Any information about fares or even flights in the highly volatile airline industry is not written in stone; even travel agencies with banks of computers have a hard time keeping abreast of last-minute discounts and schedule changes. For up-to-the-minute information, including a list of the carriers that fly to Barcelona and Madrid, check with a travel agent or the individual airlines.

Flying for Less

Passengers sharing the same airplane cabin rarely pay the same fare. Travelers who need to purchase tickets at the last minute, change their itinerary at a moment's notice, or fly one-way often get stuck paying the premium rate. Here are some ways to keep your airfare costs down.

Passengers who can book their ticket long in advance, who can stay over Saturday night, or who fly midweek or at less-trafficked hours may pay a fraction of the full fare. If your schedule is flexible, say so, and ask if you can secure a cheaper fare by changing your flight plans.

You can also save on airfares by keeping an eye out in local newspapers for promotional specials or fare wars, when airlines lower prices on their most popular routes. You rarely see fare wars offered for peak travel times, but if you can travel in the off-months, you may snag a bargain.

Search the Internet, especially the Internet-only airlines for cheap fares.

Try to book a ticket in its country of origin. For instance, if you're planning a one-way flight from Johannesburg to Bombay, a South Africa-based travel agent will probably have the lowest fares. For multileg trips, book in the country of the first leg; for example, book New York-London-Amsterdam-Rome-New York in the U.S. Two of the biggest providers in Barcelona are Halcon Viajes (tel. 90-243-00-00; www.halconviajes.com) and Viajes Iberia (tel. 90-240-05-00; www.viajesiberia.com).

Consolidators, also known as bucket shops, are great sources for international tickets, although they usually can't beat the Internet on fares within North America. Start by looking in Sunday newspaper travel sections; U.S. travelers should focus on the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Miami Herald. For less-developed destinations, small travel agents who cater to immigrant communities in large cities often have the best deals. Beware: Bucket shop tickets are usually nonrefundable or rigged with stiff cancellation penalties, often as high as 50% to 75% of the ticket price, and some put you on charter airlines with questionable safety records. Several reliable consolidators are worldwide and available on the Net. STA Travel (www.sta.com) is now the world's leader in student travel, thanks to its purchase of Council Travel. It also offers good fares for travelers of all ages. Flights.com (tel. 800/TRAV-800; www.flights.com) started in Europe and has excellent fares worldwide, but particularly to that continent. It also has "local' websites in 12 countries. FlyCheap (tel. 800/FLY-CHEAP; www.1800flycheap.com) is owned by package-holiday megalith MyTravel and so has especially good access to fares for sunny destinations. Air Tickets Direct (tel. 800/778-3447; www.airticketsdirect.com) is based in Montreal and leverages the currently weak Canadian dollar for low fares; it'll also book trips to places that U.S. travel agents won't touch, such as Cuba.

Join frequent-flier clubs. Accrue enough miles, and you'll be rewarded with free flights and elite status. It's free and you'll get the best choice of seats, faster response to phone inquiries, and prompter service if your luggage is stolen, your flight is canceled or delayed, or if you want to change your seat. You don't need to fly to build frequent-flier miles -- frequent-flier credit cards can provide thousands of miles for doing your everyday shopping.

From North America

Flights from the U.S. east coast to Spain take 6 to 7 hours. The national carrier of Spain, Iberia Airlines (tel. 800/772-4642; www.iberia.com), has more routes into and within Spain than any other airline. It offers almost daily services from most major U.S. cites (New York, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta) either direct to Barcelona or via Madrid. Also available are attractive rates on fly/drive packages within Iberia and Europe; they can substantially reduce the cost of both the air ticket and the car rental.

A good money-saver to consider is Iberia's SpainPass. Available only to passengers who simultaneously arrange for transatlantic passage on Iberia, the SpainPass consists of coupons equivalent to a one-way/one-person ticket to destinations on mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. Travelers must purchase a three-coupon minimum (228€/$275) and extra coupons can be bought at 60€ ($72) each. Their EuroPass services European destinations. Coupons (minimum of two) for destinations such as Rome, Geneva, Vienna, and Istanbul cost $139 each or $169 for Cairo or Tel Aviv. The EuroPass can only be purchased as a part of an Iberian Air itinerary from your home country.

Iberia's main Spain-based competitor is Air Europa (tel. 888/238-7672; www.air-europa.com), which offers a daily service from Newark Airport using Continental Airlines to Madrid, with connecting flights to Barcelona. Fares are usually lower than Iberia's.

Delta (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com) runs daily nonstop service from Atlanta (its worldwide hub) and New York (JFK) to Barcelona. Delta's Dream Vacation department offers independent fly/drive packages, land packages, and escorted bus tours.

United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522; www.ual.com) does not fly into Spain directly. It does, however, offer airfares from the United States to Spain with United flying as far as Zurich, and then using another carrier to complete the journey. United also offers fly/drive packages and escorted motor coach tours.

From the U.K.

