Last minute Barcelona travel nightmare, any advice please.

[CarolamS]

I am due to fly out to Spain, from the UK, on Saturday. Flying first to Barcelona with Easyjet then after a 4 hour gap I have booked on the Vueling flight to A Coruna. Vueling have now emailed me to say that there is a risk of a strike by ground staff at Barcelona and my flight might be affected. I can find out on Friday if it's been cancelled or not!

Turns out Barcelona airport has been troubled all summer. Has anyone on the forum experience of this? I will have checked luggage as I'm bringing my poles and my backpack is just too wide for Easyjet anyway.

If I fly to Barcelona and cannot fly onwards are there alternatives? It seems the strike is due to last from Saturday until Tuesday

I was hoping the walk the Ingles starting next Monday. I have hotels booked in Coruna (Sat) and Ferrol (Sun).

 

[Anniesantiago]

Well, you COULD take a bus from Barcelona to Toulouse, then a train to Moissac and see it, then to Lourdes and walk from there. It's a wonderful walk! Or you could walk from Montserrat.

Here is my blog when we walked from Lourdes - beginning in Barcelona:

From Barcelona!

We arrived in Barcelona exhausted after more than 24 hours in flight. Iberia Air was nice enough. We paid an extra $35 for bulkhead seats ...

caminosantiago2.blogspot.com

 

[trecile]

Check Rome2Rio.com

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

 

[SabsP]

Well, you COULD take a bus from Barcelona to Toulouse, then a train to Moissac and see it, then to Lourdes and walk from there. It's a wonderful walk! Or you could walk from Montserrat.

Here is my blog when we walked from Lourdes - beginning in Barcelona:

From Barcelona!

We arrived in Barcelona exhausted after more than 24 hours in flight. Iberia Air was nice enough. We paid an extra $35 for bulkhead seats ...

caminosantiago2.blogspot.com

I think OP wants to fly to A Coruña.

 

[CarolamS]

Well, you COULD take a bus from Barcelona to Toulouse, then a train to Moissac and see it, then to Lourdes and walk from there. It's a wonderful walk! Or you could walk from Montserrat.

Here is my blog when we walked from Lourdes - beginning in Barcelona:

From Barcelona!

We arrived in Barcelona exhausted after more than 24 hours in flight. Iberia Air was nice enough. We paid an extra $35 for bulkhead seats ...

caminosantiago2.blogspot.com

Another trip perhaps. Thank you

 

[Anniesantiago]

I think OP wants to fly to A Coruña.

She says: If I fly to Barcelona and cannot fly onwards are there alternatives?

I thought she was looking for alternatives.

 

[CarolamS]

Check Rome2Rio.com

Rome2rio

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Looks like maybe the train will be the answer but I will have to see how long it takes to get out of Barcelona airport. This is very helpful indeed, many thanks.

 

[jsalt]

I am due to fly out to Spain, from the UK, on Saturday. Flying first to Barcelona with Easyjet then after a 4 hour gap I have booked on the Vueling flight to A Coruna. Vueling have now emailed me to say that there is a risk of a strike by ground staff at Barcelona and my flight might be affected. I can find out on Friday if it's been cancelled or not!

Turns out Barcelona airport has been troubled all summer. Has anyone on the forum experience of this? I will have checked luggage as I'm bringing my poles and my backpack is just too wide for Easyjet anyway.

If I fly to Barcelona and cannot fly onwards are there alternatives? It seems the strike is due to last from Saturday until Tuesday

I was hoping the walk the Ingles starting next Monday. I have hotels booked in Coruna (Sat) and Ferrol (Sun).

Hi, have you considered writing off your two flights completely and starting again with a more direct route to A Coruna?

I assume you are flying with Easyjet and Vuelling because they are both cheap, so not a big loss if you cancelled.

If you cannot cancel your hotels in A Coruna and Ferrol at this late stage, it might be cheaper in the long run to purchase another flight direct to Santiago and then bus or train to A Coruna. Just an idea.

 

[CarolamS]

Hi, have you considered writing off your two flights completely and starting again with a more direct route to A Coruna?

I assume you are flying with Easyjet and Vuelling because they are both cheap, so not a big loss if you cancelled.

If you cannot cancel your hotels in A Coruna and Ferrol at this late stage, it might be cheaper in the long run to purchase another flight direct to Santiago and then bus or train to A Coruna. Just an idea.

Thank you. I am currently thinking along those lines but flying to Porto on Thursday evening. It sounds as though other Spanish airports could also be affected too. I can then work my way north by train in easy stages and still arrive in A Coruña on Saturday. I'm not a good traveller and suffer nasty migraines unless I keep it easy and low stress. Having walked the CP last year it feels familiar which reduces the stress for me a lot. Overnighting in Tui would feel an added bonus.

Walking is a much more pleasant way to travel I know I could walk from Porto but I am really drawn to the Inglés.

 

[Glenshiro]

Looks like maybe the train will be the answer but I will have to see how long it takes to get out of Barcelona airport.

