EES delays leaving holiday destinations

Westin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81960960#Comment_81960960

I think the suggestion he was making was don’t just look at Milan Linate for a new flight. Expand options to Milan’s other airports. Easyjet have a bigger flying programme from Milan Malpensa (MXP).

TELLIT01

The suggestion of getting yourself to another airport isn't going to work well if you are on an island with only one!

Westin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962214#Comment_81962214

Italy is not an island. :)

NoodleDoodleMan

One piece of advice, which we learned by nearly experiencing a missed flight home due to horrendously long queues at Malaga - give the main duty free shopping area a bodyswerve after coming through security.

There is duty free, although to a lesser size, once through passport control and getting fully airside……..stocks the regular range of popular spirits and cigarettes.

Doshwaster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962923#Comment_81962923

I always swerve duty free. Usually cheaper to buy your vices in local supermarkets.

eskbanker

Out of curiosity, are there really meaningful bargains to be had when buying duty-free stuff at EU airports versus shopping around when in the UK, or, to put it another way, are savings significant enough to spend time in airport shops if that increases the risk of getting caught up in EES queues (accepting that some such shops are beyond passport control)?

daveyjp

Duty free shops now generally fleece punters - its the airport shop which pays no duty, which doesn't have to be passed on. The growth in carry on luggage and the 100ml liquid limit means Duty Free has a captive audience for anyone buying alcohol.

For the last couple of years Leeds Bradford duty free shop has had a huge sale just before Christmas. They hire a local venue and set up a shop for about a week where all items are heavily reduced.

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962966#Comment_81962966

Not a regular shopper in them, but recently bought gin at Madrid at about half of the UK price.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81961981#Comment_81961981

I've realised that I've been looking at this story as an experienced traveller with a pocketful of credit cards (one of which has a concierge service hanging off it) and no job or other responsibilities that would mean serious repercussions if I can't get home in a timely fashion.

Some people book flights/packages with a not unreasonable expectation that they will be able to get on a plane at the end and come home. Get to the airport with only dirty washing in the luggage, a day's-worth of prescription meds left, and a not-understanding boss who might sack them if they're not in tomorrow. And they might well be a family group with infants/pre-teens.

Unless the answer is just to say "tough" and kick the stranded passengers out of the terminal there has to be a fully defined procedure, presumably with the airlines/holiday companies because who else is there, that says exactly what happens.

I know that there are rules about delays and after 4 hours you can get a voucher for a bag of crisps and a coke, but what about having staff on site who can take decisions and authorise spend on hotels/taxis/essentials? Having staff answering calls in their call centre might be good too.

I have a certain amount of sympathy for the airlines, they are not the ones causing the delays at the airports, but as they are the ones who are the customers of the airports, themselves beholden to the rules imposed by their governments, they are realistically the only ones who can get the new procedures amended or rescinded by applying commercial pressure. They won't do this unless they are forced to.

Let's see how many flights/holidays Easyjet/Tui/Jet2 sell if there's a big warning at the top of the website that says "You are likely to have to queue for six hours to get through departures on your way back from your holiday, and we can't guarantee that they'll be a plane waiting when you're through. Bring spare nappies".

NoodleDoodleMan

I'm picking up a litre of Bombay Sapphire at duty free in a week or so - £14.59.

Best price UK supermarkets £23.

Works for me - a G&T on holiday ticks the box.

Fortunately neither of us smoke - tobacco prices are an eyeopener.