Expect extra travel delays as ID data collection begins

YOUR CONSUMER RIGHTS CHAMPION

- MARTYN JAMES

October has come around quickly, hasn't it? The shorter days and colder nights may have your thoughts wandering to heating bills and dusting off the winter coat. But for travellers heading to Europe, there's something else to factor in.

If you're travelling to a country in the Schengen area - the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (but not Ireland and Cyprus) - you'll need to provide more information that will allow you to be identified as you travel to or between other countries in the Schengen zone. The new rules began on October 12.

Before you react in horror at this attack on British travel freedoms, since April people from the EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have had to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. Irish citizens are the only exception. So it's extra bureaucracy all round for everyone.