Avoid Barcelona’s Airport if you can!

Just returned from two flights through El Prat, and one month after the “spontaneous” airport workers’ strike action shut down the airport to all flights, it is still baggage chaos there.

Friday 25th August, Terminal B, several hundred (not an exaggeration or a misprint) stray suitcases on the floor, off the carousels. Some roped behind a barrier, many simply lying around. A few frantic passengers looking for their luggage. Airport personnel said most of the luggage had been there “for some days” and that the airlines are powerless to cope with the situation.

Airport baggage handlers are in the midst of an unauthorized strike situation in which they “lose” or misplace hundreds of bags each day. Their protest is over Iberia’s announced reduction of services through Barcelona, and thus a threat to their jobs.

Considering the number of bags in Terminal B alone, it is very possible that there are thousands of misplaced pieces of luggage waiting to be claimed or forwarded, sitting unattended in El Prat Airport.

The Spanish media report that the situation has affected tens of thousands of passengers, and that more than 20,000 official complaints have been lodged.

Returning through Barcelona today, the situation in Terminal B seemed somewhat improved, but it is hard to say exactly how much.

When she heard I was going to fly to Barcelona, a friend rang and told me that her daughter’s luggage had been lost there recently, but that it was eventually delivered-- five days after she arrived back home.

I'm sorry to hear about that. I've always experienced BCN as one of the more pleasant and efficient airports.

I understand that this chaos affects checked bags only, is this correct? So, one should be fine with carry-on bags only, right?

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up. ^

Andy -

Yes, checked bags only. The baggage handlers don't get their hands on carry-ons.

And yes again, Barcelona is usually a very pleasant airport, neatly laid out, easy to get around, and near the city center.

There are indications in today's Spanish press that the Spanish government is trying to reach an agreement to compensate passengers for mishandled luggage and flight cancelations. No idea what they have in mind for the baggage handlers.

I arrived in BCN on August 30, and had no problems with my 2 checked bags.
Passport control was a bit sluggish, however.

My friend flew Ibiza/BCN/LHR/LAX on BA in J. on 08/26 . She confirms that BCN was insane, with baggage strewn everywhere. Nearly a week later she has received 2 of her 4 checked bags. She confirms that BCN is a nightmare; however, her choices from Ibiza were limited.
Just a terrible scenario

I've had zero problems with luggage in the last three weeks. I haven't seen anything unusual in the airport, other than what I would consider to be normal crowds of people coming and going during August. I can't find any mention in any of the mainstream national press, and have seen nothing on TV.

Maybe it's over now.

No problems at all in Terminal A.

Some of this has been in the press but it is not of the scale you seem to be implying as far as I know. Considering the problems at LHR, bags appeared 2 weeks after the original flight, maybe you shouls avoid that airport too.

Flew BCN-MAD from terminal B on Vuelling Aug. 31, no problems with one checked bag, arrived within 10 minutes of landing at MAD T4 (very efficient). Didn't see the baggage hall at BCN, so no idea of the situation for baggage arriving at BCN, but I did see dozens of airport workers standing around idly (doing nothing), quite conspicuous at BCN (much more so than at MAD).

The worst thing about using BCN is the terrible traffic from the airport into the city or the port. That "ring road" is a nightmare!