Lisbon airport info

[Tricky Trevor]

Just back from a Lisbon break. The airport is a nightmare.
They are currently installing an enormous number of electronic passport machines, they are all on view, but until installed it took us over 2hrs to get in. Only two men in booths.
Coming out there were 6 machines and the system was well explained on a looping video but what a bunch of muppets in front of us. None of them could have bothered watching the video. We ended up queue jumping or we’d have missed our flight. I’d estimate the queue at 3 hours. Whilst there we picked up the English language Portuguese News and it contained an article criticising the same situation at Faro.
Be prepared. Happy jollies.

[JR1882]

Had a similar time in Faro last year, a good hour at passport control. Rarely spend more than 10/15 mins on the process in the canaries.

Some places are way behind with processing this. Dubai took me about 10 seconds.

[nyclaret]

Just back from a Lisbon break. The airport is a nightmare.
They are currently installing an enormous number of electronic passport machines, they are all on view, but until installed it took us over 2hrs to get in. Only two men in booths.
Coming out there were 6 machines and the system was well explained on a looping video but what a bunch of muppets in front of us. None of them could have bothered watching the video. We ended up queue jumping or we’d have missed our flight. I’d estimate the queue at 3 hours. Whilst there we picked up the English language Portuguese News and it contained an article criticising the same situation at Faro.
Be prepared. Happy jollies.

Had the same issue in Lisbon 2 weeks ago - only 3 machines working

[Beagle]

Faro is a nightmare

[brunlea99]

Porto was the same a couple of weeks ago. It's the same when you fly back, you will have to go through a passport control before getting on the plane. It's a nightmare. I strongly advise you to get to the airport early.

[Quicknick]

I got back to Lisbon from Bangkok on Wednesday preparing for the worst, but I cruised through. The Portuguese aren't known for their efficiency, though.

[dougcollins]

All hail Brexit.

[Flixtonclaret1]

I’m a frequent flyer to/ from Faro.

Always been a grind on the way in for at least 2 years but last month horrendous on the way out - queuing back to the down escalators.

You would think operationally it’s not rocket science to know the footfall given all flights are scheduled. Seems a distinct lack of commercial appreciation for foreign visitors and property owners.

[Burnley Ace]

The e-gates were working at Faro last night but there was no staff directing passengers to use them. It took one or two intrepid travelers to have a go but most people just stood in the queue.

[ŽižkovClaret]

So happy to fly EU to EU

[nig1954]

I came back from Porto on Thursday.Getting through security wasn’t too bad but getting through passport control to get to our departure gate was a nightmare.
Was in a long queue for over 1.5 hours and encountered a number of queue jumpers who were presumably concerned about missing their flight.
Security was poor with only 1 slight female trying to keep things under control but she was completely overwhelmed.Bless her.

[SammyBoy]

Sounds pretty typical. I have Portuguese in-laws so visit Lisbon a couple of times a year at least, the rest of society functions like this too.

[Claret86]

My in laws flew to and from faro in 2022 and had an absolute nightmare. They put it down to the country recovering from the covid lockdowns

[jdrobbo]

Porto was the same a couple of weeks ago. It's the same when you fly back, you will have to go through a passport control before getting on the plane. It's a nightmare. I strongly advise you to get to the airport early.

Currently stood in said queue, looking at the scores of passport machines gathering dust whilst one guy checks the passports of about 300 people…

[GetIntoEm]

All Portugal airports are the same. Incompetent

[tarkys_ears]

They've got labour disputes going on and have for over a year now.

But we can just point to brexit followed by a few stupid, childish emojis even though it's nothing really to do with it.

[Stayingup]

All hail Brexit.

Indeed. Great success. But but now our great leader has given much away to Europe for us to be able to use ..... e gates in Portugal. What a man!!!

[Quicknick]

Sounds pretty typical. I have Portuguese in-laws so visit Lisbon a couple of times a year at least, the rest of society functions like this too.

Agreed. Incompetence is at every turn in Portugal. I lived in Lagos for six years and visit every year for two or three months as I have a condo.

[Taffy on the wing]

Agreed. Incompetence is at every turn in Portugal. I lived in Lagos for six years and visit every year for two or three months as I have a condo.

Bloody foreigners eh?

[Quicknick]

Bloody foreigners eh?

What's that supposed to mean?

[CoolClaret]

... There's me thinking Lisbon airport and the metro system nearby is bob-on! Wonderful City.

