EES - practicalities, impact, short-cuts & tips
Discussion
I've seen a couple of posts on here and elsewhere about people being quite badly impacted by the new "automated" entry system being rolled out across Europe (maybe a +/- a few countries).
I've done some basic research on Google and on the surface it looks like a sensible idea, but it doesn't look like the implementation has gone smoothly so far.
Does anyone have any direct experience as to how is this system currently working in practice in places where it has been implemented (e.g. Lisbon).
If flying into Lisbon (or elsewhere), can you do the initial registration of your details as you enter the country? If so, is this just how it works or is this an optional step that you have to put some effort in to make it happen.
Are the delays on leaving due to having to register, or are they because the automated part of the process isn't working very well
Are there any short-cuts - e.g. mobile phone apps - to speed up the process. I've found one app, but currently it only supports Sweden.
I've done some basic research on Google and on the surface it looks like a sensible idea, but it doesn't look like the implementation has gone smoothly so far.
Does anyone have any direct experience as to how is this system currently working in practice in places where it has been implemented (e.g. Lisbon).
If flying into Lisbon (or elsewhere), can you do the initial registration of your details as you enter the country? If so, is this just how it works or is this an optional step that you have to put some effort in to make it happen.
Are the delays on leaving due to having to register, or are they because the automated part of the process isn't working very well
Are there any short-cuts - e.g. mobile phone apps - to speed up the process. I've found one app, but currently it only supports Sweden.
Airports should be easy enough, they already make you queue up on entry and exit to check your passport and stamp you out, in fact the EES should speed it up from the manual process (especially on the way out).
Where it is going to be a faff is land borders and ferry ports where you arrive in a car and have to get out to be processed rather than just pass your passport through the window.
Where it is going to be a faff is land borders and ferry ports where you arrive in a car and have to get out to be processed rather than just pass your passport through the window.
Not much you can do to speed things up or streamline them as I understand it - and in the transition period everything will be slower anyway as both the new, electronic process and old, manual one have to run in parallel.
First up with the phased introduction of the electronic border not all entry points are using the electronic csystem - and even those that are aren't using it 100% of the time. Basically they have gone for a very sensible, pragmatic approach to the roll out meaning failing != chaos. If they hit issues they just pull the snake tape across in front of the machines and direct everyone straight to the manual desks...which will still be manned because during the roll out even where electronic gates are being use you'll still then have to go up to the boarder officer in their box and get your passport stamped (With a phased roll out just because the boarder's electronic on your way in doesn't mean it will be electronic on your way out so the manual system's still 'king' at the moment while the electronic system proves itself/any issues that come up are ironed out).
First up with the phased introduction of the electronic border not all entry points are using the electronic csystem - and even those that are aren't using it 100% of the time. Basically they have gone for a very sensible, pragmatic approach to the roll out meaning failing != chaos. If they hit issues they just pull the snake tape across in front of the machines and direct everyone straight to the manual desks...which will still be manned because during the roll out even where electronic gates are being use you'll still then have to go up to the boarder officer in their box and get your passport stamped (With a phased roll out just because the boarder's electronic on your way in doesn't mean it will be electronic on your way out so the manual system's still 'king' at the moment while the electronic system proves itself/any issues that come up are ironed out).
//j17 said:
Not much you can do to speed things up or streamline them as I understand it - and in the transition period everything will be slower anyway as both the new, electronic process and old, manual one have to run in parallel.
First up with the phased introduction of the electronic border not all entry points are using the electronic csystem - and even those that are aren't using it 100% of the time. Basically they have gone for a very sensible, pragmatic approach to the roll out meaning failing != chaos. If they hit issues they just pull the snake tape across in front of the machines and direct everyone straight to the manual desks...which will still be manned because during the roll out even where electronic gates are being use you'll still then have to go up to the boarder officer in their box and get your passport stamped (With a phased roll out just because the boarder's electronic on your way in doesn't mean it will be electronic on your way out so the manual system's still 'king' at the moment while the electronic system proves itself/any issues that come up are ironed out).
Thanks for that explanation - that's a lot more detail than I managed to gather using my google skills.First up with the phased introduction of the electronic border not all entry points are using the electronic csystem - and even those that are aren't using it 100% of the time. Basically they have gone for a very sensible, pragmatic approach to the roll out meaning failing != chaos. If they hit issues they just pull the snake tape across in front of the machines and direct everyone straight to the manual desks...which will still be manned because during the roll out even where electronic gates are being use you'll still then have to go up to the boarder officer in their box and get your passport stamped (With a phased roll out just because the boarder's electronic on your way in doesn't mean it will be electronic on your way out so the manual system's still 'king' at the moment while the electronic system proves itself/any issues that come up are ironed out).
Delays on arrival are frustrating but essentially tolerable. Delays on leaving can mean missed flights. It doesn't help that it's very easy to find month old horror stories of people getting to the airport 3 hours early and still missing their flight and almost impossible to find any more recent feel-good stories of people getting to the airport and not having any problems.
omniflow said:
Thanks for that explanation - that's a lot more detail than I managed to gather using my google skills.
All I did was remember the last Simon Calder interview I saw on the topic 
omniflow said:
Delays on arrival are frustrating but essentially tolerable. Delays on leaving can mean missed flights. It doesn't help that it's very easy to find month old horror stories of people getting to the airport 3 hours early and still missing their flight and almost impossible to find any more recent feel-good stories of people getting to the airport and not having any problems.
Heathrow publish their numbers online so I can tell you last month Heathrow alone handled 7,365,772 passengers. If you're seeing 726,577 complains about delays at heathrow in the last month that's 10% => issue. If you're seeing 7 complains that's .0001% => not an issue.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff