Barcelona international to domestic transfer time?

6 replies

JakeDrake

Member since 13 Mar 2014

Total posts 20

Hi, is 3 hours normally enough time to transfer at BCN from an international flight to a domestic flight where the 2 flights are on separate tickets?
Am arriving on SQ at 0700 and am looking at then taking a Vueling domestic flight departing at 1020 so will need to clear customs and check in. Looks like arrival and departure will both be in T1.
Thanks in advance.

madmouse58

Member since 26 Apr 2016

Total posts 4

Yes should be enough time. From memory, SIA flies into MXP then onto BCN with the same plane, so you should arrive at a gate with an aerobridge.


Trouble stems when you fly in with a European airline that is not Vueling. You get left at the airplane parking lot until a rare Swissport bus stumbles upon you. If you fly into BCN with an international or Vueling, you should be right with 3 hours, as you get parked at an aerobridge gate, or utilise one of the many Iberia buses.

KinHo

Member since 03 Sep 2017

Total posts 26

My only concern is with the unpredictable long queue and delay at the customs & immigration upon arrival. Even more so if you get delayed by an hour in arriving. Even the best performing airlines for on time departure/arrival can have the occasional off day. 

Best to check your connecting flight (Vuelling) for availability and timing of the next flight, and that they can/will give you special consideration in case of late arrival. Of course it all depends on your ticket terms. Know all your options. 

xtfer

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 14 Mar 2017

Total posts 159

BCN is a relatively small, modern airport with pretty quick transit times, as far as I recall. I would think you'd be fine.

vfm

Member since 26 Jul 2015

Total posts 28

I flew SQ 378 into BCN in May; took nearly an hour to get through immigration, but n=1. Other overseas conference delegates said, however, their experience was much better. I also took some internal flights; MAD to BCN - well, that took about 45mins for my luggage to arrive - last lot on the carousel....Nevertheless, 3hrs transit should be enough

Last editedby vfm at Sep 14, 2017, 05:11 AM.

raymac

Malaysia Airlines - Enrich

Member since 21 Mar 2014

Total posts 12

Flew Qatar into BCN late April this year and as others have said it can take a long time to get through immigration - took us nearly an hour in quite oppressive heat!!!

Francsk

Member since 15 Sep 2017

Total posts 1

I'm a former airline staff from Barcelona. Bcn airport is small compared to major European hubs, and three hours should be ok under normal conditions. As already mentioned, immigration is the critical point (due to an endemic staffing problem). I would advise you to disembark quickly, and make your way to the immigration counters as fast as possible. The arrival of the SQ flight often coincides with that of big long-haul flights, mainly from the US and the Gulf. So every single minute you gain will be precious. Also to consider, baggage claim works at Spanish pace here... Access from the Arrivals area  to the check-in desk is very easy, just going upstairs.

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