Do you fly from Barcelona International Airport? Remove hassle and stress at the start of your trip by arriving on time, ensuring a relaxed check-in and boarding process. “How early to arrive at Barcelona Airport?” is a question most travelers ask the day before their flight. If you’re one of them and like having everything carefully planned, you should keep reading. That being said, even if you’re a “last-minute” person, arriving at BCN on time is crucial for your trip. Why? Because if you miss your flight, there won’t be a trip at all!
How Early to Get to Barcelona Airport for a Domestic Flight
If you’re traveling to a domestic destination, airport procedures are generally less time-consuming. Hence, if your flight is to another Spanish city, you should arrive at the airport about 2 hours before the departure of your flight. Although a 90-minute time frame is often enough to complete check-in and security, it’s not recommended, as the airport can get congested and waiting lines may be long, resulting in delays. Therefore, for peace of mind, arrive at least 2 hours before your flight.
How Early to Get to Barcelona Airport for an International Flight
What is your international destination? If you are flying to a Schengen country, a 2-hour time frame should be enough to complete the airport procedures. On the other hand, flights to non-Schengen destinations require more time, as they involve not only check-in and security screening but also passport control. Therefore, if you are flying to a country outside the Schengen zone, you should arrive at the airport 3 hours before your flight’s departure.
| Destination | Hours Before Flight |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 1.5-2 |
| Schengen | 2 |
| Non-Schengen | 3 |
However, these are general guidelines. In fact, you should consider several factors before deciding when to leave for the airport. What transit option are you using? Is your route direct, or do you need to change buses or trains? Are the roads likely to be congested at that time of day? Are you traveling during a busy period of the year and may encounter long lines at the airport? Take everything into account to schedule your trip properly!
What Are the Airport Procedures?
Do you know all the procedures required to board your plane? Check them out and plan your trip accordingly:
1. Check in For Your Flight
First things first, you’ll need to check in as soon as you reach the airport. You have the following options:
- Online Check-in: The vast majority of airlines offer web check-in services. In fact, some airlines charge an extra fee for check-ins at the counters. Web check-in is highly recommended to save time at the airport. Online check-in typically opens 1-2 days before the flight. In fact, you can check in online up to a few hours (usually 1-2 hours) before departure. If you opt for web check-in and you don’t have checked luggage, you proceed directly to the security screening. Note that you must have the boarding pass available on your phone or printed.
- Check-in at Counters: Barcelona Airport features ticket counters at both terminals, where you can check in and receive your boarding pass. In that case, the check-in procedure is more time-consuming, as you may have to wait in line for your turn. Keep in mind that low-cost airlines usually have fewer counters, which often leads to longer waiting lines. Some airlines also set printing fees for checking in at the counters.
- Self Check-in: Self check-in kiosks are available at terminal 1 of BCN Airport. While waiting lines at the self-service machines can occur, they are generally much faster than counters. That said, not all airlines allow check-in through these machines.
2. Luggage Drop-Off
Have you checked luggage, that is, bags that can’t be carried into the cabin and stored in the plane’s overhead compartments? You must drop it off before proceeding to security control. You can drop it off at the check-in counters or use the self-drop-off points for luggage. Thus, you can print the luggage tags through the self-service check-in machines and leave the bags at the designated points. However, this option is available only for flights with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Swissair, and Vueling.
My Tip: Make sure to follow your airline’s luggage weight policy to avoid delays and extra fees during check-in.
3. Security Control
Once you’ve checked in and dropped off luggage, you must go through security screening. This is where you pass through metal detectors, and your personal items and hand luggage are screened through X-ray machines. It’s important to pack carefully, following liquid restrictions and rules on prohibited items to avoid delays and discomfort during the security screening process. While the procedure lasts around 15 minutes, waiting lines can be long, especially during holidays, long weekends, etc. The Fast Lane service, allowing priority access during security screening, is available at terminals 1, 2B, and 2C, for a fee.
4. Passport Control
If you’re traveling to a non-Schengen destination, you must go through passport control as soon as you complete the security screening. You’ll be asked to hand over your passport and boarding pass. Flights to certain destinations may require a visa and vaccination certificates. You should also check whether your destination country requires a passport valid for more than six months from the date of travel. Passport control at Barcelona Airport often has the longest waiting times of all airport procedures.
5. The Boarding Process
Once you complete the passport control, you’ll enter the airside part of Barcelona Airport. You can spend any spare time left here, exploring the shopping, dining, and other facilities. The final step before settling into your seat is the boarding process. Go to your departing gate, wait for it to open, and then present your boarding pass and ID or passport to board the aircraft.
My Tip: Barcelona Airport is a silent airport, meaning that only a few announcements are made. Make sure to frequently check the flight information boards, as departing gates may change unexpectedly.
What’s More to Keep in Mind
Even if you don’t spend much time on the previous airport procedures, unexpected delays can still occur, disrupting your travel plans. What could possibly go wrong? Let’s check some of the most common issues:
- Road Congestion: Although you need about 25 minutes to travel from Barcelona to BCN Airport via taxi and around 35 minutes via bus, traffic congestion typically makes rides much longer. Are you traveling by metro or train? While your journey isn’t affected by traffic, you may need to change lines to reach the airport. Always allow extra time to ensure you arrive on schedule.
- Parking Unavailability: The airport has many parking lots. Still, can you be sure you’ll find an available spot, especially during busy periods? If you arrive at the airport by car, you should pre-book your parking spot, not only to benefit from lower fares but also to ensure availability.
- Departing Terminal: Always check your departing terminal before starting your ride to the airport. Overall, most flights fly from terminal 1, whereas terminal 2 mostly handles domestic destinations and low-cost airlines. Have you reached the wrong terminal? The two BCN terminals are interconnected via a free airport shuttle bus around the clock.
- Pets – Persons with Disabilities: If you’re traveling with a pet, accompanying a person with a disability, or have mobility issues yourself, allow extra time to complete airport procedures smoothly and stress-free. Barcelona Airport is pet-friendly and offers numerous services to optimize the travel experience for PRMs. Still, if you have extra time, you’ll be able to make your journey less stressful.
- The BCN Shops and Restaurants: If you want to explore BCN’s shopping and dining options, take advantage of airport offers, buy last-minute gifts, or enjoy a final meal in Barcelona, make sure to allow plenty of time before boarding. Otherwise, any time spent in line at check-in or security means less free time, or possibly no time at all, to explore the airport.