Need information about Barcelona Airport’s Terminal 2? Read on to learn more.
What until 2009 was Barcelona Airport’s terminals A, B and C and is now designated Terminal 2. It’s used exclusively by low lost operators and comprised of three distinct areas, T2A, T2B and T2C.
Only T2B and T2C are used for departures now with the majority of airlines using 2B. Only Easyjet flies from 2C.
Inside Barcelona Airport T2. Photo by Arodriguezgo.
Not the information about Barcelona Airport you’re looking for? Check out our main page on Barcelona Airport here or find out about Terminal 1.
Check in
When arriving by train or metro simply use the walkway which will take you the first floor of terminal 2B. If you need to check in your luggage you’ll need to go down to the ground floor.
If you’re flying any airline but Easyjet you’ll see a huge line of check-in desks ahead of you stretching towards your left. You just need to find the right one for your flight.
If you’re flying Easyjet then head out the door and turn right. Terminal T2C is a bit of a walk – around 600 or 700 metres, so around ten minutes or so. Easyjet has a dozen or so check-in desks.
Airlines have their information desks on the ground floor too. Easyjet’s is in T2C near its check-in desks but all other airlines have their desks in the main departures hall at T2B.
Security
If you’ve checked in online already then security is on your left as soon as you cross the walkway from the station. If you got to the airport using a different mode of transport you’ll need to go up to the first floor whether you’re at 2B or 2C.
Summer 2017 saw huge delays through security because of the volume of passengers and a shortage of security staff. Whether those issues have been cleared up on peak travel dates is still to be determined as I write this in July 2018. But a VIP Fast Lane ticket (€4 in July 2018) should speed you through.
After security you’ll go through a duty free shop where you can pick up last minute purchases of booze, fags and perfume. And then you’re in the main departure lounge.
Departure lounge
The facilities in the departure lounge of terminal 2 are rather more basic than T1 and a long way from when this was the main terminal building.
However, things have improved significantly since T1 first opened in 2009. The old terminal was so underused most shops and restaurants closed down. But what was once a ghost terminal is now resurrected.
One thing to keep in mind about departure lounge facilities is this. If you have to go though passport control your choices are severely limited afterwards.
Once you’re through there is no turning back. You’ll have access to an express (i.e. mini) duty free and a single cafe. That’s it!
However, before you go through passport control you’ll have access to the following facilities.
Shops include all the usual stores selling designer clothes, plus things like electronics and photography, magazines, books, gifts and sportswear, including Barça shirts.
Food and drink options aren’t as comprehensive as many airports. All the same you can choose between a number of cafes serving sandwiches, salads and pastries, bars selling beer and wine with tapas, fast food from Burger King and Pans & Co, plus a couple of restaurants.
Charging points for mobile phones and other devices are located in T2B and T2C for a small cost. However, at least one of the cafes has electrical sockets available at many tables. I think it’s Deli & Cia but not 100% sure on that. Leave a message at the bottom of the page to confirm or contradict me!
Smokers are out of luck though. There used to be an external terrace where you could smoke. However it no longer seems to be available. You’ll have to have your last cigarette outside the terminal building prior to going through security.
A VIP Lounge is located on the upper floor near gates U31-U41. Like the terminal itself, the Canudas Lounge is slightly dated. But you may the fee worth paying for a more comfortable wait with access to drinks and snacks.
Monitors display the latest flight information and are located all over the place. You don’t really have an excuse to miss a flight.
Having said that, I did almost miss my flight out of Barcelona once. The wrong info was shown for my Easyjet flight and I was among the last three to board!
Passport control
If you fly within the Schengen area you don’t need to go though passport control. That’s most of Europe plus a number of other countries and territories. In that case you stay within the main departure lounge.
On the other hand, anyone headed for the UK or Ireland, the United States or any other non-European country has to go through passport control. These are found on the first floor of the terminal building.
They are found in two locations:
- For departure gates M1-M8 you’ll need the passport control located in T2C.
- Passport control for gates W42-W52 and Y53-Y63 is at T2A, at the other end of the terminal building.
You can end up doing a lot of walking at T2!
Remember though that the facilities after passport control are much more limited than in the main departure lounge. If you need to shop or get a bite to eat you’ve got much more choice if you do it before passport control.
Departure Gates
If you’re flying within the Schengen area and don’t need to go through passport control then – after browsing the shops or getting something to eat – head for your gate. The gates for Schengen area flights are R9-R19 (Easyjet), S20-S30 and U31-U41. Each module (R, S and U) is split over two floors with seating and toilets nearby.
That wraps up our information about Barcelona Airport Terminal 2.
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