Airport Hotels Barcelona -El Prat
Barcelona International Airport - El Prat
Barcelona International Airport (IATA: BCN, ICAO: LEBL), also known as El Prat,
is a major transport hub and fields flights from all over Europe and beyond.
Terminals: There are now two terminals, T1 and T2, the latter with A, B, and
C subdivisions. T1 and T2 are linked by a bus shuttle (every 6 to 8 minutes,
travel time 10 minutes).
At the gate
T1 has opened in June 2009 and hosts Spanair and a variety of major international
airlines (e.g. SAS, TAP, Lufthansa, Austrian).
Sectors A, B and C of T2 are all within fairly easy walking distance of each
other. T2 B is used by some Spanish carriers (Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling) and
their partners (eg members of Oneworld alliance for Iberia). T2 C is smallest
and used for all domestic flights, including the Puente Aereo (Air shuttle)
to Madrid. T2 A is used for all other flights except those now departing from
the new T1.
Please be aware that you can check in for your flight only at the respective
terminal T1 or T2, and since they are miles apart and there is little information
available at the train station and bus stops, it will be good advice to know
where to go before arriving at the airport. AENA provides information about
the allocation of airlines to terminals.
Transfer to/from the airport: The airport is only about 10 km away from the
city center. Airport transfers can be arranged for groups, taxis are available
but expensive (€20-30 to the city center). A cheaper and often faster option
is the half-hourly RENFE C-2 suburban train line calling at Sants (20 minutes,
but up to 40 minutes if slow or late), Passeig de Gràcia (25 minutes)
and El Clot in the city center. Please be advised that this airport train has
changed, and no longer terminates at Estació de França (it now
goes through the center of Barcelona and into the suburbs, so it is important
to know at which station you should get off). The train terminates next to T2,
with a connecting green colored bus service to T1 (plan for an extra 15 minutes
of travel). The drawback of arriving at T2 by train is that you should overcome
several flights of stairs--think twice if with huge luggage, a stroller or a
wheelchair. A single ticket is about €1.40, but you can also use the T-10
ticket (€7.85 for ten trips, including all bus and metro transfers made
within 75 minutes) instead. You can buy a T-10 from the ticket vending machine
at the airport station.
Also bus 46 runs from both terminals (downstairs at T1) to Magic Fountains
(1 hour)
Alternatively, the Aerobús A1 line stops at T1 and between T2A and B
and travels along Gran Via to Plaça Catalunya. Buses depart every 6-9
minutes, the published journey time is 35 minutes (although can take considerably
longer during rush hour) and costs €5 one-way. Buses are heavily air-conditioned
in summer: have something extra to wear during the journey. Aerobuses stop running
at midnight, but you can catch a Nit Bus night bus service instead (Nit Bus
N17, between 22.00 and 05.00. The ride from Plaza Cataluña to Airport
El Prat takes about 40 minutes).
Duty-free shops. Open from 6/6:30AM to 9:30PM (few to 10PM). Shops are numerous
and some are hard to find elsewhere in the city. After security check, most
shops are before the passport control; only one or two are afterwards.
Tax-free shopping refund. Office closes at 10PM without compromises. After
that time checks can be processed only by mail: complete your tax-free forms
with your passport data and addresses, stamp them with the custom office (a
window next to arrivals gate door; they don't ask to see your purchases); put
them into envelope you were given in the shop--and wait for several months.
Cafes, pre-security check. Limited options, sub-standard fare. Food at Ars
is awful and not cheap. Pans & Company have almost no hot meals.
Cafes, post-security check. Numerous options, all close something between 10PM
and 11PM.
Parking: Costs €1.35/hour, €9.45/day, €6.75/day from the 6th
day.
Luggage lockers: Baggage storage is €4.60 per day for a large locker that
easily fits 2-3 serious suitcases. Left-hand end of Terminal 2B, behind the
Ars cafe.
Departure gates: For T2, poorly conditioned at ground level (at least gate
#57, sector 2A, after 11PM). T1 is hyper-modern and comfortable.
WiFi: Available throughout the airport, operated by KubiWireless [15]: €7.5
for 45min, €9 for 1 hour, €15 for 24 hours.
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