AMS was, predictably, a bit of a sh*tshow. Arriving from LHR at 9am this morning the EES system on our side wasn’t even in use. Took about 20 min to clear customs the usual way.
Our American friends arriving via UA just 30 minutes later met a different fate. Long queues, EES not even in use on their side initially; then turned on half-way through. They said no issues getting registered, but it took about an hour for them to get through.
Landed in CDG this am, and groaned when I saw a few thousand ahead of me. We had my EU passport and wife’s US passport. 3 sections existed : FR/EU passports ; US CA GB passports; Other passports.
ADP person initially wanted us to split per our passports but I pleaded to keep us together. He sent us to “Other” lane which was more or less empty, so we got up to top, and another ADP lady saw our passports and moved each of us to the front of the EU line and the US line respectively . Through in 5m thanks to lucky break.
Arrival into CDG, May 25, took 15 minutes, fingerprint reader.
Departure from Rome, June 2, took more like 35 minutes, manual passport stamp.
Entered Lisbon (LIS) yesterday, landed 11AM. I was a bit concerned since previous reports made the timing sound like a crap shoot. Directed to the new EE kiosks, which crashed in the middle of one of our entries (all of the systems in our row went down together), but all came back online within a minute. That part ended up fine, maybe 15 mins total.
As we were exiting, big long line for manual passport checks for those travelers that didnt get through kiosks (45 mins). We went through E Gates and it took 1 minute. If you get through the EE kiosk, make SURE you see the E Gate section and use it off to the right. It is not obvious.
I am hearing leaving through LIS can be an ordeal and takes a few hours at the moment. We will see, things seem to change week to week.
Into Faro and out of Lisbon this week. Did not seem like any new system was being used at either time.
Through everything and at my rental car at Faro in about 25 minutes.
Lisbon was a zoo, but was through everything and to my gate within an hour—everyone was being directed through manual passport checks.