pookymimi

We are arriving in Barcelona at 9:30 am assuming the flight is on time. That same day we are flying to Venice.

I see a couple of flights in vueling and Ryanair leaving around 10:30 and 11:00 am.
As I don't know how big Barcelona airport is I'm a little hesitant to buy anything in advance.
What's your experience with flights from Barcelona? Do I need a lot of time to get baggage and do transfers? Should we wait until we get there to buy the tickets that same morning?

Thanks,
Mia

Robert2533

Okay, where are you arriving from, and why not buy a connecting ticket to Venice with the airline your currently using? It doesn't make any sense buying a separate ticket, especially with Ryanair, which imposes severe baggage limits.

If you wait to purchase your tickets the day you arrive, you will pay a steep premium, if you can get a ticket at all.

pookymimi

We are flying with miles, that's why we are flying to Italy via Barcelona.

Robert2533

Actually, from what you are saying, you are not flying to Venice via Barcelona on miles. You are only flying to Barcelona on miles. Venice is another matter. Using your miles in this situation, to fly to Europe, is like a scene from "the good, the bad and the ugly". The good is that you are using your miles. The bad is that you have to book a connecting flight on your own. The ugly is that you miss the connecting flight and have no one to turn to for help and end up having to buy another roundtrip ticket from Barcelona to Venice at a premium.

Ackislander

No way would I expect to make a flight at 11, much less 10:30.

You have to go through immigration, collect your luggage, exit te secure area, check in for your Venice flight,recheck your luggage, and go back through security. This probably won't take more than an hour and a half, but if your plane is at all late, you are toast.

You could shave a few minutes with carryon only, but if you read the Ryanair threads here, you will know that it is difficult.

Cowboy1968

Ditto. And maybe you even have to change terminals.
While I would in general avoid an arrangement like this, I would at least have 3, better 4 hours in between flights that are not on "one ticket". Especially not if the connecting flight was on Ryanair or any other low cost carrier with extented minimum check-in deadlines. Also keep in mind the aforementioned restrictions on checked and cabin luggage.

pookymimi

Ackislander, Cowboy1968

Thanks, there are a couple of flights in the afternoon around 4pm, we will just stay at the airport. Unfortunately we couldn't flight with miles to Italy, and it gets too expensive with 3 kids otherwise.

We did the same in 2010, but we took the ferry from Barcelona to Civitavecchia to start our Italy trip. This time the day we get there there isn't a ferry until next day and we don't want to sleep in Barcelona again, that's why we decided to fly instead.

Do you know if prices varies a lot if I buy on Vueling now compare waiting until closer to the date? I will stay away from Ryanair.

amer_can

Don't push your luck.. As I remember BCN it can be a little, if not very confusing and the ticket wickets are identified on the overhead boards further complicating the issue..There were not dedicated airline counters (ie: Iberia, Delta, AC etc.) Am not familiar with Ryan but anyone I know who has had the misfortune to travel with them has had rough times..Kids also will add to the stress. Take you time and rest up on arrival at your destination. Good luck..

pookymimi

Thanks, I bought our tickets on vueling at 16:20, that should give us plenty of time. We may go outside of airport to have lunch at least, we will see.

danon

The airport is very nice and modern....many shops to spend time in!