We're flying from PHL to Nice with a connection in Madrid. Our flight from PHL arrives MAD at T4S and our connecting flight to NCE leaves from T4.

Looking at the airport map, I see there is a shuttle between the two terminals.

<strong>My question:</strong> Is the shuttle airside (inside security) or landside (meaning we'll have to exit the security zone in T4S and then go through the security line in T4)?

Our connection is a little over two hours, so, assuming we depart PHL on time, it should not be a problem. The tickets are through tickets, so missing the connection should only be a minor inconvenience, since we arrive MAD at 8:05 am...there should be flights later in the day.

ssander

You take the shuttle to T4 where you have to clear passport control before collecting your luggage and dropping if off at the recheck counter. Then you go upstairs to the departure area and back through security, boarding pass in hand, for your flight to Nice.

Two hours shouldn't be a problem, but T4 is a large terminal and it may take you 20 minutes or so to reach your gate. That plus the time it takes you to reach T4 from your arrival gate. That alone can take 20 minutes or more. Add a little more time if you're not one of the first off the plane, and hopefully there are not a dozen other flights arriving around the same time, and passport control has enough agents working that morning. It took us more then 40 minutes the last time we arrived at T4S (late June) to clear passport control and retrieve our luggage.

Thanks...as a general rule we do not check bags, so that should help. We are, however, pretty far back in the A330...so deplaning will take some time.

So in our case, we just take the shuttle from T4S to T4 (with our carry-ons in hand) and then go through security again.

I am assuming I can print out our boarding passes (including the MAD-NCE leg) at home before we leave. If that is correct, we just head through security at T4...right?

...or do we still have to check in at the counter?

ssander

You'll have to check in with the agent in Philly, they have to see your passport. They can then issue you the boarding pass for your MAD-NCE flight, since you are flying on a single ticket, connecting through MAD.

Once you clear customs (which is normally nothing in MAD), you head upstairs to the departures area and back through security. As I mentioned, it could be a long walk to the gate.

Thanks...

We always check in at the counter on flights to Europe, even if we have printed out our boarding passes in advance, so this all sounds good.

Thanks so much for the info.

ssander

Though this doesn't affect you, ssander since you aren't checking luggage, my experience has always been that my luggage is checked through to the final destination in Europe. Most recently, I went through Madrid to Lisbon in March. Not like in the US where you have to pick it up at your point of entry and then recheck.