Feb 15, 2016, 2:13 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Connecting at MAD / Madrid Barajas International Airport
FEEL FREE TO EDIT OR ADD TO THIS WIKIPOST
FEEL FREE TO EDIT OR ADD TO THIS WIKIPOST
Madrid airport layout
Terminals include
Terminal 1: International. Star Alliance primarily (also the only non-Schengen area outside of T4)
Terminal 2: Domestic mostly. SkyTeam primarily
Terminal 3: Schengen and some Domestic mostly. Air France/KLM/Lufthansa usually leave from here, but really it's just a slight extension on T2
Terminals 1-2-3 are adjacent and host Star and SkyTeam alliances and are all connected airside.
Terminal 4: one world including Iberia
Domestic and Schengen mostly from Terminal 4
International from Terminal 4-S (satellite) (Except IB or I2 operated flights to UK and Ireland as well as BA CityFlyer flights to LCY that operate out of T4 Main, though note that usually one IB flight to LHR daily is operated by an A330 or A340, these flights go from T4-S).
Both connected by an underground train, though going from T4-S to T4 requires going landside and re-clearing security in order to access T4.
Terminals are connected by a landside shuttle bus service.
Connecting from non-Schengen to Schengen (or departing the airport) one must process immigration in T-4S. Queues can be lengthy at times; if you are an EU citizen, you wil lfind the kiosk to your right in the queues. If you are not, keep to the right of the general queues anyway, as the EU queues can empty and they begin waving non-EU passengers into the EU lines.
The train connecting the T4-S satellite to T4 must be accessed via lifts or stairs; the lifts are faster. A non-Schengen to Schengen connection can take an hour or longer - A 1.5 hours is recommended as minimum connect times, and possibly more for Schengen to non-Schengen if during busy hours due to security procedures, particularly for US flights. Status passengers on Iberia flights to the US have access to a separate priority queue to clear the extra US screening.
Connections to other terminals are by a landside shuttle bus located, and can take rather longer than one might think as T4 is quite far away from T1/2/3. There is a metro link between the two, however you will have to pay full fare and even for a single rider a taxi is pretty competitive on price when the airport supplement is included.
Resources:
Link to Madrid Barajas Airport (World Airport Guides)
Link to AENA official MAD Madrid Barajas website by airport operator AENA
Wikipedia decent article on Madrid Barajas (with listings of airline gates and terminals - BUT caveat - it fails to differentiate between Terminal 4 and Terminal 4-S!)
Schengen Agreements nations information (with maps, etc.)
Connections through Madrid Airport
Feb 5, 2018, 4:45 am
#376
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,959
I'll be flying JFK-MAD, arriving MAD T1 at 11:30 a.m. I have to catch a train at Chamartin at 1:05 p.m. US passport, checked bag. Will I make it midday on a weekday?? I was planning on taking the AENA shuttle bus from T1 to T4, then Cercanias to Chamartin. Or should I not risk it and go for a cab instead?
Feb 5, 2018, 4:48 am
#377
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,959
I have almost the same issue with a connecting flight in Madrid. Will be arriving from Miami on Iberia flight at 7:50am with connecting Iberia 8:50am flight to Naples. Not sure if I will arrive at T4 or T4s. I will have only carry on luggage, everything else checked on to Naples. I assume I will have to go thru immigration and security. Is 1 hour enough time to accomplish that and still make my flight?
Feb 5, 2018, 1:39 pm
#378
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 34
Sounds like I'm going to be taking a cab just to be safe, and even safe means "possibly might miss my train."
Feb 5, 2018, 4:50 pm
#379
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Programs: UA G MM, AS 75K MVP, Delta Plat, Marriot Plat, Hilton Gold, PC Spire
Posts: 246
Just realized that I have a one hour connection in Madrid. Delta ticket - arriving on Air Europa (terminal 2) from Vigo at 10am and departing for Atlanta on Delta from terminal 1 at 11am. After reading the above it sounds like this is almost impossible. Delta sold the connection - is it still considered legal? Thanks!!
