It’s a well-known fact that us Brits love a good queue. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good queue as much as the next Brit, but, that being said, maybe not at an airport where I’m in a rush, trying to catch a flight, and making sure I’ve got the right amount of children.
At this point, I’m usually so stressed I don’t even care if they’re the right ones anymore, just as long as the headcount is right—and our travel insurance covers delayed departures or lost boarding passes.
New Border System: Entry/Exit and Passport Control
Since Brexit, all British passengers arriving at an EU airport have been forced to wait in queue for a manned desk, in order to have their passports stamped. For frequent flyers and families with private health insurance coverage abroad, these extended waits have added unnecessary tension to already stressful journeys.
Following the UK’s departure from the EU, a new system was revealed to be in the works, known as the Entry/Exit System (EES). This meant those without an EU passport would be subject to biometric tests—such as facial scans and fingerprinting—just to go in and out of various European countries.
These updates triggered discussions around data privacy compliance, international border law, and even airport health screening regulations, particularly in relation to travelers with chronic illnesses requiring documentation or pre-existing condition insurance.
