‘Not ready’: European airports face chaos as EU border checks threaten summer holidays

European airports are ‘not ready’ for the EU’s new digital border control system, The Independent has reported — and British holidaymakers are already paying the price. Under the Entry/Exit System (EES), UK travellers must register fingerprints and have a photo taken when their passport is scanned. The extra time, combined with technical glitches, has caused long delays at some airports. Some passengers have missed their flights and been forced to buy another ticket. Anne Robinson, from Dunbarton, and her 13-year-old son Jack got stuck in a 90-minute queue in Rome in June and had to pay £250 for a replacement flight two days later. They could not claim the money back. No travel insurance policies explicitly cover EES delays because it is an ‘expected procedure or routine process’, the Association of British Insurers said. The UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air told the BBC that British holidaymakers should arrive at European airports three hours before their flight home departs. Other airlines, including Jet2 and Ryanair, have suggested the same, depending on the airport. Eurostar advises passengers to arrive at the station at the recommended time stated on their ticket, as it already takes EES steps into account. At the Port of Dover, technology issues have prevented the new system from being used. It advises passengers to arrive no more than two hours before their ferry departure, warning that arriving too early could cause queues to build up. Airlines typically notify passengers of significant delays, the Civil Aviation Authority said, and urged travellers to check directly with their airline before heading to the airport. Most airlines have an app that can be downloaded in advance to receive alerts; passengers should also ensure texts and emails do not go into junk folders. If you miss your flight due to EES queues, airlines are under no obligation to put you on another flight without an extra charge. Travel insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of new flights, hotels or any other losses incurred as a result of delays caused by EES queues. With summer under way, the message from experts is clear: build in extra time, sign up for alerts, and expect the unexpected — or risk your holiday costing far more than you planned.