We're booked on a mileage ticket from the US to Madrid. I'm planning to immediately go to Barcelona - so we'll just catch a quick flight from Barcelona. Do we clear customs in Madrid or Barcelona, since we'll be changing airlines? Can we check luggage all the way through, or will we claim and recheck? Trying to find out how much time to allow in Madrid before our departure to Barcelona.
Sorry if this is confusing!
First, obligatory for the multitudes that will chime in, what you are most concerned about is immigration. That will occur in Madrid, as long as the flight is arriving there directly from the US. Customs is typically a non-issue.
You mention changing airlines, that may not matter, the key is: Was the ticket all booked on one itinerary?" or Did you buy two separate tickets? If on one ticket, then just look for "connecting flights", the passport control may be separate from final destination immigration. If on separate tickets, then you might have baggage to worry about, security, etc.; if no bags, then still head for connecting flights.
These will be separate tickets, separately purchased itineraries. We purchased our 'mileage' ticket into country - but they were not working getting to our final destination.
You will go through passport control in Madrid regardless of the second flight.
If your miles flight is with a US airline and your second flight is with a different airline: you will need to go through passport control, pick up luggage in Madrid, go through customs (quick process), re-check luggage with the second airline, then go through security again. Beware that the Madrid airport is HUGE. If you need to change terminals, it could take a long time to get to the boarding gate. I would give yourself at least 3 hours connecting time.
If you happen to book your Madrid to Barcelona flight with the same airline as your miles flight, that airline MIGHT send your luggage all the way to Barcelona. You would have to call them and ask. I would still want 2 hours between flights. We had a 1hr 15 minute connection with no passport control within the same terminal and made it to the second gate just as boarding started. Many planes require you to take a bus from the gate to the tarmac, so boarding happens early.
If you check luggage , pick it up and go to the other airline desk to check it with them. Better if you are carrying on.
If carrying on , after immigration and a walk through Nothing to Declare customs door, go through security to your next gate.
Have you bought your ticket to Barcelona? You can also take a high speed train to Barcelona.
As another posted mentioned, Madrid Barajas is HUGE. If you have not booked the continuing flight, allow a lot of time.
Be sure to factor in some fudge factor for a delayed departure and consequent late arrival into Madrid. Also be aware when the 2nd flight closes the door. Some airlines do so 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure.
One time flying into Dallas our plane circled for a couple hrs and then went to Houston to gas up and flew back and circled another hour or more because of weather shutting down DFW. The time of year may affect what random nasty weather will be blowing through. Plan accordingly.
I usually find it is more effective to book an itinerary straight through to the destination, so no concerns about luggage until arrival, even if the second flight is with a partner airline. If you do book your second trip yourself, especially on a budget airline, check the regulations on both cabin and checked bags since the rules may be narrower than your trans-Atlantic flight.
As to transfer time in Madrid on separate tickets, there is some distance between the major terminal building and the smaller local terminals. You might want to research those movements before deciding about how much time is needed.
The bargain airlines tend to be stricter about rules enforcement. If they say you must be at the departure gate by a certain time, they mean it (and no refunds or rebooking if you are a little bit late.)
