EasyJet passengers describe EU border ‘nightmare’
EasyJet Passengers Describe EU Border ‘Nightmare’
Over 100 travelers missed their flight to Manchester from Milan’s Linate Airport on Sunday due to prolonged delays at EU border checkpoints. The issue stemmed from the new European Entry-Exit System (EES), which has created chaos for passengers attempting to reboard their EasyJet flights. The airline called the situation “unacceptable,” with some travelers reporting severe distress during the process.
Passengers’ Struggles and Financial Impact
Carol Boon, a 59-year-old from Staffordshire, described her experience as “just horrible.” She had planned a long weekend getaway in Milan with friends, including a rented apartment and a flight to Gatwick scheduled for Tuesday. However, she and others were stranded in a “very stressful” situation, with arguments breaking out and at least one person fainting while waiting in line for biometric and facial recognition checks.
“Even if we were there five hours before, we weren’t told the gate number until about 90 mins before, so there was nothing we could have done,” Boon said. “It was just disgusting the way they spoke to us.”
Max Hume, 56, from Leeds, also shared his frustration. He spent over £1,800 to secure an alternative route through Luxembourg, aiming to return to the UK as quickly as possible. Hume noted that EasyJet offered only £19 and a Thursday flight, requiring additional payments of £300. “The waiting had been awful, just a mess,” he added.
System Challenges and Industry Concerns
The EES, which mandates biometric data collection for third-country nationals entering the Schengen zone, has led to two-to-three hour delays during peak times. ACI Europe and A4E, representing airports and airlines, highlighted the operational strain, citing instances where no passengers reached the departure gate as it closed. Only 12 arrived 90 minutes later, forcing some to miss connections.
Previously, border authorities could halt EES operations entirely if wait times became excessive. Now, only partial suspensions are allowed. Industry groups argue greater flexibility is essential, especially as summer travel peaks approach.
“How much time can you leave to wait in a queue and be told to wait?” Adam Hoijard, from Wirral, asked. His family had arrived three hours early but spent hours in line before people began “freaking out and feeling sick.” The ordeal followed a trip to celebrate his mother-in-law’s 60th birthday, leaving his five-year-old son “lying in bed crying.”
Joy Oliver, who runs Laura’s Travel Village in Sale, Greater Manchester, mentioned that some airlines had delayed flights to accommodate passengers. However, she arrived at Milan Linate three hours before her scheduled departure, only to face “absolute carnage” at the border. Her group is now rebooking a flight to Edinburgh, requiring her family to assist with car collections at Manchester Airport.
EasyJet apologized for the disruptions, stating the delays were “outside of our control.” The airline provided “free flight transfers to those affected” but emphasized the need for border authorities to utilize available flexibilities to prevent similar issues in the future.
