ListNook

BritishAnimator Apr 13, 2026 +194

Turning up 3 to 5 hours early, in a queue that entire time, and still missed the flight due to a poor system integration. This is what happens when the lowest bidder wins the tender.

194

whensmahvelFGC Apr 13, 2026 +33

AND being talked down by the staff and told you shoulda came earlier. Absoutely fucked.

33

banditta82 Apr 13, 2026 +26

Has anyone seen a list of which airports are actually having issues with EES, it seems very hit or miss and I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same places over and over again. I've cleared in Vienna, Munich and Warsaw and never had more then a 15 min Queue Time.

26

moseley101 Apr 14, 2026 +3

I assumed that this would just be in the UK, as surely travelling inside shengen doesn’t trigger this chaos

3

banditta82 Apr 14, 2026 +1

Not just the UK as it affects anyone entering the Schengen area. Some countries/airports seemed to be very well prepared while others seemed to not even bother to put in any effort.

1

moseley101 Apr 15, 2026 +1

Yeah, but travelling inside schengen unaffected right? Just asking as my girlfriend needs to travel from Schiphol to Naples next week

1

Thurak0 Apr 13, 2026 +92

> According to ACI Europe, which represents airports, and A4E, which speaks for European airlines, initial reports have shown passenger waiting times of two-to-three hours at border control during peak times. Two to three hours for passport controls *is* insane. That's not something you are prepared for as a traveller.

92

Little_View_6659 Apr 13, 2026 +14

I had that happen once. Spent two and a half hours waiting at passport control after flying internationally. Had a massive migraine from the flight and had to stand there thirsty and hot and desperately trying not to puke. It was grim. Now I make sure I use the bathroom and have water on me before I get to passport control, just in case.

14

kitnzkat Apr 13, 2026 +10

Yeah I'm seeing the restrooms and vending machines before passport control as a save point from now on lol

10

Little_View_6659 Apr 14, 2026 +2

It’s a good idea to always bring snacks and water just in case. I’ve been stuck in passport control one too many times. I also have a portable fan, and my AirPods charged so I can drown out the world if I’m trapped in paperwork limbo for any length of time. Usually none of this stuff is needed except for the water, honestly.

2

Direct-Device4685 Apr 13, 2026 +90

Clearly you’ve never visited the US through JFK as a foreigner. Lisbon I’m looking at you too Edit: confused the NY airport name

90

LaScoundrelle Apr 13, 2026 +18

Even JFK as a US national takes a long time. Heck, I think at various US airports waiting around an hour or more to re-enter the US has been normal. I was amazed when I went to Europe how fast passport control was.

18

cleanshoes30 Apr 13, 2026 +8

I once spent 4 hours in a border control line as US national coming into Dulles(IAD) after a direct flight from Tokyo. Needless to say, never flying in or out of Dulles ever again. That experience was the absolute worst, especially as a former cigarette smoker.

8

mrvile Apr 13, 2026 +5

I live in NYC and re-enter the country via JFK all the time. There’s an app called “mobile passport control” that allows you to basically skip the entire customs area and enter as if you had Global Entry. I’ve been using it for years and customs at JFK never takes me more than a few minutes. It’s crazy how many people don’t know about this.

5

pinkmeanie Apr 13, 2026 +2

EWR too. I actually *have* global entry and the mobile passport app is faster

2

LaScoundrelle Apr 14, 2026 +1

Interesting. I’ve never heard of this. I’ll have to check it out.

1

worety Apr 14, 2026 +1

I live in Brooklyn, so JFK is my main international airport, and I’ve never spent more than 5 minutes getting through global entry there

1

LaScoundrelle Apr 14, 2026 +2

That may be, but not everyone has Global Entry. Having to pay extra for premium public service seems like such an American thing.

2

allanbc Apr 13, 2026 +16

I went to Vegas maybe 15 years ago now, coming from Denmark. After waiting in line for what felt like eternity, but was probably more like 30 minutes, the border patrol guy asked me, with a straight face, if I would still go back to Denmark if I won a lot of money while there. The question baffled me, but I barely managed to remain composed and answer yes. I was guessing that was not the right time to joke about it, but even back then, when things in the US were infinitely better, I couldn't imagine settling down there voluntarily.

