Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - Quick Change in Barcelona

Hi all. I have an upcoming flight that requires me to make a tight connection in Barcelona:

Flight 1: Málaga-Barcelona (EDIT: Spanair) arr: 10:55am
Flight 2: Barcelona-Philadelphia (US Airways) dep: 12:00pm

(all on one single ticket)


1) Where do I check in for the US Airways flight in BCN, assuming I won't be able to do so in AGP?

2) Will I be able to check in so close to the departure time?


Thanks for alleviating some of my worries!

Hi JoseVerde and welcome to FT!

I have no particular experience on connecting to a US Airways flight when departing in Malaga but I do know that your luggage is likely to be tagged all the way to PHL. You will probably also receive your second boarding pass at check-in, but if not there is a number of transfer desks available airside in BCN.

In my experience BCN's non-Schengen terminal is quite easy to enter from the Schengen area so if your first flight is not delayed then you will probably get to your connecting flight without problems.

Also, since you are traveling on a single ticket the airlines will accomodate you in case you cannot get to your connecting flight in time. If that happens you will most likely be put on a different flight with an additional connection on the same day.

Hope this helps.

Maurits

Thanks for your reply Maurits. I need to correct myself, my first flight is actually on Spanair - which hopefully makes things better given that both are Star Alliance members.

And when you say "a number of transfer desks" there should be a clearly labeled transit desk for US Airways?

Please continue this discussion in the Europe forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

here's what i think will happen

you'll check in in AGP and get bag tagged and boarding passes all the way to PHL, when you land in BCN simply walk through the terminal concourse to the departure gate - there is no security check to clear, as you are already airside - you just have to pass through immigration, so plenty of time.

if things go wrong, you should look for assistance at the transfer desks (generic) or the Spanair lounge.

good luck

And when you say "a number of transfer desks" there should be a clearly labeled transit desk for US Airways?

Well, kind of. It's not that every carrier has their own transfer desk, they serve all airlines at every desk. I'm not sure if US Airways is actually displayed above the desk, but you'll see an array of airlines there. As you walk from your arriving gate to your departing gate you will find the transfer desks on the right hand side. I believe there are two in the Schengen area, which is where you'll arrive.

But since you're coming in on Spanair there will be an agent waiting for you at the gate when you arrive, along with a sign on which the agent will have written your next gate number.

But since you're coming in on Spanair there will be an agent waiting for you at the gate when you arrive, along with a sign on which the agent will have written your next gate number.


:confused: what are you talking about? I have never, ever seen anything like this in BCN. That said, it's a very small airport (for the next couple of months anyway) with a simple layout and plenty of screens around to announce gates.

US flights all leave from the M5 zone, right down the end. So head in that direction and you'll be fine.