The introduction of the EU Entry-exit system (EES) has not gone smoothly – to put it mildly.
In the seven-and-a-half weeks since the digital border scheme – which involves the collection of fingerprints and facial biometrics – was meant to be fully operational in every Schengen area nation, passengers have reported long lines on exit and entry.
In some cases the delays have led to missed flights, including the easyJet flight from Milan Linate to Manchester in April that took off without more than 100 passengers who were left in Italy.
As a busy summer of travel looms, the managing director of Wizz Air UK, Yvonne Moynihan, has advised passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight departs.
She told BBC News that the budget airline is warning passengers to be prepared for long waits, and when booking a connection to allow “a number of hours” between flights.
Moynihan noted that the usual advice is to get to the airport two hours before flight departure, but added “in these circumstances” the airline is advising three hours.
Wizz Air told The Independent: “We encourage our UK customers travelling home from Europe to arrive at the airport three hours ahead of their departure time, and to ensure they are prepared for border control procedures before travelling, as this can help reduce the risk of missing their flights.”
Sensible advice it would seem, but when most check-in desks – including those for Wizz Air flights – do not open until two to two-and-a-half hours before flight departures, for many it’s effectively useless.
Of course, if you’ve checked in online and are travelling with hand luggage, three hours may well leave you ample time to pass through security and deal with any EES-related border queues. But passengers with check-in luggage might find themselves turned away from the desk or waiting around to have a desk assigned.
I tried arriving three hours early at Milan Linate, one of the airports renowned for EES-related queues, for a British Airways flight two weeks ago and was politely turned away until the desk opened two-and-a-half hours before departure. Fortunately, the EES system was working smoothly and I breezed through in minutes, if not seconds, but my early arrival to the airport was zero benefit.
With some exceptions – including Bucharest, Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino, which open airport check-in three hours before departure – WizzAir check-in desks to Schengen rea tend to open just two hours ahead of a flight. On its website, Wizz Air states: “Airport check-in and baggage drop-off start 2 hours and close 40 minutes before departure.”
Speaking to Sky News, Moynihan acknowledged that some check-in desks do not open until two hours before departure, but added “we would still advise passengers to get there ahead of the queues to be first in line”.
The Independent has contacted Wizz Air for further comment.
