To consider cancelling my holiday because of the EES?

[idontwanttogoanymore]

I just can’t cope with this stress. I will be travelling alone and I can’t afford (literally or mentally) to miss a flight because of this system.

I just don’t want to go. It’s looming over me. I did it in February going into Norway, but that makes no difference. You’re still in the queue for hours. I’m flying with Ryanair and they only open their bag drop 2 hours before, they’re now saying three hours to get through. So it’ll be literally impossible.

So you're encouraging solo travellers to find a reason to book assisted travel by finding some spurious reason? I believe you're soon going to have to have a medical assessment to book assisted travel. The sooner the better.

I’ve been to Venice and Alicante airports in the last 2 months, absolutely fine. Friend has been to Milan last month, also fine. You are being unreasonable.

In my experience brexit hasn’t changed anything for my travel insurance, other than the EHIC card being replaced by one that covered more countries, called the GHIC card. Neither of those Isi tended to be comprehensive travel insurance though. What has brexit changed for you that has increased your travel insurance?

Sorry but you don’t realise how easy you have it travelling alone.

Imagine trying to take young kids who are trying to run around everywhere because standing in a queue is boring. Babies screaming because they are hot and overwhelmed by the noise.

I have an autistic child who would have a meltdown waiting in a queue for hours. I’ve decided flights are out of the question for us at the moment as the stress wouldn’t be worth it.

The queue you will face arriving or leaving is so dependent on the number of flights arriving from UK in the hour or two before yours. If there’s only a couple of flights a day you’ll be grand. Pinch points have been places like Faro, Milan and Lisbon where they have tons of flights daily.
The news of passengers being left behind are isolated incidents but they are widely publicised, so scaremonger. It’s a bit like violent crime which goes down year over year but we think it’s way worse than it’s ever been.

Apart from the obvious that is the OP is being completely ridiculous and unreasonable, can I just say Ryanair is an extremely well-run airline. Yes, it’s no frills. That’s why they can provide lower prices. But their safety levels, processes, app etc are all really good. I never understand the Ryanair bashing on MN - literally one of the safest airlines out there.
On that note, a passenger who isn’t travelling is offloaded and if there’s a checked in bag, it’s searched for and offloaded too. It’s a pain in the arse but it’s a security requirement. If it travelled by accident (rare) then it would initiate a security investigation. If a passenger travels and the bag gets left behind (more common) then the bag is sent ASAP after and is called a “rush bag” and is screened multiple times to ensure it is safe to travel.
OP, I don’t think you have been fair to people who have tried to help you here. Go, don’t go. Whatever. You will be absolutely fine if you go. But you probably need to address the anxiety/anger.

At least try to go. I wouldn’t cancel but would take reasonable contingencies, such as perhaps taking hand luggage only, getting to the airport early, and taking out insurance. If you do take hold luggage pack stuff which wouldn’t be the end of the world to lose and insure your case.

In reality 99% of people will be fine, you’re just hearing about the worst cases. Plus what is there to lose in trying if you don’t check luggage in?

I was in Milan 2 weeks ago, it took no time. Arriving took about 5 minutes longer, leaving about 10 if that. We flew Ryan air. It was absolutely fine, no problems, no drama, as easy as before. Just an extra step as you walk through. It was well organised, easy to follow. Id seen the same and was stressed before we went, people missing flight etc, but i think theres been a handful of hiccups that have been blown out of proportion by the media. It certainly wasnt my experience.

If you don't do it's because of your own neurotic choices not anything else

OP that is NOT the Ryanair website. That is an AI answer cobbled together from five different websites, some of which might be old Reddit pages for all you know.

You'll get much more reliable information about Ryanair from Ryanair themselves

I’ve been to Majorca over half term. Myself and my older son were sent through the automated gates - no delay. My OH and DD were sent to the under 12’s lane and had to wait about 35/40 mins. It just meant that the luggage was coming out at the same time as they were, there was no extra delay as me and DS were just stood waiting for luggage rather than waiting in the passport queue for the same amount of time.

No queues at all on the way back (either in Majorca or UK). We had landed, gone through passport control, got the luggage and left the airport in under 30 minutes.

It can’t be impossible otherwise Ryan Air would have an empty plane each time.

@idontwanttogoanymore i panicked about this also. I was flying from Gatwick on bank holiday Monday with easyjet. I arrived just over 3 hours before my flight to Spain and thought I'd have to wait for bag drop to open, but went over to easyjet bit and they were open already. There were also no queues at security and the passport business was fine, again no queue. There was a person helping with the initial bit. When we left Spain, the return was just as easy. Hopefully you'll be fine. As pp have said Ryanair will be aware. Also in Turkey last year, we were stuck in traffic to get to the airport and arrived with 20 minutes before our flight! Every one was in the same situation (president visiting or something and roads closed etc) no one missed their flights as all airlines were aware and held them til their passengers were through. Very delayed, but at least we got home! You'll be fine.

Surprised you’ve not mentioned there being no fuel as a reason not to go yet OP!

We did it in Tenerife recently another reportedly bad place. Three hours before and joined the queue as soon as they would let us, kept moving until we had cleared all the security points and passport control. It was fine, a bit of a queue but nothing major and no one missed their flight

Ryanair let you check your bags in early if there are likely to be queues. I always get to the airport 4 hours before anyway because I travel via public transport so need to mitigate any delays then check in as soon as I can.

Yes you should definitely cancel it

OP you really are catastrophising.
There is nothing to do on the UK departures side of your flight. It’s when you land in Milan that you’re registered.

They have machines to take your photo, scan your passport and take your fingerprints (or they did in Venice in April), a 5 minute job. Then you go through egates and a human (police in Italy) checks you against your passport through a cc camera system. One human for 6 egates. It’s hardly intrusive.

3 hours before your flight would be normal for UK high season due to higher passenger traffic and hand luggage checks. Ryanair take your checked suitcase 2 hours before and look at your passport for ID. Not scary.

If it’s your local airport, maybe take a bus up there and walk around, just to reassure yourself about the layout and atmosphere. You can’t cancel a holiday for something people do thousands of times a day.

I do blame Brexit for the UK being in this situation, but EES is also for people from USA, India etc.

Honestly you need help with your anxiety. You're refusing to listen to anyone who has travelled recently with no problem. Stop watching the news - it's all bol**ocks. Just go early and enjoy your holiday. Or don't but it will be because of your anxiety and no other reason

I have just landed back from Europe, I took kids, we were through security at both ends including fingerprints (we did digital in 2 mins then cos of the kids got asked to go to a manual window) and still had time to get food and drinks and sit down with them, do some duty free shopping etc. you will be fine. And we only arrived 2 hours before our flights….and it was half term so busy.

I think maybe see your GP, you don’t sound very well OP.

and your holiday will be fine. Just take hand luggage if you’re worried about the desk thing.

My dd and her friend went to Paris yesterday on Ryan Air with one checked in case. She said they got through really quickly and they have never flown on their own so were nervous about the whole thing. No problems and now she’s in Paris.

You'd swap freedom of movement for all EU citizens into the UK to save you some anxiety over your holiday. Thankfully you don't get to make that choice for the rest of us on the basis of panicking over something millions of people just did just fine over half term.

I think I’ve heard it all now. OP don’t bother going, and maybe see somebody about your anxiety.

We had 2 European trips since April. Short queues, no major drama. Ignore the headlines, the sensational stories are not everyone’s experience. Just give yourself as much time as you can and go enjoy your trip!