Wizz Air's recommendation for passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before their flight to mitigate chaos caused by the EU Entry-Exit System (EES) is largely impractical for many travellers, as most check-in desks do not open until two hours before departure.
EES Implementation Woes
The introduction of the EU Entry-Exit System (EES) has been far from smooth. Since the digital border scheme—which requires fingerprint and facial biometric collection—was meant to be fully operational across all Schengen area nations, passengers have reported lengthy queues on both entry and exit. In some instances, delays have caused missed flights, such as the easyJet flight from Milan Linate to Manchester in April that departed without over 100 passengers stranded in Italy.
Wizz Air's Advice
As the busy summer travel season approaches, Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK, has urged passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure. Speaking to BBC News, she stated that the budget airline is warning travellers to anticipate long waits and, when booking connections, to allow “a number of hours” between flights. Moynihan noted that the standard advice is to arrive two hours before departure, but “in these circumstances,” the airline recommends three hours.
A Wizz Air spokesperson told The Independent: “We encourage our UK customers travelling home from Europe to arrive at the airport three hours ahead of their departure time, and to ensure they are prepared for border control procedures before travelling, as this can help reduce the risk of missing their flights.”
Practical Challenges
While the advice seems sensible, it is effectively useless for many passengers because most check-in desks—including those for Wizz Air flights—do not open until two to two-and-a-half hours before departure. For travellers who have checked in online and carry only hand luggage, arriving three hours early may provide ample time to clear security and handle EES-related border queues. However, those with checked luggage may find themselves turned away from the desk or waiting for an assigned desk to open.
The Independent's Global Travel Editor, Annabel Grossman, tested the advice at Milan Linate—an airport known for EES queues—for a British Airways flight two weeks ago. She was politely turned away until the desk opened two-and-a-half hours before departure. Fortunately, the EES system worked smoothly, and she passed through quickly, but her early arrival provided no benefit.
Check-in Desk Opening Times
With some exceptions—including Bucharest, Milan Malpensa, and Rome Fiumicino, where check-in opens three hours before departure—Wizz Air check-in desks for Schengen area flights typically open only two hours ahead. On its website, Wizz Air states: “Airport check-in and baggage drop-off start 2 hours and close 40 minutes before departure.” Speaking to Sky News, Moynihan acknowledged that some desks open only two hours before, but added, “we would still advise passengers to get there ahead of the queues to be first in line.”
A Wizz Air spokesperson clarified to The Independent: “While some check-in only opens 2 hours before, Wizz Air's advice remains the same. Passengers should leave home early and allow extra time to reach the airport. This will ensure they have plenty of time and will be at the front of the queue when check-in opens—when passengers are through security, they should then proceed quickly to border control. Some airports also offer self-check-in options. Wizz Air advises passengers to check this before travelling, so they know what to expect when they arrive at the airport.”
