Hi all,

Long time lurker who decided to sign up since I'm financially able to start traveling now!

I'm planning a Eurotrip for this October and wanted to get your insight since I'm an international travel newb.

I'm planning on flying to Ibiza for a couple days and planned on flying to BCN then to OAK because IBZ -> is ridiculously expensive.

I'm currently looking at:
8am - 9:25am IBZ -> BCN
10:30am departure BCN -> OAK

Unfortunately, it seems that on that day the only departure from BCN that's affordable is at 10:30am. What kind of int'l customs would I have to go through from 9:25am - 10:30am? Is this itinerary possible? Any other alternatives I'm not considering? (couldn't find better flights to LAX or SFO).

More specific flight info:
IBZ -> BCN: 8:30am - 9:25am via Iberia Lineas Aereas
BCN -> OAK: 10:30am via Lufthansa, stopping at Frankfurt and Seattle


Thanks!
Mikhail

PS feel free to move this to the appropriate forum. I couldn't figure out where this was most appropriate (Europe? Travel and Security? etc.)

Hard to give specific advice since you haven't given an actual date. October is a school holiday time in much of Europe so holiday destinations like Ibiza can be expensive depending on date.

Take a look at the Wiki for Ibiza connections and pick a budget flight to a hub such as LHR, CDG, AMS, MAD, then see if you can get a better deal to California from there.

Direct from Europe to LAX will normally be cheapest in most cases, maybe not all.

Welcome to Flyer talk milkshakes

Since Germany and Spain are both in the Schengen zone, there is no customs or immigration to clear at BCN.

If your flights are on a single booking then your bags should be checked through and you just need to make your way to the gate for the onward flight at BCN (may require a terminal change and reclear security).

However if your flights are on separate tickets and you have checked luggage then you are not likely to make the onward flight before check in closes.

And ... since Ibiza and Barcelona are both (still) in Spain... and you don't go through Immigration on departure in EU, Schengen or not ...

This is what to do:
1. Find cheapest EU-LAX flight. It will likely be from a hub so LHR, FRA, AMS, CDG or lesser hubs like MAD, CPH, MUC, MXP, LGW etc
2. Fine your cheapest flight from Ibiza to that hub on a budget airline. Allow plenty of time to connect. At least three hours.

I think you're cutting it far too fine in BCN. What if your flight from IBZ is late? Will your Plan B (you do have a Plan B?) cost more than what you save by choosing this connection?

LOL...

Misha,
I highly doubt that IB and LH have an interline agreement. If you're travelling with carry-on only, this is doable, although if you encounter a delay leaving IBZ, it'll be tight if not impossible. If you're travelling with checked bags, forget it - too risky.

LH and IB operate out of the same terminal, so if you check in online and have your LH boarding pass, you'll just have to find a gate and go to that gate.

If you have checked bags, they'll take at least 30 mins to come out. I don't remember if the LH checkin closes 30 or 45 mins before departure in BCN, but either way, it's not enough time.

Maybe consider flying in the night before.

Dates: Sorry for excluding them, they must've gotten left out when I copy+pasted the details. I'm looking to leave around 10/5-10/6. There's a closing party on Sun 10/5 that my friend wants to go to, but we're also open to flying in 10/4 so I can leave 10/5.

Mandolino: Good looking out with that list. I looked at other flights from other airports in Spain, but will check out LHR, CDG, AMS, and MAD when I have time later today or tomorrow.

Customs: LOL :]. I'm well aware that I won't run into any issues flying from IBZ --> BCN. I was just curious if there were any international customs that I'd have to deal with at BCN before flying back to the states, or if everything I need to do happens after I land back in the US.

luggage: it's only a 2 week trip, so I think I could manage with just a carry on if I had to. Also, my friends are moving on to Amsterdam so worst-case scenario I could make them take stuff back.

Thanks for the advice. I'm probably going to look at other options because the consensus seems that one hour is cutting it very close and leaves little to no room for a plan B or C. Any other advice would be appreciated!

the airline needs to check if you have proper documentation before allowing you to check in for a US destination. A sight of a US passport will satisfy that, or evidence of a visa/ESTA if you don't have a US passport. And you will probably have been required to fill in Advance Passenger Information if you try to check in online.

That's it - the rest happens when you arrive, as you surmised.

Now, for example, easyjet flies IBZ LGW on Tuesdays in October, randomly choosing the 14th it comes in at €80 or cheaper plus bags, arriving LGW 11:00.

Then Norwegian flies direct LGW-LAX for �300 at 15:35 on the Wednesday. Depending on your budget, you could afford to stay overnight Gatwick.

There are dozens of permutations like this.