For more than a year now I have been writing about the new Entry/Exit system rolled out at European borders. The system, which will require travellers from the UK to give biometric data when entering or exiting the Schengen area, began to be phased in during October 2025, and is supposed to be rolled out across all airports by April 10, 2026.
I have written extensively about the rollout and how it will cause delays for travellers, but when I flew back from Paris with my partner last month, it completely slipped my mind. We were flying home to London, and as we both prefer to wait in the airport rather than outside, we had some time to kill. We had a drink, a meal and then decided it was time to wander towards our gate.
We had been waiting for the gate to be announced, and as soon as it was, we headed to find it. Imagine my surprise as we rounded the corner to a queue of people waiting for access to the gates.
I had completely forgotten we needed to get through extra security – and even though I thought we had plenty of time, that time was now slipping through my fingers like so many grains of sand.
There was just one kiosk open, and a line of at least 30 people as the clock ticked down to our flight leaving.
As we stood there, another 40 people flocked in behind us and still, only one kiosk opened. Passengers were let through slowly, with groups allowed to head to the kiosk together to have their passports checked, fingers and faces scanned and sent on their way.
The process was unbelievably slow going – the line barely seemed to move at all, and more people flocked in behind us. From the snippets of conversations I overheard, everyone was equally surprised – and stressed – as I was.
I heard more than one person murmur something along the lines of “surely they won’t let us miss our flight?”
Another replied: “I wouldn’t put it past them to be honest.”
Luckily, my partner and I had started relatively close to the line, so we managed to get ourselves to the gate just in time – as for the people behind us, I have no idea.
This wasn’t even the high season, and it more than doubled the time it took to board our plane. We were flying at the end of February – very much the shoulder season. I can only imagine the chaos as the rollout completes across all of Europe, and summer travel kicks off.
Travelling in the high season is already stressful, and if my experience is anything to go by, it’s about to get even more so. All I can say is even if you think you have enough time at the airport, add more.
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