Research Report · June 2026 · Holiday Extras · research hub
Lost in
Transition
How Brexit passport rules, border anxiety and ETIAS are reshaping the way UK travellers plan European holidays.
report some degree of destination-choice impact from Brexit travel rules
rate EU border queue length a 4 or 5 out of 5 for concern
are either unaware of ETIAS or lack the details they need
experienced at least one Brexit passport-related problem
A moment of real uncertainty for UK travellers
Post-Brexit travel to Europe has never been more administratively complex. UK passport holders now face stricter entry rules, longer border queues, and — later this year — a new pre-authorisation system called ETIAS. We wanted to understand how aware travellers really are of these changes, and whether that awareness, or lack of it, is already shaping where they choose to go.
We surveyed 500 UK adults who have flown from a UK airport, asking them about their understanding of post-Brexit passport rules, their experiences at EU borders, their anxiety about queue times and disruption, and their awareness of ETIAS — the EU's new travel-authorisation system equivalent to the US ESTA.
The findings reveal a travel public that is anxious, partially informed, and increasingly open to alternatives. Nearly half report that Brexit travel rules have already influenced their destination choices, and four in five cannot accurately describe what ETIAS requires of them. With ETIAS expected to launch later in 2026, the window for traveller education is narrow — and the stakes, for both the EU tourism economy and UK travellers themselves, are significant.
Most UK travellers have a rough idea that things changed after Brexit, but rough ideas don't stop you being turned away at the gate. ETIAS is another layer of requirement arriving with very little fanfare — and our data suggests the majority of travellers simply aren't ready for it.Seamus McCauley — Head of Public Affairs, Holiday Extras
How the research was conducted
This study was designed to capture a nationally representative snapshot of UK working-age adults with recent direct experience of flying from UK airports.
| Research platform | Attest Survey Platform |
| Fieldwork dates | 4–6 June 2026 |
| Total sample | 500 qualified UK adults |
| Qualification criteria | Must have flown from a UK airport; working-age national representative |
| Age range | 18–64 |
| Gender split | Male and Female respondents across all regions |
| Geography | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland |
| Recency of travel | 52% last flew in 2025; 48% last flew in 2026 (earlier that year) |
| Statistical significance | 95% confidence level throughout |
Most travellers are uncertain about Brexit passport rules
While nearly half of respondents feel confident about the requirements, the majority carry some level of doubt — and a significant minority are entirely unaware that rules have changed at all.
Respondents were asked which statement best described their understanding of the requirements for a UK passport holder to visit the EU since Brexit. The results reveal a spectrum of awareness, with fewer than half describing themselves as fully informed and confident.
53% of UK travellers are uncertain about post-Brexit EU passport rules — either unsure of the details, unaware of what the rules are, or not even knowing that rules changed.
The 3.2% who were 'not aware the rules had changed' represent travellers most at risk of an unpleasant surprise at the border. Combined with the 11.6% who say they do not know what the rules are, nearly one in seven respondents are essentially uninformed about requirements that could prevent them from travelling. Even among those with a 'general idea', gaps in knowledge can lead to costly errors — such as travelling with a passport that technically does not meet the 10-year issuance or 3-months-to-expiry rules.
One in four travellers has already experienced a Brexit passport problem
Beyond awareness, the survey asked respondents whether they had directly experienced disruption as a result of the post-Brexit passport rules. The findings confirm these are not just theoretical concerns.
Respondents were asked to select all Brexit passport-related problems that had happened to them. While 75.8% selected 'None of the above', the remaining 24.2% reported at least one real incident — with some experiencing multiple problems simultaneously.
The most common experience — border issues or delays after successfully travelling (14.8%) — is perhaps the least visible from a headline perspective, but represents significant lived disruption: missed onward connections, extended waits, and stressful encounters at EU entry points. The 5.0% who were denied boarding at check-in represent a more acute failure — one that typically results in lost bookings and accommodation costs on top of the missed trip.
1 in 20 UK travellers in our sample were denied boarding at a UK airport because their passport did not meet EU entry requirements — a preventable outcome with the right information in advance.
