If you are planning to fly out for the May half-term break, you need to pay close attention to the clock. Travel across Europe is currently facing a massive squeeze due to the new EU Entry/Exit System, which has created a bottleneck at passport control that experts did not fully predict. This policy shift, combined with ongoing worries about jet fuel supplies linked to the Middle East conflict, means airlines are no longer playing it cool with late arrivals. You might think showing up an hour before your flight is fine, but the major carriers are now warning that their planes simply will not wait for you if you get stuck in a security line.
The advice is coming in thick and fast from the biggest names in the sky. Ryanair is telling everyone to get to the airport at least two hours before their flight leaves. You have to be at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes before the plane takes off, or you will likely see your bags being taken off the flight while you are still standing in a queue. It is a stressful way to start a holiday. And while you are planning your budget, it is worth remembering that easyJet, TUI, and Jet2 are warning passengers about hidden resort charges that could eat into your spending money before you even land.
Speaking of easyJet, they are being very clear about the half-term rush. The airline expects airports to be exceptionally busy and wants you to allow plenty of extra time for traffic and long lines at the terminal. Their bag-drop desks usually close exactly 40 minutes before the flight, but some airports shut them down an hour early. If you have an early flight, you can use their twilight bag drop the night before to save some sanity. But do not expect the pilot to hold the plane for you. The airline recently stated that “planes may not be able to wait” for those caught in the border system delays, making that two-hour window a total necessity rather than just a suggestion.
Jet2 is sticking to a similar script for the May holidays. They require customers to arrive at least two hours before the scheduled departure time. Their check-in desks generally open about two-and-a-half hours before the flight and they close them strictly 40 minutes before takeoff. According to a detailed report by the Express, these collective arrival guidelines are a direct response to the anticipated May half-term rush. If you miss that window, you are likely looking at a very expensive mistake. TUI also suggests that two hours is the bare minimum, especially since many travelers are now dealing with manual passport checks that take much longer than the old digital gates.
This is a big shift in how we travel. For years, we got used to breezing through terminals, but the new border rules have changed the math for every traveler. The best thing you can do is check your specific airport’s website the morning you leave. Some hubs are seeing much worse congestion than others. Beyond just the airport lines, travel experts like Martin Lewis are telling people to double-check their travel insurance right now. With the fuel shortage risks, you want to make sure you are covered for cancellations. It is better to spend an extra hour sitting in the departure lounge with a coffee than to be the person running through the terminal only to find a closed gate and an empty runway.
How the EU Entry/Exit System red tape reshapes your 2026 holiday
The real reason your favorite airlines are sounding the alarm is the total shift in how European borders work. This isn’t just a seasonal crowd issue; it is a permanent change in protocol. The EU Entry/Exit System requires much more data from travelers, which means every single person in front of you in line is taking three times longer to process than they did two years ago. This creates a “domino effect” at UK airports like Manchester and Gatwick, where security lines are backing up into the check-in halls. The takeaway for you is simple: the “two-hour rule” is the new one-hour rule. If you don’t adjust your arrival time to account for these systemic border delays, you are effectively gambling with your entire holiday budget. Clearing security is no longer the final hurdle; it is just the beginning of a much longer administrative trek to the gate.