Nationwide strike in Portugal set to cause major travel chaos, when is it taking place?
Travellers headed to Portugal need to be aware of a nationwide strike that is due to take place.
A nationwide strike in Portugal is set to cause major travel chaos for travellers headed there. TAP Air Portugal already issued a statement on their website which reads: “Border control times at Lisbon Airport may be longer than usual due to the implementation of a new border management system. Please go to passport control in advance before your flight departure time.”
Four days ago, Ryanair took to Instagram and wrote: “name something slower than Lisbon Border Control... we'll wait 🤦.” In response, one person wrote: “Your flight back from Lisbon to Manchester yesterday afternoon that was delayed ..,” whilst another said: “Don't be a crybaby, it doesn't reflect well on a company of your caliber. Do you know what's the average time to get out of JFK international airport?”
A day ago, a Reddit user wrote: “7:20am arrive at airport, hang around as baggage check isn’t open yet
“8:17am baggage check opens
“8:30am baggage dropped off. A bunch of people have queued up behind us. I’m glad I came early so I could be one of the first to drop off bags
“8:50am pass through security check
“8:55am begin waiting in passport control line - it has snaked around the entire terminal, beyond the duty free shops
“9:50am make it to Swarovski which was a bit over halfway
“10:10am finally see the entrance to the passport control banners. We are told it will be another 30-45 min from this point
“10:30am get redirected to manual entry after trying to use the machines 4 times (flight is supposed to close at 10:30am…..)
“10:45am finish manual entry
“10:52am make it to gate!
Our flight was supposed to depart at 10:55am but they held the plane back to 11:30am. 4 passengers did not make it to the gate so they had to take their bags off the plane, which took another 20-30min. All in - an absolutely chaotic experience and would strongly recommend leaving ample time to go through customs. I have never seen so many people beg for help to make their flights.”
Travellers heading to Portugal now have to contend with another issue, a nationwide strike taking place in the country imminently. TAP Air Portugal wrote: “TAP informs its Customers that a general strike has been called in Portugal for 3 June.
“To minimize the potential disruption this strike may cause to its Customers, TAP is allowing all passengers holding tickets issued by 20 May for flights scheduled on 3 June to bring their flight forward to dates between 27 May and 2 June or postpone it to dates between 4 and 11 June. These changes may be made without additional charges. Changes can be made here or through travel agents.”