mikehaber

I would appreciate advice on whether or not to attempt the following connection:
-San Sebastian - Madrid, Iberia Airlines, depart: 9:05 am arrive terminal 4: 10:05 am
-Madrid - Toronto, Air Canada, Terminal 1: 12:40
Will this leave me ample time to collect baggage, change terminals, check in, customs etc? Are Iberia Airlines domestic flights usually on time?
thanks

lincasanova

If your flight lands ON TIME, and your luggage comes right away, and you go up and get the bus right away, etc.etc.. you should make it.

of course, one never knows if there will be any sort of technical delay. If this is all one ticket, the airlines are responsible ( and would be checking your luggage through Madrid, in which case it is a better situation) but if it is two tickets.. arriving late could mean quite an upsetting scenario FOR ME.

I would prefer more time if they are separate tickets. However, you may have time to spare if everything is like clock work... who's to say?

danon

hard to say; our Iberia flight FROM Madrid to Santander was more than an hour late.. Sometimes it takes a long time to collect the baggage, but not always . Also, you are checking in to an international flight in Madrid.
Terminal 4 is a long way from terminal 1, but IF the flight from SS is on time, 2 and a half hours should be o.k.

Robert2533

Even traveling first class, I would allow more time to make the connection, unless your flight is booked on a single ticket, which it doesn't look like.

You should allow a minimum 2-12/ hours to make the connection, if you are a premium card holder on Air Canada, if not, then allow 3-1/2 hours. It can easily take 40 minutes to go from T4 to T1 on a good day. You should book the earlier flight at 07:30. Besides, it's usually less expensive, especially if you book a round-trip ticket and toss the return.

danon

on second thought, i agree with Robert...better not to be stressed and ,worst of all, miss the flight home.

mikehaber

Yes it is two tickets but I am entitled to first class check in with Air Canada. I would take the 7:30 but the price jumps from 157 euros to 279 euros and there are two of us!
I could fly into Madrid the day before but our trip is rather short and we'd be wasteing too much time that way. Should I spend the night in Bilbao? Should I catch the 7:20 or 8:35 for 171 euros?

mikehaber

There is also an 8 am out of Bilbao on Spanair.

danon

Have you been to Bilbao and/or Madrid already on your trip?

lincasanova

for such a small price difference the 7.20 seems a lot safer. you also have www.ryanair.com super cheap the night before from santander.

mikehaber

We will be spending the day in Bilbao earlier in the trip when we fly in from Barcelona. We have decided to forgo Madrid this time because we don't have enough time. I was thinking of flying in the night before but it seems like to much effort for one night.

danon

How about flying into Madrid early in the day. You can get a 'feel'for the city, have some great tapas, even see one of the famous flamenco performances. Madrid is a late night city..things are hopping till dawn. Take a taxi from and to the airport and stay in a hotel in the center.(I hate airport hotels)
Of course, it all depends on your budget and energy.
If you fly from Bilbao you may have the same concerns as SS. Getting up very early makes a long day when traveling IMO.

cruiseluv

Agree with Danon. Actually, that's what we did last year when returning from Santiago. I didn't want to risk not making my return flight to the US which left from Terminal 1. So we arrived Madrid early afternoon and had a really nice time.