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How early do I need to be at the ariport to fly within Spain?

Posted by (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) on

Hi All,

Background: I am planning my Portugal and Spain trip for late April/May. The plan is 3 nights in Amsterdam (King's Day holiday), fly to Lisbon for 4 nights ( inc day trip to Sintra), 4 nights in Barcelona, 2 nights in Seville and 4 nights in Madrid (inc day trip to Toledo) and finally fly back to Canada from Madrid

I am now trying to book a cheap flight from Vueling from Barcelona to Seville on a Wednesday morning. I would like to take an early flight, but would also like to avoid getting up at 5am to go to the airport. My hotel is walking distance from Placa de Catalunya and I see there is a convenient shuttle service to the airport. They claim a 40 minute travel time, but I expect rush hour traffic will add to that.

Question: What time do you think I would have to leave my hotel to make a 9:25am flight? That would would get me in Seville for 11am. I am debating between the 9:25 and 10:25 flights. Is it like the US where they want you there 2 hrs before your flight?

Thank you,
Gary

Posted by
677 posts

Gary, I'm watching this so I can see what response you get. I'd like to know as well since I'll be looking at a flight from Barcelona to Granada.

Posted by
16057 posts

You should check with the airline you are flying but generally European airlines, for flights within the EU, require that you must have completed your check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure. That basically means that you must have consigned your luggage to the check in and have a boarding pass in your hands 45 min prior to departure. You will then have a little less than 45 minutes to go through security and make it to the gate, a very ample time in most airports. Generally being in line at the check in counter 1 hour prior to departure is more than sufficient. If you are an anxious person who stresses out easily, you might splurge and want to be at the airport 75-90 min prior to departure. I have never showed up earlier than that for Intra- European flights (which I take at least twice to 6 times a year for the past 30 years) so I don't know if there is some kind of reward for early birds, but I doubt it.

Posted by
5508 posts

If I had already checked in online and printed your boarding pass and had no checked baggage, I would feel comfortable arriving at the airport one hour in advance of the flight. If I checked in online and had my printed boarding pass, but had bags to drop, I would arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes in advance. But that's just me.

Posted by
23626 posts

Not a whole lot different than the US except for the checkin cut off at 45 mins prior to departure. And that also can be irregular we always plan on 90 minutes.

Posted by
4535 posts

I agree with the others that about an hour is sufficient, especially with no checked bags (be very attentive to baggage policies, they are usually strictly enforced). It can depend on the airport, but Barcelona is pretty efficient for inter-European travel (their passport lines are a whole different story...).

I'd expect no more than an hour ride to the airport, usually less.

Posted by
12 posts

Thank you for all your responses. They have been very helpful.

Gary Brown

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