals from Dublin so no passport check.

We had a wonderful time and couldn't have felt more welcome in the Mid-West.

But like I said I appreciate lots of people wouldn't fancy it rn!

It was working fine at St Pancras for Eurostar departures in October. (You go through the French border at St Pancras). Not much difference from how it worked before the photo and fingerprint part.