Clickair: Brussels to Barcelona

The carrier: Clickair

Upside
Great domestic Spanish network, including intra-country routes. The cabin crew has some great uniforms.

Downside
No flights to Madrid; all fights in or out of Spain.

About
Clickair is the low-cost arm of Iberia, the Spanish flagship carrier. It maintains a Barcelona base and flies to a dizzying array of destinations in Spain (Bilbao, Granada, Ibiza, Jerez, La Coruna, Malaga, Minorca, Santiago, Valencia, and Vigo), as well as a wide set of destinations across an impressive route map.
Baggage
* Carry-on: One piece of hang luggage not to exceed 10 kg, plus personal items.
* Checked: Guidelines are unclear, however, it looks like you can take up to 20 kg for free and are charged €10 per additional kg. The absolute maximum weight is 32 kg per suitcase, 50 kg in total.

Fun Fact
Turns out, you can't take animals on ClickAir, but (thankfully) their website specifies that "cloaks" are allowed. Bring it on, Sherlock!

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Departure: Brussels, Belgium - Charleroi (CRL)

Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Wallonia, Belgium has just opened a new terminal in January 2008 which has the capacity to serve of up to 5 million passengers a year and is a host to sever budget carriers.

Location: South Charleroi Airport is located 4 miles (7kilometres) north of Charleroi, 46km (28.75 miles) from central Brussels, in Wallonia (Belgium).

Transport:

- Rail: From any railway station in Belgium, you can reach Charleroi Brussels South airport by asking for a "bulk-Charleroi airport" ticket at the railway station you start from. When you arrive at Charleroi South station, you only need to take the A bus line to reach the airport passenger terminal in a few minutes. The "bulk" ticket price includes both rail and bus rides. Similarly, when you land at the airport, you can buy the same "bulk" ticket at the airport ticket desk. From Charleroi station, you can take a train to any railway station in Belgium. For specific rates and times consult the railway timetable website.

- Bus: Shuttles are available to and from South Charleroi Airport and the Charleroi bus station using line A. For specific rates and times consult the bus timetable website.

- Taxi: Taxi cabs are always available outside the passenger terminal. Do not hesitate to ask taxi drivers about offering a fixed price to your destination. This will often be an option.

Service: Airport amenities include automated teller machines, internet hotspots, telephone booths, massage seats, baggage storage, a restaurant and bar, newsstand and pharmacy. more...

Arrival: Barcelona, Spain - Barcelona International (BCN)

Barcelona International Airport, also known as El Prat, is the main airport serving Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Barcelona is an extremely busy airport and during high season, it has a tendency to feel mobbed.

The second busiest airport in Spain, it is also the primary base for Clickair and Vueling, two Spanish low-cost carriers, and serves many of Europe's other low-cost airlines. Over the years, future air traffic through Barcelona Airport has been increasing dramatically. As a result, plans for major improvements to both the airport's infrastructure and services are being conducted. These plans include a new terminal area, an expansion of the airfield and a new runway.

Location: Barcelona International Airport is located 12 km away from the center of Barcelona, in El Prat de Llobregat.

Transport:

- Rail: Barcelona Airport is connected to the center city by train. The Aerobus train costs €2.50 and the RENFE train runs €3.45. Train journeys take about 40 minutes. For detailed information on airport connections to the Barcelona Metro System, as well as general maps and schedules, consult the metro's Official Website.

- Bus: The night bus runs hourly from late night through early morning and costs just €1.25. The companies that serve Barcelona Airport include: EMT, ALSA, and Mon-Bus. Information on specific rates and schedules are available on their websites. You can also catch a bus to Lloret de Mar from Barcelona del Nord station in the city centre. They run very frequently and you can find a timetable and prices at the company’s Official Website. Bus service is available to the nearby country of Andorra as well (Andorra by bus).

- Taxi: Taxi ranks are located outside the terminals. The journey to the city should take about a half hour. Keep in mind that fares change during holidays and nights. Airport and luggage supplements apply in addition to the fare.

Service: Banks, currency exchanges, and ATMs can be found in both terminals as well as duty-free shops. Other shops include newsstands, bookstores and tobacconists. A post office can be found on the ground floor of Terminal B. Other airport facilities include a pharmacy, a 24-hour medical service, and children’s play areas. more...