"It all depends on who's handling it." This phrase sums up the passenger experience with the European Union's new border control system at Italian airports.
The country is in the final phase of implementing Entry/Exit System, known as EESThe model replaces the manual stamp in the passport with automated biometric verification. Adoption began in October and is expected to be completed by April 10th.
Traveler accounts show that operations still vary considerably.
Improper application of the system
A resident of Rome stated that she waited in line for 20 minutes at Fiumicino airport for biometric data collection, even though she was entitled to an exemption. On another trip, she managed to avoid the line by presenting her ID.
She sums up the situation. "It all depends on who serves you and how flexible that person is," she told The Local.
Another passenger, resident in ToscanaHe reported a quick process in Rome. He said he only had difficulty scanning his residence card, which was resolved with the help of an agent.
Residents face inconsistencies.
Foreign residents report that they continue to be incorrectly directed to the system.
A British resident in Bologna He said that when passing through Venice, he was placed in the general queue. According to him, the process was slower than for tourists.
In Sicily, another resident stated that officials were unaware of the exemption for residents, which led to unnecessary delays.
Technical glitches and delays
Equipment problems were also frequent.
In Palermo, passengers reported malfunctioning machines and situations where they had to go through both the electronic system and the manual control.
At Genoa airport, one traveler said he had to resort to manual service after several failed attempts. Another passenger reported a prolonged wait in Olbia due to reading problems.
There are also reports of errors in the system. One resident stated that, in Turin, their entries and exits were not recorded correctly, requiring intervention from officers.
Cases without difficulties
Not all experiences were negative.
A resident of Bolzano reported normal use of the electronic gates in Verona, with final verification by an agent and no stamp in the passport.
Another traveler said the process can take less than a minute, depending on the counter.
There were also reports of passengers being directed to traditional security checks without having to wait in line.
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