 Poster: A snowHead
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How are folks finding the EES in GVA ? other threads have mentioned delays but as others have also said 90 mins isnt unusual.
The main thing im thinking about are the delays returning home and leaving enough time / transfer pickup time so that flights arent missed.
Thoughts and suggestions and experiences from anyone ?
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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GVA Arrival Thu 4 Dec 08:10 from Gatwick to Geneva Terminal-1, easyJet, Row#7: overall, about 45 minutes from deplaning to Arrivals. Not the best (20 mins) or worst (90 mins) I’ve had in terms of processing time. EES delay = zero.
For a change, we parked at the terminal, so no stairs, buses, transfer and long walk to Immigration. Seemed to have arrived not long after previous flight, so already a modest queue. But no delays due to the EES, which processed people faster than the subsequent Immigration staff. About 75% of the booths were manned and they routed people to the EU booths if they were quiet. Overall, the queue kept moving at a reasonable pace. For once, being seated at the front of the ‘plane paid off - I’d add 15-20 minutes for passengers who were at the back.
At the Immigration booth, I was asked to re-place my hand on the scanner. I suspect that the ESS machine didn’t grab all the digits and so this is a second opportunity to get the full set.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 8-12-25 21:39; edited 2 times in total
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Apologies for thread jack but a related question for the hive mind:
Some friends and I have our return flight GVA to London city booked for 8.40pm next Sunday. Want to ski as long as possible on the Sunday so need to consider what sort of time is our deadline to arrive at the airport to allow for
1. car hire droppoff (Europcar)
2. bag drop (incl couple of ski bags),
3. Get through security
3. Get (UK) passport stamped
4. Get to gate (BA flight)
Would 2 hours be enough?
Will prob add some drive time contingency on top but hoping Avoriaz to Geneva shouldn’t be too bad on a Sunday evening…
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| AliAfro wrote: |
Apologies for thread jack but a related question for the hive mind:
Some friends and I have our return flight GVA to London city booked for 8.40pm next Sunday. Want to ski as long as possible on the Sunday so need to consider what sort of time is our deadline to arrive at the airport to allow for
1. car hire droppoff (Europcar)
2. bag drop (incl couple of ski bags),
3. Get through security
3. Get (UK) passport stamped
4. Get to gate (BA flight)
Would 2 hours be enough?
Will prob add some drive time contingency on top but hoping Avoriaz to Geneva shouldn’t be too bad on a Sunday evening… |
You could be pushing it. See the psb thread re the queues through passport control. There must have been 3 flight loads trying to get through so that alone took 50 minutes. I sailed through security as I was on my own and didn’t take hold bags or ski equipment. Essentially you could have at least 3 queues to content with. Personally I’d save myself the aggro and leave at least 3 hours.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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The check in desks were turning people away if they tried to get through more than 2 hours before their fights. This meant that the BA desk had only a handful of people waiting. Oversize bag drop was instant and the security and passport queues were very sorry but I know this wasn't the same for everyone.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@AliAfro, you can pay for fast track security lane in Geneva (10chf), well worth it on a Sunday.
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Speaking to someone at lunchtime today and they took 2 hours yesterday from landing at GVA (jet bridge) to exiting baggage reclaim, the belts had stopped by the time the got to the baggage hall.
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thanks all - very helpful.
Based on feedback, the updated plan is to come down the mountain at 3ish, drop off skis and be on the road for 4pm, get to GVA for 6pm leaving 2hrs 40mins to catch 8.40pm flight. Any excess time will be reassigned to the Jazz bar 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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One time, on departure day, we had everything perfectly timed. Everyone was ready to leave the apartment and I went to the sideboard to get the rental car keys. No keys there. No keys in my ski jacket. No keys in my luggage. No keys in anyone else’s luggage. Checked again - Turned out they were in the gilet I’d been wearing when I last went out to the car, and stored down in the cave. Fortunately, GVA departure processing was very efficient that day, and we turned up to see the Departure Board switch to show our gate. Thanks heaven we added enough contingency time: I had received criticism about overdoing it.
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@LaForet That sounds super stressful!
[note to self: locate car keys the night before departure].
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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When I flew into Zurich as the end of August, I had my fingerprints and biometric data taken from the new booths on entry, not sure if they were just testing them.
I am trying to work out how this will work ongoing, once you have given the data, I assume you don't need to give this again until your passport needs renewed?
So once given, can you skip the queues for the machines and go straight to Passport control?
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@interpaul, yep and you just give one or two prints to check if they want.
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You know it makes sense.
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@mountainaddict, Lost my car key on the way out*. Realised just before getting on the transfer, but too late to do anything about it.
*Flight half empty, got moved to the 3 empty seats in front, rolled up my fleece as a pillow and laid out. Key had dropped out onto seat. Found by EJ cabin crew, but that's another story. Luckily, car parked at home - not airport.
