My friend and I will be arriving at MAD from the US (American Airlines) at 5:30 AM next Tuesday morning. We have an 8:15 AM domestic flight with Iberia air and realize this could be a stretch. (we would have booked through, but have changed our itinerary a bit.) Could anyone please tell us the most efficient way to get from terminal 4 to T4 through customs, immigration, etc.? We aren’t checking any bags on either flight. Also, our overseas flight has a great track record of 1/2 hour early arrivals. We are US citizens. Appreciate any guidance!
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
1848 posts
No customs (that's for your stuff) only immigration. 2.5 hours should be OK, as you're on the same airline alliance, assuming everything goes well getting through the new EES system. (Which could include a machine, finger printing & your photo taking, or not, every day it seems to change depending upon the airport, it's a new system with some issues.) Don't stop to look at connecting flight or go to the loo, go straight to immigration.
Posted by
Chicago
1391 posts
OP, I believe your inbound flight will most likely come into Terminal 4S at Madrid Airport.
This is the international terminal for OneWorld and most likely your 8:15am flight will
depart from Terminal 4, which is the domestic terminal for Iberia, and is not the same
terminal as 4S - they are connected by a train, which you will take after you clear
immigration.
As noted, with the confusion and delays due to the ongoing EES implementation,
it's hard to say just how long it will take to clear immigration, so best to not delay
and get there as soon as possible. If all goes well, you'll have some time to get
coffee and such after you get to your domestic gate area.
Posted by
301 posts
I took an Iberia Airlines flight from the USA to Madrid last month.
We landed at a remote stand, deplaned onto buses, proceeded into a line to use the new EES terminals, went through passport control, got the train from T4S to T4, and walked past baggage claim to ground transit and onto a parking structure outside to get our cab.
That whole process took 51 minutes from wheels down to waiting for a cab.
I've also, in the past, connected from T4S to an Iberia domestic flight with no issue. Airport security will have zero line. It will be trivially easy to make your connection unless your flight is very late.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Excellent advice all around! Thanks so much! We’ll arrive with rollar skates on and focused on getting to the gate!