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.

@idontwanttogoanymore

Either you started this post just to goad people or you have serious anxiety issues.

Hundreds of people are telling you that this is basically a non issue. And if you’re really that worried about it, then take a cabin bag only to forego the checked baggage if you want to go through security much earlier. Surely better that than cancel if you’d really be heartbroken about it.

Oh, and I also work in travel (not a travel agent) and there have been no issues with customers missing flights due to EES. And believe me when I say I would know if there had been.

I’m with you on Brexit btw, but that’s not a reason not to go on holiday.

The queues really depend on the country you are going to (some like Greece seem to have been completely unprepared for it). It also depends on how many other non- Schengen area flights land in the 90mins before yours. Check the arrivals list of the airport to see how many there are.

Makes me think of" The Terminal" film

How long are you going for? If its a week or less just ditch the hold baggage and take a rucksack as hand luggage, go through security as early as would provide you with reassurance.

I started doing this once add-on baggage costs got ridiculous and I have been amazed how little I really need. Even if you're going for longer you can launder clothes at the hotel, books on a kindle etc.

In reality it would probably be fine anyway but if it gives you some comfort and means you don't have to cancel then that's what you need.

I did an easy jet flight this week (back from Montenegro albeit that isn't a Schengen country) and almost everyone on the flight seemed to be hand baggage only. The luggage carousel was virtually empty as we all strolled past it!

Edited - duplicate.

No, they didn’t. There is no 2026 Greek stamp on my passport in or out of the country. (We flew to Athens and flew back from Heraklion)

There was an East Asian woman on my left, going through passport control. She had to give her fingerprints and have her photo taken. When I offered to do the same, the passport officer waved me through!

Jesus! Whatever the land beyond Cloud Cuckoo Land is, you're in it. So if it weren't for Starmer watching a football game his government would be able to negotiate a deal with the EU that exempts a third country from a principal EU border security measure, all in time for your holiday? Of course! And if the lazy git could just miss Eastenders one evening he could sort out Russia/Ukraine too.

It may not be that bad. I've just got back from a river cruise, flying to Budapest and returning from Vienna (same weekend as the Eurovision song contest). It didn't take any longer than usual - less than 20 minutes.

Honestly @idontwanttogoanymore you are catastrophising.
Personally, travelling as a lone adult, is the ideal time to suss out the new travel process, this is the new normal unfortunately.
Are you never going to travel again?

For everyone saying this is a nonissue, i missed a flight for this exact reason.

We arrived checked in our bags two hours before and then became stuck in the queue for getting our passports stamped out. All the other airlines were pulling their passengers out of the queue but Ryainair did not, we tried to go to the front and tell them the issue and were told that we would be called, we then missed the flight and Ryainair tried to charge us €100 to get on the next flight despite the flights for the next flight being £50.

This was at the beginning though but I wouldn’t put it past Ryainair using this to make more money.

If it’s really causing anxiety I would travel with hand luggage only

Hi Nige.

It is everything to do with Brexit. EU citizens travelling between EU countries don’t have to do this.

So to make it less worrying for you, the possible issue will be when you land in Milan. You will have arrived, you may have to Q for a while to get through EES. So what, you'll be there, and when you get through, your bags will be waiting.

On the return, yep there COULD be big queues, your bags will be checked in and if you are running close to the wire, you will be called out of turn, since your bags will be on board and airlines do not like to have to unload unaccompanied bags.

I'd just factor in an extra hour or two either end and relax a bit.

Did Ryanair offload your checked bags before taking off without you? Any airline that doesn't do that is taking a massive security risk and I'm sure it is not allowed to keep unaccompanied bags in the hold.

There's a lot of lovely people who have given you lots of reassurance you have chosen to completely ignore

OP, I feel your pain. And yes, it is because of bloody Brexit (or, as I prefer to call it, Fuxit).

I haven't RTFT so apologies if this has already been mentioned, but is there any way you can travel with cabin baggage only? That way, you should be able to check in online and arrive at the airport at any time. The problem arises if you have to check in a suitcase, and you're at the mercy of check-in desks which only open two hours before the flight.

🤣 got to love a professional victim

Yeah, please don’t encourage random weirdos to book wheelchair assistance they don’t require! We disabled people need that help - the op needs another kind of help…

This isn't a universal experience. We went on a cruise and my partner who only has British passport went through in 2 minutes (he had to register as last time we went it was a day before they introduced it) and I was waiting at the EU gate with my EU passport for someone to actually see me as no one was about. I know some people who did queue at different airports and some who breezed through like my partner so don't worry, it may never happen.

Because you are being wilfully obtuse.

You’d be ok to request assistance - no one is asking for documented proof, & your needs are legit. Don’t let the OPs paranoia unnerve you.

I don't think you understand how airports and flights work: if you aren't on the plane your luggage will be off loaded. It won't travel somewhere else you then have to collect it from.

If you drop luggage at bag drop, go directly to security.

The hairiest experience I've had was post lockdown where airport security was understaffed and they were trying to reduce the number of people crowded together. I made sure I told a staff member what time my gate closed and they ensured I made it through in time.

We flew from London to Seville via Madrid yesterday and all went very smoothly, no huge queues or delays. We had to do an online form at Madrid but it was fine.

Omg, you are the worst type of traveller to choose an Airbnb over a hotel. Just imagine all the things that could go wrong! You could open a window and it jam open - then you couldn’t secure the apartment for the duration of your stay and you’d have to spend the whole holiday indoors! What if a neighbour owns a scary dog - you’d not be able to chance the stairwell, surely. What if there wasn’t a streetlight on your street? Better get home before sunset! What if you took a huge nervous poo and blocked the toilet? Airbnb’s don’t have onsite plumbers! Basically you sound like an utter nightmare so should stay in a hotel with 24/7 staff if you need so much handholding. Or better yet, cancel your terrifying holiday and use the money to get therapy. “Heartbreaking”, I know, but no one should be having to put up with your drama!!

How dramatic. I'm in Spain right now,OP. It's fine.

You are behaving completely irrationally. Quite apart from the fact that it's perfectly possible for Starmer and every one of us to be bothered about more than one thing, this:
I want to go. I’m heartbroken that I’m going to have to cancel
Is just ridiculous. You are not going to have to cancel. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people have successfully negotiated journeys like this since the new system came in. You are panicking and seriously need someone to bring you down from the ceiling.