Europe - First international connection at BCN from USA

I will be flying DFW/JFK/BCN on AA award, then on to PMI via Spanair on a separate ticket.

From what I can tell, I should be able to check bags through to PMI. Is this correct? Will I be required to claim luggage in BCN for immigration and recheck?

I have about a 2 hour connection time in BCN. Is this sufficient?

Thanks for any help.

Did you check with AA that they will be able to check your bag to PMI? As you're on separate tickets, and in different alliances, this is by no means certain. Some airlines have baggage interlining agreements, some don't - so you will need to check, and it's AA you need to check with. (And I suggest you do this by email so that you have written proof in case you encounter a not-so-knowledgeable check-in agent)

If you can check your baggage all the way through then you won't have to collect it until you get to PMI. In the EU you clear customs at your final destination. "Clearing customs" means that you go through the non-EU arrivals channel - there are no formalities, just spot checks. ("How do they know I arrived from outside the EU?" - "Your baggage label is a different colour")

What Aviatrix said.

As you're on separate tickets, AA are under no obligation to check your bags through (and JK are even less likely to on the return leg), particularly as this would be at additional cost to them. Even if an interline arrangement exists, this doesn't mean that they will use it.

In which case, 2 hours is cutting it a little fine, mostly as it leaves very little contingency for delays. If you miss your connection, you're absolutely not guaranteed to be reaccommodated (save for goodwill on JK's part).

Whichever route you take, you will need to clear immigration in BCN.

Final point to bear in mind is that JK will have different luggage restrictions to AA, and you will be bound be these if you need to re-check (and on the return leg). This means a single 23kg bag in Y (although you can pre-purchase an extra weight allowance).

Many thanks for the heads up. I will email AA. Further online research seems to suggest it's a no go on checking through to PMI. In fact, I can't find any interline agreements with any of the carriers BCN/PMI (JK, UX, VY, etc.).

I do see that IB codeshares with VY. If I had a ticket coded IB, perhaps I would stand a better chance checking through to PMI?

Barring that, I think I will book a later flight on Spanair and do the baggage claim/recheck. They offer a "flex" option to allow changes for 25 euro. With the more flexible ticket I might be able to standby for the earlier flight if all goes as scheduled.

I think I will be fine with the 23kg weight restriction. The return is not an issue, this will be open jaw with an all AA return.

Two hours should be sufficient, but tight, if everything goes on schedule. Figure <60 mins to get everything (passport control+baggage). Then you have another 30 mins (IIRC) to check everything with Spanair upstairs.
(save for goodwill on JK's part).
They don't have any :).

I have a 1:20 connection at BCN next month (arriving from PHL on US at 8:25 and departing for ZRH on LX at 9:45). We are in Business on both flights so we should be able to get to the immigration line pretty quickly. We are also not checking any bags. Is this connection doable? Are there transit desks where we can collect our LX boarding passes (assuming US is unable to print them for us)?

I was in BCN a few years ago, but I don't remember the passport control area too well. Do we need to watch for signs for connecting flights before passport control or just after? I'm assuming we will need to re-clear security - is that correct? Any other tips you can provide would be appreciated.

This connection is very much doable if you have your boarding passes, and doable even if you don't.
If this is all on one ticket, as you know you'll get rebooked on a later flight. If it's on two tickets, US won't print the BPs, but you might have luck with checking in online on LX's website.

If you don't get the BPs from US, you might need to go out and get your boarding passes from the check-in desk in the main check-in hall. I don't remember seeing transfer desks when going from the non-schengen zone to the schengen zone.

Here's the process: you'll land (either at a gate or a remote stand).
1. You'll get bused to the terminal or you'll walk from the gate
2. Follow the connections signs to the security checkpoint and then to passport control. From there go downstairs and check your gate number on the monitor. If you have time go enjoy a few mins in the JK lounge (located in the center of the terminal). There's nothing special in the lounge (little food, some drinks, no showers, some newspapers, a few computers).
3. Go to the gate and board.

I did this type of connection (TLV-BCN-LIS) once in 14 mins from the time the bus stopped at the terminal, to the time my BP was scanned. Needless to say, my bag didn't make the flight.

This connection is very much doable if you have your boarding passes, and doable even if you don't.
If this is all on one ticket, as you know you'll get rebooked on a later flight. If it's on two tickets, US won't print the BPs, but you might have luck with checking in online on LX's website.

If you don't get the BPs from US, you might need to go out and get your boarding passes from the check-in desk in the main check-in hall. I don't remember seeing transfer desks when going from the non-schengen zone to the schengen zone.

Here's the process: you'll land (either at a gate or a remote stand).
1. You'll get bused to the terminal or you'll walk from the gate
2. Follow the connections signs to the security checkpoint and then to passport control. From there go downstairs and check your gate number on the monitor. If you have time go enjoy a few mins in the JK lounge (located in the center of the terminal). There's nothing special in the lounge (little food, some drinks, no showers, some newspapers, a few computers).
3. Go to the gate and board.

I did this type of connection (TLV-BCN-LIS) once in 14 mins from the time the bus stopped at the terminal, to the time my BP was scanned. Needless to say, my bag didn't make the flight.

Thank you Palal!

This is all on one reservation, so I am hoping that US will be able to provide the LX boarding passes. If not, I'll also try checking in on the LX website. It also looks like the US flight usually arrives 15-20 minutes early, so that should help give us extra time if needed.

Please post back and tell us if you saw any (open) transfer desks when you go through BCN. Thanks!

Just a clarification on the location of the JK lounge -- it's on the second floor (or floor 1 if you start your count at 0). After your security/passport control, go down the escalator to the main shopping area, turn right and you'll see its windows upstairs.