I am flying out of BCN on a UA codeshare fllight at 8:20 am on a Monday. The first leg of the trip is on Spainair to MUC. From MUC we fly back to the US.
In a question regarding transportation to BCN a poster said that for an 8:20 am flight with a first stop in a Schnegen country, there was no need to get to BCN prior ro 7 am. However in reading Isabel's TR the poster said that she got there with over 3 hours and just made it. How much time in advance do I need to arrive at BCN? Thanks

If you're checking in on the first leg of a flight back to the States you may not be required to undergo the enhanced security until you reach Munich. If that’s the case, then there would be no reason to arrive at BCN too early. At least not before they open the check-in counters.

Because of the enhanced security measures since December, you might want to check in with United to find out what the procedure is, remembering that it could all change tomorrow.

BCN airport is rather nice ; I would rather have extra time for coffee or breakfast at the airport than miss my flight.

We encountered huge lines and waits the morning we departed from BCN at 7:00am. There is a Trip Report on this board presently written by Isabel where she describes her experience at BCN.

I know you read my experience on my trip report - just to be clear, the enhanced security for the US flight did not occur until I got to Madrid. In Barcelona is was just: check-in - the lines were 30-45 minutes at 7:30am on a Friday, then the regular security: that was 20-30 minutes. My flight was just to Madrid, not even another country and I was glad to have an hour and a half before boarding time. You should figure boarding time is usually about half an hour before scheduled flight time. If you have extra time there's tons of shopping and cafes to go to.

Thanks all -- don't want to be franctially rushed or worried at BCN, but on the other hand, don't want to have to get up at 4:30 am if we dont have to!
isabel, thanks for your clarification. I kept rereading that part of your report and wasn't exactly sure how much time it took u.
As of today they have changed the security screening for flights into the US, but I think that will effect us at MUC.

I had no problems or lines at Spanair check-in two months ago, going from BCN to MUC.
Security is no different than for any other flight, and was very speedy (i.e. maybe a 1-minute "wait").
No passport control for intra-Schengen flights.
You will use the new Terminal 1, which is indeed a very nice, spacious place to kill time.
The gate will not be shown on the displays in the waiting zone (i.e. mall plus restaurants) until around 45min prior to departure.
My favorite place is the Häagen-Dasz cafe in one of the outdoor patios after security so you don't have to spend all waiting time indoors after security if the weather is nice.