EES. The new hot topic

I wonder if just when all of the EES's problems are eliminated and we become accustomed to it the roll-out of ETIAS will begin.

It was the final impetus I needed to get the EU passport my chicken and I are entitled to.

Great summary Carol. And you are correct— no way to predict the time it will take. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

In March, it took me just a few minutes in Madrid. I had to use EES machines then eGates then see border agent who stamped passport.

A few days ago in Copenhagen it took 45 minutes. No EES machines in sight. Had to give my fingerprints again.

Thank you Carol NR. I have always had problems with anything that requires finger prints. Your hints are very useful (I’ll know for sure in September).

I know many people prefer to make flight connections in Europe but I’m thinking that leads to some of the EES anxiety. Connecting in the US with final stop in Europe lessens the anxiety about making your connecting flight in Europe if there are EES delays. Or does it?

At least I'll be able to avoid worrying about it for my next two trips. The first one in July has a stopover in Iceland, but I'm spending 7 nights there with my daughter, so if it takes longer than so be it. The next flight is going into Stockholm, and that's my final destination by air. I suppose it might be an issue flying back from Bergen to MSP with the Iceland layover, but KEF is a small airport, so I can't imagine it would be that bad. Of course, those could be famous last words!

And then when I head to Germany in December, my layover is in Atlanta, of all places. It's the first time I've had a layover in the US on a European flight in probably 15 years.

There is a phone app called "Travel to Europe" that is in currently only in use by Sweden (passport data, facial image and entry questionnaire) and Portugal (questionnaire only). But may be expanded in future to other countries so it merits checking before your departure. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/Travel-to-Europe-mobile-app

I am flying to Rome in October and the plan is/was to start the trip in Salerno. I figured we could take the train there after our flight arrives mid-afternoon and save Rome for the end of the Italy portion of the trip. After reading about other people’s experiences I decided it would be less stressful to spend the first night in Rome and take the train to Salerno the next morning. We will eventually be flying home from Munich and I will allow plenty of time there before our flight. I’m hoping that by October and November things will have gotten easier by then. 🤞🏼

@Horsewoofie. Where you enter the EU depends on what airport you are making connections at and how passengers in transit are dealt with. For example, a connection through London means you won't enter the Schengen Zone until your final destination. You will simply stay airside at LHR and transfer to the next plane.

Thank you for this information Carol!

If you are using the machines that involve fingerprints, it is crucial to press down on the glass with sufficient force that they register. If you are having challenges with this, simply use your other hand to help push down. That seems to help.

I presume you mean use the other hand on top of the hand getting fingerprinted, right?

One would think the machines would be sensitive enough to capture one’s fingerprints without having to apply extra force. 🙃

One would think the machines would be sensitive enough to capture one’s fingerprints without having to apply extra force.

I have bad fingerprints. I know this from multiple work-related background investigations where it always took numerous tries to get satisfactory fingerprints. When I went to get global entry, my fingerprints failed to get a high enough quality score many times. Finally, the CBP officer had me put some moisturizer on my fingertips and then wait about 5 minutes. On the next try, I ”passed” with the minimum acceptable qulity score.

He suggested that I put moisturizer on my hands about 30 minutes before landing to improve the quality of my fingerprints.

"One would think the machines would be sensitive enough to capture one’s fingerprints without having to apply extra force."

They are not, in my experience last month. It took about 5 tries for me. Of course I had my personal item hanging across my shoulder, had my hand on my roller bag and was trying to juggle my passport as well so I did not immediately remember the "hand on top" trick OR the wipe your hand across your forehead to pick up some oil.

I also used to have problems when Global Entry required fingerprints at a kiosk. At one entry I was having problems and the line minder came over, asked permission to lay his hand on mine and that took them immediately. Press too hard and you apparently squash out the ridges. The other hand on top is just enough.

I'll add to everyone else's suggestions that you should ignore the fear-mongering going on on YouTube/FB/IG. I've watched a few and seriously none of them are reporting first hand as to what their experience is.

I think not trying to catch another form of transit the same day is a great idea...cut your stress any way you can!

@Laura - "He suggested that I put moisturizer on my hands about 30 minutes before landing to improve the quality of my fingerprints." This is good to know. I usually head for a comfort stop before I get to the Immigration line and washing with soap is a problem but I'm not not going to wash! Know what I mean??

What happens when one of your fingers has partial amputation?

I wonder how much of the problem with the fingerprint reader is the glass/screen getting dirty ?

How many people took the advice to lotion their hands before using it to 'help' the reader and the accumulated residue is impeding the scanner.?

Bring a lens wipe with you to make sure the screen is clean?

Some folks have fingerprints that don't scan easily. When we got Pre-check, I had no problem (once I got fingers properly located on the scanner) but wife had to do 2-3 tries to get a successful scan

The thing about the discussion on EES is if someone previously would ask about how long it takes to get through immigration (well, usually they ask about customs) the common answer was that it could be 10 minutes or 2 hours. Now? it could be 10 minutes or 2 hours, but the delay is due to EES.

Many reports of horror stories come from airports that have had problems for years (Lisbon, CDG, etc.) I get the sense that airports that have trouble implementing new things are doing poorly, if they had staffing issues, they still do, if they have no room to place kiosks or add manned booths, they still do.

