[bensandcastle]

There are no gates. There is a sign. http://travel.jeffersoncampervan.com/Pictures/PixoriginalSit...

Cross border travel within the EU is like moving between states in the US, easy to miss.

[gotchange]

What about airports?

I'm very positive that they check people's passports and papers in airports.

[kalleboo]

Only if you're arriving from outside of Schengen. Within Schengen, there are only ID checks if the airline themselves have them there to avoid ticket resales.

[the_french]

The vast majority of European travellers use trains or roads, not air travel.

[acjohnson55]

Sometimes. About 5 years ago, I walked off a plane from Baltimore to Rome and out of the airport like it was a domestic flight. No stamp or anything.