EES Rome 4/16 update
EES update for Rome. EES is fully implemented at FCO now. I entered yesterday and thought I would report current status.
There are a series of machines that US citizens (and those with chips in passports) are directed to prior to passport control. You scan your passport, have your facial scan done, and then they scan 4 fingerprints from your right hand. The fingerprint scanning is where people sometimes run into trouble. It is very important to press as hard as you can on the screen to get them to register. One man used his other hand to add pressure on top and then they registered.
Next were two lines. The first was extremely long and was for people unable to use egates since no chip. Easily an hour long. The line I was directed to was for those who can use e-gate. It was 20 people long.
At the e-gate we basically repeated the same steps as when registering for EES. Scan passport, facial recognition, scan fingerprints. Those that didn’t press hard enough for fingerprints to register were sent to the end of another long line. You can bet I pushed down on the screen and made it through!
Total time from registering to making it through the e-gate was about 10 minutes.
I wish I could report luggage pick up was as smooth. Long wait to discover bag still in London. Another long wait to talk to luggage claim. In theory, my bag will be delivered to my hotel sometime today. Everything important (meds, papers, money, a few changes of clothing ) was in my carryon so I will be fine.
Edited to add: my suitcase was delivered today!