If this is a repeat I apologize in advance.
A friend has told me Europe has recently implemented airport screening requirements that cause significant travel delays when catching flights. All of her knowledge was what she had read. As I have a trip scheduled in September, I was wondering if recent travelers have experienced difficulties?
What is your itinerary? It may not even be a factor for you.
Arriving Paris mid September. Leaving from Marseilles mid October
You are likely referring to the EES European Entry/Exit System which is a Border Control measure for non EU visitors travelling to and from Schengen zone countries. If your European travel is within the Schengen zone, you will only encounter this when you first land and then when you leave. Travel within a country or between Schengen countries is unaffected. How much extra time is required for Passport control varies greatly and is not predictable.
We recently flew to Prague with a 1.5 hour connection time in Munich, and the screening line was so long (and only 2 screeners) that we were anxious about missing our connection. (As it turned out we had 10 minutes on the other side before boarding began.) Our friends routed through Frankfurt with a 1.5 hour connection time had to be pulled out of line to make it through screening timely.
Bottom line - if you have a connection, I would advise making it 3 hours or more, to avoid stress. Even if both legs of the journey are on the same ticket, and the airline is "responsible" for getting you to your destination, their solution of a next flight may not suit your travel goals.
It’s called EES and if you google ‘Rick Steves Forum EES’ you can find all kinds of discussions about people’s recent experiences with the system.
I do have a layover in Heathrow on the way back.....I have allowd 3 hours. thank you very much!!!!
Heathrow has nothing to do with EES since it is in neither the EU or Schengen.. You will go through exit Passport Control and EES when you leave Marseille. Note that intra country travel means within a country. Inter country travel is from one country to another.
As for LHR, providing your flights are on the same ticket, you will stay airside by following the Connections signs to your next gate.
We had absolutely no issues in May, in/out of Schiphol. Have a great trip.
