The travel misery being experienced by many British tourists at UK airports is being replicated when they arrive at their destination, according to complaints on social media.
There were claims of long queues and some travellers having to wait up to three hours to get through passport control in Spain, including holiday hotspots such as Majorca, Alicante and Malaga. This is due to the extra checks needed at passport control since Brexit.
UK holidaymakers are only allowed to remain in the Schengen area (a free movement area made up of 26 countries including Spain) for 90 out of 180 days. Every passenger must get their passport inspected manually and date-stamped by police on arrival and departure.
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According to the Irish Mirror, other passengers from the European Union (EU) have flown through arrivals, leaving some Brits to claim that EU citizens are getting "preferential treatment" with an "EU fast lane".
Travellers have been sharing pictures from Malaga Airport which has sectioned off two separate passport queues. One is sealed off with black tape and signposted with a union jack for "all passengers". The other is enclosed with green tape and shows an Irish tricolour and EU flag while labelled for "EU citizens".
"Four hours queue in Malaga airport for non-EU passport holders, meanwhile everyone else walking on," one person wrote on Twitter. Another added: "We had a three-hour wait at Palma airport, with a very tired 4 year old in tow. 'Other passports' no line."
Meanwhile, some EU passport holders have claimed they are getting "looks that could kill" as they "sail through" while others queue.
"Massive queues for non-EU passport control at Malaga Airport yesterday morning. In less than a minute we Irish passport holders were waived through with a smile. If looks could kill!" a Twitter user wrote. Another said: "Sailed through the Irish lane at Malaga yesterday. A couple of Brits off my plane attempted to follow me. That was fun."
Someone else posted: "Recently arrived in Spain. A woman was complaining about British passports being sent to a long queue, Irish go the other way. I politely pointed out that this is our new normal. 'Oh well. Yes, I suppose so' she grumbled."
Tour operators and hoteliers have claimed the issues at passport control are creating a negative impact on the entire travel and tourism industry.
The Balearic Business Federation of Transport (FEBT) said: "All flights from the UK, as a consequence of Brexit, are affected by passport controls in the [Majorca] airport terminal building.
“The massive arrival of tourists has collapsed this service, so this problem must urgently be solved.”
