NOTE:
Due to the recent spate of terrorist attacks
to international flights, there may be changes
within each airline in relation to the number
of flights, hand luggage permitted, as well
as increased security in airports.
Getting around in Spain by plane is an expensive
but viable option, and it is the fastest
means of travelling long distances. Look
for special bargain rates that can defray
costs. Train and bus connections between
airports and city centres are usually smooth.
SPANISH AIRPORTS
International airports include Madrid, Barcelona,
Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Seville,
Malaga, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia, Palma
de Mallorda, Ibiza and Mao (Menorca). Usually
the cheapest destinations are Malaga, the
Balearic Islands, Barcelona and Madrid.
Barcelona is also used by many travellers
as it's served by many of the cheaper airlines
(particularly out of the UK).
Transport to and from the airports:
There are shuttle buses or even trains running
to Spanish airports from all main train
or bus terminals.
In Madrid Airport (Barajas Airport) buses
run to and from an underground terminal
at Plaza de Colon every 15 mnutes. The journey
is about 30 minutes. The metro is probably
the easiest way into town. The airport is
near the end of line 8 (not yet completed).
Change at line 4 at Mar de Cristal until
the extensions are completed. The ticket
is only €0.95.
Barcelona's airport is 14 km south-west
of the city centre at El Prat de Llobregat.
Trains go from the airport to Estació
Sants and Catalunya on Placa de Catalunya
every 30 minutes. The journey is about 15
minutes. The airport is in zone 4 of the
Rodalies/Cercanías suburban rail
network and a one-way ticket costs €2.10.
The last trains leaves at 10.45pm, so if
your flight is at night you will have to
take the EN bus from Plaça de Espanya.
Another option is the Aerobús which
is more frequent but more expensive at €3.
It departs from Plaça de Catalunya
and Estació Sants.
Suburban buses (EA and EN from Plaça
d'Espanya) also run to the airport but while
they are cheap at €1 they run less
often (every 80 minutes).
BUYING A TICKET
Return tickets to Spain are usually cheaper
and are a good defence against immigration
officials who want to be assured that you
are going to leave the country. Get a ticket
with an airline that allows you to make
changes to the ticket without any problems.
If you are working or studying in Spain
for more than one year you may wish to get
a one-way ticket and utilise the cheap tickets
out of London to come home.
Students or travellers under 26 years should
always ask for youth / student fares. If
you are flying from Australia or New Zealand,
ask about stopovers to break the journey.
Buying tickets with a credit card can double
your frequent flyer points and is an insurance
against dodgy travel agents. This way you
have time to check you have a ticket and
can cancel the charge if there is a problem.
If you are arriving late or departing early
check to see if the airport is open all-night
so you can catch some sleep on comfy sofas
before heading off again. Some places can
close down and public transport services
stop for the night.
AIRPORTS
ATI (the domestic service offered by Alitalia)
and other domestic airlines provide daily
links between the Italian airports. The
main airports are in Rome, two in Milan:
Linate and Malpensa , and Naples but there
are also smaller airports in Torino , Venezia,
, Genova, Bologna , Pisa , Palermo, Catania
and Cagliari.
TRANSPORT TO/FROM THE AIRPORTS
There are shuttle buses or even trains running
to Spanish airports from all main train
or bus terminals.
AIRLINES
The main Spanish airlines are:
Iberia, tel. 02 400 500
Binter Mediterraneo, tel. 02 400 500
Air Europa, tel. 9022 40042
Span Air, tel. 9021 31415
CHEAP DEALS
Many of the cheap airlines cut their prices
by reducing services i.e you will not be
served meals or drinks. They also offer
online reservations which cuts out the commissions
normally paid to travel agents.
TIVE and Halcon Viajes often have cheap
fares from Spain, especially if you're under
26 years. Many of the other cheap airlines
coming in or out of Spain cut their prices
by reducing services i.e you will not be
served meals or drinks. They also offer
online reservations which cuts out the commissions
normally paid to travel agents. Most travel
agents as a result will boycott booking
for these airlines.
Ryan Air www.ryanair.com
Ryan Air flies to locations all over Europe
and the United Kingdom from London Stansted.
For flexible travellers these cheap flights
are a big saving. However special deals
are offered only during certain periods,
check their website regularly for details.
Flights can be booked by credit card and
tickets are picked up at the airport. Ryan
Air does not refund cancellations and only
20 kilograms are allowed as weight allowance.
Usually one piece of hand luggage is permitted.
EasyJet
Also operates out of London but has more
limited flights than Ryan Air throughout
Europe. easyJet is a ticketless airline,
so all you need at check-in is your confirmation
number and positive proof of ID (a passport
for International flights).
For Further information visit the easyJet
web site: www.easyJet.com
Here are some tips to surviving air travel:
* Avoid areas with young
children
* Put a request in for seats with more leg
room (these are often reserved if someone
with a disability requests them)
* Suck on lollies or inhale sachets of eucalyptus
(both provided by the airline) if you have
ear trouble with ascent or descent.
* Bring an array of activities to keep you
occupied eg. Books to read, work to do,
letters to write etc
* Request to be moved if you can spy a series
of empty seats or request that the seats
next to you be left empty until needed
* Don’t hesitate to tell other passengers
if they are talking too loud when you are
sleeping, have their chair too far back
or are generally disrupting your comfort.
* Walk around the plane regularly for exercise
once the seatbelt sign is released. If you
hang around the hostess area long enough
you may even score a few perks – drinks,
visits to the cockpit etc.
* Get in early using the bathrooms as these
can deteriorate rapidly on some flights.
* Alcohol does not help with jet lag affects.
* If you’re hungry ask for more food.
There are often spare meals that are only
discarded.
