The airport
Barcelona airport departures: when to go and which Aerobus to take
To avoid a rush, leave central Barcelona about two and a half hours before a European flight and about three and a half hours before an intercontinental one. And first of all, check your terminal: that decides which Aerobus line you need.
| Your flight | Catch the Aerobus | You'll reach the airport |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen, hand luggage only | 2 h 15 min before | About 1 h 30 min before |
| Schengen, with a checked bag | 2 h 30 min before | About 2 h before |
| Non-Schengen (UK, the Americas…) | 3 h 30 min before | About 3 h before |
Approximate guidelines from Plaça Catalunya. In summer, on long weekends and at rush hour, allow extra time. What really counts are the check-in and boarding closing times given by your airline.
1. Check your terminal
Look at your boarding pass, the app or the airline's website to see whether you're leaving from T1 or T2. For T1 take the A1 line; for T2, the A2 line. If you get it wrong, there's a free shuttle between terminals, but you'll lose 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Get on the Aerobus
You can board at Plaça Catalunya, Carrer Sepúlveda or Plaça Espanya. If you already have your ticket on your phone, show the QR code as you board; if not, you can pay by card on board or buy one from the machines, but buying in advance saves you the queue. At T1 get off on the departures floor; at T2, the line terminates at T2B.
3. Check-in
If you only have hand luggage and have already checked in online, go straight to security. If you need to check a bag, look for your flight's desk number on the screens. Airlines usually close check-in 40 to 60 minutes before departure.
4. Security
Have your boarding pass ready and take out of your bag whatever you're asked to (laptop, liquids under current rules). At T1, queues can be long at peak times: don't leave it until the last minute.
5. Passport control and boarding
If you're flying outside the Schengen area, you'll go through passport control after security. Once in the departure area, check the screens for your gate: at T1 some gates are a 10-15 minute walk away.
If your flight leaves very early
For 6 or 7 am flights, the Aerobus is the most reliable public transport option because it runs all night: every 20 minutes in the early hours and every 10 from 5:00. For a 7:00 flight from T1, for example, you can catch the A1 at around 4:30-5:00 at Plaça Catalunya.