skynews: 'Two-hour queues, utter chaos' — Readers describe chaos and calm at new EU entry checks

Travelers have shared sharply divided experiences of the EU's new entry-exit system, with some describing multi-hour delays at passport control while others report almost no disruption. The policy change, which replaces passport stamping with biometric checks for non-EU citizens, is already reshaping arrival flows at major European airports.

Mixed frontline experiences: chaos in some airports, smooth processing in others

The new entry-exit system requires non-EU travellers to scan passports and have fingerprints and a photograph captured on arrival. Readers who have recently travelled to popular destinations say the rollout has produced wildly different results.

Several accounts describe protracted waits on arrival that in some cases outlasted flight times. One couple said it took them just under two hours to clear passport control in Berlin, calling the scene "utter chaos". Others travelling to the Canary Islands reported waits of two to two-and-a-half hours after landing, with one traveller noting that delays were clearly visible and ongoing in southern Tenerife.

By contrast, a number of passengers reported quick processing. One reader passed through Alicante in around 20 minutes and praised staff for being well managed and helpful. Another traveller said they cleared passport checks in Düsseldorf in five minutes.

These contrasting experiences point to uneven implementation across airports. Factors cited by readers include staffing levels, how quickly EES kiosks and biometric units are working, and the number of arriving flights releasing passengers into the same queues. Airport layout and peak-time surges also play a role, meaning some travellers will face long waits while others have little trouble.

Practical steps for travellers and what to expect

With the system now operating at many entry points, travellers can take several practical steps to reduce risk of delay. Arrive prepared with passports readily accessible and any landing documentation completed. Travellers should allow extra time for connections and factor potential passport-control waiting into onward travel plans.

Those travelling at peak arrival times should be particularly cautious: when multiple flights touch down close together, biometric units can become bottlenecks. Where available, choosing flights that arrive outside the busiest afternoon and evening periods may shorten processing time. Travellers who rely on tight connections should contact carriers in advance to discuss contingency plans in case of long passport-control queues.

Airports and authorities continue to adjust staffing and equipment deployment as the system beds in. While some locations appear to have found an effective rhythm, others are still scaling operations to cope with passenger flows, so experiences will vary.

Separate money concern: older couples losing out under mixed-age rule

In related consumer coverage, a charity highlights a distinct concern affecting thousands of older people: a mixed-age couples rule has left many unable to claim pension credit. The rule prevents someone of state pension age from claiming this means-tested benefit if their partner is younger, forcing eligible households to rely on a different system instead.

The charity estimates around 60, 000 older people are affected and says the average loss runs to several thousand pounds a year, with some couples losing up to about £7, 000. The benefit in question is tax-free and designed to support people on low incomes who have reached state pension age. Campaigners are urging engagement with MPs to press for change, arguing the rule penalises couples simply because of age difference.

Both the travel disruption and the pension credit issue underline how recent policy changes — whether at borders or in welfare rules — can have immediate, tangible impacts on individuals. For travellers, that means planning for potential delays and keeping expectations flexible. For older couples affected by the benefit rule, it means exploring entitlement options and raising the issue with elected representatives.