16

HotTestesHypothesis Apr 13, 2026 +14

The question itself is very arrogant because it assumes everybody, no matter they are from a rich or poor country, wants to stay in the US. According to the people who ask that question, the US is in fact the greatest country on Earth, therefore everybody wants to move there. "I'm from Denmark. I would not want to stay here regardless of how much money I have."

14

Initial_E Apr 13, 2026 +6

I think it’s a trick question trying to catch you saying you’d be an illegal immigrant if given the chance.

6

HotTestesHypothesis Apr 14, 2026 +4

I understand the intent of the question, but the implicit assumption is that one would want to be an illegal immigrant in the US in the first place. I bet you don't get asked that question when trying to enter a poorer country where they know people aren't trying to sneak in, or any European country where they know they're not necessarily the absolute best place in the world where everyone wants to sneak into.

4

allanbc Apr 14, 2026 +5

Quite a lot of Americans do indeed think that anyone and everyone would want to live there if they could. Probably more back then, but still many. I'd say most Trump voters probably think this.

5

dunneetiger Apr 13, 2026 +4

Also in Vegas, I was asked how I would pay for my flight back if I lose all my money. I told him I already have a ticket for traveling back. He didnt look happy (this was before the new US of A).

4

allanbc Apr 14, 2026 +3

Which is a weird thing to be surprised about. I can't imagine going on a vacation without a return ticket, unless it's like backpacking or something like that.

3

AgathaClouseau Apr 14, 2026 +3

Holy shit. You are not lying about Lisbon. I spent every bit of a 3.5 hour layover in line.

3

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 +2

It took me 2 hours to get through hanoi

2

RussianHungaryTurkey Apr 13, 2026 +3

Do you mean JFK?

3

Direct-Device4685 Apr 13, 2026 +1

Yep, my bad

1

SuitableFan6634 Apr 18, 2026 +1

It even just international transit through JFK given the idea of transit doesn't exist in the US.

1

[deleted] Apr 13, 2026

[deleted]

0

Direct-Device4685 Apr 13, 2026 +7

Yeah I made a mistake with the AirPort name. Forgive me please

7

Irish_and_idiotic Apr 13, 2026 +4

I forgive you

4

eos4 Apr 13, 2026 +3

Thanks

3

A_Pointy_Rock Apr 13, 2026 +104

*All the benefits and none of the downsides!* /s

104

Montaigne314 Apr 13, 2026 +11

Couple this with the jet fuel shortage I'm sure things can only improve

11

A_Pointy_Rock Apr 13, 2026 +9

Hey, self-solving problem. Don't have to stand in hours-long customs queues if you can't afford to fly anywhere!

9

Montaigne314 Apr 13, 2026 +2

Supremely Stable Genius Leader who owns a Nobel Peace Prize was playing 4D chess the whole time

2

HumanBeing7396 Apr 13, 2026 +7

“Have cake and eat it”

7

HopefulGuy123 Apr 13, 2026 -6

Expecting basic competence from the EU is a bit much I know

-6

Broad-Lobster7470 Apr 13, 2026 +18

So what’s the issue ? They are taking biometric identification at all eu borders now ?

18

Geoffsgarage Apr 13, 2026 +28

Schengen borders, not EU borders. If you’re a non-EU national, then you have to give your finger prints and photo when you cross the Schengen border.

28

Primary-Juice-4888 Apr 14, 2026 +3

How come this takes hours?

3

Geoffsgarage Apr 14, 2026 +2

For me it took about 2 minutes. The thing that takes long is when your passport is examined by the border police. You still have to do that after you do the EES.

2

BentekesEars Apr 13, 2026

Out as well as in?

0

313378008135 Apr 13, 2026 +26

The system wasn't programmed to let people leave, who had not checked in with the same system upon arrival. So manual entry, automatic exit would fail. All the travellers landed before the system was in place. They tried to leave after it was in place. The system said they never arrived

26

narium Apr 14, 2026 +13

Absolutely insane that nobody thought of this very obvious case.

