Holidaymakers Warned to Skip Airport Restaurants Until After Passport Control

Holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being urged to get through passport control before browsing shops, grabbing a meal or heading to airport lounges, as disruption linked to the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) continues to cause major delays.

The warning comes after multiple reports of travellers missing flights due to lengthy queues at European border controls since the biometric system was fully introduced in April.

One of the most widely reported incidents saw an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester depart with just 34 passengers onboard after more than 120 travellers were unable to clear passport control in time. Some passengers reported waiting up to three hours despite arriving at the airport well in advance of departure.

Travel experts are warning that similar disruption could occur throughout the summer as passenger numbers increase across popular destinations including Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and Greece. Reports of significant delays have also emerged from airports in Lisbon, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Faro.

Jürgen Himmelmann, Co-Founder at Global Work & Travel, said:

"Many travellers still have the old airport mindset of arriving, checking in and then spending an hour shopping or having a meal before heading towards the gate.

This summer, that could be a costly mistake.

If you're travelling through an airport affected by EES checks, your priority should be getting through security and passport control as quickly as possible. The shops, restaurants and lounges can wait.

A lot of airports now have food outlets, coffee shops and retail stores beyond passport control. Once you're through, you can relax. Until then, you're taking a risk because queues can build incredibly quickly and move far slower than people expect."

Under EES, non-EU travellers including UK passport holders must have biometric information recorded when entering or leaving the Schengen Area. The process includes passport verification alongside fingerprint and facial recognition checks.

Industry groups have warned that the system is creating significant bottlenecks at some airports, with delays of up to three hours reported and concerns that summer travel periods could place additional pressure on border infrastructure.

Jürgen Himmelmann, Co-Founder at Global Work & Travel added:

"One of the biggest issues is unpredictability. Travellers know how long security usually takes. They know roughly how long bag drop takes. With EES, the experience can vary dramatically depending on the airport, staffing levels and how many first-time registrations are being processed.

Even arriving three hours before departure is not always proving enough in some cases.

If you're travelling through a busy European airport this summer, particularly if you're heading home from Spain, Italy or Portugal, treat passport control as the first job, not the last."

Global Work & Travel's tips for avoiding EES disruption

• Arrive earlier than you normally would, particularly during school holidays and weekends.
• Go directly to security and passport control after checking in.
• Save shopping, dining and browsing until after you've cleared border checks.
• If you're travelling with children, allow extra time for delays.
• Keep an eye on airport announcements and queue updates.
• Avoid cutting timings fine for connecting flights.
• Check whether your airport offers any pre-registration options for biometric processing.
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Jürgen Himmelmann, Co-Founder at Global Work & Travel said:

"The travellers who are least likely to be affected are the ones who treat getting through border control as their main priority.

The biggest mistake we're seeing is people assuming they have plenty of time because they've already checked in. Unfortunately, that's exactly what many of the stranded passengers thought too."