You have arrived!
No matter which CISabroad Barcelona program you are attending (Semester, Winter, Intern, Summer), you must arrive on your designated arrival date between 9am and 12pm at the Barcelona International Airport (BCN) in order to receive airport pickup.
We recommend that you book a flight that arrives no later than 12:00pm on your arrival date to ensure that you are able to make it to the meeting. If your flight lands at 12pm or later, you may not make it to the meeting point in order to receive airport pickup. It can take anywhere from a half an hour to an hour and a half to get through customs and the baggage claim. Keep in mind:
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You must arrive before 12:00 pm on your arrival date if you would like to receive airport pickup from our onsite staff.
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If you schedule your flight to arrive after 12:00 pm, and before 5:00 pm on your arrival date, you should follow the instructions here for late arrivals.
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If you schedule your flight to arrive after 5:00 pm on your arrival date, you must find your own accommodation for that evening, and further instruction will be given on when to check into your housing the next day.
Airport pickup is included in the CISabroad program fee, but we cannot guarantee airport pickup for anyone that arrives outside of the designated arrival times. To help us make sure we meet you at the airport, please fill out the Travel Information form in your portal if you have not done so already.
We will meet you at the airport, but not in baggage claim, or before you have gone through customs and/or immigration. We will meet you at Café La Maca, which will be on your left, when exiting the baggage claim. We will then transfer you to your housing.
Your bags may 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.
If your flight is delayed, please make sure to call the CISabroad Emergency phone so that we can inform our onsite team of your delay. We will do everything we can to pick you up from the airport, even if your flight is delayed, but if we cannot meet you there, we will provide you with detailed information on how to take transportation to your housing.
Arriving Early?
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!
Please read through these important tips and make sure you have set a plan on when and where you will meet us on arrival day. Normally there will be instructions for you to go directly to your program housing at a specified time. Write your program advisor if you are not sure of where you need to be and when!
Hotels & Hostels
Before and after program dates, you will be responsable for your own housing. Many students arrive early and stay in a hotel or hostel for a few nights before the program begins.
There are a lot of lodging in Barcelona to meet every budget, but here is a list of recommended hotels and hostels to get you started.
Getting to the City Center
If you arrive before the program start date you will be responsible for your own transport to the city center, but don’t worry, it is very easy!
Click here for Getting To and From the Airport.
Arriving Late?
If you arrive after 12pm on arrival day, but are still able to make it to Café La Maca by 1pm, there may still be staff available to help you there. If there is no staff at café La Maca, call the office phone (landline) to inform us you have landed. You will then make your way to the onsite office before 6:00pm to get your welcome folder and information, and be accompanied to accommodation for check in.
If you arrive after 5:00pm, we will not be able to check you into your housing until the next day. You will have to book your own accommodation for that night, and should email arrival@barcelonasae.com to inform us once you have landed. The next day you will make your way to the Onsite office at 9:30am or go to your apartment or homestay to check in at a specific time (you would be informed in advance of this.)
If you are a late arrival and therefore you are going to miss a REQUIRED Orientation Session, please click here for further instructions on what to do.
A Pre-Arrival sheet will be e-mailed to you 1-2 weeks before you arrive onsite. This will contain more detailed information on your arrival as well as specific phone numbers and contact information in case there are any issues with your flight or airport pickup.
For extra information on airports around the world, including maps and estimated arrival times, check out the website, Flightstats.com.