We just got an email from Iberia airlines that our direct flight mid-May from San Francisco to Barcelona was re-routed via a stopover in Madrid Barajas airport.
They only left us 1.5 hrs to make the connection.
We have never been to Madrid airport (or to Spain) and are wondering if that connection time is reasonable since we will have to go through passport control?
We planned on meeting our children in Barcelona that day so really want to make it and not get stuck in Madrid. We see there are lots of trains daily from Madrid to Barcelona and are considering taking the train as a back-up. If so, would we need to buy train tickets ahead of time or could we make a last minute decision on tickets? Is it hard to get from the airport to the main train station? Thanks!
Posted by
Europe
195 posts
1.5 hours should be plenty of time.
Posted by
FL USA
1530 posts
Ample time and since your journey is on the same ticket any checked luggage will also be transferred.
Posted by
Chicago
783 posts
I hope others are correct, but last month, it took me 45 minutes to get through immigration upon arrival from Chicago. There were several planes that landed at the same time making for a very long line. It would have helped if I had been one of the first off my plane, but I was not flying in First or Business.
Barajas is quite large - I would check which terminal you land in and where you depart from.
Taxi or public transport to Atocha - easy.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1441 posts
My SO just transited at Madrid two days ago, also on IB and continued to another Schengen destination. He said that immigration lines were very long and that it was difficult to find the lounge at Madrid. However, since you are on a through ticket, if you cannot make you MAD-BCN flight, then IB should put you on the next flight to BCN.
There is a video on IB's website teaching one how to transfer at MAD.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6572 posts
You may find this link to Madrid’s airport flight connections helpful. Once on the Barajas page, if you scroll down, there’s a link for estimated connection times.
Posted by
OP
CA and beyond
19 posts
Thank you all. Very helpful info and we will check out the Barajas page to be well prepared. Looks like there are 5 flights to Barcelona after ours so good chance we will make it same day even if very late.
Posted by
Europe
195 posts
Additional comments:
When flying into the EU, passengers only go through Immigration (passport control) before continuing to their final destination within the EU. It's usually fast and uncomplicated. You then clear Customs when you pick up your luggage at your final destination.
If you are not continuing to another destination in the EU, then you clear Customs and Immigration at your port of entry to the EU. That can be more time-consuming but you won't be rushing to make a connection, either. It's the same procedure in the US if your port of entry into the US is your final destination.
However, if you are continuing on in the US, it's more complicated. In contrast to the EU, you must collect your checked luggage at the first point of entry into the US, even though the bags are checked through to the final destination. You then clear Customs and Immigration.
After clearing Customs in the US, you hand your checked bags back to the airline staff outside of Customs and they make sure your bags get on your connection.
So, 1.5 hours might be just fine in the EU but you may need 3 in the US.
Posted by
Chicago
307 posts
Note that since IB changed your flight, you have the option to move to a day that they
do have the nonstop (it now looks like they have it Sun, Tue, Thu, and Sat, except the
11th for some reason).
It looks like United also has nonstops, every day. At this point I suspect it would be
expensive to purchase a one-way on UA, but you have the option to cancel Iberia
and get a full refund.