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
Jan 16, 2019, 7:58 am
#511
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,858
I would pick Plaza Mayor over Puerto del Sol. More interesting stuff in the immediate area. Tapas bars below. Market right next door.
Jan 21, 2019, 4:17 pm
#512
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,858
My flight times have changed and I only have 1 hour 40 minutes for a transfer from a Delta ATL-MAD to an Air Europa MAD-LIS. Still T1 to T2, I think. I think I will be okay, right?
Jan 21, 2019, 5:10 pm
#513
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
I'll be arriving from the states at either T1 or T2 in Madrid. (It's a United Airlines ticket, but operated by Lufthansa.) I have a departing Vueling flight from T4 2.5 hours after my arrival. Do I have to clear immigration before leaving T1/T2, and is 2.5 hours likely to be enough time to make my departure in T4?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 21, 2019, 6:58 pm
#514
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Southern California
Programs: AA EXPlat, 2.4MM; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 580
Jan 22, 2019, 8:02 am
#515
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
I'll be arriving from the states at either T1 or T2 in Madrid. (It's a United Airlines ticket, but operated by Lufthansa.) I have a departing Vueling flight from T4 2.5 hours after my arrival. Do I have to clear immigration before leaving T1/T2, and is 2.5 hours likely to be enough time to make my departure in T4?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Feb 1, 2019, 7:17 am
#516
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,858
Assuming that my flight is on time, is 1:40 enough time to clear passport control, go from T1 to T2, clear security and board?
Any hints on time savings?
Feb 1, 2019, 7:22 am
#517
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
If this is on one ticket, then you have lots of time. If it's on two tickets, then it'll be tight with bags, but doable if everything is on time. If you just have a carry-on and check in online with your BPs, then you should have a good 30-45 mins to relax before your flight starts boarding.
Feb 1, 2019, 7:24 am
#518
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,858
T1 and T2 are connected both airside and landside.
If this is on one ticket, then you have lots of time. If it's on two tickets, then it'll be tight with bags, but doable if everything is on time. If you just have a carry-on and check in online with your BPs, then you should have a good 30-45 mins to relax before your flight starts boarding.
If this is on one ticket, then you have lots of time. If it's on two tickets, then it'll be tight with bags, but doable if everything is on time. If you just have a carry-on and check in online with your BPs, then you should have a good 30-45 mins to relax before your flight starts boarding.
Thanks for the info! Appreciate it. Now if Delta just stays on time, or at least close to it.
Feb 16, 2019, 1:35 am
#519
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 45
Do you think a Terminal 1 to 4S transfer is doable in 3 hours? Looking at a Ryanair flight (from Canaries) that lands at 1:30pm and then an Iberia flight departing to the US at 4:30pm. Only carry-on so will not be dealing with checked bags. If it’s too tight, what’s a reasonable time to allow for such a connection?
Feb 16, 2019, 8:51 am
#520
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,774
Do you think a Terminal 1 to 4S transfer is doable in 3 hours? Looking at a Ryanair flight (from Canaries) that lands at 1:30pm and then an Iberia flight departing to the US at 4:30pm. Only carry-on so will not be dealing with checked bags. If it’s too tight, what’s a reasonable time to allow for such a connection?
If there's a similar timed IB flight from the Canaries for not much more (or bookable with avios) that may be preferable.
Feb 19, 2019, 9:14 am
#521
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,858
T1 and T2 are connected both airside and landside.
If this is on one ticket, then you have lots of time. If it's on two tickets, then it'll be tight with bags, but doable if everything is on time. If you just have a carry-on and check in online with your BPs, then you should have a good 30-45 mins to relax before your flight starts boarding.
If this is on one ticket, then you have lots of time. If it's on two tickets, then it'll be tight with bags, but doable if everything is on time. If you just have a carry-on and check in online with your BPs, then you should have a good 30-45 mins to relax before your flight starts boarding.
That being said, it depends on where your gate is to determine how long of a walk it is. It is about a 10 minute walk from 1 to 2, but then further to gates D, E, or F.
Feb 26, 2019, 4:20 am
#522
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JGC premier
Posts: 349
Is T4-T4S connection on separate ticket, non EU passport doable on 1 hr 55 min connection? Should I take the chance or forget about it and fork out more than double my original ticket price for the connecting flight?
I have a MAD-DOH-TYO award ticket on QR departing from T4S, and a separate ticket on IB3723 AMS-MAD 12:10-14:50 to connect. OWE. The MAD-DOH flight was originally 17:40, then moved to 17:10 and then moved forward again to 16:45, making what was originally OK connection very tight, albeit still slightly above the MCT of 90 min.
Am very angry with QR cust rep non caring attitude who says ‘we never promised you a particular time of departure when you book a ticket from us’.
By now, given the date May 5th falls on public holiday or something, tickets are very expensive and to change the IB ticket I would have to fork out more than twice the original ticket price, not to mention having to fly at 7:35 am instead, meaning that I will miss visiting Keukenhoff which was my whole reason for transiting in AMS.
Any advice/ similar experience will be appreciated.
I have a MAD-DOH-TYO award ticket on QR departing from T4S, and a separate ticket on IB3723 AMS-MAD 12:10-14:50 to connect. OWE. The MAD-DOH flight was originally 17:40, then moved to 17:10 and then moved forward again to 16:45, making what was originally OK connection very tight, albeit still slightly above the MCT of 90 min.
Am very angry with QR cust rep non caring attitude who says ‘we never promised you a particular time of departure when you book a ticket from us’.
By now, given the date May 5th falls on public holiday or something, tickets are very expensive and to change the IB ticket I would have to fork out more than twice the original ticket price, not to mention having to fly at 7:35 am instead, meaning that I will miss visiting Keukenhoff which was my whole reason for transiting in AMS.
Any advice/ similar experience will be appreciated.
Feb 26, 2019, 12:08 pm
#523
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
If everything is on time, it's doable with hand luggage only. Getting to be very tight if you have to recheck luggage and while there's a bit of a margin for error there's not that much.
You won't have security so it will just be getting the train to T4S. I'd really try to HUCA and try and get on the late QR flight, though.
You won't have security so it will just be getting the train to T4S. I'd really try to HUCA and try and get on the late QR flight, though.
Feb 28, 2019, 5:56 am
#524
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JGC premier
Posts: 349
If everything is on time, it's doable with hand luggage only. Getting to be very tight if you have to recheck luggage and while there's a bit of a margin for error there's not that much.
You won't have security so it will just be getting the train to T4S. I'd really try to HUCA and try and get on the late QR flight, though.
You won't have security so it will just be getting the train to T4S. I'd really try to HUCA and try and get on the late QR flight, though.
Apr 12, 2019, 12:58 pm
#525
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
I'm flying JFK-MAD on DL in May, arriving 9:15am presumably at T1. I'm considering booking a separate onward ticket MAD-PMI on IB for the same day departing 11:15am. Is this T1-T4 transfer in two hours a reasonable idea assuming hand luggage only?