The airport
Barcelona El-Prat Airport
The flight
British Airways flight BA473 from Barcelona to London, departing at 10.05am.
The arrival
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The frenzy-hour taxi journey takes roughly half-hour from my lodge, and I arrive 2.5 hours earlier than my flight at round 7.55am. I normally like to offer myself extra time, however am relieved to seek out the driving force has a lead foot and site visitors is flowing properly. Some airways, akin to Easyjet and Ryanair (gasp), depart from Terminal 2.
The look
It’s no Gaudi, however Terminal 1 appears inviting on this blue-sky morning, with the solar beaming off its glass facade and curved roof. Inside the primary check-in corridor, central skylights run the backbone of the ceiling, flooding the area with pure gentle.
Information of its €3.2 billion growth, set to start in 2030, was not acquired properly by already disgruntled locals when it was introduced this yr, with protesters gathering in central Barcelona to voice their issues about overtourism and the potential impression on local weather. It contains an extension of one in every of its runways, and goals to extend capability from 55 million passengers a yr to 70 million by 2033.
Examine-in
British Airways is a companion airline of Qantas by way of the Oneworld alliance and, as a Qantas gold member travelling in economic system, I get precedence check-in on the Membership Lounge queue and may pre-select my seat on-line utilizing the Qantas app. For anybody else, British Airways has an odd system in you can choose a seat free, however not till 24 hours earlier than check-in, which sounds somewhat anxiety-inducing for this persistent aisle-seater. Quickly I’ve my boarding go in hand and am on my approach.
Safety
Among the belts are already on siesta. Of the ten safety checkpoints I can see, solely six are in operation and there’s a 20-minute wait to funnel passengers by way of. Giant TV screens clarify what wants to return out of luggage, together with laptops. I’m boarding in Gate D, however after scanning the whole corridor to no avail, two employees members come to my help. Weirdly, it’s situated upstairs through a dingy nook escalator that I’m shocked anybody has ever been capable of finding. Passport management is ready on the high, and whereas US passports are ushered by way of the e-gates, an enormous deal is made about my Australian passport needing to undergo the staffed handbook immigration counters.
Meals + drink
I’m within the land of jamon, in any case, so the airport shines within the meals division. There’s a piece devoted to cured Iberico meats in obligation free, in addition to informal locations to seize a takeaway bocadillo (sandwich), akin to La Donatella. For one final gorge on Spanish or Catalan wine and tapas akin to bombas (meat-stuffed croquettes), try La Tromoia and Enrique Tomas.
Retail remedy
One phrase: jamon. You may also purchase premium anchovy stuffed olives and all types of vacuum-packed cheeses, together with manchego. I additionally spy cult British make-up model Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics in Barcelona Responsibility Free.
Passing time
The airport is heaving after I fly in mid-September, and seas of persons are crowding the gates. I’m relieved to have complimentary entry to the VIP Sala Lounge in Gate D, as seating within the common corridor is restricted. That is the unofficial British Airways lounge, though anybody can half with 40 euros ($68) for walk-in entry. With its unfold of cheese, ham, snacks, wine and beer, it has among the best meals choices of any lounge I’ve seen.
The decision
Nice meals and connoisseur souvenirs, however past check-in, this airport feels cramped. For a extra snug expertise, half with a bit of money and pay for lounge entry.
Jenny Hewett is a Sydney-based freelance journey author who has lived in South-East Asia and the Center East, and loves nothing greater than being amongst nature and wildlife.