Originally Posted by
Artagnan
I have a 1-hour connection through MAD on a single ticket IB (JFK-MAD-LIS). US passports. Any tips for making the connection easier given the quick turnaround? I've heard, for example, that there may be e-gates available for US passports.
You heard incorrectly.
The main tip I give people is to use the lift/elevator rather than the escalators after passport control down to the train and the same after the train up to transfer security. (stay by the door closest to where you get down from the lift into the train) It can easily be the difference between catching a train to T4 from T4S and missing one and adding a few minutes.
There is also an express connections line for non-Europeans to get to passport control faster, if you show them your LIS boarding pass and don't have much time it should be fine.
All of that said, the US flights usually arrive early so you'll probably have even more time and it's not really that tight of a connection on a single ticket.