I never ski with any keys from home. All house keys left in car (preferably at home) before flight. Car key put in zip pocket of backpack (cabin luggage) and stays there until arrival at hotel, then place in zip pocket of hold bag until departure.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Nadenoodlee, thanks, I had forgotten about this and have booked a super saver ticket on SBB. I had allowed 90 mins from landing so I hope I make it
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Poster: A snowHead
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@interpaul, what airline are you flying with?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Nadenoodlee, EasyJet - flight is due in Tuesday at 9.20am so we are avoiding the weekend rush I hope...
Can you get fast track ?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Website suggests priority pass doesn’t apply in GVA Terminal 2, don’t know what flights go from Terminal 2, was thinking about it for myself
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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On SBB I tend to book a Saver Day Pass, which though it’s a bit more, is valid for any train on the day and up to 5am the next.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@DavidYacht, T2 is Jet2 (tho not all of them IIRC) and charter.
If you meant fast track then all it does is take you to a different security channel for departure, it has no benefit wrt immigration on departure or arrival. For security, the vast majority of the time the fast track is no quicker, but it is more predictable; it’s never taken me more than 10mins. But 95% of the time, nor does the main security.
If you did mean priority pass, then AFAIK there’s no lounge in T2, but there’s a few in T1 and they’re decent - better than the main BA lounge at school hols, when it gets overcrowded.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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So flying in to GVA for the PSB with the EES registration machines in use it took us 2.5hrs to get through passport control BUT the EES machines were not the problem. Yes there was a queue up to the machines - but only because the queue from the 2, sometimes just 1 manned desks snaked right back to the EES machines. The machines only took 60s for competent people.
While the very limited number of open manned desks didn't help it was noticeable that things really sped up when we got through the last of the passengers from the preceding flight and into those from our LHR one so think it was a flight from somewhere 'of interest' as much as anything.
Nothing happening electronically on the way back though so just the usual GVA passport queue.
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| brianatab wrote: |
@mountainaddict, Lost my car key on the way out*. Realised just before getting on the transfer, but too late to do anything about it.
*Flight half empty, got moved to the 3 empty seats in front, rolled up my fleece as a pillow and laid out. Key had dropped out onto seat. Found by EJ cabin crew, but that's another story. Luckily, car parked at home - not airport.
I never ski with any keys from home. All house keys left in car (preferably at home) before flight. Car key put in zip pocket of backpack (cabin luggage) and stays there until arrival at hotel, then place in zip pocket of hold bag until departure. |
I do the same, but that bit me a few years ago on a trip to Finland (non skiing).
I was flying from Cardiff, with a change at Schipol. On return, there was only a 40 minute transfer window at Schipol, which I always thought as a bit tight.
As I left the hotel, I forgot to transfer the car key from hold luggage to cabin luggage. Unfortunately, while I made the 40 minute transfer (with less than 5 minutes spare, passengers were mostly boarded when I got to the gate), my hold luggage didn't. So I arrived at Cardiff airport with the car in the car park and no keys (home was then near Merthyr Tydfil, 35 miles away).
So I had to phone my wife to do the 70 mile round trip in her car to collect me, then again the following day when they delivered the delayed luggage. She was not best pleased, to say the least.
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| LaForet wrote: |
| On SBB I tend to book a Saver Day Pass, which though it’s a bit more, is valid for any train on the day and up to 5am the next. |
I have got the Half Fare Travel card, so it was only 34chf to Engelberg with the Super Saver, I couldn't resist it - we will see I might make it 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Departed 8.20 flight from gatwick last Wednesday and returned 17.45 Easyjet flight from Geneva on Saturday.
Both flights departed early. Queue on arrival not too bad. My ineptitude meant I fiddled about a bit trying to get my passport info etc into the machines but plenty of staff on hand to help. As others have said there are plenty of machines and once you've added your info you then join the queue to have your passport stamped. No horrific delay and at car rental about 40 minutes after landing.
Way back was a complete breeze. Got to the airport in plenty of time - downside of that was I had to wait to find out what departure gate I would be going to before heading off to passport control. I was at C gates and somewhat dreading going round the corner but it was the emptiest I've ever known - more passport control booths open (5) than punters in front of me (3)! Loads of time once through for a relaxing beer.
I remember plenty of pre Brexit days having to queue at border control for ages in the bowels of Geneva Airport and plenty of post Brexit days where there have been virtually no queues. So for me the question of a delay has always been more about the time of day, day of the week and date of travel.
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@loatie, good to hear your experience.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I landed 10:05 week past Sat - no queue at all inbound.
Left 3:55 last Sat - 60 minute Q to get through C gate security, 3 desks manned for non-EU.
Seems a bit random at the moment.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Any experiences arriving at Geneva T2 yet? (TUI or Jet2)
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People don't seem to realise that using these machines is not mandatory, you can go straight to a manned booth and I guess they will probably just process you as normal..
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You know it makes sense.
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| sgt_tackleberry wrote: |
| People don't seem to realise that using these machines is not mandatory, you can go straight to a manned booth and I guess they will probably just process you as normal.. |
You guess wrong.