British Airways (tel. 0845/773-3377; www.britishairways.com) Iberia (tel. 020/7830-0011 in London) and EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) are the three major carriers flying between England and Spain. More than a dozen daily flights, on either BA or Iberia, depart from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports. About the same number of EasyJet flights depart daily from Stansted, Luton, and Gatwick airports. EasyJet also has direct flights from Liverpool and Newcastle and another Internet service MyTravelite (www.mytravelite.com) offers a daily service from Birmingham. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) which uses Girona (Gerona) airport, located about an hour outside of Barcelona, flies in from Bournemouth, Dublin and the East Midlands, as well as London. (There is a connecting bus service from Girona Airport to central Barcelona). The best air deals on scheduled flights from England are those requiring a Saturday night stopover.

Budget airlines are giving the major carriers a run for their money and many have now had to slash their fares to compete. The efficiency of these services has been proven (both EasyJet and Ryanair have excellent "on time" records) and most travelers seem happy to forgo the frills and arrive in Barcelona with a few more euros in their pocket.

Charter flights to the regional Catalan airports of Reus and Girona leave from many British regional airports. Girona serves those heading to the Costa Brava north of Barcelona while Reus is mainly used by those holidaying on the resorts on the Costa Daurada in the south. Trailfinders (tel. 020/7937-5400 in London; www.trailfinder.com), operates charters to both destinations.

In London, there are many bucket shops around Victoria Station and Earls Court that offer cheap fares. Make sure the company you deal with is a member of the IATA, ABTA, or ATOL. These umbrella organizations will help you if anything goes wrong.

CEEFAX, the British television information service, runs details of package holidays and flights to Europe and beyond. Just switch to your CEEFAX channel and you'll find travel information.

From Australia

From Australia, there are a number of options to fly to Spain. The most popular is Qantas/British Airways (tel. 612/13-13-13), which flies daily via Asia and London. Other popular and cheaper options are Qantas/Lufthansa via Asia and Frankfurt, Qantas/Air France via Asia and Paris, and Alitalia via Bangkok and Rome. The most direct option is on Singapore Airlines, with just one stop in Singapore. Alternatively, there are flights on Thai Airways via Bangkok and Rome, but the connections are not always good.

Getting into Town from the Airport

El Prat, Barcelona's airport is 13km (8 miles) from the city center and there are several options you can use to get into town.

The Aerobús leaves just outside all three terminals every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight. Its journey takes about 20 to 25 minutes (leave a few more minutes for the return journey, as the bus takes a slightly different route) and costs 3.60€ ($4.15). The bus stops at Plaça Espanya, Plaça Universitat, and Plaça Catalunya -- all major hubs.

El Prat also has its own train station. While this is convenient for those traveling further afield by train (its journey finishes at Sants, the city's major terminal, which also has connections to the Metro) the station itself is a short walk from the airport terminal, which makes it inconvenient for those with lots of luggage. Trains leave every 30 minutes from 6:15am to 11:40pm and the 25-minute journey costs 2.50€ ($2.90).

There are taxi ranks outside all terminals. The 20-minute journey to the center should cost about 18€ ($21) including the 3€ ($3.45) airport surcharge. Luggage that goes in the trunk is .85€ ($1) per piece.

Getting Through the Airport

With the federalization of airport security, security procedures at U.S. airports are more stable and consistent than ever. Generally, you'll be fine if you arrive at the airport 2 hours before an international flight; if you show up late, tell an airline employee and she'll probably whisk you to the front of the line.

Bring a current, government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. Keep your ID at the ready to show at check-in, the security checkpoint, and sometimes even the gate. (Children under 18 do not need government-issued photo IDs for domestic flights, but they do for international flights to most countries.)

In 2003 the TSA phased out gate check-in at all U.S. airports. And e-tickets have made paper tickets nearly obsolete. Passengers with e-tickets can beat the ticket-counter lines by using airport electronic kiosks or even online check-in from your home computer. Online check-in involves logging on to your airlines' website, accessing your reservation, and printing out your boarding pass -- and the airline may even offer you bonus miles to do so! If you're using a kiosk at the airport, bring the credit card you used to book the ticket or your frequent-flier card. Print out your boarding pass from the kiosk and simply proceed to the security checkpoint with your pass and a photo ID. If you're checking bags or looking to snag an exit-row seat, you will be able to do so using most airline kiosks. Even the smaller airlines are employing the kiosk system, but always call your airline to make sure these alternatives are available. Curbside check-in is also a good way to avoid lines, although a few airlines still ban curbside check-in; call before you go.

Security checkpoint lines are getting shorter than they were, but some doozies remain. If you have trouble standing for long periods of time, tell an airline employee; the airline will provide a wheelchair. Speed up security by not wearing metal objects such as big belt buckles. If you've got metallic body parts, a note from your doctor can prevent a long chat with the security screeners. Keep in mind that only ticketed passengers are allowed past security, except for folks escorting disabled passengers or children.

