EasyJet passengers describe EU border ‘nightmare’
EasyJet passengers describe EU border ‘nightmare’
Travelers stranded at Milan’s Linate Airport after their EasyJet flight departed without them faced substantial financial losses. Over 100 individuals missed their Manchester-bound journey on Sunday, caught in what the airline termed ‘unacceptable’ passport control bottlenecks. The situation was exacerbated by the European Union’s new entry-exit system, which introduced biometric and facial recognition checks, leaving passengers in disarray.
Passenger Experiences Highlight System Struggles
Carol Boon, a 59-year-old from Staffordshire, recounted the ordeal as “just horrible,” describing a scene of stress and chaos. She had planned a long weekend getaway with friends but was left waiting for hours, with some travelers even collapsing from exhaustion. “People arguing, someone fainted, someone was sick,” she said, emphasizing the emotional toll of the delays.
“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.”
Max Hume, 56, from Leeds, shared his frustration, noting he had to spend over £1,800 to secure a return route via Luxembourg. “EasyJet offered us £19 and a flight on Thursday,” he said, “but we would have had to pay £300.” The airline’s representatives, he claimed, left passengers without clear guidance, worsening the confusion.
Operational Disruptions and System Limitations
The EU’s digital border control system, fully operational since Friday, requires third-country nationals—including Britons—to register biometric data upon entry to the Schengen area. Exit checks follow, creating prolonged waits during peak hours. According to ACI Europe and A4E, initial reports indicated delays of up to three hours, with some flights leaving without passengers.
Joy Oliver, traveling with her husband and friends, described the chaos as “absolute carnage.” She arrived three hours early but still faced a backlog, leading her to rebook a flight to Edinburgh. Her family now helps retrieve two cars from Manchester Airport, while she seeks a way to return to Lancaster from Scotland.
Airlines and Advocacy Groups Call for Flexibility
Adam Hoijard, from Wirral, recounted his family’s experience, stating they had arrived three hours early but still endured hours in line. “How much time can you leave to wait in a queue and be told to wait?” he questioned, highlighting the blame placed on travelers for delays. His five-year-old son was left “lying in bed crying” after the ordeal, which followed a trip for his mother-in-law’s 60th birthday.
“It was just disgusting the way they spoke to us.”
EasyJet acknowledged the challenges, offering free flight transfers to affected customers. However, the airline emphasized that the issues were “outside of our control,” urging border authorities to utilize the system’s permitted flexibilities to prevent future disruptions. ACI Europe and A4E stressed the need for greater adaptability ahead of the summer travel peak, as the EES system continues to strain operations.
