I'll be traveling in Spain with a friend this spring. We won't be coming in on the same flight, and she's an inexperienced traveler who's never been out of the U.S. My guess is that she'll be confused and nervous at being in a country foreign to her.

She will be landing at Barajas 45 minutes before I will, and I'd like to suggest to her a place where we can meet. I assume we will be landing in terminal 1. Can anyone suggest a convenient meeting place ? I was thinking that perhaps she could go to a restaurant in terminal 1 called "Plaza Mayor."

Does anyone have a suggestion for a convenient, easy-to-find meeting place?

It is called ARS, the ONLY café/restaurant I know of on floor 0, at arrivals in T1.

If you can waddle through the aena.es website.. you will see what is in each terminal.

Thanks, Lincasanova. I assume she'd rather sit in a cafeteria and have a cup of coffee that wait for me outside the arrival hall. That looks pretty easy.

Make sure she doesn't inadvertently leave her handbag on top of luggage as so many do while strolling the airport. Especially while at the café, getting food in line and sitting. She needs to have it on her at all times. I am only saying this since you mentioned she has never been out of the USA.

Thanks for the reminder, Lincasanova. I was wondering if it is safe to leave her baggage at the baggage carousel while she waits for me, or should she pick it up right away and keep it with her?

she won't be able to get back in there.. and not a good idea anyway. she'll be fine if she is aware,

Lincasanova, I don't understand your last answer. Could you explain...

The baggage carousel is inside a secure area.. once you leave.. can't go back in there. it is not out in the "open". I wouldn't leave my bags there anyway, even if I COULD get back in to retrieve them later.

Okay, I get it. Thanks for the info.