A small number of respondents reported selecting multiple categories — for example, being denied boarding on one occasion and experiencing border delays on a separate trip. This indicates that for some travellers, Brexit passport issues are not a one-off event but a recurring source of travel stress.
Border queue anxiety is high — and most acutely felt around wait-time unpredictability
We asked respondents to rate their concern across three border-related anxiety indicators on a scale of 1–5. All three showed elevated levels of worry, but the pattern of concern varies in important ways.
The three Q4 concern items — length of border queues, missing a connecting flight due to delays, and not knowing how long checks will take — together paint a picture of a travelling public that is broadly anxious about EU border crossings. However, the distribution of scores differs meaningfully across the three measures.
Queue length at EU border control emerges as the most broadly elevated concern, with 58.0% of respondents rating it 4 or 5. This is notably higher than the other two items and likely reflects the high-profile media coverage of post-Brexit queues at popular European entry points, particularly during summer peaks. The concern is relatively evenly distributed across rating levels 3–5, suggesting it is a near-universal anxiety rather than one concentrated among a specific segment.
The 'missing a connecting flight' item shows the most polarised response: 45.6% rate it 4 or 5, but 18.0% rate it 1 (not at all concerned). This bimodal pattern likely reflects genuine differences in travel behaviour — those connecting through European hubs are acutely worried, while those travelling on point-to-point leisure routes feel less exposed. The 'not knowing how long checks will take' item (47.8% rating 4 or 5) suggests that unpredictability itself is a significant source of stress, independent of actual queue length.
58% of UK travellers rate EU border queue length as a 4 or 5 out of 5 for concern — making it the most broadly felt anxiety in summer 2026 European holiday planning.
Brexit travel rules have pushed nearly half of all travellers to reconsider EU destinations
The cumulative effect of post-Brexit border friction — from passport rule uncertainty to queue anxiety and real disruption incidents — is now measurably redirecting where UK travellers choose to go.
Respondents were asked how Brexit-related changes to border checks, passport rules, and travel requirements had affected their destination choices. The responses reveal a landscape in which EU travel remains dominant but is increasingly contested by non-EU alternatives.
The data shows that 49.0% of respondents — nearly half the sample — report some form of destination-choice impact from Brexit travel rules. Of these, 34.2% have considered non-EU alternatives more frequently while continuing to travel to Europe, and 14.8% have gone further and now actively avoid EU destinations to sidestep Brexit-related complexity. This second group is particularly significant: they represent a permanent, structural shift in travel preference, not just a marginal consideration at the planning stage.
Among the 14.8% who actively prioritise non-EU destinations, concern scores for Q4 border anxiety indicators are noticeably higher — the majority of these respondents rated border queue concern at 4 or 5. This strongly suggests that anxiety about borders, whether based on lived experience or anticipated disruption, is a meaningful driver of destination switching rather than a passive preference.
49% of UK travellers say Brexit travel rules have influenced where they holiday — and for the 15% who now actively avoid EU destinations, heightened border anxiety is a key underlying factor.
It is not that people no longer want to go to Europe. It is that the administrative burden, the queues, and the uncertainty have made Europe feel harder work than it used to be. Some travellers have simply decided it is not worth the stress.Seamus McCauley — Head of Public Affairs, Holiday Extras
ETIAS awareness is critically low — and it is about to matter a great deal
Despite ETIAS being expected to launch later in 2026, the vast majority of UK travellers either have not heard of it or lack the details they need. And when told about it, many say it will give them pause about EU travel.
The EU's ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will require UK passport holders to obtain a pre-travel authorisation before visiting EU countries — broadly comparable to the US ESTA system. Respondents were asked whether they were aware of this requirement. The findings are striking.
80% of respondents are either completely unaware of ETIAS or aware of it in name only without knowing what it requires of them. Only 20% describe themselves as fully informed and knowing what they need to do. Given that ETIAS will apply to virtually every leisure trip to the EU — and that failing to obtain authorisation in advance could result in being denied boarding — this gap in readiness has real consequences for travellers and for the industry.
