Arriving in Paris Under the New EES System: A Calm Guide

Arriving in Paris Under the New EES System: A Calm, Practical Guide

Worried the new EES checks will delay you at Charles de Gaulle or Orly — or trigger surprise waiting fees on your transfer? Short answer: there is no need to worry. We track your flight, move your pickup if the plane is delayed, and give you 1 hour of free waiting from the time you chose — precisely to absorb the EES.

For long-haul flights, especially those arriving at CDG Terminal 2E, please set your pickup at least 1 hour after landing: between disembarking, passport control and baggage claim, that is genuinely what it takes. Here is exactly how it works.

What is the EES (Entry/Exit System)?

The EES — Entry/Exit System is the European Union's new automated border-control system, rolled out across the Schengen Area from 12 October 2025 and fully in force by April 2026. For non-EU travellers on short stays (under 90 days), it replaces the passport stamp with a one-time registration of your biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) on entry and exit. As France's official guidance and Paris Aéroport confirm, it applies at airports, train stations and ports.

It is a one-time registration that speeds up your future trips — but during the run-in period, it can lengthen the time at the border.

Will the EES delay your exit at Paris airports?

Possibly, yes — especially at peak hours during these first months. But here is the key point: any delay at the border is outside your control, and we treat it that way. Time spent in immigration, at baggage claim or in customs is never held against you.

How does Lajoieway handle EES delays?

We track your flight in real time and automatically adjust your pickup to your actual landing time — so a delayed or early flight is never a problem. Our chauffeurs also have live airport information, giving them a reliable feel for how long passengers are currently taking to exit each terminal. You calculate nothing: we adapt to you.

Does the EES mean extra waiting fees?

No, in the vast majority of cases. You get 1 hour of free waiting from the pickup time shown on your booking. That hour exists precisely for the EES: it is there to absorb a queue at the border, a slow baggage belt or a busy customs hall.

In practice it is rarely needed. Passengers almost always come out within the hour following landing — which is exactly why we ask you to set your pickup at least 1 hour after landing when you arrive from outside Europe. So you start with a margin, and then a free hour on top of it.

If your flight is delayed, we move the pickup time and the free hour restarts from that new time — a delayed plane never costs you anything.

Beyond that hour, waiting is charged €15 per started 15-minute period. To be fully transparent — and reassuring — since 2019, we have never once had to apply it.

What if I come out earlier than expected?

It happens: quick checks, no checked baggage, and you are outside 25 minutes after landing. Your driver, however, is booked for the time you chose — so they may not be there yet. Call us and we will always look at whether an earlier pickup is possible, without being able to guarantee it. That is the flip side of the margin we recommend: it protects you against delays, not against being early.

What pickup time should you choose?

• Want to leave as fast as possible? Choose a pickup 1 hour after your scheduled landing time for a flight arriving from outside Europe (United States, United Kingdom, Gulf states, Asia…): passport control, then baggage. From within Europe checks are quicker — allow 45 minutes. From within France, with no border checks: 30 minutes.
• Prefer to take your time? Many families like to let the children use the restroom, stretch their legs or grab a snack first. Pick 2 hours after landing — roughly an hour for immigration and baggage, then an hour to relax before meeting your chauffeur.

Just tell us your preference in the booking comments. (And yes — the free child car seat is always included, fitted and ready when you step out.)

What if my flight is delayed?

No problem at all. We track it live and shift your chauffeur's schedule to the new landing time automatically. You will be met whenever you actually arrive.

One small thing we ask

Once you have cleared immigration, collected your luggage and passed customs, please do not spend unnecessary extra time inside the airport — it helps us stay on schedule for the families travelling after you. (Unless you have requested a later pickup when booking — then take all the time you like.)

Frequently asked questions

Does the EES apply to me? Yes if you travel from outside the EU for a short stay (under 90 days). EU citizens are not affected.

Will I be charged extra if the EES slows my exit? In the vast majority of cases, no: you have 1 hour of free waiting from the pickup time you chose, and that hour is precisely there to absorb immigration, baggage, customs and the EES. Beyond that: €15 per started 15-minute period — which we have never once had to apply since 2019.

When should I schedule my airport pickup? 1 hour after landing when arriving from outside Europe (45 minutes from within Europe, where checks are quicker; 30 minutes for a domestic flight), or 2 hours for a relaxed arrival.

Do you track my flight? Yes — in real time. Your pickup adapts automatically to your actual landing time.

Book with peace of mind

The easiest way is to book directly on our website and leave your pickup preferences in the comments. We handle the rest — flight tracking, timing, and a chauffeur waiting for you with a smile. Welcome to Paris. 😊