Arrivals 

Airport Pick Up

What To Expect

On arrival day, CIS Abroad staff will be waiting for you at Barcelona el Prat airport at La Tramoia (coffee shop) in the Arrivals hall of Terminal 1 from 9am-12pm. We will be connected through WhatsApp and will be able to track your flight information. 

How To Find Us

• STEP 1: Pass through customs and collect your luggage
• STEP 2: look for La Tramoia on your right as you enter the Arrivals hall.

Please note, if your flight lands in Terminal 2, take the free bus that runs every 15 minutes between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and then follow the above instructions to find La Tramoia in the Arrivals hall of Terminal 1.

Note: Airlines such as Ryan Air, Aer Lingus, Easy Jet & Norwegian will often fly into Terminal 2. Click here to check which terminal you will land in.

If No One Is At La Tramoia

If you get to La Tramoia and nobody's there, wait a moment. We may just be helping students into a taxi and will be right back. If no one is there after 20-30 minutes, please call the CIS Abroad Emergency phone +1 413 210 7091 (And check that you are in Terminal 1!)

The airport has wifi so you can connect and call via WhatsApp or Skype if needed (it is a good idea to preload some credit to your Skype). There are also payphones at the airport. See bottom of this page on how to connect to wifi in the airport.

You can also email us at emergency@cisabroad.com but remember to refresh often to be able to see our response.

Flight Delays or Cancellations

If your flight is delayed, please email emergency@cisabroad.com right away to keep us updated and let us know your new flight details. We will be checking that email consistently on your arrival date, along with your flight status.

If by the time you have landed, and you have not received an email response from us, please call the emergency phone ( +1 413 210 7091) to inform us that you have landed and we will give you directions on where to go.

Important - Staff will NOT arrange your transportation. You will need to arrange your own transportation into the city. 

Lost Baggage

If your bags decide to take a later flight, don’t panic. If the airline loses your luggage you must file a report with the airline while you are still in the baggage area. It is much more difficult to file this report once you’ve left the baggage claim area. The information you will need to provide on that form include the following: 

• NAME (you can give your name)
• PHONE # (give the site director)
• ADDRESS (give the address where you are staying)

In the comments you can request delivery from 9am-5pm. Have your bag sent to your residence and make sure to let the front desk know that they will be delivering it during the day.

The airline baggage claim service will usually give you a website and a code where you can track your misplaced bag if you want updates.

Early Arrivals

If you arrive before your program start date, you are responsible for yourself until the day the program begins. This includes your transportation, housing, meals and safety. Don't worry, many students choose this option and exploring the city for a day or two on your own can be a fun way to start your program and beat the jet lag before things start!

Late Arrivals

If you arrive after 12pm on arrival day, check at La Tramoia to see if pickup staff is still there. If there is no staff at La Tramoia, call the emergency phone to let us know that you have landed. The staff will then inform you of where to go. 

In case of flight delays or cancellations, send a WhatsApp message to your site director with your updated arrival information. If you miss the airport pickup, you will be responsible for getting yourself to the city center (including the cost). If you miss the required Orientation Session, please check the WhatsApp group description for a link to the presentation (also found on the student guide).

There are several options for getting to the city from the airport, including the Aerobus bus, train, metro, and taxi.

How To Get To The City From The Airport

There are several options for getting to the city from the airport, including the Aerobus bus, train, metro, and taxi. The Aerobus is the easiest and cheapest option, the train is the least expensive but takes longer, the metro is a new option that connects the airport to the city, and the taxi is the most convenient but also the most expensive option.

By Bus

The easiest and among the cheapest way to get to the city center from the airport or vice versa is by using the Aerobus, a blue bus that runs between the airport and the city center (Plaça Espanya & Plaça de Catalunya). The travel time is approximately 35 minutes. To board the Aerobus, follow the signs for the Aerobus in the airport and purchase your ticket there. You can buy one from a machine with a card, but having euros is handy. They will not accept 50€ bills or higher. Once on the bus, press the red "stop" button to signal your stop. The bus will make four stops: Plaça Espanya, Gran Via with Urgell street, Plaça Universitat, and finally in Plaça Catalunya (the end of the line). 

Check the schedules and prices (6.75€ one way) on the Aerobus website: http://www.aerobusbcn.com

By Train

Another option to get to the city center from the airport is by train. The RENFE R2 Nord train connects the airport with the city center in about 25 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes from early morning until late night. You can purchase your tickets at the RENFE ticket office located in Terminal 2 or at the vending machines. The trains stop at Passeig de Gracia, which is a central location with connections to other parts of the city by metro and bus.

By Metro

Another option for getting to the city center from the airport is by using the subway. The subway recently opened a new line (Line 9 Sud) that connects the airport with the city. You can take the metro from both terminals in the direction of "Zona Universitària" which is located on the north part of the city. Once there, you can switch to Line 3 (green) which will take you to the city center. The single ticket for the metro, including the special airport fare, is 4.60€.

By Taxi

Another option for getting to the city center from the airport is by taking a taxi. This is the easiest option as it brings you directly to your housing, but it is more expensive. The journey from the airport takes around 30 minutes and costs around 40-50€ depending on your destination in the city. Keep in mind that taxi drivers will charge you an additional fee for luggage.