Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - Madrid/Barajas info, please

We are changing planes in MAD from BOS to BCN. Arrival in Terminal 4S and departing Terminal 4.

Will we need to clear customs in Madrid or in Barcelona?

Either way, any idea how much time we should allow between flights?

Thanks very much.

Please continue to follow this thread in the Europe forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

We did this late last year except that we were on our way to Zagreb; a 2.5-hour layover was comfortable enough for us to spend some time in the Lounge before our connection. Two things to be aware of: MAD is a giant airport with a lot of empty space and not the best signage so it takes awhile to get around- up and down various levels, past many sections that look like they're hoping for more retail space. Also, as with any European airport, even though you went through the TSA stuff at home and haven't been landside, you'll end up going through "security" again. The line at MAD wasn't long but they sent me back to re-scan my carry-on after informing me that my fish oil capsules were liquids and had to be put in a Freedom Baggie. Whatever. :confused:

No need to clear Customs in Madrid; follow the signs for Connecting flights, which bypass Customs and Immigration.

Thanks for that information. I'm wondering, though, if you're connecting to a internal flight (rather than Zagreb, for example) you go through immigration there, rather than at your destination. Arriving in the US, you clear immigration on the first airport in the country.

In fact, as I write it, I realize that it's got to to be the case. Otherwise, all the people on the MAD/BCN flight would go through immigration and that doesn't make sense. In retrospect, it was a goofy question. Sorry about that.

Well, I gave you a goofy answer, too! I realized as well that it would be crazy for them to let all pax connecting to flights in Spain to bypass Customs and then try to sort out at the final destinations who needs to be processed. Anyway, I don't remember Customs and Immigration at MAD to be too bad- certainly not like landing at EWR at 3 PM. Our general rule on international layovers is to allow 2-3 hour connection time. That serves us well except in extreme cases.

We are changing planes in MAD from BOS to BCN. Arrival in Terminal 4S and departing Terminal 4.

Will we need to clear customs in Madrid or in Barcelona?



Immigration (passport control) and customs (bag check) for carry-on luggage will be in MAD. Your will re-claim your checked bags in BCN and will clear customs there. Customs is normally a non-event.

Will we need to clear customs in Madrid or in Barcelona?

In MAD you will have to pass the Passport Control to get to T4, there ist no other way.

Either way, any idea how much time we should allow between flights?

The subway train from T4S to T4 needs around 5 minutes, but the terminals are huge, as already mentioned. So, unless you know exactly where you have to go, you will need at least 30 minutes to arrive at T4, 45 minutes would be much more reasonable keeping in mind that the passport control will take its time and the lines can be long depending on the time of arrival. (I do it in less then 10 minutes, but i did this a looot of times :D).

Have a nice trip and a good time in Barcelona.

Thank you all, very much, for your helpful advice.