How to avoid a summer holiday meltdown, from European border queues to heatwaves

The summer holidays are in full flow. Abta, the Travel Association, estimates that 2.2 million British holidaymakers are set to head overseas this weekend, while across the next six weeks, more than 30 million seats are scheduled to depart from UK airports, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. However, these numbers represent a modest increase from summer 2025 – scheduled departures for this coming weekend are up by just 1.5 per cent compared to last year. Cirium projects the busiest weekend of the summer for flight departures from the UK to be August bank holiday, while the Advantage Travel Partnership – which represents independent travel businesses – has noted that more people are booking last-minute than ever. This can be partly attributed to uncertainty about border delays and heatwaves in Europe, jet fuel shortages and volatility in the Middle East. If you are preparing to get away, here’s how to ensure things go as smoothly as possible… Border queues in Europe The new Schengen Area EES biometric border checks add time to the arrival process, but not all airports are experiencing bottlenecks. British passport-holders have had mixed experiences since the full roll-out in April, ranging from a breezy few minutes, to hours-long delays that in some cases have caused missed return flights. Cirium data shows the most popular international destinations this summer to be Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma, Alicante and Malaga. All but Dublin have been experiencing long queues at peak arrival times, alongside Lisbon, Faro, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Madrid, Paris Beauvais, Milan (Bergamo and Linate), Berlin, Krakow and Budapest. Passport control at Milan Malpensa Airport (Photo: Giannis Alexopoulos/NurPhoto via Getty Images) However, long queues are not a certainty at these airports – it depends on what time you arrive. Check the airport’s live arrivals information to see which other flights are scheduled to land from the UK around the same time. The highest volume of flights departs the UK in the first few hours of the day, typically landing in Europe around lunchtime. A frequent traveller has also built a tool that shows when airports are at their busiest. At Alicante Airport in Spain, for example, seven planes were scheduled to land from UK airports between 12.15pm and 1.15pm on Thursday, delivering more than 1,000 British passport-holders into border control queues. That’s in addition to six flights from within Europe. Getting towards the front of a long passport control queue is key. Those on earlier flights are likely to be at an advantage, as are passengers sitting at the front of the plane with minimal hand luggage (providing they disembark via an air bridge rather than a bus on the Tarmac). Passengers with reduced mobility or a disability can request assistance at airports at least 48 hours before departure, and there’s also an option to apply for a hidden disabilities badge in advance at Spanish airports. Downloading the Travel to Europe app can help speed up the process if you’re travelling to Sweden and Portugal, since you can fill in some of the EES information in advance. The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has launched with mixed success (Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images) Arriving at the airport in good time for a return flight will provide a buffer for slow border queues, but if you’re checking in luggage, arriving too early can add to the chaos – check-in desks typically open two to three hours before departure. Read the small print of your travel insurance to check whether airport delays are covered for missed departures. Airlines are not duty-bound to put you on an alternative flight if you miss yours due to border queues. If you’re a late-booker, you might also consider choosing a destination where EES checks are not an issue. Greece has temporarily suspended biometric checks for British passport holders, while countries including Turkey, Cyprus, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are not part of the EES scheme. And, of course, there are also beautiful British islands on the doorstep. And on return to the UK, children aged eight and above, who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and accompanied by an adult, can now use e-gates, making passport-control smoother. Border queues in England Juxtaposed French border controls at Dover, Folkestone and St Pancras International could also cause a headache for Europe-bound travellers. Eurotunnel and ferry passengers on the south coast may find they are directed to overspill sites in Kent if traffic starts to back up thanks to EES checks. However, car passengers at Folkestone and Dover, as well as Eurostar passengers at St Pancras are not having their biometrics registered due to ongoing problems with French border technology. Eurostar passengers are advised of arrival time on their ticket. All passengers will be moved to the next departure if they miss theirs due to queueing. Airport drop-off fees The “kiss-and-fly” fees at many UK airports have gone up again, costing as much as £10 at Gatwick and Stansted for 10 and 15 minutes respectively (with a maximum of £30/£28). Avoid them by checking in advance and seeking alternative arrangements, such as public transport, or being dropped at a long-stay car park where the fees don’t apply and with a shuttle to the terminal. If arriving by taxi, check if the fee is included in the fare. If you do end up being dropped off, don’t forget to pay – the driver will be subject to a penalty charge notice of £60 if it’s not paid by midnight the following day. Heatwaves and wildfires Europe’s summer heatwave continues after the hottest June on record. Temperatures above 40°C have been causing power cuts in Malta as the national grid has come under strain. And on the Orihuela coast in Alicante, high temperatures and storm warnings have prompted the closure of parks and beaches this week. Wildfires continue to rage across the Continent thanks to drought and high temperatures. In Spain, the state meteorological agency has warned of extremely high temperatures in the east and south-east that are forecast to exceed 40º-42ºC, rising higher in parts of Almeria where a deadly wildfire claimed 13 lives earlier this month. In most cases, you won’t be able to change or cancel a holiday because of high temperatures without losing your money, unless the Foreign Office advises against travelling to the destination. However, Eurostar has occasionally offered flexible travel options to exchange tickets to a later date during periods of extreme heat, subject to availability. Travel insurance and a Ghic card (which covers state-provided healthcare in Europe) are recommended in case the heat causes you to become unwell. Take precautions during peak heat hours, and be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (a medical emergency when your body can no longer cool itself). A wildfire in near the Bay of Arcachon, south-western France in late July (Photo: Romain Perrocheau/AFP via Getty Images) In the event of wildfires, follow the advice of local authorities, keep up to date with local media and emergency services, and speak to your travel provider for advice if the area you’re due to visit, or are visiting, is affected. Hostilities in the Middle East The resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran has prompted updated travel warnings from the Foreign Office, which now advises against all but essential travel to Bahrain. It also cautions that British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions. Stay up to date with alerts by signing up to country-specific travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.