Madrid airport facilities: overnight wait on non-connecting flights
Feb 23, 2015, 10:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 384
Madrid airport facilities: overnight wait on non-connecting flights
Hi all,
Checking the opening hours for IB's lounge in Madrid shows it is open 24 hours, but that is in the non-Schengen zone of the airport.
I will be arriving on the last BCN-MAD flight of the day: around 10.30pm using Avios.
Then I start my main journey MAD-LHR-HKG the following morning.
My question is:
Is there any way I can use the 24-hour lounge based on my MAD-LHR sector ticket?
If not, are there any other facilities available land or airside, or is the best bet an airport hotel?
Many thanks.
Checking the opening hours for IB's lounge in Madrid shows it is open 24 hours, but that is in the non-Schengen zone of the airport.
I will be arriving on the last BCN-MAD flight of the day: around 10.30pm using Avios.
Then I start my main journey MAD-LHR-HKG the following morning.
My question is:
Is there any way I can use the 24-hour lounge based on my MAD-LHR sector ticket?
If not, are there any other facilities available land or airside, or is the best bet an airport hotel?
Many thanks.
Feb 24, 2015, 3:02 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London UK
Programs: All Expired... :-(
Posts: 410
You could pretty easily go all the way into the centre of Madrid - it's not far from the airport.
There's really no reason to stay in a hotel near the airport, hotels in Madrid are cheap and plentiful (and there is always airbnb too). If I was you, I'd get into the centre of town, drop my bags off at a hotel and go out for some tapas & cañas.
- All taxis are a fixed fee of 30 euros to anywhere in the centre and at that time of night will take 15-20 minutes.
- The Metro will take about 35 minutes and costs 4.90
- The Renfe (suburban rail) takes about 25 minutes and costs 2.90 (I think)
There's really no reason to stay in a hotel near the airport, hotels in Madrid are cheap and plentiful (and there is always airbnb too). If I was you, I'd get into the centre of town, drop my bags off at a hotel and go out for some tapas & cañas.
Feb 24, 2015, 5:17 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
I am not sure how many hours they let you through T4S security before the flight so maybe someone else can advise who has done it before.
With regards hotels there are some good deals to be had around the airport with free shuttle bus. If you want a basic but clean hotel with free shuttle then the SHS Airport hotel opposite the Crowne Plaza is not bad. A good App to use is Hotel tonight as they often have cut price deals closer to the time.
Personally I would not want to stay up all night in Madrid but this is of course a personal choice.
With regards hotels there are some good deals to be had around the airport with free shuttle bus. If you want a basic but clean hotel with free shuttle then the SHS Airport hotel opposite the Crowne Plaza is not bad. A good App to use is Hotel tonight as they often have cut price deals closer to the time.
Personally I would not want to stay up all night in Madrid but this is of course a personal choice.
Feb 24, 2015, 8:03 am
#5
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OP might want to check the Sleeping in Airports website.
Feb 24, 2015, 10:13 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,351
I agree with this, although if he just wants to sleep there are a couple of nice and inexpensive hotels with free airport shuttles (Axor Barajas is a good choice).
Feb 25, 2015, 8:45 am
#7
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As mentioned, there are more than enough decent, cheap airport hotel options in MAD...
But given the OP's flight schedule, it's not the worst idea to do an all-nighter. The LHR-HKG flight must leave in the early afternoon, in which case little sleep would be possible anyhow before arriving to HKG the next morning.
So it can make sense to stay up all night the night before, then crash on the plane all the way to Asia, waking up Asia a.m. good to go... I've done it before and found it much better for jetlag.
As for the lounge, if you only have carry-on baggage, I can't see much of an issue staying airside and going to the lounge. If you have to check in luggage, I doubt you'll find anybody willing to take it that early.
It's been awhile since I flew MAD-LHR but OP needs to be aware that T4 / T4S can vary depending on whether the flight is on IB or BA metal.
But given the OP's flight schedule, it's not the worst idea to do an all-nighter. The LHR-HKG flight must leave in the early afternoon, in which case little sleep would be possible anyhow before arriving to HKG the next morning.
So it can make sense to stay up all night the night before, then crash on the plane all the way to Asia, waking up Asia a.m. good to go... I've done it before and found it much better for jetlag.
As for the lounge, if you only have carry-on baggage, I can't see much of an issue staying airside and going to the lounge. If you have to check in luggage, I doubt you'll find anybody willing to take it that early.
It's been awhile since I flew MAD-LHR but OP needs to be aware that T4 / T4S can vary depending on whether the flight is on IB or BA metal.
Feb 25, 2015, 8:57 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 384
As mentioned, there are more than enough decent, cheap airport hotel options in MAD...
But given the OP's flight schedule, it's not the worst idea to do an all-nighter. The LHR-HKG flight must leave in the early afternoon, in which case little sleep would be possible anyhow before arriving to HKG the next morning.
So it can make sense to stay up all night the night before, then crash on the plane all the way to Asia, waking up Asia a.m. good to go... I've done it before and found it much better for jetlag.
As for the lounge, if you only have carry-on baggage, I can't see much of an issue staying airside and going to the lounge. If you have to check in luggage, I doubt you'll find anybody willing to take it that early.
It's been awhile since I flew MAD-LHR but OP needs to be aware that T4 / T4S can vary depending on whether the flight is on IB or BA metal.
But given the OP's flight schedule, it's not the worst idea to do an all-nighter. The LHR-HKG flight must leave in the early afternoon, in which case little sleep would be possible anyhow before arriving to HKG the next morning.
So it can make sense to stay up all night the night before, then crash on the plane all the way to Asia, waking up Asia a.m. good to go... I've done it before and found it much better for jetlag.
As for the lounge, if you only have carry-on baggage, I can't see much of an issue staying airside and going to the lounge. If you have to check in luggage, I doubt you'll find anybody willing to take it that early.
It's been awhile since I flew MAD-LHR but OP needs to be aware that T4 / T4S can vary depending on whether the flight is on IB or BA metal.
I'm taking the first flight to LCY on BA Cityflyer. But waiting 24 hours until the next HKG flight instead so I get an extra 24 hours in London.
As for my sleeping arrangements, I will probably kip in a hotel even if it is for 6/7 hours at that.