When asked how ETIAS will affect their travel plans (Q7), responses indicate a widespread reluctance to dismiss its implications. 36.8% say they will think more carefully about whether to holiday in the EU; 7.8% will actively switch EU trips to non-EU destinations as a result; and 30.2% are not yet sure. Only 18.0% say it will not change their plans. One respondent did not answer.
Only 1 in 5 UK travellers is fully prepared for ETIAS — and once informed of the requirement, nearly 45% say it will either prompt them to reconsider EU holidays or actively switch to non-EU destinations.
These figures suggest that ETIAS, when it launches, risks being experienced by many UK travellers as an unpleasant surprise rather than a known requirement they have planned for. The potential for last-minute confusion, failed bookings, and a deteriorating perception of EU travel as 'too complicated' is significant — particularly given that many travellers are already feeling the friction of post-Brexit rules and queue anxiety.
Know what ETIAS is and what they need to do
Heard of ETIAS but lack the details
Not aware of ETIAS at all
Say ETIAS will prompt greater caution about EU travel
What this means for the travel industry and UK holidaymakers
The combined picture of passport rule uncertainty, real disruption incidents, elevated border anxiety, destination switching, and near-universal ETIAS unpreparedness points to an urgent need for action — from travel brands, airports, and information providers.
ETIAS education is an industry responsibility, not just a government one
With only 20% of travellers fully aware of ETIAS requirements, there is a significant gap that travel brands — airlines, booking platforms, holiday extras providers — can fill proactively. Pre-trip communications that include ETIAS prompts could prevent denied boardings and protect customer satisfaction.
Passport validity checks should be a standard pre-departure touchpoint
5% of respondents were denied boarding due to invalid passports, and 7% discovered the problem before travelling and had to cancel. Simple passport validity checkers embedded in confirmation emails or airport pre-departure flows could eliminate a meaningful share of these incidents.
Border anxiety is now a material factor in destination choice
With 58% rating EU border queues a 4 or 5 for concern and 49% reporting some impact on destination choice, the industry can no longer treat border experience as purely a government matter. Content and guidance that helps travellers navigate EU entry confidently — including realistic queue time expectations — can reduce anxiety and retain EU travel consideration.
Non-EU destinations should anticipate increased demand
14.8% of UK travellers already actively prioritise non-EU destinations to avoid Brexit complexity, and a further 7.8% say ETIAS will prompt them to switch. Destinations such as Turkey, Morocco, the UAE, and the UK's own coast and countryside are positioned to benefit from this shift if marketed effectively.
The 'uncertain majority' is a reachable audience
The 35% who have a 'general idea' of Brexit passport rules represent the most accessible segment for education campaigns. They are engaged enough to have formed some understanding, but unclear enough to benefit from simple, direct guidance. Targeted pre-travel communications could move this group from anxious to confident.
Treat summer 2026 as a critical test period for ETIAS readiness messaging
With ETIAS expected later in 2026 and 48% of this sample having already flown this year, summer 2026 represents the last major travel season before ETIAS takes effect. Brands that invest in clear, accessible ETIAS guidance now will be better placed when the requirement becomes mandatory — and will earn trust with travellers who would otherwise be caught unprepared.
About Holiday Extras
Holiday Extras is the UK's leading provider of airport travel services, including airport hotels, parking, lounges, and transfers. Every year, millions of UK travellers use Holiday Extras to get their trip off to the right start.
This research was commissioned to better understand how post-Brexit travel rules, border anxiety, and the forthcoming ETIAS authorisation requirement are affecting UK travellers' confidence and destination choices ahead of the 2026 summer season.
Holiday Extras is committed to helping travellers navigate complexity with confidence — from passport checks to pre-travel authorisations. For press enquiries contact [email protected]
Research note
This report is based on original survey research conducted via the Attest platform in June 2026. A nationally representative sample of 500 qualified UK working-age adults was surveyed. All respondents had flown from a UK airport. Statistical significance is calculated at the 95% confidence level.
© Holiday Extras 2026. All rights reserved.