No. 17 of 19 at BCN

Firefly

Name: Firefly at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport: Counterwise rating
Item: Firefly (Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport)
Rating: 3
Author: Counterwise

at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport

In terminal

Medium consensus Check prices ↓

At a glance

Firefly at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is ranked No. 17 of 19 car rental desks at the airport, with a Counterwise Score of 3.0/10 (Poor).
The Firefly desk is inside the terminal at Barcelona Airport.
A credit card in the main driver's name is required; the deposit amount is not confirmed yet.
Fuel policy: full to full. Opening hours: 08:00–23:59 daily; out of hours on request for a fee.
Main red flag from travellers: Very many reviews report unexpected payments at the counter beyond the booked price. These include pressure to buy the desk's own cover, being told broker or third-party cover is not valid, and debit cards refused for the deposit unless extra cover is bought. Reported totals are often double or triple the booking. About 4 of the roughly 13 text reviews from the last 12 months describe this..

Based on 260 reviews analysed · Last updated 12 November 2026 · How scores work

The short version

Based on about 260 Google reviews after removing 8 (roughly 216 with usable text, only about 13 of them from the last 12 months), this desk gets mostly negative feedback. The recurring themes are unexpected extra payments at the counter, post-rental fuel or damage deductions, slow deposit refunds and unfriendly staff. A smaller group report quick pickups, new clean cars and prompt deposit refunds, usually from customers who arrived with a credit card, their own cover, photos and a fuel receipt. Web evidence is mostly undated and mixed, and it broadly agrees with the review picture.

AI-assisted summary of 260 recent Google reviews and web reports, reviewed by our editor on 12 November 2026. How we do it

Score breakdown

Each sub-score is out of 10. Higher is always better for you. How the weights work

Deposit & damage disputes(30% of score)

Poor2.5/10

How often travellers report surprise damage charges, slow deposit refunds or disputed scratches. Based on 62 reports · high confidence.

Counter upselling(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Pressure to buy extra insurance, upgrades or add-ons at the desk. Higher means less pressure. Based on 75 reports · high confidence.

Booking honoured(20% of score)

Poor2.0/10

Whether you get the car category and the price you booked, without new fees at the counter. Based on 70 reports · high confidence.

Queue time(15% of score)

Poor5.0/10

Typical wait from reaching the desk (or shuttle stop) to holding the keys. Based on 33 reports · medium confidence.

Car condition(15% of score)

Mixed6.0/10

Cleanliness, mileage and mechanical state of the cars handed out. Based on 40 reports · medium confidence.

How this score was built

AI analysis of reviews and web reports (the sub-scores above, weighted): 3.2 · counts 70%
Star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate: 0.9 · counts 30%
8 of 268 recent reviews excluded as unreliable (solicited staff praise, duplicates, other locations…). How we clean reviews
Pulled 21% toward the airport average, because recent reviews are few (57 after weighting by age).

Medium consensusOur independent signals mostly agree, with some differences.

What travellers flag

Red flags (3)

Very many reviews report unexpected payments at the counter beyond the booked price. These include pressure to buy the desk's own cover, being told broker or third-party cover is not valid, and debit cards refused for the deposit unless extra cover is bought. Reported totals are often double or triple the booking. About 4 of the roughly 13 text reviews from the last 12 months describe this.
Many reviews report post-rental deductions that customers dispute: fuel charges despite a full tank or receipt, charges for scratches they say were already there, and unexplained admin fees. Some report deposits held for weeks and no answer to emails or calls. A recent consumer-site post (2026) also describes a deposit still owed after a Barcelona airport rental. Most reports are older than 12 months.trustpilot.com
Many reviews describe rude, dismissive or unhelpful desk staff, limited English, and refusals to accommodate language or flight-delay requests. About 4 of the roughly 13 text reviews from the last 12 months raise conduct or service attitude.

Green flags (3)

Many reviews describe quick pickup and return, and nearly new, clean cars with low mileage. Several mention free upgrades, and a rental-site summary rates cleanliness and drop-off as fairly good.rentalcars.com
About a dozen reviews report the deposit released within hours to a few days when the fuel receipt was kept and the car returned full.
Travellers who arrived with a credit card in their own name, their own excess cover and dated photos or video of the car mostly report problem-free rentals (about 10 reviews).

Practical facts

Location	Desk inside the terminalsource
Opening hours	08:00–23:59 daily; out of hours on request for a feesource
Credit card required	Yes, in the main driver’s namesource
Typical deposit	Not confirmed yet
Fuel policy	Full to fullsource
Shares the desk with	Thrifty

“Not confirmed yet” means we have not verified that fact yet. We never guess.

Sources

Web pages behind this rating’s facts and flags, found through search APIs. The review analysis also used 260 recent Google reviews of this desk, which we do not republish.

Before you go

Tick these off at the counter. (Nothing is saved; it's just for you.)

Take photos and a short video of the car at pickup, including wheels, windscreen and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel level matches the contract before you drive off.
Decline duplicate insurance at the desk if you already have excess cover. Bring proof of your policy.
Bring a credit card in the main driver’s name with enough available credit for the deposit (amount not confirmed yet).
Check the closing time (08:00–23:59 daily; out of hours on request for a fee). If your flight lands late, call the desk: some wait, others close on time.

Firefly at other airports and stations

Same brand, different counter. We rate each location on its own.

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport2.6 · Poor

Firefly at Barcelona Airport: questions and answers

Is Firefly at Barcelona Airport any good?

Firefly at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport has a Counterwise Score of 3.0/10 (Poor) and is ranked No. 17 of 19 desks at the airport. Main green flag: Many reviews describe quick pickup and return, and nearly new, clean cars with low mileage. Several mention free upgrades, and a rental-site summary rates cleanliness and drop-off as fairly good.. Main red flag: Very many reviews report unexpected payments at the counter beyond the booked price. These include pressure to buy the desk's own cover, being told broker or third-party cover is not valid, and debit cards refused for the deposit unless extra cover is bought. Reported totals are often double or triple the booking. About 4 of the roughly 13 text reviews from the last 12 months describe this..

Do I need a credit card to rent from Firefly at Barcelona Airport?

Yes. Firefly at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport requires a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.

How much is the deposit at Firefly at Barcelona Airport?

The deposit amount at Firefly at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is not confirmed yet. Check the rental terms when you book. The lowest confirmed starting deposit at this airport is at Goldcar T1 (€0–€950).

Where is the Firefly desk at Barcelona Airport?

The Firefly desk is inside the terminal at Barcelona Airport. It shares the counter with Thrifty.

What are the opening hours of Firefly at Barcelona Airport?

Firefly at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is open 08:00–23:59 daily; out of hours on request for a fee. Fuel policy: full to full.

Other desks at Barcelona Airport

Ranked by Counterwise Score. Compare all 19 desks side by side