There is a frequent train service (every 30 minutes) from Terminal 2 (all 3 terminals are essentially one long building) to Barcelona Sants station, from where the AVE (high speed) trains leave for Madrid. Or the overnight Trenhotel direct to A Coruña - which, unfortunately, doesn't run on Saturdays.

 

[jsalt]

I can find out on Friday if it's been cancelled or not!

Hi, if you choose to purchase a completely new flight, DON’T immediately cancel your Vueling flight. If THEY cancel it then you will probably be offered a change or a refund. Then you can go with the refund.

Note that Alsa Bus Line has an excellent daily bus service from Porto airport to Santiago (though Tui ).

 

[Steven Dwyer]

There is a frequent train service (every 30 minutes) from Terminal 2 (all 3 terminals are essentially one long building) to Barcelona Sants station, from where the AVE (high speed) trains leave for Madrid.

Just as a point of clarity, there are three parts to Terminal 2. Terminal 1 is 4km away and is served by the Metro and Aerobus to Barcelona, or an airport shuttle to Terminal 2.

 

[CarolamS]

Thank you for all your help everyone. I am travelling alone so using the forum has been very helpful in enabling me to work out my best options.

Knowing I need to feel as relaxed as possible with journeys I have now changed my Easyjet flight to the Thursday flight to Porto. Another bonus to this is no longer needing to get to the airport by 5am!

If Vueling cancel my flight I can get my money back otherwise I will carry that loss and enjoy Tui on my way through whatever happens.

 

[man.grangeburn]

Thank you for all your help everyone. I am travelling alone so using the forum has been very helpful in enabling me to work out my best options.

Knowing I need to feel as relaxed as possible with journeys I have now changed my Easyjet flight to the Thursday flight to Porto. Another bonus to this is no longer needing to get to the airport by 5am!

If Vueling cancel my flight I can get my money back otherwise I will carry that loss and enjoy Tui on my way through whatever happens.

ALSA operate a daily service from Porto Airport to Coruña. It leaves at 13.25 and arrives at 19.15. It stops off in Tui at 16.15. Or if you are stopping in Tui, you would take ALSA bus to Coruña at 16.15 the next day. My recollection is that the ALSA bus stops at some distance from the town centre, however. I note that the bus from the Airport also stops in Valença. All this can be checked at ALSA online.

Michael A.

 

[rohanmce]

We were in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago and got a similar warning from Vuelling. IMHO: They are covering their backsides. In the end we had no problems at all.

 

[man.grangeburn]

ALSA operate a daily service from Porto Airport to Coruña. It leaves at 13.25 and arrives at 19.15. It stops off in Tui at 16.15. Or if you are stopping in Tui, you would take ALSA bus to Coruña at 16.15 the next day. My recollection is that the ALSA bus stops at some distance from the town centre, however. I note that the bus from the Airport also stops in Valença. All this can be checked at ALSA online.

Michael A.

Just an added note that ALSA tickets must be bought online. The driver cannot issue tickets. I found this out in June at Vigo bus station.

 

[williamlittig]

I am due to fly out to Spain, from the UK, on Saturday. Flying first to Barcelona with Easyjet then after a 4 hour gap I have booked on the Vueling flight to A Coruna. Vueling have now emailed me to say that there is a risk of a strike by ground staff at Barcelona and my flight might be affected. I can find out on Friday if it's been cancelled or not!

Turns out Barcelona airport has been troubled all summer. Has anyone on the forum experience of this? I will have checked luggage as I'm bringing my poles and my backpack is just too wide for Easyjet anyway.

If I fly to Barcelona and cannot fly onwards are there alternatives? It seems the strike is due to last from Saturday until Tuesday

I was hoping the walk the Ingles starting next Monday. I have hotels booked in Coruna (Sat) and Ferrol (Sun).

See rome2rio.com for alternates.

 

[smp]

Just an added note that ALSA tickets must be bought online. The driver cannot issue tickets. I found this out in June at Vigo bus station.


Do you know if you are able to buy tickets for ALSA at a kiosk or ticket counter as well as online? Thanks

 

[Kiernan]

AS far as I experienced, you can buy ALSA tickets aT the Bus Station as well (Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao)

 

[man.grangeburn]

Just an added note that ALSA tickets must be bought online. The driver cannot issue tickets. I found this out in June at Vigo bus station.


Do you know if you are able to buy tickets for ALSA at a kiosk or ticket counter as well as online? Thanks

Yes, you can buy them at a Ticket Kiosk. On the last occasion (at Vigo) the Kiosk was shut. The bus was arriving in 20 minutes. I tried to pay the driver but he was not able to accept payment. There were a couple of empty seats but no deal. Is there a Ticket Kiosk at Porto Airport? I do not know.

 

[man.grangeburn]

Just an added note that ALSA tickets must be bought online. The driver cannot issue tickets. I found this out in June at Vigo bus station.


Do you know if you are able to buy tickets for ALSA at a kiosk or ticket counter as well as online? Thanks

If you wish, you can download the ALSA App, sign up and buy your tickets. That way you have your trips stored on your ‘phone and tickets can be stored in your Wallet. I have two tickets bought and stored on my iPhone Wallet for the end of September and beginning of October in Northern Spain.

