the airports at the moment especialy Manchester and Liverpool airports,are a bit of a joke at the moment, trying to get through passport control. 6 or 7 planes land at the same time,you go through to show your passport and are joined by around 1500 passengers all waiting to show ONE PERSON your photo,now im all for security and safety when flying as im sure each and everyone of you are,but surely more people need to be employed to undertake such amount of work. if everyone was charged an extra pound (or equivalent currancy) to pay for the wages, surely that is worth the time you save. it now takes approx 1 1/2hrs to get from the plane and through customs. i now expect all the Americans to say SO QUICK because i know your security is at a much higher level.
anyway got that off my chest,cant wait for my next flight

Hi Billy the Man,

This is one of my pet hate subjects, so rather than join you on your rant (which incidentally I anticipate being moved by MM to the World Travel Forum) what I will add is a new piece of legislation which is coming in later this week on travel from the UK to Spain.

Anyone with flight booked from the UK on or after June 11 now must provide additional information with their booking, such as nationality, passport number and date of birth. This applies to Spaniards returning to Spain, is an EU ruling, and Spain is the first country to require it.

Some airlines, such as Easyjet, are insisting on having this information before you arrive at the airport, they are not providing facilities for you to give it to them there (although I expect they would send you to the sales desk rather than refuse you flight, but don't count on it). Others will collect it off you there. Obviously with the situation at British airports being already intolerably slow, and my experience backs up Billy the Man totally, this isn't going to help. So, if travelling via the UK to Spain, allow lots of time.

I did consider moving it, Jamongris, but thought maybe we would mainly focus on the Spain-based airports. If later the majority of discussion is non-Spain-based I'll then move the topic to the World Travel Forum.

Saludos, MadridMan

yes flying is a bummer nowdays with all this security issues. Spain gets the most in...so they are the first one to implemented. BUT,it will be all over the EU and Schengen countries soon after.
so , anybody found a good cafe or resto at the airport lately?

i was at Barcelona airport last september and the queues for passport control were horrible,people were missing there flights through leaving it to late to arrive at the airport. but after being back at Barcelona at christmas and just arriving back from Alicante airports it seems the Spanish have tried to sort it out, but in England its still a mess, and about to get worse especialy when this new legislation comes in, it will be caotic

My wife recently flew to the states and surprisingly it was quite a pleasant experience. It was very efficient. They wanted to know everything but it went very quick.

On my last flight into the UK I almost got refused entry I went in the EU lineup as I always do, my wife has a German passport was told to go back and fill out the forms and go in the other line up. As we were coming from Spain and as of yet neither of us had our NIE cards we had no proof of residency. They did let us in once I convinced them that I was only visiting family and not here to work. In spite of the fact I'm entitled to work in the UK. Thought better of it than to push the point.

WOW
just got back from Spain,
Manchester airport took me 15mins to get through baggage,security,passport control
Malaga took around 20mins
return Malaga 15mins
Manchester took from the plane to out of the airport 25mins
absolutley fantastic was i lucky, or have they sorted problems out?
they have a new security machine at Manchester if you have booked online, passport into machine and up come on all your details of times and destinations,you get your flight tickets then to a seperate counter with NO waiting to put your bags through, technology is fantastic

What's the hand luggage situation returning from Spain? Have they introduced smaller size restrictions? Or is it still the old sizing?
The reason I ask is that we take out with us a Rucksac packed in our suitcase, to use on the first part of our trip(leaving the suitcase and some items in storage). On our return to UK the rucksac then becomes our hand luggage (being old UK standard size). This leaves room in the suitcase for the "extras" we gain on a 5 week trip. We'll be flying back from Barcelona.

It's not Spain who determines the size... it's the airline and the type of plane you are flying on. You need to check with your airline to find out what dimensions are allowed on your particular flight.

I realise different planes and airlines have their own restrictions.

UK airports have reduced the maximum size allowed through security to 55 x 40 x 20. (one piece per person). At some UK airports (eg Southampton, it is even less). This is for security control, they still let you shop afterwards!
I need to find the size limit at Spanish airports- paticulary Barcelona? - I've tried Google

Jan D
just found this

Hand baggage restrictions
In brief, passengers are now permitted to carry ONE item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point. The cabin bag should be no bigger than 45cm wide x 35cm long x 16cm deep (17.7" wide × 13.7" long × 6.2" deep), including wheels, handles, side pockets - equivalent to a small laptop bag or rucksack.

http://www.spanish-airport-guide.com/2006/08/terror-alert-causing-chaos-at-spanish.html

Hi billy the man.
Thanks. I'm still though trying to find more up to date info.
Did you see what sort of controls were in place in Malaga on your return?
I'm asumming Spanish airports are still implementing the liquids rule ( everything in one clear bag).

i assume they are still implementing the liquid rule (we were never checked) we were scrutinized at Manchester and yes everything in a clear plastic bag,if you are travelling as a pair you could take hand luggage each which would cut down on suitcase weight there were four of us each with hand luggage (or should i say being the only male in the party ic carried four lots of hand luggage

Jan, the official Website of AENA, the public company that manages all the Spanish Aiports is this one . There you should have all the official information you need, in English.

Torrales, Thankyou, Thankyou. :jump:
Just what I was looking for !!
Here's the relevant info that I've been searching for.

"In addition to the luggage checked into the hold, passengers can take on board one or two small, light items as hand luggage, such as: umbrellas, handbags, briefcases, cameras, laptop computers, shopping bags, etc."

Barcelona - Airport Security - Impossible!!
Just returned from a fabulous visit in Spain. The only reason I might hesitate in returning was the security gate at Terminal A in Barcelona at 10:00 a,m on Monday, October 15, 2007. The site was designed to hold only a few travelers. There were three times as many people that the space could hold. The escalators leading to the inspection were full of travelers, each having to "step down" the escalators as they continued to try to move people upwards to the crowded area. The inspectors were of no asssitance. Several lines were in fact closed, even though it was 10 am in the morning. The level of professional quality of those employees left much to be desired.
In spite of the above, I will travel again to Spain, but this time leave through a different airport.

Barajas was really quick last Friday afternoon when we went through. The worst airport for the whole holiday was, as usual, Ronaldsway (Isle of Man) on the way out, where they always make every passenger take off their belt and shoes as well as all the usual stuff. I suppose the security staff have to justify their existence (and their overtime payments) somehow.

Recently I passed through Madrid Barajas Airport on my way to Geneva Switzerland . I'd arrived at about 8am and the airport was largely empty. The passport control booth line was short and they checked my passport carefully and stamped it. The security line was also as short as I'd ever seen it, maybe 4 people ahead of me. And I didn't have to take off my shoes either - just my belt. One check-in counter, not sure which one, did have about 200 people waiting in line though but no one else. Must have been some problem with the flight.

The Geneva Airport in Switzerland, nice and small, was also quick on a weekday afternoon. I had no problems. They hardly looked at my passport as I went through security. In fact, I don't think they looked at it at all except to check the nationality.

Saludos, MadridMan

MadridMan,

Last week I flew to New York and back and although New York was really nice, air travel stinks here in the U.S. Shoes, belt, no water, a machine that puffs air, chaos and lack of instructions while in line.

Unfortunately, it will be a long time before I go on another trip by air. I can't help but remember a time when air travel was really fun and if not, convenient. Now it's really a hassle.