Luxury travelers are accustomed to finding ways around inconvenience, whether it’s through exclusive airport lounges, VIP terminals, or helicopter transfer to avoid traffic — there isn’t much inconvenience that a little cash can’t solve.
But it may not be so cut and dry when navigating Europe's new Entry/Exit System, or EES.
New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council has warned that prolonged delays linked to the rollout of EES could put as many as 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending at risk across four of Europe's most important source markets if border waits regularly reach three hours. According to the report, roughly a third of travelers from the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia say they would be less likely to visit Europe if faced with delays of that magnitude.
The EES system, which became fully operational across the Schengen Area on April 10, replaces passport stamping with a digital process that records travelers’ facial images, fingerprints, and passport details, with the aim of strengthening border security, reducing overstays, and modernizing border management.
The Impact
In theory, the process should become faster over time as travelers’ biometric information is already stored. However, as the EES enters its first full summer season, actual implementation hasn’t been smooth, and advisors are starting to see the impact firsthand.
“We've had a few delays of a few hours — one to four hours in Milan on a recent trip,” said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments and both a Virtuoso-certified travel advisor and member of the Global Travel Collection.
However, not all advisors are seeing the same level of disruption. McLean Robbins, of Lily Pond Luxury, a Travel Experts affiliate and Virtuoso member agency, says the biggest challenge so far has been unpredictability rather than widespread client concern.
“The issue with EES is not simply the technology; it's the inconsistency. One client may breeze through, while another arriving into a major airport at peak morning volume can suddenly lose an hour or more,” McLean says, adding that the big pressure points are obvious ones such as major gateway airports, high-volume leisure destinations, and peak transatlantic arrival banks in the morning.
Greenfield-Turk notes that Greece, Amsterdam, and Portugal have presented challenges, with Lisbon proving particularly unpredictable, and Robbins says that while smaller airports, secondary gateways, and arrivals outside of the main rush can be smoother, it is changing week by week.
This comes on the heels of pre-launch warnings by industry groups including airport operators and airlines that airports lacked sufficient infrastructure and staffing to handle the additional checks during peak travel periods.
Post-launch, travellers have described waits of several hours at airports, missed flights, and inconsistent procedures depending on destination and terminal, with industry bodies warning that delays of up to six hours are possible at some locations during peak periods.
Flash the Cash?
But the question remains: Is there a solution for the luxury traveler with extra cash to spare?
While luxury advisors are often able to solve travel headaches through premium services and Greenfield-Turk says VIP fast-track services have occasionally helped clients move through airports more efficiently, he notes a caveat.
“On occasion, VIP fast-track airside has helped but not always,” Greenfield-Turk says.
Robbins agrees that premium airport services can help but says travelers should be realistic about what they can and cannot achieve.
“VIP airport services, greeters, and fast-track products can be very helpful for escorting clients, navigating terminals, expediting baggage and transfers, and reducing confusion,” she says.
While concierge services, private terminals, and fast-track assistance can reduce some airport friction, they cannot always eliminate the border-control requirements at the center of the system.
That creates a challenge for a luxury travel sector built around seamlessness and frictionless travel.
“While a concierge cannot magically erase every biometric immigration line, they can make a messy arrival feel managed,” Robbins advises. “The luxury planning answer is not 'avoid Europe,' but build smarter margins into the itinerary. When we can, we build in a landing day to allow clients to settle in before any activities start.”
She adds that many suppliers — especially airport concierge companies, private aviation handlers and high-end DMCs — are already adapting to address it proactively, building arrival protocols which include flight tracking, realistic transfer planning, correctly positioned greeters, and real-time coordination with drivers and guides.
Greenfield-Turk notes that he is seeing clients amending their travel plans or changing them altogether.
“We are seeing longer layovers for connecting in case of problems,” he said. “We've seen more clients opt for domestic U.S. or South America over Europe for worry of entry exit.”
Positively though, he adds that others are adjusting itineraries to build in additional buffer time, and Robbins concurs.
“For my clients, it is less about cancelling Europe and more about changing the way we structure the trip,” she says. “We are being more thoughtful about connection times, avoiding overly tight onward transfers and, in some cases, recommending an overnight at the arrival city before moving on to a smaller destination. It’s about removing friction before it ruins the experience.”
Teething Period
This change in behaviors and destination choices leads to yet another question. Will the new system increase the risk of Europe losing its competitive advantage among high-spending travellers as EES goes through its teething period?
The WTTC's research suggests the threat is real. Its analysis found that travellers are significantly less likely to choose Europe when border delays exceed three hours. Applying these findings to 2026 visitor forecasts suggests that up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in spending could be at risk should significant delays become a persistent feature of the traveller experience.
Robbins believes this summer will provide the first real indication of how much of a problem EES could become.
“WTTC’s warning is not theoretical,” she says. “Border friction can absolutely change traveller behavior if it becomes a pattern. This summer is really the first major stress test.”
Meanwhile, officials are warning that implementation challenges may not disappear quickly. Uku Särekanno, director of the EU border agency Frontex recently suggested it could take up to two years for the system to fully stabilize across Europe as airports and border agencies adapt to the new processes.
“The good news is that solutions already exist,” WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara says. “By making greater use of digital pre-registration tools, improving traveller communications and ensuring operational readiness at border crossing points, Europe can reduce friction and deliver the seamless experience travellers expect.”
For luxury advisors, that means managing expectations may become as important as finding solutions. Clients heading to Europe this summer may need more realistic connection times, additional patience and a greater understanding that even premium travel experiences now include a new layer of border formalities.
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