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.

Ah, I see. I just mentioned it in case you might not have been aware that you can accompany the person getting assistance.

Ireland. Not great for the weather though 😁

We're not in Schengen and there is the CTA.

When I flew into Naples 4 weeks ago there were none of the new terminals, just e-gates which were segregated EU and UK (plus a few others) and then a traditional queue for those with other passports. Most of the people on my flight (from LGW) seemed to hold EU passports, and there was a big queue for those e-gates. I walked straight up to an e-gate for UK passports, and was through in around 30 seconds. The exit from the e-gates funnelled us to two immigration officers who stamped passports with barely a glance.

I hear you. Same issue for me.

When was that if you don’t mind me asking @RampantIvy ? Flying into Kos in June for an onward (short) ferry connection. Kos wasn’t that quick when we flew in pre EES last year but nothing remotely like you experienced. I hope you still enjoyed the holiday.

I would add though that Malaga was remarkably quick when we flew in there earlier this month. Less than an hour from touching down to enjoying a glass of cava in our city centre hotel. Complete opposite outbound from Malaga though.

This is just it, even if I get there I'll spend the entire time worrying about getting out

Hamburg is fine. Probably other German airports too. Just stay in the UK OP. Your country needs the tourist money most.

Mehhhh I am not a patriot I just want to have fun

Further afield may not be so wallet friendly though.

I thought you could go through the EU queue with your family.

Sadly not! You have to get your passport stamped in the correct queue.

I've tried going in the EU queue. with DH in Copenhagen and with my daughter in Vienna and I get pointed to the rest of the world queue instead.

The only time it did work was in Lisbon when DD was under 16 and when she got to the booth they asked where her parent was and I got beckoned over and we both got through quickly.

That was heavily restricted though - were you travelling premier? I didn't think they'd launched it at St Pancras for the plebs yet. I did think of going there to register ahead of time but I wasn't sure if you could do that.

DH and I used the machines in Hamburg last year but we weren't sure if we'd registered properly because of the aforementioned fingerprinting and it was just before it launched officially.

Malaga was horrendous yesterday, so much so that I nearly missed my flight home. Despite being at the airport in good time, I finally boarded at 11.30 for an 11.40 take off. The pilot then kindly waited for another 15 passengers stuck in the hell that was the passport control queue. That was all off season, imagine peak time. It’s put me off going anywhere else in the EU this year.

Who exactly do you think is going to steal your suitcase airside? It could be stolen from the carousel. It's not as though they're in the arrivals hall.

Ughhhh back to 1950 I hate it

So glad I'm not young they're living in a shit time

@AmazingGreatAunt I do the same as @CSIGrissom does when flying to the USA where I'm a dual citizen which has the same rules requiring you to travel into the country on the passport of that country. Buy ticket London - USA - London. Put down US passport number. When returning, check in online, put in UK passport number. Even easier if they let you put both passport numbers down at the time of booking. All they care about is you turning up to the outbound leg with your passport of your destination country, and your return leg with the passport of your return country - then they know you don't need a visa either way.

@Offredismysister oh dear - we are flying to Malaga on Palm Sunday and back on Easter Sunday!! Will leave extra time....

I regularly fly into and out of Salzburg, Billund and Munich.

EES at all 3 locations works perfectly fine.

I can think of a popular non European holiday destination where that happens.

Re Malaga airport, coming in, machines couldn't recognise my fingerprints so directed to manual border check, massive queues. Was dreadful.
I was so worried on leaving, however, we went extra early, went straight to passport checks after security, didn't linger, looking at shops etc, there was no queue and this time we went straight to the passport control, followed the instructions by the border officer, fingerprint machine worked first time and we were through. Then we could relax!
When we dropped the bags off, we were told which gate area to go to, this was Jet 2.

I’m in the same boat. When passport control asks if you’re travelling with anyone I say with my EU husband and point in the vague direction of the arrivals bar and I’m let through.

It is the business of the border force to ascertain why people are coming into the UK and where from.

Yes the UK needs tourist money. Genius idea then to vote for Brexit and make travel loads more complicated, costly and inconvenient for our nearest neighbours.
DP works in a field that’s related and the financial loss to UK institutions and attractions is significant.

You Brexiteers are to blame for this. We would have seemless travel with no stipulations if we had remained in the EU.

I mean I think systems should work regardless