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
Aug 22, 2019, 11:42 pm
#571
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Honolulu, HI
Programs: HA Platinum, UA Silver
Posts: 88
Any tips on how best to efficiently manage this connection:
US passport holder. No oneworld status.
Arr 22:05 LHR-MAD IB 3167 Terminal 4S (A340)
Dep 23:05 MAD-LIS IB 3118 Terminal 4
Reading previous posts I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to go thru immigration?
2. Do I need to go thru security re-entering Terminal 4 from the underground train?
3. Do they have agents meeting the flight to help us thru immigration and security?
4. Does IB hold flights since itʻs the last flight of the day?
5. Should I plan to miss my connection?
Thanks!
US passport holder. No oneworld status.
Arr 22:05 LHR-MAD IB 3167 Terminal 4S (A340)
Dep 23:05 MAD-LIS IB 3118 Terminal 4
Reading previous posts I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to go thru immigration?
2. Do I need to go thru security re-entering Terminal 4 from the underground train?
3. Do they have agents meeting the flight to help us thru immigration and security?
4. Does IB hold flights since itʻs the last flight of the day?
5. Should I plan to miss my connection?
Thanks!
Aug 23, 2019, 3:21 am
#572
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
Any tips on how best to efficiently manage this connection:
US passport holder. No oneworld status.
Arr 22:05 LHR-MAD IB 3167 Terminal 4S (A340)
Dep 23:05 MAD-LIS IB 3118 Terminal 4
Reading previous posts I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to go thru immigration?
2. Do I need to go thru security re-entering Terminal 4 from the underground train?
3. Do they have agents meeting the flight to help us thru immigration and security?
4. Does IB hold flights since itʻs the last flight of the day?
5. Should I plan to miss my connection?
Thanks!
US passport holder. No oneworld status.
Arr 22:05 LHR-MAD IB 3167 Terminal 4S (A340)
Dep 23:05 MAD-LIS IB 3118 Terminal 4
Reading previous posts I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to go thru immigration?
2. Do I need to go thru security re-entering Terminal 4 from the underground train?
3. Do they have agents meeting the flight to help us thru immigration and security?
4. Does IB hold flights since itʻs the last flight of the day?
5. Should I plan to miss my connection?
Thanks!
2. Yes, but it's quick.
3. Probably not. It's Iberia after all.
4. Possibly.
5. No, totally doable if everything is on time, though you shouldn't stop anywhere along the way until you get to your gate.
Aug 23, 2019, 11:12 pm
#573
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Honolulu, HI
Programs: HA Platinum, UA Silver
Posts: 88
Thank you very much for answering my questions.
If my flight is delayed, what is the minimum amount of time I can expect it will take us to go thru immigration in T4S and re-clear security and walk to my gate in T4?
Thanks!
If my flight is delayed, what is the minimum amount of time I can expect it will take us to go thru immigration in T4S and re-clear security and walk to my gate in T4?
Thanks!
Aug 26, 2019, 1:17 am
#574
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
Assuming no line at immigration, comfortably - 25-30 minutes. I've done it in 20 (walking fast).
Aug 26, 2019, 7:27 am
#575
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Sep 15, 2019, 12:10 pm
#579
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1
Hi everyone,
I am Indonesian, and will go to Medellin through Madrid with these details:
Jakarta - Madrid on Etihad landing at T1
Madrid - Medellin on Avianca at T4S
gap between land and departure = 7 hours
I don’t have an Schengen visa
How reliable is the on-request airside T1 to T4S bus? I don’t mind the 30-40 minute wait I read here, just need to make sure it works.. Is there a guide somewhere as to how this exactly works? Thanks!
I am Indonesian, and will go to Medellin through Madrid with these details:
Jakarta - Madrid on Etihad landing at T1
Madrid - Medellin on Avianca at T4S
gap between land and departure = 7 hours
I don’t have an Schengen visa
How reliable is the on-request airside T1 to T4S bus? I don’t mind the 30-40 minute wait I read here, just need to make sure it works.. Is there a guide somewhere as to how this exactly works? Thanks!
Sep 16, 2019, 3:55 am
#580
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
Hi everyone,
I am Indonesian, and will go to Medellin through Madrid with these details:
Jakarta - Madrid on Etihad landing at T1
Madrid - Medellin on Avianca at T4S
gap between land and departure = 7 hours
I don’t have an Schengen visa
How reliable is the on-request airside T1 to T4S bus? I don’t mind the 30-40 minute wait I read here, just need to make sure it works.. Is there a guide somewhere as to how this exactly works? Thanks!
I am Indonesian, and will go to Medellin through Madrid with these details:
Jakarta - Madrid on Etihad landing at T1
Madrid - Medellin on Avianca at T4S
gap between land and departure = 7 hours
I don’t have an Schengen visa
How reliable is the on-request airside T1 to T4S bus? I don’t mind the 30-40 minute wait I read here, just need to make sure it works.. Is there a guide somewhere as to how this exactly works? Thanks!
Sep 25, 2019, 10:05 am
#581
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 1
JFK - Madrid to Malaga on 2 separate tickets
I am new to this forum hope I've posted my question in the correct forum.
I am flying from JFK to Madrid with 4 hr layover than on to Malaga on Iberia Air on 2 separate tickets and checked luggage.
Please let me know if this is the correct procedures after arriving in Madrid.
Once I arrive in Madrid, I guess I will go through immigration / customs than retrieve my luggage and check in again for my 2nd part of the flight from Madrid to Malaga? is 4 hrs enough time ?
I am flying from JFK to Madrid with 4 hr layover than on to Malaga on Iberia Air on 2 separate tickets and checked luggage.
Please let me know if this is the correct procedures after arriving in Madrid.
Once I arrive in Madrid, I guess I will go through immigration / customs than retrieve my luggage and check in again for my 2nd part of the flight from Madrid to Malaga? is 4 hrs enough time ?
Sep 25, 2019, 3:22 pm
#582
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
Oct 10, 2019, 4:19 pm
#583
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Transfer Question
Ok, I've read all the posts here (as well as TA), wanting to get some opinions as I'm considering rebooking. I'm flying JFK-MAD on AA, arrives 8:10am (T4S). Then connecting 9:40am Easyjet to Milan (T1).
Is there any way this is possible? I will only have hand luggage and am willing to run! Seems to me if I can get off the plane first and get through immigration quickly, I may have a chance if I take the metro. I've also taken a look at last minute bookings, which aren't too expensive if I miss my Easyjet flight.
Thoughts?
Is there any way this is possible? I will only have hand luggage and am willing to run! Seems to me if I can get off the plane first and get through immigration quickly, I may have a chance if I take the metro. I've also taken a look at last minute bookings, which aren't too expensive if I miss my Easyjet flight.
Thoughts?
Oct 15, 2019, 9:16 am
#585
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
Ok, I've read all the posts here (as well as TA), wanting to get some opinions as I'm considering rebooking. I'm flying JFK-MAD on AA, arrives 8:10am (T4S). Then connecting 9:40am Easyjet to Milan (T1).
Is there any way this is possible? I will only have hand luggage and am willing to run! Seems to me if I can get off the plane first and get through immigration quickly, I may have a chance if I take the metro. I've also taken a look at last minute bookings, which aren't too expensive if I miss my Easyjet flight.
Thoughts?
Is there any way this is possible? I will only have hand luggage and am willing to run! Seems to me if I can get off the plane first and get through immigration quickly, I may have a chance if I take the metro. I've also taken a look at last minute bookings, which aren't too expensive if I miss my Easyjet flight.
Thoughts?