Fiumicino Entry/Exit System [EES]

[FrankNatoli]

Our party of four adults passed through the Fiumicino EES two weeks ago and only I was able to satisfy the photo and fingerprint automated kiosk and even then only after multiple attempts to read my fingerprints. The other three people had to go through the manual system because the automated kiosk was unhappy with their fingerprints. That said, we were all through passport control within forty-five minutes of arriving at the EES kiosks. Exiting Italy twelve days later was quick and uneventful.

 

[Mom83]

We had a very similar experience arriving at FCO on April 8th…departing April 20th. I have since learned that the trick to get your fingerprints to register is to press really, really hard. Very few people were able to get their fingerprints to register, but the manual passport control was very quick and easy.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Yes, that was exactly the trick. On the final try, I thought I was pressing hard enough to break the glass plate. Obviously the Europeans didn't get the fingerprint reader testing quite right.

 

[Alpinista]

Went through yesterday off a flight arriving 7:30 AM and with business class exit from flight (bus closed the doors and took us to the terminal once our section emptied). Nothing but a bank of empty terminals awaiting us. My wife scanned successfully; my fingererprints wouldn’t register — tried two different machines and the various recommendations for getting a good scan. An assistant came over to mash my hand into the scanner and still no luck. Directed me to the manual processing line where, again, nothing but empty stations. All good there and an immediate exit.

 

[Valerie]

I arrived a few days ago, with several international flights landing at the same time. The very tight space where they have the machines was jam-packed so people had to line up at the machines and those who finished couldn't get out. It was a mess. 75% of people (including me) couldn't get the fingerprints to read, but instead of sending us to the manual line, they said to follow the black line, which just put us at another automated reader but this time with little swinging doors that open to block you in (deceiving because you do the passport reader and facial recognition and think you're clear, but no, once inside you still have to put your hands on the stupid fingerprint reader!) I always have trouble with digital fingerprints when we renew our permesso di soggiorno for living here; one polizzotto said I'd be a good thief because I wouldn't leave legible prints! haha But for this system, it is a pain in the rear for the majority of people, and as it already reads your passport and your face, I don't see the purpose of also fingerprinting. I was made to spend an hour on this nonsense, because they wouldn't let me go to a manual line. Soooo...expect delays and frustration until they either work out the bugs or take out the fingerprint scanner.

 

[Jim Zurer]

I should have posted earlier...but our experience at FCO on April 28 was similar to Valerie's but not as bad. Diana was able to get her fingerprints successfully read but I tried a number of times and it never worked. One of the officials said that about people are unsuccessful about half the time. I was then directed to "follow the black line" which led to a booth where the official took a long, hard look at my passport and waved us through. No fingerprints were ever taken. I don't know if there will be ramifications when we leave.

There were long lines when I first arrived at the kiosks but by the time Diana arrived with the other passengers in wheelchairs, it was clear sailing.

 

[Valerie]

I should have posted earlier...but our experience at FCO on April 28 was similar to Valerie's but not as bad. Diana was able to get her fingerprints successfully read but I tried a number of times and it never worked. One of the officials said that about people are unsuccessful about half the time. I was then directed to "follow the black line" which led to a booth where the official took a long, hard look at my passport and waved us through. No fingerprints were ever taken. I don't know if there will be ramifications when we leave.

There were long lines when I first arrived at the kiosks but by the time Diana arrived with the other passengers in wheelchairs, it was clear sailing.

I was hoping to get to an actual official but instead had to go through the cattle trap thing {eye roll}

 

[FrankNatoli]

Update here.
My wife's cousin a few days ago flew into Roma Fiumicino with her daughter and it took them 3.5 hours to clear passport and customs.
She says almost all the EES kiosks were roped off [unusable].
Manual passport control was severely understaffed.
Escalators were out of service.
A nightmare.
I love my ancestral Italy but, all too often, it's not First World.

 

[Alpinista]

My niece flew out Saturday on a 10:30 AM flight. Said security took about half an hour.

 

[NancyLU]

Hello! I know this is an FCO thread but can anyone give feedback on Catania's EES? We are flying direct from the U.S. in August. Hoping it's not a terrible wait at the airport. Thanks

 

[Fioridave]

Our party of four adults passed through the Fiumicino EES two weeks ago and only I was able to satisfy the photo and fingerprint automated kiosk and even then only after multiple attempts to read my fingerprints. The other three people had to go through the manual system because the automated kiosk was unhappy with their fingerprints. That said, we were all through passport control within forty-five minutes of arriving at the EES kiosks. Exiting Italy twelve days later was quick and uneventful.

I had the same experience at the Venice airport. Someone explained that they put the system in before it was tested. That sounds like something that I would do.

 

[Valerie]

The passport control and entry was SOOO much faster before they implemented this new system! We used to breeze in (max half-hour). Now it is a nightmare. It just doesn't function! Automation is not always better!

 

[Valerie]

@Alpinista Leaving isn't the issue, but the arrival passport control system. They've mucked it up big time!I I'm interested in if this is happening in other EU countries where it has gone into effect, too, or just Italy.

 

[Alpinista]

My passport would not scan successfully today at FCO (wondering if a connection to not get past the fingerprint scan when I arrived in May and was sent through manual processing). Was once again sent to the manual line and took 40 minutes. That line grew substantially while I was in it, so would guess those further back in queue were looking at an hour.

 

[Lorac]

Our party of four adults passed through the Fiumicino EES two weeks ago and only I was able to satisfy the photo and fingerprint automated kiosk and even then only after multiple attempts to read my fingerprints. The other three people had to go through the manual system because the automated kiosk was unhappy with their fingerprints. That said, we were all through passport control within forty-five minutes of arriving at the EES kiosks. Exiting Italy twelve days later was quick and uneventful.

 

[Lorac]

Yesterday my husband and I flew to Rome through Frankfurt. We passed through customs with the usual stop to have our passports stamped. There was no fingerprinting or phototaking. At Fiumicino following baggage collection we walked outside. I presume that all countries aren’t yet up to speed.