I return home tomorrow after almost a week in amazing Menorca.
Flights over were uneventful. To those that complain about walking distances in YVR - I will never take you seriously again. The domestic to international transfer at YYZ is a painfully long long walk in the nasty sterile environment that is Toronto Pearson Airport. You have that to look forward to mileage-runners!
Anyway, I did have time to have a shower and eat in the MLL.
When you arrive in MAD in T1, the Spanair checkin is in T3 at the complete opposite end of the airport so plan for a long walk there too (apparently there is a shuttle bus too). The Spainair staff are very friendly, and even looked into upgrading me to business class without me asking. He also said to make sure I spend some time in the Spanair VIP Salon which I did. It is of equal calibre to the MLLs. (if you like cafe con leche - it is even better - fresh ground coffee!)
In my 8 hours in Madrid, I took the Metro to downtown Madrid (Plaza Espana Station) to check out some sights for a few hours. Had some tapas and glass of wine at a food market too - excellent! Lots of construction and building rehab going on but Plaza Mayor is not to be missed. The helpful Metro representatives at the airport station storefront will tell you to expect 50 minutes metro train time, but it took me 30 minutes max each direction in very comfortable trains. The metro entrance is very close to T3 Spanair check in. Remember to get the E1.00 airport metro supplement on your way back either at your downtown station, or on arrival at MAD. (your outbound supplement will be included in your ex-MAD metro fare)
Spainair flight MAD-MAH was just fine.
MAH is a nice new airport (much bigger than I expected). I stayed one night downtown Mahon. Do not take a E12.00 taxi unless your hotel is far from the main bus station. Take the public transit which runs every 30 minutes for E1.60 and takes about 10 or 15 minutes.
Next day walked back to bus station and caught express bus to Ciutadella (pronounced THEE-OO-DA-DAY-AH) for E5.00 - a 45 minute ride through the country-side.
Buses are very reliable, modern and inexpensive - highly recommended.
Tomorrow, I will do the reverse bus trip and I leave late from MAH (no *Alliance Lounge in MAH). Then, I am overnight in the Hilton Madrid night before my flights home the next day. I think I have to use the Spainair lounge at MAD for my return flight too - LH does not have one here. Any other options?
Weather has been spectcular - 33 degrees by day, 19 degrees at night. Ocean is warm but refreshing.
UPDATE: On check-in at MAD, they will write you a voucher for access to the MAD-operated VIP lounge. It is comfortable, has drinks, WiFi, light snacks and apparently bocadillos on request. AC uses gate B29 - which is directly below the VIP lounge.
And, if you arrive in MAD on the late flight from MAH and plan on staying at the PHENOMENAL Hilton Madrid Barajas, tell taxi drivers you will pay E20.00 to get you there (normally an E12.00 ride). It is a lot for a 10 minute taxi ride, but you may have no other option. If you manage to get to the hotel shuttle bus stop (just outside the arrival area) before midnight, you might be able to catch the last Hilton Shuttle (tip the driver E1.00).
Apparently there were a lot of folks who took advantage of the Spanair "deal" that have not posted here. There were at least 10 people on my MAH-MAD-YYZ-YYC flights that I recognized from my outbound flights! And, the awesome cabin crew I had YYZ-YYC tonight were asking me about the "special fare" to Spain. I also saw a guy wearing a Calgary Stampede T-Shirt at the same Ciutadella Almirante hotel I stayed at (HOTO - was that you?)!
Those poor Menorcans are going to think there is a Canadian takeover! We missed out on Turks and Caicos so let's talk with the Balearic Islands!
YVR72, no that was not me. I was staying in Ciutadella, but at the Hotel Mediterrani. Plus....I'm from YVR too!
Yeah this deal was posted on RFD originally so I am sure there has been a huge response from the deal.
Regarding the # of people on the plane who managed to snag that deal, I think that will probably be the case on most of the flights to Menorca leaving from YYC for the next few weeks.
After I booked most of my friends & family on my flight I posted it in a few different places. I'm not quite sure exactly how many jumped in on the deal, but from the rough estimates I've seen, it was a lot
We 11 are here in Madrid, having a great time. The AC 767 flight over was great! Spanair came through at the last minute and fixed all the tickets with the help of AC.
__________________
2008 UA 132,938 AC 128,230 AA 3,800 DL 10,200
2009 UA/AC 275,360 AA 16,200 Delta 9,320
Back in YYC. Had a great trip - 4 nights in MAH and 1 in MAD. Met why fly's group during check-in at MAD. Our AC segments appeared to be canceled in checkmytrip and expedia, but never had any issues checking in on the return.
Location: Somewhere cold - preferably up a mountain
Programs: AC Subhuman (*A silver), NW Barely Alive
Posts: 469
My reservations never changed - on Spanair.com, checkmytrip, or Air Canada. Interesting how people on the same flights (mine were yesterday as well) had weird issues.
Thanks again to the OP (and the original OP) for the scoop. My wife and I were the ones with the baby on the MAD-YYZ and YYZ-YYC flights yesterday.
Just got back yesterday, haven't heard from anyone on any forums where this deal was posted that weren't able to get to Spain and back, so I don't think anyone has to worry.
Menorca is an amazing island, with so much history, great cheese, great gin, amazing beaches, and really neat cities (Ciutadella, go there!) It was completely different from the 'British resort playground' touristy atmosphere that I was expecting.
My party and I are back too now. Lots of trouble for some with their tickets but everything was resolved!
I think I saw a group of people who were on this fare being denied boarding becuase they did not rectify their tickets in time. AC was saying things like "It's in Spanair's control" and "We are not getting any revenue from this fare at all" :P
Cmyden, I agree with you on Ciutadella! It is a amazing. Definitely a contrast to Son Bou and the other beachy areas. Very good island!
I just reread the beginning of this thread to relive the excitement of finding this fare. Thanks to the OP and CMYDEN and everyone else for their coaching while I was frantically searching. (XP.COM not .ca!!!)
Loved Ciutadella and I may well go back there some day. I start Spanish lessons on Thursday (seriously, I do).
The AC 767 flight over was great! Spanair came through at the last minute and fixed all the tickets with the help of AC.
