Entries about sector c

Our host at our hostel in Barcelona had told us that we only needed to be at the airport one hour before our flight as it is not like the UK. We therefore planned to catch the 06.50 train from Sant Andreu direct to the airport thinking he would know best.

We had been very organised the night before and were able to get all of our stuff out of the dorm without disturbing our fellow travellers, but spent a little too long faffing and before we knew it it was 06.45 and we were still 10 minutes from the station. FYI Power-walking with a 4 stone of backpacks in 26 degree heat (yes at that time of the morning) is not a good idea!! Thinking all was lost we arrived at the platform just as the train was pulling in and hoped on board - phew!!

Roughly 40 minutes later we arrived at the airport at roughly 07.30 thinking we were all good, but when we checked the board we saw the gate was due to closed at 08.15 causing Nick to start to panic. We then realised we needed Sector C of the Termina building (we were in Sector A), so trotted off following the signs...

...however, 20 minutes later (and still lugging 4 stone in backpacks) we finally made it to the check-in desk and surprise surprise there was a huge queue with only two members of staff working - surely the whole point of a Baggage Drop is just that! Just as we reached the front of the queue one of the staff members started asking for passengers on the Milan flight to come forward - this being Europe a sea of people tried to barge there way in front of us, however after a week of this we were having none of it and stood our ground!

Finally bags dropped, and heading up to security when we realise that they have brought the time of our gate closing to 08.00, not 08.15. More panic!! Luckily security is seconds away and deserted - although as usual I got frisked and ordered to take my walking boots off for now apparent reason causing more of a delay!

We made it through to gates and for once luck was on our side and our gate was right in front of us (rather that the usual trek to some far flung corner of the airport) - yey! We swiftly joined the already large queue and within minutes were on the plane, where I promptly fell asleep from all the stress.

In some ways, this may be the way to do it - no hanging around in busy, boring departure lounges, but for this amount of stress we’re sticking to getting there two hours before from now on!!

Lesson learnt!!