MAD Lounge?
May 22, 2008 | 1:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Central NJ
Programs: Continental Plat/MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 346
MAD Lounge?
Hi Folks,
I'm in MAD now departing tomorrow for EWR. Is there a lounge that I can use. I'm Platinum and Pres Club but traveling economy. The CO web site is confusing and shows two lounges with the same name and one is for BF only and the other ST+ & BF.
Thanks!
I'm in MAD now departing tomorrow for EWR. Is there a lounge that I can use. I'm Platinum and Pres Club but traveling economy. The CO web site is confusing and shows two lounges with the same name and one is for BF only and the other ST+ & BF.
Thanks!
May 22, 2008 | 1:27 pm
#2
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
You can try, but don't get your hopes up. I too am Plat with Lifetime PC membership, but on recent trips to BCN & MAD had no luck getting into any of the clubs while travelling solo on a coach fare. Others have posted that it depends on who is manning the door, so it's always worth a try. You can even bring a copy of the PC page that shows you should be allowed entry, but that didn't work for me in any of the instances. 
May 22, 2008 | 2:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vienna, Austria
Programs: CO Silver, Miles and More Silver
Posts: 833
The problem I believe with MAD is that this is an Airport Lounge, it is not run by any Skyteam partner, so they may not know of or care about the Skyteam Lounge agreement. I would smile and hope for the best. Hope it works out for you.
May 22, 2008 | 2:43 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Central NJ
Programs: Continental Plat/MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 346
Thanks. Can't hurt to try and I'll hope for the best. I'll try asking the agent at check in and see what they have to say. I know at some airports the agents give you a pass or put a sticker on your boarding pass.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
May 22, 2008 | 2:44 pm
#5
Company Representative, United Airlines
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
- Airport VIP Lounge. This lounge may be accessed by our departing BusinessFirst customers.
Unfortunately, this means that you would not have lounge access with either your Presidents Club or SkyTeam Elite Plus credentials. Nonetheless, have a great trip.
Last edited by UA Insider; May 22, 2008 at 3:26 pm Reason: Correction (thanks qlabdad)
May 22, 2008 | 2:57 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Central NJ
Programs: Continental Plat/MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 346
Hi CO Insider,
Thanks for chiming in. The AF site doesn't list a lounge in MAD. Did I misunderstand your reply or is there an AF lounge in MAD and it's just not listed on the AF site? I got the impression there were two lounges?
Thanks again!
Thanks for chiming in. The AF site doesn't list a lounge in MAD. Did I misunderstand your reply or is there an AF lounge in MAD and it's just not listed on the AF site? I got the impression there were two lounges?
Thanks again!
May 22, 2008 | 3:25 pm
#7
Company Representative, United Airlines
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
Thanks qlabdad. We just double-checked and you're absolutely right. Air France no longer has a lounge in Madrid. I've edited my original post.
May 23, 2008 | 5:21 am
#8
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
But AirFrance does have a lounge in BCN, where despite what was stated on my copy of the PC page showing STElite members had access, they still refused me entry 
Nov 26, 2010 | 9:09 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Ambassador/Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 590
BF Lounge in Madrid?
Traveling on Monday 11/29 from MAD-EWR. Does anyone have any lounge recommendations before Departure? The PC website listed two contract lounges, a Turkish CIP Lounge, and the Spanair VIP Lounge.
Nov 26, 2010 | 11:57 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ORD & MKE
Programs: Airlines: UA-CO, NH, AA, and DL Hotels: SPG, Accor, PC, and Marriott
Posts: 1,827
The TK lounge and Sala Cibeles are the same thing as far as I know. TK uses the CIbeles as their contract lounge in the non-Schengen area of T1. If you look at the TK website they list it as AENA (Spanish airport authority) and they run the Sala cibeles.
The Spanair lounge is a bit away from the CO gates and is in the Schengen area.
The Spanair lounge is a bit away from the CO gates and is in the Schengen area.
Nov 26, 2010 | 12:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
The TK lounge and Sala Cibeles are the same thing as far as I know. TK uses the CIbeles as their contract lounge in the non-Schengen area of T1. If you look at the TK website they list it as AENA (Spanish airport authority) and they run the Sala cibeles.
The Spanair lounge is a bit away from the CO gates and is in the Schengen area.
The Spanair lounge is a bit away from the CO gates and is in the Schengen area.
I think there is some "VIP lounge" for BusinessFirst pax. This is apparently closer to CO gates. Star Gold are n
t allowed in this VIP lounge.
Nov 26, 2010 | 3:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern Europe/USA
Posts: 678
CO departure lounge
As a Star Gold when you check in at the CO BF/Elite counter in T1, they should give you a pass/voucher to enter the Cibeles lounge which is upstairs after security.
Nov 26, 2010 | 4:36 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Ambassador/Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 590
Thanks all for the responses. The Spanair lounge does seem rather far away based on some of the Terminal Maps I have looked at and reinforced by the comments above. I guess we will be trying the Cibeles Lounge!
Nov 27, 2010 | 8:26 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Various tier levels of frequent flyer/hotel plans received for bellyaching about minor flaws in the service I received.
Posts: 610
I used the Spanair lounge in Sept. as a *Gold. It's nothing to write home about: it's like most european carriers "non-hub" lounges: drinks, snacks (chips, olives and cookies), no wi-fi, and a smoker's lounge. It does have a killer view of the tarmac. It's not near the CO gates at all.
Nov 27, 2010 | 2:47 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,541
See you Monday, We will be in the Cibeles Lounge! I will have a FT tag on for sure and am still 50/50 on whether we will fly in J or not.