Airport Connection
 

Hello - we are scheduled to arrive on an international flight into MAD at 0745. We are taking a connecting flight into Malaga. There is a flight on Spanair at 0930 which we'd like to take but also a flight at 1135 on Air Europa. Do you think we'll have enough time to make the 0930 or should we play it safe and book the 1135? We will only have carry on luggage.

Thanks!

Always an interesting question and I'm never sure there is ONE answer. I think you should ask yourself whay can I do to ensure there won't be any problems?

You've already figured out that things such as a delayed departure; a delayed arrival; a long line/slow progress through Immigration, and weather could cause you to miss the earlier connection.

Nobody's previous experience can accurately predict what will happen to you on the day that you fly so any recommendations should be taken in light of that.

I guess my "answer" would be you already know THE answer...but are you feeling lucky?

Have a great trip.

Is your flght into MAD on Spanair? Or a partner? If so, you may be able to get all your boarding passes when you check-in for your initial flights.

With 1h 45 min you may have enough time with only hand luggage. It may be tight though. You will have to go through immigrations & customs and then recheck in with Spanair for your boarding passes and then go through security again.

It all depends on how long customs/immigration and security usually takes in MAD and how efficient Spanair is with their check-in.

I've never traveled through MAD, but connecting in other large European airports, less than 2 hours was very very tight but doable (no check-in luggage). Nearly didn't make it. It was very nerve-racking. I personally would not cut it so close again. Based on my experience (again no MAD), I would take the later flight. Anybody with experience with MAD airport?

Agree with intrepid1, the short connection time (yes 1h 45 min internationally is short) may only work IF your arriving flightis not late. Otherwise, you won't make it. My experience on being on time and we barely made it!

Aqua,

When we flew into Madrid this past March, it took forever to get through immigration. I assume you are coming from the U.S./North/South America. If not, my answer wouldn't apply.

When our flight got into Madrid, we went to wait in line. It appeared to us that all the flights from the Americas must get in around the same time. I had never seen so many different passports from the South and Central American countries all in one place There were maybe 10-15 lines all extending to the door. A total madhouse!

There was an E.U. line, which went very very quickly, so if you happen to be from there, at least on that day, it would have been fast.

By the time we got through immigration, our luggage was circling and waiting for us.

I think the process took about an hour and a half to two hours - most of it was spent standing in line praying our line would move more quickly. Once we got to the front of the line, it was a quick stamp and we were on our way.

I don't know if our experience was common or not, but it was really packed.

Hopefully other people will chime in who have more experience than me, but based on my one time in Madrid, I would book the later flight, just to be safe.

Have a great trip!
Sally

It sounds a lot like you're flying in on Iberia. There is a possibility of making the 09:30 flight, but don't push your luck. You have to clear passport control and then wait for your baggage, unless you're only using a carry-on. You have to take a bus to make your connecting flight to Malaga, which leaves from the domestic terminal. Here you'll have to be re-screened, which may take a while depending on the crowd. This assumes you already have a boarding pass. If not, then you'll have to leave the baggage/customs area and enter the domestic terminal from the main entry area. It's a long walk, so plan on taking the later flight.

I'd book the 11:35 and see if they'd let me on the 09:30 if I got there in time.

Yes, we're arriving from the US on Iberia. We'll definitely book the later flight since I don't want to start our vacation being stressed out that we won't make the connection. Sounds like Barajas is kinda crazy as is without adding all the extra worry.

Thanks for all the replies!

My last visit to Spain (Jun 2004) I had a 2-hour 'window' to make a connection to Santiago de Compostela. The Continental flight from Newark was an hour late arriving. My Spanair flight was from Terminal-2 but I had to go to Terminal-3 to get a boarding pass because I had an e-ticket on SpanAir.

Eventually, SpanAir held the flight for me.

I only had carry-on luggage; and I am fluent in Spanish. Most of my flights to Spain arrived ahead of schedule, but because of my recent experience, I think a 'window' of less than 2-hours is not realistic.