They say the new European entry and exit rules are delaying British passport holders. But it wasn’t too bad for me travelling between Manchester and Pisa this week.
At Pisa there’s a new holding section outside the non-schengen arrivals entrance. Ominous. Especially when we landed 5 minutes after another UK flight. Their passengers snaked their way into the building and we slowly followed.
Inside there’s a new bank of machines where you enter your biometric data. They must have taken mine before… as it spat out ‘authorised’ as soon as I scanned my passport. An attendant handed me a green card and directed me to the usual arrivals hall where the ‘Other Passports’ lane was backed up with frustrated-looking Brits.
Luckily, a frustrated usher started directing people with green cards to the empty European lane… and I crossed the border in a moment. I didn’t look smug at the other queue… that could be me next time.
Leaving Pisa a week later wasn’t as smooth. We’d been warned to arrive earlier than usual and yes… the airport was busy. Security took 40 mins instead of the usual 15. Passport control took 30 mins instead of 10. But we can live with that.
I had an early breakfast in Florence and made it home to Shropshire in time for a late lunch. Earlier generations would have found that extraordinary.
Andrew Greenhalgh 