cruiseluv

I will be flying into Madrid , arriving either Terminal 1 or 2 and need to transfer to terminal 4 for a Domestic flight in Spain .
I need to claim luggage upon arrival as the Domestic flight will not be on the same ticket (unrelated airlines).

I would appreciate anybody with experience on this kind of transfer to describe what is involved and also what would be the minimum "safe" connecting time . Thank you in advance for any comments.

lincasanova

"Safe" connecting is very difficult to say since you will be going through immigration ( could be 45 minutes, could be 20?), then luggage ( another 0,15 or ??) and then go out and catch the free connecting bus, giving yourself at least half an hour or more.Buses are every 5 minutes.. but you must find it and then it takes approx. 30 minutes to get over to T4 with all the stops.

So.. from what I can see, a 3.5 - 5 hour layover, all going well.. is necessary.

Especially since you will have to re-check in, and go through security after getting your new boarding pass.

This may be exagerrated, but unless you are carry-on only.. I would opt for more rather than less time.

info at www.aena.es

cruiseluv

Thanks Lin, I was afraid of that. Wow, 30 mins to T4! I could be in Madrid in less time!

yorkshire

I agree, 3 hours minimum to be safe. If there are additional domestic flights to where you are going that day, then I would be riskier. You just never know when your first flight is going to be delayed, and the lines can be long. I have always had good luck making that transfer though.
Something I have always found really useful is studying the airport map in advance. Then you will know exactly how to go!

danon

We did the same but with carry on only, so 3 hours was o.k. time.
Since you have to wait for luggage, I would take that into consideration. I think the actual bus ride was less than 30 minutes , but you need time get to the bus stop, maybe wait a bit for the bus...etc.

cruiseluv

Thank you for the responses. I am looking at 3:45 hrs, so hopefully will be Ok.

Graziella5b

Hi cruiseluv,

Consider seriously carry on luggage on it will make a big difference. In last trip to Europe I did that and was fantastic. I also studied the ROme airport plan and helped a lot.
Airports show everyday the real arrival time of all flights. It can give you and idea if your flights usually arrive/leave on or not. Buena suerte.

Robert2533

The last connection we made, T-4 to T-1, took close to 45 minutes, which included collecting our luggage. It was faster than normal. If you don't already have your boarding pass, then I would allow at least 2 hours to be safe, 3 so you can relax.

lincasanova

Robert.. with immigration and all?? Seems amazing since domestic-domestic can be even worse than that. It has taken me close to 20 minutes to GET to the luggage area, depending on where the plane dumped me at T4./or TSatellite.

I waited almost 45 minutes once for my luggage the first time I used T4.

Robert2533

It was a fluke, an early flight from Santiago with no other flights landing at the same time. We were through passport control in no time. We all know that it usually takes at least 30 minutes to unload the luggage, but ours came off first, not long after arriving in the baggage claim area, and we were able to catch the bus a few minutes later. It'll never happen again!

We usually feel comfortable with 2-1/2 hours.

Cowboy1968

Before you squeeze all your stuff into carry-ons, I would check the maximum weight and size limits for carry-on for that unrelated flight within Spain. Often domestic carriers have much stricter limits than transatlantic flights.

cruiseluv

Hola Graziella,

I wish I could pack sensibly, but not much chance of that. I already have too much problem limiting myself to the 23 kgs they allow for checked baggage! Don't think I could manage with the 10 kgs they allow for carry-on.

lionche

Hi,
I have a question, that could sounds to someone a little bit stupid, but it's my first time flying alone and I want to know exactly where, what, when and etc. I'll arrive in Madrid at Terminal 1 but I have to make a transfer to T4 to catch the bus for Zaragoza. Could please anyone give me some main instructions how to get to this transfer bus? Does this bus stops right in front of the T1 building? Thanks in advance for the help

lincasanova

You will see signs "Transfer to T4" or "T4" Bus signs , etc.when you come out of the exit. It is very simple. A lot of people are doing the same thing.

As I recall, the buses were upstairs at arrivals, but the signs take you there You will need to exit the airport doors having followed the signs to get to these exits.

Be sure the bus you get on is the one to T4 as the others to T1/2 also stop and look the same. But it is obvious., do not fret.

cruiseluv. the 23k. allowance will disappear once you get a local flight on separate ticket.

CarolA

And if you have never done it... No, you aren't being kidnapped and driven to the next city. The bus actually gets back on the highway... It's a fairly long commute as airport transfers go!

lionche

Thanks very much for the assistance

ribeirasacra

I was at T1 earlier this week. The bus transfer to T$ is regular and does in fact stop just outside the entrance to T1.
You could take the Metro too. However it is a long walk from T1 to the trains I think you are actually in T3.
T4 is "on the otherside" of the airport. So it does take time to get from one to the other.

lincasanova

the metro to T4? The only "train " I know of in the terminals is the train that takes you from T4 to T(4)-S, the "satellite" of T4, and vice-versa, as they call it.

ribeirasacra

The metro plan.
http://www.ctm-madrid.es/pdf/metro.pdf

mes2525

I think 2 hours is plenty of time to connect, even if you have to wait for your bags. There is a bus that will take you from 1 to 4

As to the Metro, I went into Madrid at Terminal 4 in December - a big improvement over hopping the bus at T4 and transferring to the metro at T2. I also did not see any pickpockets or any other crime going to or from the airport.