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EES Update

We just returned from a trip starting in Barcelona on July 3 and leaving in Paris on July 23. Here is our experience with the EES systems at Barcelona and Charles de Gaulle airports.

Barcelona arrival was mid-afternoon at 2:30pm. The lines for Passport Control were crazy long down a long hall. The lines were split into EU passports, Non-EU passports families with under 18 children, and Non-EU passports 18 and older. The family line moved slowly and was almost as long as our adults line. We were in line for about 40 minutes. Once we were to the "kiosks" there were people helping you through the process on scanning your passport, taking your picture, and scanning in your finger prints as well as answering several questions. This took about 5-6 minutes per person. Then into another line to go through the "e-gates" that scan your passport again and take your picture. We waited about 10 minutes for this.

Paris Charles de Gaulle departure was a 1230pm flight in Terminal 1, so we got there early not sure what to expect. Passport control is before the security screening here. The lines at about 10 am were fairly light. The lines were split into EU passports and several other countries including the US together. The other line was for all other Non-EU passports. Our line for EU, US, etc...was about a 15 minute wait (I would say this is about the same as before those lines were mostly 10-20 minutes in the past). We did not use the kiosks, but I am unclear if on exit that is needed. We just used the e-gates that again scanned our passport and took a picture. The Non-EU other passport line was quite long. Security screening lines were super fast after we made it through passport control.

I do not know how representative this is of the operations at these airports and how they will continue to operate, but I thought some information is better than none.

Posted by
1963 posts

Thanks for the update & yes, recent experiences are really useful. I'm delighted to hear you could use the e-gates exiting, though I think it's kind of strange they added US citizens to some other countries with the EU, hmmmm maybe it's just due to the large number of US visitors?

I'm looking forward (wrong expression) to seeing what the Q's are like in CPH next month, someone mentioned EU passport holders & residents could use the e-gates. I know from my chat with an immigration officer when exiting CPH last month that as a permanent resident I'm exempt from EES, but I won't really believe it until I see the e-gate works! Ha.

Posted by
2706 posts

I’m flying into Amsterdam next Friday so my question is how is Schiphol airport handling this? We have another flight on KLM to Inverness 3 hours after our arrival.

Posted by
4239 posts

Judy, are you flying to Amsterdam from the US and then on to Inverness? If all on one ticket, you won't enter the Schengen zone at Amsterdam because you are transferring flights and going to the UK. So you won't do EES at Schiphol but you will need an ETA to enter the UK.

Posted by
2706 posts

We are flying Delta to Amsterdam and then on a separate ticket flying to Inverness on KLM. We do have our ETA to enter the UK.

Posted by
6071 posts

I’m flying into Amsterdam next Friday so my question is how is Schiphol airport handling this?

They're handling it as well as most other major airports in Europe but as soon as multiple flights arrive from non-Schengen countries then that's when the big delays occur. No major airport is immune from it and it really is luck of the draw as to whether you'll experience a quick transition or a long one.

Posted by
2 posts

In mid August we are flying Delta from US to Copenhagen, with a stop in Amsterdam, having a little over 2 hour layover there. Getting a little antsy reading all the stuff regarding EES .... just going to be the luck of the draw as to how it plays out?

Posted by
4239 posts

Judy I think you still stay in transit if you do not have checked bags (if you do, then you will probably have to do EES to get your bags, recheck, and go back through security). But more expert people may need to weigh in since you have a separate ticket, I've not done that myself.

jeffh52 if you are on one ticket, you will do EES until arrival in Copenhagen, you will just transit in Amsterdam. [edited to clear up my error per dutch_traveler]

Posted by
2 posts

CL ... Thank you so much. Was hoping that was the case but I've seen some confusing stories. Once we get to Copenhagen not concerned about how long the wait is. Thanks again.

Posted by
2258 posts

Despite the edit, CL’s answer is still NOT correct.
EES stands for Entry Exit System. This means that you go thru EES at your point of entry and exit into and out of the Schengen zone
If you’re on a flight from the US via Amsterdam to Copenhagen, Amsterdam is where you enter the Schengen Zone and it is Amsterdam where you’ll go through EES. The airport is divided into 2 sections; a Schengen side and a non-Schengen side. Your flight from the US will arrive on the non-Schengen side. The only way to reach your gate on the Schengen side of the airport is to go through EES and passport control.

Btw; this is not unique to Amsterdam Airport. The same principle applies to all airports in the Schengen zone; you go through EES and passport control at your first entry point into the Schengen Zone.

I hope Jeffh52 sees this in time before their flight. The 2 hour time between their flights should be enough to go through EES and passport control in Amsterdam, but they should waste no time and immediately go to the EES line as soon as they come off the plane. Once they’re in the Schengen side of the airport can they relax and maybe do some shopping, restroom break etc.