 

[Bhirc]

I am due to fly out to Spain, from the UK, on Saturday. Flying first to Barcelona with Easyjet then after a 4 hour gap I have booked on the Vueling flight to A Coruna. Vueling have now emailed me to say that there is a risk of a strike by ground staff at Barcelona and my flight might be affected. I can find out on Friday if it's been cancelled or not!

Turns out Barcelona airport has been troubled all summer. Has anyone on the forum experience of this? I will have checked luggage as I'm bringing my poles and my backpack is just too wide for Easyjet anyway.

If I fly to Barcelona and cannot fly onwards are there alternatives? It seems the strike is due to last from Saturday until Tuesday

I was hoping the walk the Ingles starting next Monday. I have hotels booked in Coruna (Sat) and Ferrol (Sun).

I am in the same boat but arriving Monday from Canada at 10.00 am.. I was booked on Vueling to A Coruña, at 3pm, stay there 1 nite then next day to Ferol and 1 nite there and start Ingles Wednesday. So last nite booked a train from Barcelona Sants, the Renfe Trenhotel. Guess it’s got sleepers but I am just taking the seat and it’s 72 Euros leaving Monday at approx 20.20 and getting to A Coruna at 11.40am. I cancelled my Hotel there and will just take the bus to Ferol and use my booking there so I will still be able to start Camino on Wed.
Mega hassle.
Under EU 261 travel rules I may have a compensation claim but no time to check it yet.
Tonite I will find a Barcelona hotel near the station and check in early Monday for a good sleep then to station 7.30 pm or so and travel overbite so I do not lose a day and screw up my schedule.
Maybe see you on the Camino. Good luck.
George

 

[CarolamS]

I am in the same boat but arriving Monday from Canada at 10.00 am.. I was booked on Vueling to A Coruña, at 3pm, stay there 1 nite then next day to Ferol and 1 nite there and start Ingles Wednesday. So last nite booked a train from Barcelona Sants, the Renfe Trenhotel. Guess it’s got sleepers but I am just taking the seat and it’s 72 Euros leaving Monday at approx 20.20 and getting to A Coruna at 11.40am. I cancelled my Hotel there and will just take the bus to Ferol and use my booking there so I will still be able to start Camino on Wed.
Mega hassle.
Under EU 261 travel rules I may have a compensation claim but no time to check it yet.
Tonite I will find a Barcelona hotel near the station and check in early Monday for a good sleep then to station 7.30 pm or so and travel overbite so I do not lose a day and screw up my schedule.
Maybe see you on the Camino. Good luck.
George

I hope you get plenty of rest as you go. I will think of you.
I am walking short sections starting Monday, so no doubt you will catch me up as we walk.
Very best wishes and buen camino
Caroline

 

[tpmchugh]

I am due to fly out to Spain, from the UK, on Saturday. Flying first to Barcelona with Easyjet then after a 4 hour gap I have booked on the Vueling flight to A Coruna. Vueling have now emailed me to say that there is a risk of a strike by ground staff at Barcelona and my flight might be affected. I can find out on Friday if it's been cancelled or not!

Turns out Barcelona airport has been troubled all summer. Has anyone on the forum experience of this? I will have checked luggage as I'm bringing my poles and my backpack is just too wide for Easyjet anyway.

If I fly to Barcelona and cannot fly onwards are there alternatives? It seems the strike is due to last from Saturday until Tuesday

I was hoping the walk the Ingles starting next Monday. I have hotels booked in Coruna (Sat) and Ferrol (Sun).

As you have your tickets bought, this is really pointless but I would have flown to Santiago then bussed to A Coruña. Going via Barcelona seems like a round about way for a near cut as we say in Ireland

 

[CarolamS]

As you have your tickets bought, this is really pointless but I would have flown to Santiago then bussed to A Coruña. Going via Barcelona seems like a round about way for a near cut as we say in Ireland

There were and are a lot of variables. To fly to Santiago involved my travelling to London first so staying overnight near the airport. We each have to consider what are the most important decisions for our journeys. I spent a lot of time working out what would work best for me at either end and whilst travelling. Obviously I didn't consider the possibility of a ground crew strike!

 

[David]

If you are time rich why not just enjoy Barcelona for a few days?

 

[CarolamS]

If you are time rich why not just enjoy Barcelona for a few days?

I'm not able to extend the end of my trip. Barcelona is a beautiful city though, I have visited it previously.

 

[tpmchugh]

There were and are a lot of variables. To fly to Santiago involved my travelling to London first so staying overnight near the airport. We each have to consider what are the most important decisions for our journeys. I spent a lot of time working out what would work best for me at either end and whilst travelling. Obviously I didn't consider the possibility of a ground crew strike!

Was stopping in Ireland and flying to Santiago not a consideration

 

[CarolamS]

Was stopping in Ireland and flying to Santiago not a consideration

Yes. I did consider flying via Dublin.