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.

And I have travelled numerous times to nearly every EU Country since BREXIT on a UK passport and have never felt singled out for longer processing at borders. Border control staff or systems just don't work like that. The only place where you feel they might be a bit fed up with the British is the Spanish and Greek tourist hotspots and that reasons for that were well established before BREXIT.
Most Countries actually like us visiting and if you travel in the Balkans, as I do, there are positively friendly to us. Except areas of Serbia who still have beefs about Blair led Nato bombing of Belgrade.
Avoid the chaos of the Costas and go to the Polish or Lithuanian Baltic coast. You will be welcome, have double spending power, slightly cooler but still great climate, and experience something new without the mad crowds. Boarder control will not stress anyone.
Palanga is highly recommended for a week.

What’s Madeira (Funchal) airport like for queues? Going end of April

Well if you have you must surely be aware there are EU / EEA lanes and “All Passports” lanes. We’re not singled out any more than Americans or any other third country is, but we’re definitely queuing for longer

I am well aware of tge different lanes, thank you.
Flew back from Prague last night and the time to get through passport control was 6 minutes from arriving at the non EU 'queues'. They had 8 staffed passport control desks for non EU. The big bottle necks at the Costas and Spannish Islands might be an issue this summer, no doubt, but my experience is that if it does take a bit more time it's no big deal. The scaremongering isn't helping or factually correct for the vast majority of travel in EU as a non EU passport holder. And the absolute worst that can happen is you are queueing. I flew back to Ireland today and UK passports get you straight through. There is no freedom of EU entry to Ireland without passport control.

Surely the EU should make a way to process non EU passports in a smooth manner

DH has the same problem. He has to go in front of me, and I have to tell him when to pick up his passport and go. Without stepping too close to the line as I have been shouted at for having my toes almost on it. Ridiculous that there’s no lane with verbal instructions for people needing assistance.

We had no problems going to Europe last month - this was for the first time since the new system.
We went through the egates without issue and weren’t even asked for fingerprints.

Well it is, because there are a lot of people from the UK who used to use the EU queue but now have to use the non-EU queue, therefore making it longer.

Nothing to do with the EU (or the UK) being vindictive. Simple numbers!

Flew into Malaga on Sunday with 4 planes from the UK arriving at the same time (and seemingly every school trip on our plane as well) and was anticipating "Costa Chaos" but it was absolutely fine - there are masses of the fingerprint collection stands so we only waited a few minutes, and then straight through the e-gates. Our DC are over 12 which helps, but you can't use the e-gates with younger kids in the UK either so no difference there.

Now that we're registered, I'm hoping that means we can just go straight to the e-gates next time?

No, I think you have to use the machines every time - it's just a bit quicker because you've done the pre-registration. You register the three bits of biometric info and then they check one bit each time.

I assume the airport concerned wasn't using the new system. From 10 April (I think) it is compulsory unless queues are ridiculous and I guess each airport's view of what's ridiculous will vary. They may not care about arrivals but might be more relaxed about doing something about queues in departures so people don't miss flights.

ETIAS at the end of the year as well

This is what it was like last year, we are going again soon - is it still the same this year?!

Well at least the calculator will tell how many days you've spent/can spend in EU so you won't overstay your welcome!

So (as mentioned by pp), there will be EES and ETIAS by the end of the year. That's if flights can continue as they are if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.....

That isn't any bother though, once you have paid it's done for three years. No queues involved!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/04/biometric-checks-stalled-again-for-cross-channel-travellers Includes some airport references