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
Sep 25, 2013, 5:30 am
#77
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Upper Midwest
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 1,677
Sep 28, 2013, 2:38 am
#78
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1
Hi! I'm flying from non-Schengen to non-Schengen landing and departing at T4S in a couple of weeks; however, the airline tells me that I am going to have to pick up and recheck my luggage at T4. Can I get away with this without needing a Schengen transit visa?
Feb 22, 2014, 6:13 pm
#79
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ORD
Posts: 835
IB ORD-MAD Separate ticket MAD-LIS Connection time?
Hi, Flying IB from ORD-MAD on an award ticket (the recent 50% off deal). Now we are planning on flying the same day MAD-LIS. I am contemplating booking also IB. We arrive MAD at 7:40am. The MAD-LIS flight departs at 10:10 am.
First, is this enough time to make the connection? Will we have to go through immigration in MAD?
Second, if I book the MAD-LIS flight also with IB - are we protected in case there is a delay in the ORD-MAD flight?
Thank you!
First, is this enough time to make the connection? Will we have to go through immigration in MAD?
Second, if I book the MAD-LIS flight also with IB - are we protected in case there is a delay in the ORD-MAD flight?
Thank you!
Feb 22, 2014, 6:54 pm
#80
Ambassador, LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lima, Perú
Programs: LATAM, Lifemiles
Posts: 854
Edited to add: yes, you must go through immigration at MAD.
Last edited by andreadbc; Feb 23, 2014 at 6:20 am
Feb 22, 2014, 7:31 pm
#81
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Don't know about IB, but I believe UA (that's the airline I fly and know) would let you take a later flight, but if not elite subject to availability.
Feb 22, 2014, 10:33 pm
#83
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
Eh... yes... 
(You do have 2,5 hours, correct? Or are your flight times above incorrect?)
Anyway, you will have to go through immigration even if this were on one ticket. You are entering the Schengen area before you fly to LIS. So, without having to leave the transit area to pick-up your luggage and re-check it, the minimum connection time applies (55 minutes for your connection). This assuming you fly IB to LIS of course, and you don't have to change to T1, T2 or T3...
Added: if you don't check in on-line, make sure to ask IB at ORD to check you in for your flight to LIS as well.
(You do have 2,5 hours, correct? Or are your flight times above incorrect?)Anyway, you will have to go through immigration even if this were on one ticket. You are entering the Schengen area before you fly to LIS. So, without having to leave the transit area to pick-up your luggage and re-check it, the minimum connection time applies (55 minutes for your connection). This assuming you fly IB to LIS of course, and you don't have to change to T1, T2 or T3...
Added: if you don't check in on-line, make sure to ask IB at ORD to check you in for your flight to LIS as well.
Feb 23, 2014, 7:44 am
#84
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ORD
Posts: 835
Thanks Koby, I am used to immigration at ORD which can take more than an hour easily (before Global Entry) and I also wasn't sure of IB's on-time performance.
I guess the main question remains - if something does go wrong and my IB ORD-MAD flight and it is delayed by more than an hour - if my next flight is also with IB - would I be covered and put on the next available flight?
I guess the main question remains - if something does go wrong and my IB ORD-MAD flight and it is delayed by more than an hour - if my next flight is also with IB - would I be covered and put on the next available flight?
Feb 23, 2014, 8:12 am
#85
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
and I also wasn't sure of IB's on-time performance.
I guess the main question remains - if something does go wrong and my IB ORD-MAD flight and it is delayed by more than an hour - if my next flight is also with IB - would I be covered and put on the next available flight?
I guess the main question remains - if something does go wrong and my IB ORD-MAD flight and it is delayed by more than an hour - if my next flight is also with IB - would I be covered and put on the next available flight?
Mar 1, 2014, 9:40 pm
#88
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SAT
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 158
I'm flying ATL-MAD on DL arriving at 8:35 am on T1 and then have a separate ticket for a
MAD-GVA on Easyjet departing at 9:50 am also from T1.
Is 75 mins enough to go through immigration, security and make the connection?
MAD-GVA on Easyjet departing at 9:50 am also from T1.
Is 75 mins enough to go through immigration, security and make the connection?
Mar 2, 2014, 1:23 am
#89
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,105
I would say probably too optimistic if checking as the baggage handlers at that time can take their time.