When visiting Shrewd'm with a laptop, it can be pleasant to hold Command (or Ctrl with Windows) and '+' a few times. The site scales to allow any font size, and the larger font can be pleasant to read even for Shrewds with perfect sight! For luxury Shrewdness, you can combine that with setting the browser to full screen. You'll then find yourself Shrewding a lot.
- Manlobbi
Outskirts of Shrewd'm / Travel Wanderer
No. of Recommendations: 0
Wondering if anyone is encountering any travel issues, mainly entering European/UK countries?
I saw a story recently where some lines were many hours long due to needing a new ETIAS visa thing and also have to be fingerprinted/biometrics taken. This slows things down greatly. And annoying, even if you have done everything correctly you have to stand in the same line as those who haven't (unless, of course, you have a European passport).
Any issues? Or correct my faulty statements? :)
Thanks
Rich
No. of Recommendations: 0
We'll be leaving for France in about a month. The ETIAS thing has been discussed for years now. Apparently, the rollout is now expected to be this fall:
https://etias.com/etias-requirements/etias-for-ame...That's somewhat separate from the biometrics stuff (EES), which will take the place of the passport-stamping ritual. Some ports of entry are already doing it; others not. As I understand it, this is supposed to be all in place in a week or so. We'll see. Once you're in the new system, it "should" be quick and easy to get through passport control.
Either way, it is what it is. I'd check with your carrier or cruise line for details.
No. of Recommendations: 0
For the UK you also need to obtain an ETA. It's supposed to be cheap and easy. However, I know of a couple that are scheduled to cruise soon, and while the lady got hers, her husband was denied for a non-specific reason. Hopefully for them they can sort it out.
https://apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk/apply/e...
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Once you're in the new system, it "should" be quick and easy to get through passport control.
From what I read, being in the system doesn't make it quicker since you have to stand in the same line with all of the people who are not in the system. And the line moves very slowly due to needing to take the bio-metrics.
Rich
No. of Recommendations: 0
<<...since you have to stand in the same line with all of the people who are not in the system.>>
Perhaps in the first days of the rollout, when the vast majority of people have to get their biometrics recorded. But once it's gotten going, there's no reason why everyone has to be in the same line. At any rate, I'll have a chance to check it out in a few weeks.
No. of Recommendations: 0
Once you're in the new (EES) system, it "should" be quick and easy to get through passport control.
Is there any way to get in the system before going into the destination airport?
IP
No. of Recommendations: 1
I've seen a few articles like this one over the last month.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn897e8280do
More than 100 people missed their flight to Manchester from Milan's Linate airport on Sunday while stuck in what the airline described as "unacceptable" passport control queues.
Some travellers reported vomiting and passing out as they tried to get through biometric and facial recognition checks rolled out under the new European Entry-Exit System (EES) on Friday.
Carol Boon said the experience was "just horrible", while Max Hume said he had been forced to spend £1,800 to get home.
European airports and airlines said there had been significant disruption to their operations, with passengers facing long delays - in some cases missing flights - since the EU digital border control system became fully operational on Friday.
The new system obliges third-country nationals - including Britons - who enter the Schengen free travel zone to register biometric information, including facial scans and fingerprints.
Further checks take place when they leave.
According to ACI Europe, which represents airports, and A4E, which speaks for European airlines, initial reports have shown passenger waiting times of two-to-three hours at border control during peak times.And to IP's question, nope. You are stuck. Hopefully they will find a way to improve things but it can be nasty at times.
Rich
