Check in early!

A few reports have been around that overseas airports are struggling with the amount of passengers passing through their airports this summer….

What is the cause though?

1. Too few staff to cope.
2. More checks being done for security.
3. People not arriving on time for check-in.
4. Self check-in machines not working.

There is so much speculation as to what is the cause. The main story is extra security checks put in place by European border control authorities which is causing so many delays and not having enough staff on to manage this.

Even passengers arriving 3 hours before their flights are still not making it through passport control and border security causing them to miss the flight altogether and have to pay themselves for overnight accommodation and later flights or next day flights.

British Airways, Easyjet & Ryanair are warning British holiday makers of the delays that could affect their flights.

I have regular passengers who will be returning from Barcelona after their cruise and had seen this on BA website so called to ask if I could change their transfer time to the airport to allow extra time for check-in which I have done so she will get to the airport 4 hours before her flight leaves, I just hope all is OK and they make the flight but I won’t know till they return home.

At least booking with an agent we can assist you with things like this but for those who book online may not be so lucky.

My advice if you are flying back from a EU country this summer is to please get to the airport extra early to avoid any delays and the chance you may miss your flight as some people are having to pay in excess of £500 each for a room and a flights back the next day.

I would rather be sat at the gate for 3 hours after all the security checks are done and know I will get on the flight home.

BA has sent text alerts asking travellers to arrive early, as it expects longer queues due to “enhanced immigration checks” across Europe.

The airline has already sent texts to customers flying back from Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona and Milan.

Ryanair is also advising customers to arrive at least three hours before their departure time.

Easyjet is urging people to check its website for updates and allow plenty of time to get through the airport.

The airline has also warned of strike action due at Barcelona airport every Friday, Sunday and Monday from 4 August throughout the summer.

A spokesman for Airlines for Europe (A4E), the airline lobby group, told the BBC: “It seems the governments – especially in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium – underestimated the situation of many passengers going through tighter passport checks and have not provided a sufficient amount of border control officers.”

He said passengers should expect delays at airports in Majorca, Malaga, Lisbon, Lyon, Brussels, Milan and Paris Orly.

I remember 4 years ago returning to Barcelona airport after a cruise on the NCL Epic, we were at the airport 5 hours before due to the transfer time and hanging around, but there wasn’t the issues there are at the moment, here is a picture of my husband Adam & my nephews bored at the airport..

At least we were there early and I would welcome the boredom at the moment – trust me!

So please make sure you ensure you are at the airport in plenty of time this summer as August is the busiest month for travellers abroad.

Wherever you are going, have a fantastic time & stay safe!