13

Little_View_6659 Apr 13, 2026 +2

Yeah why is this a thing? The e gates work great. Just scan your passport and go.

2

RandomBritishGuy Apr 14, 2026 +2

The rules changed, so people from outside the EU now have to do fingerprints etc first. And when the system fails, has 2-3 hour queues, that you can only join when you're told your gate 90mins before the flight, people get screwed. So people literally couldn't just scan their passports and go if this was the first time going through since the changes.

2

ReasonsToTakeMore Apr 13, 2026 +29

I know it wasn't fully implemented yet but I flew through Bologna and Munich in March and it wasn't terrible. Doesn't feel great giving your fingerprints to a foreign country with your picture but anonymity and privacy seem to be things of the past

29

MuTron1 Apr 13, 2026 +28

>Doesn't feel great giving your fingerprints to a foreign country with your picture but anonymity and privacy seem to be things of the past This is fairly normal for international travel. A couple of weeks ago was the first time I’ve given fingerprints for Uk - Schengen, but UK to US, Canada and Japan I’ve had my fingerprints scanned

28

ReasonsToTakeMore Apr 13, 2026 -21

Not for Americans it's not/wasn't. It used to be that pretty much just the Asian countries required it but it's becoming more widespread. The sentiment is dying out as our privacy errodes but 20 years ago it was still fairly common to hear prospective travelers from the US being against going to places like China, Japan, S Korea specifically because of their fingerprint requirements when almost no other countries were doing that to Americans. Downvotes with no responses is weird. Nothing I said was incorrect it is very recent that countries are fingerprinting Americans outside of Asia

-21

MuTron1 Apr 13, 2026 +42

It’s a bit rich complaining about being fingerprinted at airports when you come from one of the first countries that implemented it, since 2004

42

ReasonsToTakeMore Apr 13, 2026 +1

I didn't like us doing it either the Patriot Act was a terrible piece of legislation

1

MonsterKabouter Apr 13, 2026 +10

I was in the US recently. There, even when I was already through security for a domestic flight, the airline agents tried to take a photo of my face at the gate. Not normal where I'm from

10

ReasonsToTakeMore Apr 13, 2026 +2

Yes things are changing rapidly here unfortunately the picture taking at every airport is fairly recent they do it to domestic travelers as well

2

JustmeandJas Apr 13, 2026 +3

Same here. It wasn’t working in Poland but I tried 4+ times (4 fingers, 1 finger, wipe it with some spray… try again). The photos were painless and quick. I’m just wondering what’s changed in the last 3 weeks…

3

RhubarbAfter4008 Apr 13, 2026 +11

The US was so bad with this last time I travelled there that I vowed never to return if I could help it. China type shit, maybe worse since I trust China to be at least rational and bureaucratic.

11

Pristine_Zone_4843 Apr 13, 2026 +2

I flew through Madrid 3rd week of March and the lines were pretty big - we got there 3 hours before our flight and made it to the gate as boarding had started, took us about 2 hours to get through to the gate between check in, security checks, escalators, shuttles, etc

2

[deleted] Apr 13, 2026 +3

[removed]

3

billy_tables Apr 13, 2026 +3

Everyone who enters legally is documented, travellers from visa-free countries don't supply biometrics, but everyone else does (including those who enter illegally). So "undocumented" is a bit dramatic

3

FedBySheep Apr 13, 2026 +1

It's relatively easy to enter illegally, though.

1

billy_tables Apr 13, 2026 +1

Of course, but with what looks like around 95% of entries claiming asylum, we get most of their biometrics anyway

1

SeidunaUK Apr 13, 2026 +24

Happy Brexit

24

HopefulGuy123 Apr 13, 2026 -19

Expecting basic competence at EU borders shouldn't be too much to ask.

-19

BeatTheMarket30 Apr 13, 2026 +17

Non-EU nationals get the same treatment, it is not a punishment. The solution is simple and they surely know it.

