<p>DS returned to school on the train yesterday and said “Philly was swarming with TSA guys”. That’s something we’ve never heard before.</p>
<p>S finally arrived in Barcelona, WITH his luggage. I’m not happy with the folks from his program (IES) though. They say the kids should plan to arrive at the airport by 5pm. Well, most flights were delayed. S and I both called the numbers we were told to call to tell them what flight he was on and that it would be late. S landed at 6 pm and was at the IES desk by 6:45 pm - but they were gone. There were a bunch of kids there, at least 3 on his flight alone. They called the “emergency” number but couldn’t get thru - apparently because SO many kids were calling. You’d think they could manage to have someone at the airport for a few more hours with that many delayed kids and flights??? I mean, we’re talking 6:45 pm - not midnight! S managed to get a taxi to his dorm, no thanks to IES who wasn’t even able to give him the street address, despite at least a dozen kids being housed in this dorm. The desk clerk gave him his room key. His roommate’s stuff is there but the roommate is not there, and the RA is not answering her phone… At least he’s safe in his room. Hungry and exhausted, but safe. </p>
<p>Chedva, previously I would have said I was pleased with IES but at the moment I am not. They did give tons of pre-departure info and advice, but despite following all of it S had 2 hours of unneccessary confusion when he arrived in Barcelona. DH had spoken to someone at work whose daughter went to Madrid thru IES last year, she said IES was fantastic. I’m hoping this is a temporary glitch and things improve.</p>
<p>S did say the dorm is VERY nice. </p>
<p>Pizzagirl, sorry to yell at you before. I know you meant well. For everyone else, sometimes it IS possible to get between terminals at Heathrow in under an hour - at least at 7:30 in the morning, when a lot of flights have been cancelled so there might not be as many people at the airport.</p>
<p>D went through Laguardia yesterday–checking a bag and going through security took her about 20 minutes.</p>
<p>Laf,</p>
<p>Glad he arrived safely, if tired.</p>
<p>I do have to say, though, I have been flying to Europe for over 30 years, and the only airport I have ever felt I really had to rush from one terminal to the next, AND security being tough, has been Heathrow. I do imagine it was easier early in the morning and so many flights being cancelled.</p>
<p>Heathrow is generally a very difficult airport to change planes in although with the new terminal that opened last year, or perhaps a bit longer than that, it goes much more smoothly. My older daughter has a summer position in a program in France and is frequently routed through Heathrow and last year’s summer was a breeze compared to previous experience. Her current roommate had problems this holiday season on both ends-London and Philly.
My younger d did an IES program fall 2009 in Vienna and overall we were fairly pleased, although I would have not been happy to learn that no representative remained at the designated meeting place beyond the appointed time- they should have kept a representative on-hand at Barcelona, which is a very confusing airport-was there this past summer just prior to new Iberia terminal opening. Neither of my daughters had problems meeting their representatives for study abroad or summer programs but both did fall study abroad-no weather delays to be concerned with.</p>
<p>According to friends the new terminals at Heathrow make a big difference over the old days of having to change terminals. That said, I don’t use Heathrow at all anymore as a hub (because of the old problems) but Amsterdam which is easy to navigate for the most part in and out of Europe.</p>
<p>OK, so we want to go visit S in Barcelona in Feb. I’ve waited a bit too long to book the flight so the non-stops from NYC are pretty much full or way too expensive. It looks like we can change planes for a reasonable price in Amsterdam, Paris, Zurich or Munich. Keeping in mind that the only foreign language DH, DD and I have even minimal knowledge of is Spanish, any recommendations which airport would be best? </p>
<p>(I’m thinking security at Amsterdam must be insane right now, especially for US bound flights…)</p>
<p>Laf,</p>
<p>If this won’t help, at least it will only take a little out of your day.</p>
<p>SAS flies out of Newark. It won’t go to Barcelona direct, but I believe you can take it to Copenhagen and then to Barcelona. Or Newark-Stockholm-Barcelona.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.flysas.com%5B/url%5D”>www.flysas.com</a></p>
<p>Thanks gloworm, but we live in Mass. The only way I’m driving to Newark/NYC is if we get a direct flight from there to Barcelona. (In-laws live in NJ near NYC, we can leave our car with them). </p>
<p>If I have to change planes anyway, I may as well go out of Boston.</p>
<p>Continental has direct to Barcelona from EWR. It is a great town. Just checked, if you leave on Feb 20 and return 27th, the fare is 550/person. I call it surf and turf town - by day there is beach, and by night there are all sort of night clubs to go to.</p>
<p>I left on an overseas trip yesterday (should be asleep, but wide awake), no problem with check in or carry ons. But I was forwarned that I could only have one carry on (my purse) my way back.</p>
<p>How was your airport experience yessterday, oldfort?/ My h travelled domestically (3 flights) in the last 2 ays. Only problem was weather, not security. How about international?</p>
<p>***** LOL-- crosspost!! ****</p>
<p>DD went back through BWI this morning and the line to check luggage was worse than the security line. She was through both in under a half hour, though. I had insisted we leave a little earlier than usual, she did not need it. But by doing so we missed the big accident we saw on our way home - it worked out.</p>