Ryanair warned passengers travelling to the UK today to get to Malaga Airport three hours before their flight.
The warning has been made to customers via email, citing potentially long queues at passport control.
This is due to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which is being phased in at all entry points across the Schengen Zone.
Under the EES, anyone from a non-Schengen or ‘third country’ – including the UK – must use biometric scanners upon entering and exiting the EU to keep track of the number of days they have spent in the bloc (ensuring they don’t exceed their 90 in 180 day limit).
As the system has just begun, Brits and others are using the machines for the first time, and are having to register their fingerprints and face scans, leading to delays when they are up and running at peak times.
One Brit received the same email exactly a week ago, writing in an expat forum: ‘I received an e-mail off ryanair yesterday warning of queues and to get there early today and to go straight to passport control. They weren’t kidding.
‘Queue was horrendous and we seen at least three people miss their flights. Our flight got away fine but if you get a warning please take notice because it was crazy.’
Anyone who is a non-EU national arriving or leaving Spain should allow for plenty of time at the airport.
Those travelling at peak times should be aware that they may face significant delays if their airport is using the EES machines.
As they are being phased in, they are not switched on 24/7 and not every single third national is asked to use them, to avoid completely overwhelming travel hubs.
Unfortunately, it seems to be a bit of a lottery as to whether or not you will face the snaking queues.
Over the past few weeks, the largest number of complaints have been during the weekends, specifically the early mornings and evenings of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