17

Neeed4Weeed Apr 14, 2026

The solution is for the airports in question to sort their shit out. It’s 2026 ffs.

0

apple123456_ Apr 13, 2026 +4

I was at Lisbon Airport this morning and it was absolutely shambolic. I arrived a little over two hours early for my flight and proceeded straight through securirty (no bags to check). Security was fast, but it became immediately clear that the line to use the e-gates to exit Schengen was atrocious. Things were moving glacially, people were growing frustrated, and some folks started trying to cut by going into the handicap/priority lane, which enraged a few older, outspoken Americans. One guy threatened to start throwing elbows and a bunch of people were shouting from time to time. Eventually, the line got so long that the airport employees began waiving everyone through the non-functioning e-gates, saying, "Go, go!". We were funneled through them two two booths that had quickly been set up, where border agents were stamping passports at random, seemingly without much in the way of checks. Everyone started streaming through in a rush to make their flights. Our flight still had 10 people missing and it ended up being delayed by \~20 minutes because they then had to spent time taking off the bags of the people who didn't manage to board. Ridiculous and completely avoidable situation.

4

RustyPlastics Apr 13, 2026 +14

Brits are being treated like any other non EU citizen and suddenly they don't like it... I guess passport controls are just for dark skinned people

14

HopefulGuy123 Apr 13, 2026 -16

Expecting basic competence at EU borders shouldn't be too much to ask.

-16

redbluemmoomin Apr 13, 2026 +8

This shite system was our idea. Yet another Brexshit bonus.

8

Radiant-Bad-2381 Apr 14, 2026 +2

The UK literally voted in favour of this system when still part of EU. The incompetence is fully with the UK govt. Couldn’t even come up with an actual exit strategy for years after deciding they wanted to exit.

2

Fuckkoff- Apr 14, 2026 -3

What didn't you understand about what hopefulguy said?

-3

[deleted] Apr 13, 2026 +11

[deleted]

11

RandomBritishGuy Apr 14, 2026 +1

The complaints are more around the systems at the airport not being able to cope. You could only head to the passport area when you knew your gate, which you find out 60-90mins in advance. But the queues at the passport checks were 2+ hours. So people never had a chance to make their flight, because the implementation of the system wasn't fit for purpose. It's less about having to do fingerprints at all, and more about missing flights because the airport screwed up the implementation.

1

HopefulGuy123 Apr 13, 2026 -21

Expecting basic competence at EU borders shouldn't be too much to ask.

-21

Geoffsgarage Apr 14, 2026 +2

It’s Schengen borders not EU borders. Expecting basic reading comprehension shouldn’t be too much to ask.

2

HopefulGuy123 Apr 14, 2026 +1

Ok so expecting basic competence at Schengen borders should also not be expecting too much.

1

Hirork Apr 13, 2026 +11

Oh look the consequences of our actions. That's what we get for choosing to be a third country.

11

HopefulGuy123 Apr 13, 2026 -14

Expecting basic competence at EU borders shouldn't be too much to ask.

-14

Hirork Apr 13, 2026 +6

You get what you give and we gave them a massive fuster cluck that still isn't fully settled.

6

Fuckkoff- Apr 14, 2026 -2

What didn't you understand about what hopefulguy said?

-2

Sneakywulf1984 Apr 13, 2026 +19

Brexit means Brexit

19

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 -5

This would still happen if we were still in the EU as we were never on Schengen

-5

Firm-Exam-6892 Apr 13, 2026 +27

No this is not correct. EU and EEA nationals are exempt whether they are citizens of a Schengen country or not. Only 3rd country nationals are required to register. This is 100% Brexit and we can all thank the morons who voted for it.

27

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 -19

It's literally the same and a non issue for most countries lol

-19

Sneakywulf1984 Apr 13, 2026 +9

No you are wrong, like FFS can you not use Google

9

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 -15

You have to give your photo and prints when you visit most countries for the first time, it's a complete non issue

-15

Sneakywulf1984 Apr 13, 2026 +12

Not when you're travelling between fellow EU states, keep deluding yourself

12

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 -4

Once you enter Schengen there are no border checks for anyone

-4

Firm-Exam-6892 Apr 13, 2026 +5

The EES does not apply to EU nationals. Schengen and the EU are not the same. Iceland is in Schengen but not the EU, Ireland is in the EU but not Schengen. If the UK were in the EU there would be no need for UK citizens to queue and register for the EES. Of course the EES applies to other 3rd country nationals but most flights arriving or leaving Schengen airports do not have almost 100% 3rd country nationals on board. Many UK flights do. Hence the very long queues. It’s what the UK voted for.

5

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 -5

You have to do this when entering most countries for the first time, then after the first time you can just use the e gates. It's a complete non issue.

-5

Firm-Exam-6892 Apr 13, 2026 +3

Clearly it is an issue because these people missed their flight

3

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 +2

Yeah, the issue is a badly run airport

2

IntelArtiGen Apr 13, 2026 +13

> The new system obliges third-country nationals - including Britons - who enter the Schengen free travel zone to register biometric information, including facial scans and fingerprints. Damn what a nightmare that is.

13

DreiImWeggla Apr 13, 2026 +20

Same if you want to visit US, China or Japan?

20

DigitaIBlack Apr 13, 2026 -24

I never got fingerprinted when entering the US

-24

lestofante Apr 13, 2026 +17

If you nave new digital passport, they got it already anyway

17

DigitaIBlack Apr 13, 2026 -9

Last I checked I don't have a digital passport. Or even know what that is

-9

FaultlineHC Apr 13, 2026 +9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biometric_passport You can read the contents of the passport using a phone with NFC; depending on the country, your ID card and driver's license will also have it.

9

DigitaIBlack Apr 13, 2026 -6

Ahh you're right. Mine doesn't have my fingerprints though.

-6

lestofante Apr 14, 2026 +1

it is mandatory to enter USA (and other country too) to have digital passport with fingerprint. So if you non USA and have been legally in the USA in the last decade or so, guaranteed they have it. And if zou have a digital passport, probably have that digitalized alredy

1

DigitaIBlack Apr 14, 2026 +1

Canadian passports don't store them and I think I'd remember getting fingerprinted by the US

1

lestofante Apr 15, 2026 +1

Your situation is quite unique: I just look it up and canadian passport uses only the photo as biometric, and seems to be the only country to have a fingerprint exception to enter USA.

1

Background_Cause_992 Apr 13, 2026 +6

You definitely did, or they have them on file, everyone gets the digital handprint thing and a photo/face scan. Or they had them cause you were expedited in some way It's totally possible you didn't realize that was what the hand thing was, it can be very quick.

6

DigitaIBlack Apr 13, 2026 -1

I'm sure my face was scanned whether I realize it or not but I'm positive I was not fingerprinted

-1

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 +1

I did

1

IntelArtiGen Apr 13, 2026 -18

I'm less surprised when China does it. I'm not 100% sure the US does that for europeans. Even the facial scans? It's really intrusive imo.

-18

SomeSayDontBlink Apr 13, 2026 +12

The US has done facial scans for years. India also takes your picture and collects fingerprints.

12

rv_14 Apr 13, 2026 +6

They did for me

6

Sea_Awareness150 Apr 13, 2026 +16

The idiots voted for it and if even one of them suffered from this along with the normal humans then, good. Clowns

16

tweeglitch Apr 13, 2026 +13

True Brit patriots should be sunning themselves on their own sh\*t-strewn beaches.

13

[deleted] Apr 13, 2026 -3

[deleted]

-3

muse_head Apr 13, 2026 +16

It is a Brexit thing. EU countries outside the Schengen area (e.g. Republic of Ireland) don't need to use EES. We wouldn't have had to use it, we'd still be using the EU e-gates as we did before.

