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
Nov 3, 2018, 10:52 pm
#496
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,351
Nov 27, 2018, 12:47 am
#497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Using up my Iberia miles before Dec 1 and it looks like I can take any of the following BCN - MAD flights to connect to the 12:20 MAD - JFK flight
1) 830 am BCN - MAD, 2 hour 25 minute layover
2) 930am BCN - MAD, 1 hour 25 minute layover
3) 10am BCN - MAD, 55 minute layover
Both of us are traveling on US passports and I assume we'll need to clear out of the EU when we land at MAD. I'm leaning towards #2 but am willing to do #1 if the collective wisdom of FT thinks that 1 hour and 25 minutes is too short for this connection.
Don't really care much about lounge time or anything else at MAD itself so trying to maximize sleep (in Barcelona) and minimize layover time without going into danger of missing flight territory
1) 830 am BCN - MAD, 2 hour 25 minute layover
2) 930am BCN - MAD, 1 hour 25 minute layover
3) 10am BCN - MAD, 55 minute layover
Both of us are traveling on US passports and I assume we'll need to clear out of the EU when we land at MAD. I'm leaning towards #2 but am willing to do #1 if the collective wisdom of FT thinks that 1 hour and 25 minutes is too short for this connection.
Don't really care much about lounge time or anything else at MAD itself so trying to maximize sleep (in Barcelona) and minimize layover time without going into danger of missing flight territory
Nov 27, 2018, 8:35 am
#499
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,603
Using up my Iberia miles before Dec 1 and it looks like I can take any of the following BCN - MAD flights to connect to the 12:20 MAD - JFK flight
1) 830 am BCN - MAD, 2 hour 25 minute layover
2) 930am BCN - MAD, 1 hour 25 minute layover
3) 10am BCN - MAD, 55 minute layover
Both of us are traveling on US passports and I assume we'll need to clear out of the EU when we land at MAD. I'm leaning towards #2 but am willing to do #1 if the collective wisdom of FT thinks that 1 hour and 25 minutes is too short for this connection.
Don't really care much about lounge time or anything else at MAD itself so trying to maximize sleep (in Barcelona) and minimize layover time without going into danger of missing flight territory
1) 830 am BCN - MAD, 2 hour 25 minute layover
2) 930am BCN - MAD, 1 hour 25 minute layover
3) 10am BCN - MAD, 55 minute layover
Both of us are traveling on US passports and I assume we'll need to clear out of the EU when we land at MAD. I'm leaning towards #2 but am willing to do #1 if the collective wisdom of FT thinks that 1 hour and 25 minutes is too short for this connection.
Don't really care much about lounge time or anything else at MAD itself so trying to maximize sleep (in Barcelona) and minimize layover time without going into danger of missing flight territory
Nov 27, 2018, 6:38 pm
#501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Dec 25, 2018, 8:18 pm
#502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,793
Help with ATL-MAD-LIS. I have an 1:55 layover. Flying Delta, but Air Europa metal on the MAD-LIS leg. All the same itinerary and I will have checked luggage.
I completely forgot how far terminals are in MAD when I booked the ticket. I guess I will be landing at Terminal 1, which is a bit different than most of the international arrivals. Departing from Terminal 2.
Is it walkable from 1 to 2? How long? Other options?
Do I need to grab my luggage to go through customs or is it checked through to LIS?
Will I have to go back through security?
I completely forgot how far terminals are in MAD when I booked the ticket. I guess I will be landing at Terminal 1, which is a bit different than most of the international arrivals. Departing from Terminal 2.
Is it walkable from 1 to 2? How long? Other options?
Do I need to grab my luggage to go through customs or is it checked through to LIS?
Will I have to go back through security?
Last edited by pbiflyer; Dec 25, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Dec 26, 2018, 4:36 am
#503
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,351
Yes, it is walkable. T1-T2-T3 are all together, the ones that are (very) far are T4 and T4S.
You do not have to pick up your luggage in MAD.
You do have to go through security. There's plenty of time and you should be fine.
You do not have to pick up your luggage in MAD.
You do have to go through security. There's plenty of time and you should be fine.
Dec 26, 2018, 4:44 am
#504
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,105
Don't remember if there's a transfer security after immigration at T1, but regardless, you can just go landside and walk upstairs and go through security in T1 or walk over to T2. They are connected both airside and landside.
Dec 29, 2018, 1:11 pm
#506
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 47
I have read a fair bit of this thread and other sources but still have a question. Have a flight GIG-MAD-LHR with IB, arrives to T4S, departs from T4. I understand there is a special airside bus for this case to avoid going through immigration. The connection time is 3:30. Can we get access to some lounge?
I think Dali on T4 will be unaccessible because it is in the Schengen area. I also guess there is no lounge for H1-8 gates, and spending 3 hours there after a long-haul is no fun. Is there a way to spend a couple of hours in Velasquez in T4S and then transfer to T4 via the bus? Or does it require a boarding pass departing from T4S?
Thanks!
I think Dali on T4 will be unaccessible because it is in the Schengen area. I also guess there is no lounge for H1-8 gates, and spending 3 hours there after a long-haul is no fun. Is there a way to spend a couple of hours in Velasquez in T4S and then transfer to T4 via the bus? Or does it require a boarding pass departing from T4S?
Thanks!
Jan 15, 2019, 6:56 am
#509
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1
8hr MAD layover
Hoping to get confirmation on my understanding and plans below.
Flying JFK-MAD-TLV on a single ticket with an 8 hour layover in MAD on a Saturday.
I believe I will arrive, and then depart from 4S. Arriving on British Air at 08:15, departing on Iberia 16:15 - predeparture documentation show Terminal 4S for both flights
Thinking I can leave my carry-on luggage in a locker, Metro to Puerta del Sol/Plaza Major area and spend a few hours in city.
Leave city by 13:00 for my 16:15 flight.
No Visa needed (US citizen US Passport)
Will I need to clear security and immigration both leaving and returning to airport?
Flying JFK-MAD-TLV on a single ticket with an 8 hour layover in MAD on a Saturday.
I believe I will arrive, and then depart from 4S. Arriving on British Air at 08:15, departing on Iberia 16:15 - predeparture documentation show Terminal 4S for both flights
Thinking I can leave my carry-on luggage in a locker, Metro to Puerta del Sol/Plaza Major area and spend a few hours in city.
Leave city by 13:00 for my 16:15 flight.
No Visa needed (US citizen US Passport)
Will I need to clear security and immigration both leaving and returning to airport?
Jan 16, 2019, 3:03 am
#510
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,105
Well, even with a BA flight number you will be arriving on IB metal. But yes, you should have enough time to get into the city, though I would recommend using the cercanías train rather than the metro with a change at Nuevos Ministerios to get to Sol.