[Quicknick]

Lisbon is an interesting city, alright, CoolClaret. What does bob-on mean?

[CoolClaret]

Lisbon is an interesting city, alright, CoolClaret. What does bob-on mean?

Good / spot-on / decent.

[ecc]

Sounds pretty typical. I have Portuguese in-laws so visit Lisbon a couple of times a year at least, the rest of society functions like this too.

I tell my Portuguese spouse how superior I am on a daily basis.

[Tricky Trevor]

I tell my Portuguese spouse how superior I am on a daily basis.

Which one was that? I remember Ginger, Baby, Posh, Sporty.

[Taffy on the wing]

What's that supposed to mean?

When in Portugal.......

[Quicknick]

When in Portugal.......

When in Portugal what?

[Taffy on the wing]

Your "incompetence at every turn" comment........if you don't like it leave!

[ecc]

Which one was that? I remember Ginger, Baby, Posh, Sporty.

Funny.

[Quicknick]

Your "incompetence at every turn" comment........if you don't like it leave!

If you'd read my original post properly, you'd know that I have. Have you ever lived abroad? It's only when you do that, that you work out how countries are.

[ecc]

If you'd read my original post properly, you'd know that I have. Have you ever lived abroad? It's only when you do that, that you work out how countries are.

That is true. One thing to go somewhere on holiday, another to live there.

[Taffy on the wing]

If you'd read my original post properly, you'd know that I have. Have you ever lived abroad? It's only when you do that, that you work out how countries are.

I did, my point is you can't expect a country to change to suit you (when in Rome) etc...
you have to adjust your expectations ... or leave.

[Quicknick]

I did, my point is you can't expect a country to change to suit you (when in Rome) etc...
you have to adjust your expectations ... or leave.

I agree. I wouldn't say Portugal's general inefficiency was why I left, though. There were other reasons. But as the last poster said above, living/holidaying are different things. I'm in Portugal at the moment. Nice to visit for a break [to fill a tax return in etc], but I'm glad I'm not here all year.

[Big Vinny K]

Sh-itshow of an airport still.
Ridiculous queues when you land for passport control

[ŽižkovClaret]

Sh-itshow of an airport still.
Ridiculous queues when you land for passport control

Given the cause, is that really on them?

[Big Vinny K]

Given the cause, is that really on them?

That’s not the cause.
Been like this for months apparently
Not sure why you would mention that

It’s pure numbers of people who are non EU and no electronic machines for the non EU

[quoonbeatz]

Flew into Lisbon from Paris the other day, off the plane and in an uber in about 20 mins, most excellent airporting. Travelling EU to EU is superb.

[Big Vinny K]

Flew into Lisbon from Paris the other day, off the plane and in an uber in about 20 mins, most excellent airporting. Travelling EU to EU is superb.

Yes the EU queue was enviously small !

[ŽižkovClaret]

That’s not the cause.
Been like this for months apparently
Not sure why you would mention that

It’s pure numbers of people who are non EU and no electronic machines for the non EU

Sure, not like anything happened to markedly increase the volume of "non-EU" passengers

[Claret Till I Die]

We had a long weekend in Lisbon in August 2022 and the airport wasn't too busy on entry or exit

[Big Vinny K]

Sure, not like anything happened to markedly increase the volume of "non-EU" passengers

You are talking nonsense.
There was hardly a queue for the EU passport control - how would that be explained based on what you are saying ?
And why would the airport have been like this for the last few months ?

[quoonbeatz]

Yes the EU queue was enviously small !

No queue, no passport checks, you just sail through to the exit. Proper.

[Big Vinny K]

No queue, no passport checks, you just sail through to the exit. Proper.

Oh yep - had the same come to think of it in June when I flew from Milan to Spain

[ŽižkovClaret]

You are talking nonsense.
There was hardly a queue for the EU passport control - how would that be explained based on what you are saying ?
And why would the airport have been like this for the last few months ?

The new visa system requiring non-EU passengers to give Iris and fingerprint scans, for one thing.....

[Big Vinny K]

The new visa system requiring non-EU passengers to give Iris and fingerprint scans, for one thing.....

That didn’t happen.
It was just one very long snake like queue with people showing their passport and getting it stamped the good old fashioned way
Crack on though making stuff up

Maybe it’s just as simple as too many people not enough staff and no automated passport machines - like I said in the first place