People can avoid ‘pointless’ time-wasting this spring and summer by knowing exactly when to arrive at European airports with enough time to complete the extra EES checks. Getting this just right may help calm passengers from worrying about missing their flights if they get caught in queues.

Travel specialist Kate Donnelly (@Thedonnellyedit) said: “There is a lot of mixed information out there, and some people are saying that you need to get to the airport four to five hours before your departure. This is absolute nonsense. You need to be at the airport a minimum of three hours before your flight.

“Firstly, the bag drop in most European airports only opens two hours before departure, in some cases it may be three hours. [So] getting there four to five hours before your flight just means you’re going to be sitting waiting for the check-in desks to open.”

Kate added that, once you’re through security and duty-free, most airports should have more than one border control point. She said: “You need to wait for your gate to be announced in order to know which one you have to pass through.

“[Even] if you haven’t had to wait to check a bag (you’re travelling with just hand luggage) and you’ve gone straight through, you are still going to be sitting in the main airport waiting for your gate to be called. This is why getting there hours ahead of time is pointless.”

How much time should I give myself?

Depending on your chosen airline, some open their check-in desks several hours before the flight. Getting your timing just right will give you the most time to get through the airport, even with any possible EES delays.

Most airlines have similar rules, but this is often route-dependent. For example, airlines tend to open the check-in desk for long-haul flights much earlier than for shorter trips because they need more time for security and document checks, such as visa checks.

It is best to double-check with the airline operating the service you booked, or you may be advised what to do a few days before departure. Below, are some general advice for some of the more popular airlines on when staff will start to check passengers in:

• British Airways: Two to three hours before the flight
• easyJet: Two hours before the flight
• Jet2: Three hours before the flight
• Ryanair: Two to three hours before the flight (airport dependent)
• TUI: 2.5 hours before (short-haul) / 3.5 hours before (long-haul)
• Virgin Atlantic: Four hours before the flight

What is the new EES system?

The European Union’s (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) started on October 12, 2025. This is a new digital border system that has changed the requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area, with countries that include:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

The UK, the Republic of Ireland, and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen area. EES is not applicable when travelling to any of these countries.

If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you may be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.

EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports upon arrival in the EU. EES may take each passenger extra time to complete, so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.