Trying for a great trip with 3 friends, around 24 yrs old. Traveled abroad when I was younger, but certainly didn't foot the bill like now. So where to start, I would love some help with flights out of the Washington DC area, into Spain. We will connect anywhere, we really aren't picky about the layover. Thanks for helping the new girl!!
-Inga

1.) Go to the Dulles website and look at the list of airlines. Offhand, I know Iberian and United fly to both. Then check fares (often many sales in early spring). You can probably fly direct.
2.) Assign all of your friends a project--to do some minimal research and give a little presentation of where in Spain or Portugal they would like to go. Reach consensus, and depending on how long your trip will be, map out an itinerary.
3.) Come here with that list and itinerary and you'll get more help than you know what to do with.
Popular itineraries include the Barcelona area and Andalucia.
Good Luck

Go to Kayak or Expedia and enter airports in your area and where you want to go. Play with the sites until you get the right airports.

It all depends how much time you have as to where to go and for how long. If you read the posts here you will a consistent theme of people trying to do much.

The other thing to consider is if you can get a low priced flight into London and switch to a cheapo airline from there. Just make sure the savings is substantial enough to make up for the transfer costs and aggravation of getting from one airport to another (a real bear since they're on all different sides of London).

Washington DC (Dulles - IAD) Iberia is probably your best bet for non-stop flight to/from Madrid. Check them out thoroughly: they used to offer a 'Visit Spain' Pass good for four flights in Spain on a closed loop at a reasonable price. We flew Madrid-Sevilla; Sevilla-Barcelona; Barcelona-Santiago and Santiago-Madrid.

You had to have your entire itinerary mapped-out when you bought tix for the TransAtlantic flight.
BTW
Dulles' 'long term' parking was substantially cheaper than PHL, EWR or JFK ... that might be something else to take into consideration as you plan out your trip.

You guys rock! Thanks for the help.