Barcelona Airport

Low cost carriers operating to Barcelona are: Air Berlin, Monarch Airlines, Jet2.com, ClickAir, Vueling , WIZZ Air, easyJet, Ryanair, Blue Air, Sterling Airlines, flyGlobespan, Transavia.

Barcelona Airport

Main Barcelona Airport (BCN) it is also known as El Prat, is a major transport hub and fields flights from all over Europe and beyond.

Terminals: There are three terminals, A, B and C, all within fairly easy walking distance of each other. Terminal B is used by Spanish carriers (Iberia, Spanair, Air Europa, Vueling) and their partners (eg British Airways). Terminal C is smallest and used for all domestic flights, including the Puente Aereo (Air shuttle) to Madrid. Terminal A for all other flights. A giant new south terminal is expected to open in 2009.

Transfer to/from the airport: The airport is only about 10 km away from the city center. Taxis are frequently available although they can be costly. A cheaper and often faster option is the half-hourly RENFE suburban train calling at Sants (20 minutes), Passeig de Gràcia (25 minutes) and Estació de França (30 minutes) in the city centre. A single ticket is about €2.20, but an under-advertised fact is that you can use the T-10 ticket (€7.30 for ten trips, including all bus and metro transfers made within 75 minutes) instead. You can buy a T-10 from the ticket vending machine at the airport station.

Alternatively, the Aerobús A1 line stops between Terminal A and Terminal B and travels along Gran Via to Plaça Catalunya. Buses depart every 6-9 minutes, the published journey time is 35 minutes (although can take considerably longer during rush hour) and costs €4.05 one-way. Buses are heavily air-conditioned in summer: have something extra to wear during the journey. Aerobuses stop running at midnight, but you can catch a Nit Bus night bus service instead (Nit Bus N17, between 22.00 and 05.00. The ride from Plaza Cataluña to Airport El Prat takes about 40 minutes).

Duty-free shops. Open from 6/6:30am to 9:30pm (few to 10pm). Shops are numerous and some are hard to find elsewhere in the city. Most shops are before the passport control; only one or two are afterwards.

Tax-free shopping refund. Office closes at 10pm without compromises. After that time checks can be only processed by mail: complete your tax-free forms with your passport data and addresses, stamp them with the custom office (a window next to arrivals gate door; they don’t ask to see your purchases); put them into envelope you were given in the shop–and wait for several months.

Cafes, pre-security check. Limited options, sub-standard fare. Food at Ars is awful and not cheap. Pans & Company have almost no hot meals.

Cafes, post-security check. Numerous options, all close something between 10pm and 11pm.

Parking: Costs €1.35/hour, €9.45/day, €6.75/day from the 6th day.

Luggage lockers: Baggage storage is €4.60 per day for a large locker that easily fits 2-3 serious suitcases. Left-hand end of Terminal B, behind the Ars cafe.

Departure gates: Poorly conditioned at ground level (at least gate #57, sector A, after 11pm).

WiFi: Available throughout the airport, operated by KubiWireless: €7.5 for 45min, €9 for 1 hour, €15 for 24 hours.