Some travel experts are advising British passengers to arrive at European airports up to four hours before their flights this summer, a recommendation that has drawn criticism amid growing chaos at EU borders. The advice follows reports of lengthy queues and missed flights since the introduction of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) on April 10.
Under the EES, non-EU travelers must provide fingerprints and a facial image at EU borders. Experts suggest the most significant delays may occur on the return journey, when British travelers face new exit checks before reaching their departure gates.
Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder at AirAdvisor, stated that while arriving four hours early isn't a universal rule, it may be a necessary precaution at some European airports this summer. He noted that the return journey, with its new exit checks, poses a greater risk. For airports already experiencing significant queues, or with multiple UK-bound flights departing close together, he suggested that allowing three to four hours might be prudent.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, echoed concerns about airport bottlenecks. "The concern will be, when you have flights arriving at one of these airports, at the same time, it's already a bottleneck – this is going to add even more of an issue," she said. The partnership advises travelers to allow between three and four hours from arrival at the airport. Border police across Europe have also encouraged British travelers to arrive three to four hours early for flights during the peak summer holiday season.
However, some industry figures have dismissed the four-hour recommendation as excessive. Paul Charles, founder and CEO of The PC Agency, called it "madness," arguing that many airlines do not open check-in desks that early and that widespread early arrivals would overwhelm airport terminals. He suggested that focusing on more efficient processing to maintain the standard two-hour check-in would be a better approach.
Helena Sheizon, immigration director at Kadmos Immigration, believes a blanket four-hour rule is an overcorrection. She pointed out that waiting times will vary significantly based on the airport, destination, and the familiarity of staff and passengers with the new system. She emphasized that the primary risk for many travelers is not the technology itself, but arriving unaware of the need for additional border checks. She advised passengers to consult their airline and airport for specific guidance, allow extra time for major hubs, and familiarize themselves with the new requirements beforehand. She anticipates that queues should become more predictable as the system becomes established, but some inconsistency is likely this summer.
Earlier this year, British holidaymakers were advised to arrive three hours before their flights home due to queue chaos caused by the new EU border checks. Yvonne Moynihan, Wizz Air's boss, recommended that British travelers allow an extra hour on top of the usual two-hour arrival time, suggesting that portable chargers and water be brought due to potential delays. The time taken to clear passport control has reportedly tripled at some European airports since the EES implementation.
The new system has already led to significant disruptions, including passengers missing flights. On April 12, approximately 100 easyJet customers were delayed at Milan Linate Airport while waiting to board a flight to Manchester due to three-hour queues. easyJet stated the delays were outside of their control and attributed them to issues with the new EU border rules. The airline delayed the flight by 52 minutes, but it ultimately departed with fewer passengers due to crew working hour limitations.
Similar incidents have occurred, with a Ryanair flight from Milan Bergamo to Manchester on April 16 departing without a number of passengers who were caught in EES delays. Reports indicated around 30 passengers were left stranded, forced to rebook their own return flights.