NEWS & OFFERS: Finally – EU entry/exit system start date, Qatar adds card linked offers for Avios and Flash 40% bonus on Avios purchase

EU entry/exit system EES start date + ETIAS cost increase

The whole EU electronic entry and new travel authorisation (like a US ESTA) has been a debacle of the highest order, with endless delays and many airports stating they will not be ready in time. EES is a biometric system that will use photographs and fingerprints for registering travellers from non-EU countries to the Schengen area. You only have to submit them in full the first time you enter the area and the data is held for three years.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Finally, we have a start date for EES, but of course, it is not as simple as that. Not all airports will come online on the same date. The phased implementation will last until 9 April 2026, but we do not yet know where it will start. From 10 April 2026, EES will be fully operational at all EU borders. The official start date is 12 October 2026, so if you were thinking of booking flights around then, I would try to avoid the first week or so after that at the very least. Why they have chosen to do it just before UK half term I have no idea. Surely November, one of the quietest months of the year for travel until US Thanksgiving, may have been better?

For those methods of transport, such as ferries and Eurostar, that have the border on the UK side, the UK government believes there is adequate provision to reduce wait times.

• Eurostar expects EES registration to be quick and easy. ​It will have 50 kiosks across 3 locations at stations for people to carry out the checks.
• Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimate EES checks will add just over 5 minutes to journey times.​ 
• Port of Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets to make the process as straightforward as possible. 

ETIAS is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS is the new travel authorisation requirement for nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries and territories around the world. It will be mandatory to enter to 30 European countries for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The price has risen dramatically from the original projected €7 and will now cost €20 for 2 years. 

You can find the UK government page about the change here.

Qatar Privilege Club adds credit card-linked Avios offers

One of the most underrated ways to earn Avios is to link your credit card to your Avios account, allowing you to earn Avios in-store and at restaurants. I have done this with mine and often get a nice surprise when I visit somewhere that participates, which I was not aware of. A little while later, some Avios appear in my account, which is always welcome. If you haven’t already done so, you can add your cards here (they can be any debit or credit cards; please add all the cards you use regularly if possible). 

Now Qatar is getting in on the game with their first partner, Heathrow Express. Even if you don’t think you’ll use the offer, it is probably worth registering your card. In case they add more partners, it can be hard to keep track of all the options. 

With Heathrow Express, you will earn 1 Avios per $10 spent, which is not a great offer. There is another drawback in that you can only use Visa cards. You would actually be better using the BA Avios offer which is 5 Avios per £1 spent. However, it is good to see Qatar starting to expand its Avios earning opportunities in the UK. 

You can find the information page here.

Flash 40% bonus on Avios purchase

Alongside their 40-45% off some Avios redemptions, BA has also launched a flash sale on Avios purchases with a 40%  bonus until midnight 23 July 2026. This is not a great deal as the regular bonus is usually 50%, although you never know when 40% becomes the new 50%! For a quick Avios top-up, it is normally better to “boost” your Avios, which allows you to multiply the number of Avios you have earned in the last 30 days for a lower fee than buying them. Let’s compare a couple of examples which are similar.

• Buy 2000 Avios plus 800 bonus = 2800 for £49 (57.14 Avios per £1)
• Boost 2250 x1 for another 2250 Avios = 2250 for £21.60 (104 Avios per £1)
• Buy 5000 Avios plus 2000 bonus = 7000 for £105 (66.67 Avios per £1)
• Boost 2250 x3 to get another 6750 = 6750 for £62.10 (109 Avios per £1)

Obviously, if you have not earned any Avios in the last 30 days it won’t help. 

You can find the offer page here.