![Holiday plans for 2024: Up to €1,500, staycations or Europe, and DIY bookings most popular](https://cdn.thinkwebcontent.com/articles/33848/4x3/33848-1711846288--vulVVr-Viajar-silhuetaavinydospersonas-Pxhere.jpg)
THE average Spanish resident will spend between €500 and €1,500 on their holidays this year, with three in 10 set to increase their budget from last year and 16% reducing it.
Forgot your password?
Feedback is welcome
And in Barcelona, strike action has led to delays increasing even more, with waits of up to four hours to get through.
Passengers travelling to Europe from States not in the Schengen passport-free zone are now checked on databases rather than simply flashing their passport at a police officer.
All this is taking so long that many passengers have reported missing their flights, despite getting to the airports over three hours before take-off, and being refused entry to the front of the queue for those which are about to board.
Ryanair, EasyJet and British Airways have all warned passengers to allow several hours' extra time, and have all criticised the fact that the busiest time of the travelling year – August – combined with the extra checks have not been properly planned for.
Very few airports have been supplied with extra staff to cover the increased workload.
Minister for aviation in Britain, Lord Callanan, says he is in contact with air travel bosses in Spain, Portugal and Italy to try to convince them to take greater steps to ensure movements through passport control upon leaving and arriving were streamlined 'so people can just get on with their holidays'.
Although the governments in Spain and France have promised to supply additional staff, as yet nothing has been done.
In one case, a flight to Birmingham left Barcelona airport with 22 empty seats because of queues passengers had no idea about until they reached the terminal – and although they begged to go to the front of the queue as their flight was due to board, they were refused and sent to the back.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has told all British nationals or anyone travelling to and from Britain to ensure they get to the airport at least three hours before they are due to fly – even if they have no checked luggage.
Barcelona airport strikes are taking place every Friday until September, and these are also creating a knock-on effect on the rest of the week.
THE average Spanish resident will spend between €500 and €1,500 on their holidays this year, with three in 10 set to increase their budget from last year and 16% reducing it.
SPAIN'S State post office has launched a new solution for passing travellers who do not want to lug their suitcases around: Lockers for bags are now provided, with prices depending upon weight.
IF YOU'RE in the Comunidad Valenciana any time between now and the early hours of March 20, you may notice an awful lot of noise and colour on the streets. It's the season for the region's biggest festival,...
SPANISH national low-cost airline Vueling has announced numerous extra flights this summer, increasing frequency and destination choice for 2024.