Any recent experience with how long passport control (including EES) takes arriving MAD airport T1 at about 10am? I've seen reports that vary considerably. Unfortunately, reports regarding other times of day or other terminals are likely not relevant.
Posted by
Chicago
4181 posts
You can read about my very recent experience here:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/we-love-spain-a-trip-report
Different terminal, but you can read about the process for EES in Madrid.
Unfortunately, no prior experience will be able to predict how long passport control will take. I’ve arrived at the same airport with one time taking 5 minutes and one time taking over 90 minutes.
There’s just too many factors out of your control (how many flights are arriving at the same time? how many machines are working? how many passport control officers are working?). It takes as long as it takes.
Posted by
Jacksonville, Florida
279 posts
I've always worried about whether I will make an airline connection, so what I've started doing is planning my trips so my first stop in Europe is in the city where I will have to go through passport control. We will spend a few days there and take the train to our next destination. It takes the stress out of long, slow passport control lines- tick tock, tick tock, oh my God, am I going to be able to make my next flight. Our next trip is to Valencia so we will first spend a few days in Madrid.
Yes, I worry too much, but doing this does take away some stress.