EES registration is mandatory for all 3rd country nationals who don't need a visa.
And while it is not going to be fully up and running at all entry points until about April, it is mandatory at all those where it is.
Refuse to register, and you will be refused entry.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I'm not guessing it literally tells you on google that you do not need to use these pre registration machines.
"EES pre register machines not mandatory
The pre-registration devices for the EES system are not mandatory for all travelers. While the use of pre-registration devices is not required, travelers are free to go directly to a booth to have their data recorded by a border guard. This approach allows for flexibility and ensures that all necessary data is collected for the EES file. The pre-registration process is designed to streamline the entry into the Schengen area and enhance security measures."
So people are queuing for these machines when they don't actually have to.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| sgt_tackleberry wrote: |
I'm not guessing it literally tells you on google that you do not need to use these pre registration machines.
"EES pre register machines not mandatory
The pre-registration devices for the EES system are not mandatory for all travelers. While the use of pre-registration devices is not required, travelers are free to go directly to a booth to have their data recorded by a border guard. This approach allows for flexibility and ensures that all necessary data is collected for the EES file. The pre-registration process is designed to streamline the entry into the Schengen area and enhance security measures."
So people are queuing for these machines when they don't actually have to. |
But they will almost certainly take longer if they don't.
Registration is mandatory. While it *can* be done at a booth, that will take longer than the automated machines - and will f course also mean everybody else is held up more.
I did think from your OP that you were suggesting you didn't need to register, not just that you could do it the hard way if you prefer.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
| The check in desks were turning people away if they tried to get through more than 2 hours before their fights. |
My flight was as 14:40 and BA initially sent me away and told me to come back at 11:55, when they quite happily checked me in - so nearly three hours before From what the staff said I think it was more about what other flights they had to check in.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Queued for well over an hour arriving at Geneva last week. Nothing to do with EES - there were plenty of machines and it was easy. The queue for the EES machines only existed because the queue for the manned booths stretched back to the machines and prevented people moving through. The problem was the single border guard for most of the time.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Tubaski wrote: |
| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
| The check in desks were turning people away if they tried to get through more than 2 hours before their fights. |
My flight was as 14:40 and BA initially sent me away and told me to come back at 11:55, when they quite happily checked me in - so nearly three hours before From what the staff said I think it was more about what other flights they had to check in. |
This is very typical for the BA desks at peak times at GVA - either based on a hard cutoff time, or they will decide which flights are eligible for checkin and turn everyone else away. It doesn't usually apply to the priority queue (business/gold/silver) but in reality that just means there's a very long priority queue, while non-priority passengers get a drink in the jazz bar.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We were on the same flight as @LaForet, on Thursday morning, landing at about 10.30am. On the plus side, we weren't bussed to the terminal and it was a shorter walk to passport control. We were in row 2 on the plane and agree it took about 45 mins, though this as an early flight and a weekday and we were at the front of the queue of passengers from our plane. A flight, which I think was from Turkey, was ahead of us.
We came back yesterday morning-11.25am flight leaving from the old circular B departure gates part of the airport. The gate was called well over an hour before the flight and regular GVA users will know the walk to the B gates is much shorter. There was a bit of a queue at passport control-perhaps 10 mins-which I think was for two flights-one for LGW and one for Luton due to leave at the same time. I did fingerprints and a photo scan at the desk, though Mr P was not asked to do either-I'm not sure why, thought he does have a 6 month visitor visa for France starting on Boxing day. Passport stamped.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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GVA Departure Tues 9 Dec Geneva>Gatwick easyJet 18:45 Terminal-1 Fast - 10 mins at security, 10mins at Passport Control, 15 minutes boarding. Flight touched down early at Gatwick.
The only extra was placing my fingers on the scanner at passport control. 6 out of 11 booths manned by immigration staff, so for a quiet weekday, things moved quickly. As did security, although we arrived in a very quiet interval: ten minutes later and the wait would have been a bit longer.
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Landed in gva 0950 today, biggest passport queue I’ve seen in many years. Started queuing before the last moving walkway!
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It is strange, we arrived at 9.30am into Geneva on Tuesday of this week, and were through Passport control and collected our bags in 35 mins. I had a Super Saver ticket booked with SBB for 10.45 and I really thought we would miss it. Had loads of time in the end.
I think it depends on the number of flights, as we had no Queue at all at PP control.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| interpaul wrote: |
| I think it depends on the number of flights, as we had no Queue at all at PP control. |
That's the problem with Geneva. Lots of flights (many of them Easyjet) arrive/leave in a very short period. You could be on the first, or just as easily, the 20th to arrive in that hour.
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45 mins to get to ees, queue looks longer due to the ees machines I think. It didn’t take my finger prints, just scanned the passport. 7 machines powered up and not being used seems a bit daft!
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FAQ
This couldn’t be explained - I think I must have dropped the key when carrying armfuls of kit/luggage out to the car.