My experience with the kiosks was uneventful. As for the fingerprints, be careful with "hacks". The sensors are designed to contrast between the ridges and valleys of your fingers. There is a relatively fine happy medium. So too little pressure, problem. Too much, problem. Fingers too dry, Problem. Fingers too wet, problem. If you are dehydrated, problem. The best advice I saw was to make sure you are well hydrated on the flight, make sure your hands are somewhat warm (blood flowing), use a moderate amount of pressure, if dryness is a problem, you can use lotion, but do so maybe a half hour before landing. At the kiosk, if a problem, you can wipe your fingers on your forehead to pick up a little oil and moisture.

My fingerprints were a big issue when I was applying for my TSA Precheck two years ago. I pressed hard, I used my other hand over it, and the lady helping also pressed her hands over mine! So I was dreading this one.

Cathy, from our local RS group, recommended the “wipe your hand across your forehead” plus not washing your hands right before. I usually go to the bathroom after arrival, so I skipped that last breakfast coffee on the plane to not need to go. At the EES kiosk, I was shocked that my prints were accepted (other hand on top of first hand) after the second try.

When I entered EES in Vienna a month it took about 45 seconds to get through. I knew to press hard with my fingerprints and they went through the first time.

I am leaving Schengen in three weeks. The original plan was to leave via Amsterdam. But after hearing the serious problems there, I'm departing from Dusseldorf. Hopefully, it won't be as bad.

What happens when one of your fingers has partial amputation?

It depends on where you enter....in France, you get the guillotine. If Italy, you are forced to eat plain pasta with no sauce or cheese. In Spain, you must eat dinner at McDonalds every night at 5:00 pm.

The true answer...nothing. You will be registered with what you have.

It was the final impetus I needed to get the EU passport my chicken and I are entitled to.

I want to know why Olivia’s chicken gets a passport.

also, do not hesitate to advocate for yourself if you're about to miss a connection or your outbound flight!

I’m off to mainland Europe from the UK for the first time in ages next month. I’m obviously aware of the EES but I’m now concerned about the fingerprint aspect. I’ve just finished six months of chemo which has - as one of many bizarre side effects - badly damaged my fingerprints. My laptop makes me use a PIN number because it no longer recognises my fingerprint.

So arriving at Schipol will be interesting. I’m wondering how to handle this… I’ll try the moisturiser tip suggested above.

There’s a chance they may have grown back (???) by then I guess.

On the bright side I can go on a crime spree and no one will know it’s me.

My first experience will be departing from and returning to Budapest. As efficient as Hungarians are, ive rented bikes as a backup.

However:

Exemptions for Residents: EU residents traveling with a valid European
residence card or permit do not need to register biometrics
(fingerprints or facial photos) in the EES, and will not have their
entry/exit times tracked by the system.

Why do I think this will become more complicated than not being resident?

Local police department had a hard time getting my prints ( ha! not arrested but for work). He finally asked my profession and said he has the most problems with nurses and with people who wash their hands frequently.

All I can say is wash your hands well after scanning.

@GoldenGirl....I don't think being unable to scan your fingerprints is an unusual situation so every port of entry will have procedures. I am sure the line monitor will just steer you to a Border Control agent who will probably try again and then move you through. I would love for you to come back to the forum and let us know how it worked out, though.

Also...very sorry about your chemo and very happy you are going to have a trip!

And laughing about the "crime spree", hahha. Might be a book or movie in that!

Thank you, Pam… I’ll report back next month.

Getting older can make your fingerprints physically less visible and harder to scan. While the underlying pattern of your ridges never changes, age-related changes—such as thinning skin, loss of elasticity, and drier hands—make the ridges flatter, thicker, and less defined.

The online recommendation is to prep your fingers before departing for your trip, by applying moisturizer a few times daily for a few days. However, skip lotions on the actual day of scanning, as they can cause smudging or obscure your natural ridges on the scanner.

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Edit:

Blowing your warm breath on your fingertip right before the scanning could be a simple and effective trick. I just tried it on my phone glass cover (with phone turned off) and it worked really well :)

This reminds me to wash my hands after fingerprinting, since the glass panel is likely full of germs.

EES yesterday at CDG was passports on the machine and photo. Seems easy enough unless you’re deprived and get flustered about how to position the passport (there are directions in English) and have trouble getting your face in the circle because of height. They have footprints on the floor but I had to pay attention about how I angled my face. We probably would have been through in two minutes otherwise, off an evening flight, as they directed the US/UK/Canadians through a short-cut.

I'm looking forward to the day I can have a chip embedded in my arm with my critical info so I can breeze through.

We entered into Frankfurt 5/8 and as others have reported, breezed thru pretty quick. Not so lucky outbound from Vienna 5/21. We were transferring flights in Vienna. I don't know how many passport exit points they have in Vienna but the one to which were were channeled had no machines for Non EU passport holders and there was a 40 minute queue line. When we spoke to the passport officer he didn't seem to have access to any of the entry information as we were being questioned on entry dates etc... No fingerprinting just photo . We made our connection just fine but I wasn't expecting that kind of time on the exit side.

youtuber Don of Don’s Family Vacations just flew to Rome and he reported that it was a 2 hour wait

@bigtyke. That is a perfect example of why one person’s experience doesn’t generalize when it comes to EES. I spent 10 minutes, Don spent 2 hours, all in the same airport. My guess it that most people’s experiences fall somewhere in between.

I don’t fly to Europe again until October so I have a somewhat in vain hope that things will be better by then but, I’m following this thread every time someone reports in. I think it’s helpful information so thanks to all that contribute. Sticking point for me will be a 2 hour window at Frankfurt airport coming in from Berlin, departing to Dallas Ft Worth. 🤞