Feb 6, 2018, 12:10 am
#380
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
Just realized that I have a one hour connection in Madrid. Delta ticket - arriving on Air Europa (terminal 2) from Vigo at 10am and departing for Atlanta on Delta from terminal 1 at 11am. After reading the above it sounds like this is almost impossible. Delta sold the connection - is it still considered legal? Thanks!!
Feb 6, 2018, 2:29 am
#381
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,959
Just realized that I have a one hour connection in Madrid. Delta ticket - arriving on Air Europa (terminal 2) from Vigo at 10am and departing for Atlanta on Delta from terminal 1 at 11am. After reading the above it sounds like this is almost impossible. Delta sold the connection - is it still considered legal? Thanks!!
Once you arrive in T2, turn left, do not exit the secure area, and keep walking until you reach T1. You'll pass through passport control somewhere along the way. Totally doable even if your plane arrives a bit late.
Feb 9, 2018, 8:57 pm
#382
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: UA:MM 1K HH:Diamond IHG:Plat Marriott:Plat
Posts: 652
How long does it take for a Non-Schengen to Schengen Connection? Trying to do United->Air Europa both in Terminal 1. Arriving at 9:25AM and trying to see if I can make a 10:45AM flight with no checked bags.
Feb 10, 2018, 5:05 am
#384
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,959
If things are on time - easily doable. 30 mins to get off the plane and through passport control, 10 to go through security and walk to your new gate (I'm assuming OLCI).
Feb 10, 2018, 10:29 am
#385
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: UA:MM 1K HH:Diamond IHG:Plat Marriott:Plat
Posts: 652
Mar 15, 2018, 5:40 pm
#386
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 20
Madrid terminal 4S connection
Arriving from LAX to MAD terminal 4S, then departing to TLV from terminal 4S, and returning the same route, all on Iberia.
How much time is needed between the flights? Do I have to go through any kind of security and/or passport check when arriving from the US or Israel within terminal 4S. Carry-on luggage only. Thank you.
How much time is needed between the flights? Do I have to go through any kind of security and/or passport check when arriving from the US or Israel within terminal 4S. Carry-on luggage only. Thank you.
Mar 16, 2018, 4:09 am
#387
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
Arriving from LAX to MAD terminal 4S, then departing to TLV from terminal 4S, and returning the same route, all on Iberia.
How much time is needed between the flights? Do I have to go through any kind of security and/or passport check when arriving from the US or Israel within terminal 4S. Carry-on luggage only. Thank you.
How much time is needed between the flights? Do I have to go through any kind of security and/or passport check when arriving from the US or Israel within terminal 4S. Carry-on luggage only. Thank you.
Apr 9, 2018, 11:42 am
#388
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,172
Question about transit at Terminal 4S
Need the experts here to help.
Will be transitting MAD Terminal 4S as follows:
Flying in from Hong Kong on Cathay (CX) at Terminal 4S , transitting for BA to LHR also at Terminal 4S.
Business Class.
Luggage checked through to LHR.
EU passport.
Originally, there was about 2.5 hours, so should be very comfortable.
Now, CX departs a bit late and there is only 1 hour and 15 min.
Is it necessary to go landside at all?
Can the experts please advise what to do and what to expect.
Thank you very much.
Will be transitting MAD Terminal 4S as follows:
Flying in from Hong Kong on Cathay (CX) at Terminal 4S , transitting for BA to LHR also at Terminal 4S.
Business Class.
Luggage checked through to LHR.
EU passport.
Originally, there was about 2.5 hours, so should be very comfortable.
Now, CX departs a bit late and there is only 1 hour and 15 min.
Is it necessary to go landside at all?
Can the experts please advise what to do and what to expect.
Thank you very much.
Apr 9, 2018, 12:30 pm
#390
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,172
Don't know why you think delay may be hypothetical. It is real. Announced by CX and confirmed on Expertflyer.
Would appreciate being advised whether one needs to go landside at all? If so, directions and procedure? Need to clear security again? Directions and procedure? Thank you.
Would appreciate being advised whether one needs to go landside at all? If so, directions and procedure? Need to clear security again? Directions and procedure? Thank you.
Last edited by IncyWincy; Apr 9, 2018 at 12:35 pm