16

popeter45 Apr 13, 2026 -5

Brexit didn’t make the shit IT system that is causing these issues, that’s a totally EU problem

-5

billy_tables Apr 13, 2026 +6

And the comment you're replying to is saying that if we were still in the EU we wouldn't use that IT system

6

popeter45 Apr 13, 2026 -3

But regardless of the UK, it’s still a buggy mess of a system that effects anybody outside the EU, such as japan, Australia, canada etc Europe can’t blame Brexit for everything forever

-3

billy_tables Apr 13, 2026 +5

Oh mb I saw the bbc news link and all the people saying "we.." and thought this was a UK sub. Yes, this is going to suck for everyone outside the EU for a while longer. It's only sucking for the UK because of Brexit though

5

PrettyInvestigator90 Apr 13, 2026

Yet, you still come here.

0

sjw_7 Apr 13, 2026 +2

And 20m EU travellers come to the UK every year too. We cant be that bad.

2

Ok-Bookkeeper8642 Apr 13, 2026 -1

We can still use the e-gates lol

-1

HopefulGuy123 Apr 13, 2026 -3

Expecting basic competence at EU borders shouldn't be too much to ask.

-3

dewittless Apr 13, 2026 +2

This combined with the TSA failures in America and the ongoing war in the middle east have made air travel deeply unappealing lately.

2

Winter_Criticism_236 Apr 13, 2026 +2

Just went via Milan, no issues entering EU ( Canadian)

2

Maverick_1882 Apr 13, 2026 +2

I’m from the U.S. and I traveled from Heathrow to and from Milan Linate in January. The airport has a specific area for non-Schengen area flights and the gates are all next to one another. I don’t know how someone can say they didn’t know which gate they had to go to because there’s only that one big room with four gates and it’s the only set of gates that you have to pass through immigration to get to. I understand the wait times may have been long, but they should have known to get in the immigration line.

2

[deleted] Apr 13, 2026 -2

[deleted]

-2

Slothrop_Tyrone_ Apr 13, 2026

It’s not aimed at the UK you spiteful person

0

fluffysmaster Apr 14, 2026

Cry me a river. It’s been pretty much the same experience for Europeans coming to the U.S. for years.

0

jphamlore Apr 13, 2026

So just have the UK rejoin the EU. All is would cost is the Elgin Marbles, Gibralter, and giving up the pound for the Euro. Put a suitable lead time of 20 years or whatever so all the politicians responsible will be gone by then.

0

xX609s-hartXx Apr 14, 2026 +1

They already lost all of their pre-brexit privileges and extra deals. An instant membership would probably be possible without real problems.

1

Iamarealbouy Apr 14, 2026 +1

Denmark and Poland doesn't use Euro, so there's no need for that.

1

n1cey Apr 13, 2026 -10

This seems strange, I've traveled all over Europe and over the last 10 years the longest I've ever waited was 45 minutes. And that was holiday season passing through Heathrow, London. Which ranks among the top when looking at amount of international travelers going through. Looking like either there's a lot of selection bias in the comments or something else is going ong.

-10

Confident-Climate139 Apr 13, 2026 +7

Last 10 years are not relevant . Last 10 days or so are.

7

pompcaldor Apr 13, 2026 +14

> European airports and airlines said there had been significant disruption to their operations, with passengers facing long delays - in some cases missing flights - **since the EU digital border control system became fully operational on Friday.**

14

MuTron1 Apr 13, 2026

I used the new biometric booths at Schiphol a couple of weeks ago. It didn’t take any longer than usual then. It will always depend on the airport. Schiphol’s a major hub. Milan’s version of London City is more likely to have issues

0

Zygoneskies Apr 13, 2026 +4

It’s a new system, did you read the article?

4

MuTron1 Apr 13, 2026 +2

Depends on the airport and timing. I regularly fly Luton - Schiphol and that’s pretty much always fine, but had a 2 hour wait at immigration in Hamburg once

2

kaffeekatz Apr 13, 2026 -11

Not quite sure how delays are supposed to cause vomiting

-11

New-Anybody-6206 Apr 13, 2026 +18

It's in the article you didn't read > Marooned passengers told the BBC people had been vomiting and passing out in the heat

18

Little_View_6659 Apr 13, 2026 +5

God it sounds horrible.

5

utl94_nordviking Apr 13, 2026 -8

Ok, so what?

-8

EasyJet passengers describe new EU border controls 'nightmare'

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