EU Entry/Exit System to Require Fingerprint and Photo Registration at European Airports

UK travellers entering Europe this summer must register fingerprints and a photo when scanning their passports under the new Entry/Exit System. The additional steps have already produced long queues at some airports, and some passengers have missed flights as a result.

Airlines including Wizz Air, Jet2, and Ryanair have told passengers to arrive at European airports three hours before departure. Eurostar directs passengers to follow the arrival time printed on their ticket, while the Port of Dover advises arrivals no more than two hours before ferry departure.

Travel providers will send alerts about current waiting times. Passengers are advised to sign up for airline apps, text messages, and emails in advance and to check that messages are not routed to junk folders. The Civil Aviation Authority recommends confirming current conditions directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.

Travel insurance policies do not explicitly cover costs arising from Entry/Exit System delays because the process is classified as a routine procedure. Passengers who miss flights due to queues must purchase replacement tickets at their own expense.

One traveller reported paying £250 for a new flight after a 90-minute queue in Rome. Analysts note that immigration or border delays are typically excluded from standard policies.