EasyJet passengers describe EU border ‘nightmare’
EasyJet Passengers Describe EU Border ‘Nightmare’
More than 100 travelers missed their EasyJet flight from Milan’s Linate airport to Manchester on Sunday, citing delays at EU border checkpoints caused by the new European Entry-Exit System (EES). The airline called the bottlenecks “unacceptable,” as passengers faced hours of waiting during biometric and facial recognition checks. Some reported severe stress, with individuals fainting and others vomiting while trying to process through the system.
Under the EES, visitors to the Schengen zone, including UK nationals, must register biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans upon arrival. Additional checks are required when departing. According to ACI Europe and A4E, which represent airports and airlines respectively, initial reports showed peak waiting times of two to three hours. In one instance, no passengers arrived at the departure gate before it closed, leaving just 12 people waiting 90 minutes later.
Travelers’ Accounts of Chaos
Carol Boon, a 59-year-old from Staffordshire, described the ordeal as “just horrible.” She had planned a long weekend getaway in Milan with friends but was left stranded after missing her flight to Gatwick. Her group endured a “very stressful” situation, marked by arguments and panic among stranded passengers.
Max Hume, 56, from Leeds, added that the delays were “awful, just a mess.” He spent over £1,800 to secure an alternative route via Luxembourg, only to be offered £19 and a Thursday flight by EasyJet. “We would have had to pay £300,” he said, criticizing the airline’s response.
Joy Oliver, traveling with her husband, arrived three hours early but still faced “absolute carnage” at the border. She rebooked her flight to Edinburgh, now relying on family to retrieve cars from Manchester Airport while she and her partner search for a way back to Lancaster.
Adam Hoijard, from Wirral, recounted how his family queued for hours before “freaking out and feeling sick.” He argued that passengers were unfairly blamed for not arriving early enough. “How much time can you leave to wait in a queue and be told to wait?” he questioned, noting his five-year-old son was left “lying in bed crying” after the incident.
EasyJet acknowledged the disruptions, offering free transfers for affected passengers. A spokesperson stated the delays were “outside of our control” and urged border authorities to use the system’s flexibility to avoid such issues. However, travelers criticized the airline for not providing clearer guidance, with Carol Boon describing the treatment as “disgusting.”