Federalization has stabilized what you can carry on and what you can't. The general rule is that sharp things are out, nail clippers are okay, and food and beverages must be passed through the X-ray machine -- but that security screeners can't make you drink from your coffee cup. Bring food in your carry-on rather than checking it, as explosive-detection machines used on checked luggage have been known to mistake food (especially chocolate, for some reason) for bombs. Travelers in the U.S. are allowed one carry-on bag, plus a "personal item" such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag. Carry-on hoarders can stuff all sorts of things into a laptop bag; as long as it has a laptop in it, it's still considered a personal item. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a list of restricted items; check its website (www.tsa.gov/public/index.jsp) for details.

Airport screeners may decide that your checked luggage needs to be searched by hand. You can now purchase luggage locks that allow screeners to open and re-lock a checked bag if hand-searching is necessary. Look for Travel Sentry certified locks at luggage or travel shops and Brookstone stores (you can buy them online at www.brookstone.com). These locks, approved by the TSA, can be opened by luggage inspectors with a special code or key. For more information on the locks, visit www.travelsentry.org. If you use something other than TSA-approved locks, your lock will be cut off your suitcase if a TSA agent needs to hand-search your luggage.

• Don't Stow It -- Ship It -- If ease of travel is your main concern and money is no object, you can ship your luggage and sports equipment with one of the growing number of luggage-service companies that pick up, track, and deliver your luggage (often through couriers such as FedEx) with minimum hassle for you. Traveling luggage-free may be ultraconvenient, but it's not cheap: One-way overnight shipping can cost from $100 to $200, depending on what you're sending. Still, for some people, especially the elderly or the infirm, it's a sensible solution to lugging heavy baggage. Specialists in door-to-door luggage delivery are Virtual Bellhop (www.virtualbellhop.com), SkyCap International (www.skycapinternational.com), Luggage Express (www.usxpluggageexpress.com), and Sports Express (www.sportsexpress.com).

By Car

If you're touring the rest of Europe in a rented car, you might, for an added cost, be allowed to drop off your vehicle in a major city such as Barcelona.

Highway approaches to Spain are across France on expressways. The most popular border crossing is near Biarritz, but there are 17 other border stations between Spain and France. If you're going to Barcelona or Catalonia and along the Levante coast (Valencia), take the expressway in France to Toulouse, then the A-61 to Narbonne, and then the A-9 toward the border crossing at La Jonquera. You can also take the RN-20, with a border station at Puigcerdà.

If you're driving from Britain, make sure you have a cross-Channel reservation, as traffic tends to be very heavy, especially in summer.

You can take the Chunnel, the underwater Channel Tunnel linking Britain (Folkestone) and France (Calais) by road and rail. Eurostar tickets, for train service between London and Paris or Brussels, are available through Rail Europe (tel. 800/EUROSTAR; www.eurostar.com for information). In London, make reservations for Eurostar at tel. 0870/530-00-03; in Paris at tel. 01-44-51-06-02; and in the United States at tel. 800/EUROSTAR. The tunnel also accommodates passenger cars, charter buses, taxis, and motorcycles, transporting them under the English Channel from Folkestone, England, to Calais, France. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, running every 15 minutes during peak travel times, and at least once an hour at night. Tickets may be purchased at the tollbooth at the tunnel's entrance. With "Le Shuttle," gone are the days of weather-related delays, seasickness, and advance reservations.

Once you land, you'll have about an 18-hour drive to Barcelona.

If you plan to transport a rental car between England and France, check in advance with the rental company about license and insurance requirements and additional drop-off charges. And be aware that many car-rental companies, for insurance reasons, forbid transport of one of their vehicles over the water between England and France.

By Train

If you're already in Europe, you might want to go to Barcelona by train, especially if you have a EurailPass. Even without a pass, you'll find that the cost of a train ticket is relatively moderate. Rail passengers who visit from Britain or France should make couchette and sleeper reservations as far in advance as possible, especially during the peak summer season.

Since Spain's rail tracks are of a wider gauge than those used for French trains (except for the TALGO and Trans-Europe-Express trains), you'll probably have to change trains at the border unless you're on an express train. For long journeys on Spanish rails, seat and sleeper reservations are mandatory.

The most comfortable and the fastest trains in Spain are the TER, TALGO, and Electrotren. However, you pay a supplement to ride on these fast trains. Both first- and second-class fares are sold on Spanish trains. Tickets can be purchased in the United States or Canada at the nearest office of Rail Europe or from any reputable travel agent. Confirmation of your reservation takes about a week.

If you want your car carried aboard the train, you must travel Auto-Expreso in Spain. This type of auto transport can be booked only through travel agents or rail offices once you arrive in Europe.

To go from London to Barcelona by rail, you'll need to change not only the train but also the rail terminus in Paris. Trip time from London to Paris is about 6 hours (unless you take the Eurostar, in which case it's 2 1/2 hr.) and from Paris to Barcelona 12 hours. Many different rail passes are available in the United Kingdom for travel in Europe.

By Bus

Bus travel to Spain is possible but not popular -- it's quite slow (service from London will take 24 hr. or more). But coach services do operate regularly from major capitals of Western Europe, and once in Spain, usually head for Barcelona. The major bus line running from London to Spain is Eurolines Limited, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU, UK (tel. 0870/514-32-19 or 020/7730-8235).