Heads up re: Spain (MAD, BCN etc.) - Long passport / security queues Jun 2017 onward
Aug 6, 2017, 11:59 pm
#91
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Happy to report easy day at BCN today....no sign of a strike or long wait times. Leaving from gate B67 which was a walk but no lines to deal with. The airport lounge isn't as bad as everyone says.....I stocked up on lots of water bottles if this flight back is anything like coming here, attentiveness wise.
Aug 15, 2017, 8:41 am
#93
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
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The security staff at BCN are now on all-out strike and security is being manned by Guardia Civil. I am not aware of any hold ups at BCN, as reported in much of the Spanish press. Certainly at my local airport, security used to be handled by Guardia Civil anyway.
Aug 15, 2017, 1:09 pm
#94
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Just one more data point... today (15 Aug) I flew on AA95 MAD-JFK. After reading this thread, I decided to arrive at the airport extra early, just in case. It was probably about 8am when I went through security and immigration and there were no lines at all. I can't really say how things got later when the bank of flights arrived, but early on, there were no delays at all.
Sep 9, 2017, 2:26 pm
#97
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Sep 9, 2017, 8:48 pm
#98
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Oct 24, 2017, 11:36 am
#101
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
Anyone going via MAD will wish to see this. It seems the chaos is back, for those exiting the EU at least.
T4S exit immigration mess
T4S exit immigration mess
Nov 24, 2017, 10:13 pm
#102
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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We processed immigration into the EU at MAD T4-S November 1.
The queues were lengthy and slow. The rightmost queue (closest to EU resident arrivals queues) for non-EU arriving passengers was 2-3x faster than the rest because many passengers were diverted into EU resident queues that were non-existent.
Avoid the escalators to or from trains and use the lifts.
Added to a four hour diversion of our DFW-MAD flight and having to go to the third world MAD Terminal 2, I’m glad we allowed for a very long connecting time for our ongoing UX flight to TFN. Eight hours’ connection time ultimately gave us an hour at the really dumpy Puerta De Alcala Lounge.
The queues were lengthy and slow. The rightmost queue (closest to EU resident arrivals queues) for non-EU arriving passengers was 2-3x faster than the rest because many passengers were diverted into EU resident queues that were non-existent.
Avoid the escalators to or from trains and use the lifts.
Added to a four hour diversion of our DFW-MAD flight and having to go to the third world MAD Terminal 2, I’m glad we allowed for a very long connecting time for our ongoing UX flight to TFN. Eight hours’ connection time ultimately gave us an hour at the really dumpy Puerta De Alcala Lounge.
Last edited by JDiver; Nov 24, 2017 at 10:20 pm
Nov 25, 2017, 12:05 am
#103
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
We processed immigration into the EU at MAD T4-S November 1.
The queues were lengthy and slow. The rightmost queue (closest to EU resident arrivals queues) for non-EU arriving passengers was 2-3x faster than the rest because many passengers were diverted into EU resident queues that were non-existent.
Avoid the escalators to or from trains and use the lifts.
The queues were lengthy and slow. The rightmost queue (closest to EU resident arrivals queues) for non-EU arriving passengers was 2-3x faster than the rest because many passengers were diverted into EU resident queues that were non-existent.
Avoid the escalators to or from trains and use the lifts.
Thanks for the tip re lifts. I can never remember which is quicker and each time I say "must remember to use the escalators/lifts".... and never do!.
Nov 25, 2017, 2:24 am
#104
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Well I encounter this on a transfer to Munich (mia-mad-muc)?
there was a flight change and now my connection is only 95 minutes. (I arrive at 14:20). Flight is in May, and a similar one next year with an 85 minute connection (lax-mad-nice).
there was a flight change and now my connection is only 95 minutes. (I arrive at 14:20). Flight is in May, and a similar one next year with an 85 minute connection (lax-mad-nice).
Last edited by beachfan; Nov 25, 2017 at 3:03 am
Nov 25, 2017, 3:34 am
#105
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Exit immigration T4S can be slow
Hi,
I left T4S for a BA flight to LHR last sunday . I arrived at passport control about 10am and the queue was half way to the escalators but had the tensa barriers set up and took around 20mins ( by the time I had been seen the queue was back to the escalators ( after another train had arrived).
The previous Saturday ( at 830am) the queues were 1-2min
For the noon departures ( it looks like around 10am is the peak time for exit passport control) the earlier might be better
Regards
TBS
I left T4S for a BA flight to LHR last sunday . I arrived at passport control about 10am and the queue was half way to the escalators but had the tensa barriers set up and took around 20mins ( by the time I had been seen the queue was back to the escalators ( after another train had arrived).
The previous Saturday ( at 830am) the queues were 1-2min
For the noon departures ( it looks like around 10am is the peak time for exit passport control) the earlier might be better
Regards
TBS