Arriving at Lanzarote Airport: what happens when you land

César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE) is compact and easy to find your way around, but it helps to know what to expect, especially if it is your first visit or you are travelling with children. This is what happens between touching down and sitting in your taxi.

Two terminals, one exit road

The airport has two terminals side by side. Terminal 1 handles international flights and flights from mainland Spain, which means almost every holiday flight. Terminal 2 is used for the short inter-island flights to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and the other Canary Islands. Both open onto the same road outside, a few minutes' walk apart.

Passport control

If you are flying from inside the Schengen area, such as Germany or mainland Spain, you usually walk straight through to baggage reclaim. Flights from the United Kingdom and other countries outside Schengen go through passport control first. At busy times this can add a while, so there is no need to rush: your driver follows your flight and knows roughly when passengers start coming out.

Baggage reclaim

The belts are just after passport control. Buggies and car seats checked in at the gate sometimes arrive at the oversized luggage point rather than the belt. If a bag is missing, report it at your airline's handling desk in the reclaim hall before leaving: once you go through the exit doors you cannot go back in.

The arrivals hall

Through the exit doors you reach the arrivals hall. Here you will find car hire desks, cash machines, cafés and the exit to the taxi rank and the bus stops. The airport has wifi, which is useful if you need to message someone.

Meeting your driver

If you have booked an airport taxi with us, your driver is waiting in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name. They help with your luggage and walk with you to the vehicle, parked just outside. A few things make it easier:

• Add your flight number when you book, so the pick-up moves with any delay.
• Keep your phone switched on after landing; if anything changes, we will contact you.
• If you cannot see your driver, call the emergency number in your confirmation email and we will put you in touch straight away.

The first hour after landing is free, which is normally plenty of time even with a queue at passport control. Read more about what a taxi from the airport costs.

How far is your resort?

The airport is on the east coast, between Arrecife and Puerto del Carmen, so most journeys are short: about 15 minutes to Arrecife, 20 to Puerto del Carmen or Costa Teguise and around 40 to Playa Blanca. See every destination, with its distance and fare, in the list of destinations.

Flying home

For the return, plan to be at the airport about two hours before your flight. Add the journey time from your accommodation and book your pick-up accordingly: from Puerto del Carmen around two hours and twenty minutes before departure, from Playa Blanca about two hours and forty-five minutes.