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-   -   Connecting time in Madrid - domestic easyjet (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/connecting-time-in-madrid-domestic-easyjet-876535/)

vinylcrocodile Feb 4th, 2011 08:13 AM

Connecting time in Madrid - domestic easyjet
 
Can anyone enlighten me? Ive done extensive search on the subject but turned up nothing concrete.
we have an easyjet to easy jet flight from paris to madrid then madrid to morrocco.
we will have only 1 hour connection. its a separate ticket purchase hence the worry.
we have only carry on bags, and our boarding passes already for both flights (online checkin)
i am assuming there are no terminal changes as easyjet appears to fly in and out of terminal 1 in madrid.
anyone know if its possible to stay behind security to connect or do we have to exit and reenter? since we dont need to check in or pass passport control for a EU flight.
only passport control in morrocco i presume.

is this doable?
please any advice!

vinylcrocodile Feb 5th, 2011 01:38 AM

argh no one?

J62 Feb 5th, 2011 02:16 AM

My guess is that there IS passport control when you exit the Schengen zone to Moroccco. I can't speak for MAD specifically whether you need to exit the secure area - at other airports in Europe I've NOT had to exit the secure area when transferring from an intra to extra Schengen flight.

WillTravel Feb 5th, 2011 02:19 AM

I wouldn't count on this working out at all. EasyJet can easily be delayed (I've had it happen more than once, and for a significant period of time). You have to be at the gate at least 30 minutes in advance. You're assuming online check-in will be available and working for you, which is likely the case, but I doubt it's 100% certain.

As for whether you will have to go through security again, I'm not sure.

Figure out what the monetary consequences of missing the flight will be.

Alec Feb 5th, 2011 02:25 AM

You will arrive in the Schengen part of Terminal 1. Then you need to go landside and then re-enter the non-Schengen part of the terminal with a brief passport check. Then you will have to go through security before going to your gate for your Morocco. Some airports have a passport check prior to leaving airside, enabling you to make airside connection from Schengen to non-Schengen international flights, but I doubt Terminal 1 offers it. In any case further security prior to boarding your Morocco flight is very likely, so you won't save much if any time.
I don't think you will make it, as even with on-time arrival and a boarding pass you need to be at the gate for the Morocco flight at least 30 minutes before departure, which is cutting very fine. http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Flying/index.html Even a delay of 10 minutes can make you miss your connection.

vinylcrocodile Feb 5th, 2011 03:12 AM

Yea i know what easyjet says, but ive flown them a number of times and being at the gate 20 min or 15min before is no big deal as theyre always still boarding or sometimes havent even started! Ive also never been delayed with them, unless you count the snow, which in april is v. unlikely.

So I def have to exit security and then go back through passport control in madrid before the morrocco flight? We both have EU passports, not sure if that matters though? At CDG there is the EU line..which is quicker.

Bugger! a pain because that meant we could have had the day in marrakech, with a 10am arrival.
the afternoon flight doesnt get in til 3pm.

lincasanova Feb 5th, 2011 03:49 AM

I know the departure passport control is inside the T1 area to the right. You will most likely land and then be able to go through the T1 area following connecting flight signs, NOT exit signs, and reach the passport control to CONTINUE the trip IF YOU HAVE YOUR BOARDING PASS. Otherwise, you WILL have to go landside to get it.

If you follow the connecting flight signs you will do what you are supposed to do. Do not automatically ignore them and exit. You MAY go through security "within" T1 area to get to another area.. but since I have not done this EXACT itinerary, I would trust the signs more than what you are being told here.

If you have not yet bought the tickets, I would be inclined to give myself more time between these flights, or check to see if you can do a different city combination through a smaller airport.

vinylcrocodile Feb 5th, 2011 04:10 AM

no, Ive booked all but the madrid - marrakech one way.
Option of the 9.55am flight or 2.45pm flight.

thanks lincasanova:
thats the setup that i assumed theyd have but i needed confirmation.
i might actually see if i could ring the madrid airport terminal 1 to confirm this, because with a seat on the front of the plane, carry on luggage, our boarding passes in hand and not exiting security/immigration we could make it..? even if we get to the gate 15-20min before boarding i dont think that is a big deal with easyjet in my previous experience...

have to weigh it up i suppose

lincasanova Feb 5th, 2011 04:24 AM

I just don't like close connections with those kinds of tickets..

vinylcrocodile Feb 5th, 2011 04:40 AM

yeah i know, just a pain to lose those 5 hours in marrakech.
and id hate it if we got there and made the gate in time but had tickets for the later flight :(
ill talk it over with my bf and see wat he thinks.
we could get seats on the front row of the plane as my bf works at CDG so wed be guaranteed first off.
shame we cant get some express security passes. i have a couple left over from an air france flight but theyre for CDG lol

Lynnaustin Feb 5th, 2011 08:15 AM

How does having your friend work at CDG guarantee you front row seats on the plane? On all of our recent EasyJet flights (including one out of CDG) those who had bought Speedy Boarding from EasyJet were the first ones on and the front seats were the very first to go.
Even though everyone rides the transfer bus out to the plane, when exiting the bus Speedy Boarding went first. They actually checked the boarding passes and did not allow you to board first if you did not have the Speedy Boarding sticker.

I think your connection time is not enough.

Piccolina Mar 8th, 2011 06:12 PM

I'm plannig to book 2 easyjet flights which connect in Milan Malpensa airport. The first flight arrives in Milan (from Olbia Sardinia) at 1:45pm while the second flight departs at 5pm (going to Malaga). This leaves 3 hours and 15 mins for connection. Since easyjet is a discount airline, I wouldn't be surprised if there are delays. Is 3 hrs and 15 mins for a layover in Milan sufficient after factoring in possible delays?

Also, does easyjet checks through the luggages (we will have checked luggages) or do we have to pick up in MIlan and re-check in the bags?

What's the longest delay you've ever had with easyjet?

Many thanks.

jamikins Mar 9th, 2011 01:19 AM

Piccolina, I would post a new post for your question with a specific title so that people that have done transfers on easyjet can respond.

I dont believe they check luggage through I think you have to treat each leg of their flights as a new flight - but having never done it I cannot say for sure.

J62 Mar 9th, 2011 01:45 AM

Why do you think easyjet is more subject to delays just because of their fare structure?

Low cost does not equate to an unprofessional airline - it's often quite the opposite. Since they have streamlined their operations they may actually be more efficient at flying on-time than legacy carriers.

I would have no concern with a 3 hr layover.

lincasanova Mar 9th, 2011 06:49 AM

they do not check luggage from flight to flight. your connecting time is fine unless, of course, there is a weather or technical problem, in which case easyjet does not respond to cover re-booking expenses.

WillTravel Mar 9th, 2011 10:55 AM

Keep in mind that not only can there be delays, either for logistical or weather reasons, on the day of the flight, but flights can also be rescheduled in advance. So just because at this moment you have a 3:15 connection, that does not mean you will on the day of travel.

I have had 2-hour delays on EasyJet, and I haven't taken that many flights with them, so yes, I would worry about a 3:15 connection. Figure out the worst-case scenario if you miss the second flight, and decide if you can live with it.

Piccolina Mar 9th, 2011 04:17 PM

Thank you all for your insights. I will make a new thread re: easyjet layovers.

LizannoP Apr 18th, 2011 09:13 AM

My husband and I are arriving in Madrid on United/Aer Lingus flight 4963 at 7:35 a.m. on May 6, 2011. We would like to take EasyJet flight 7893 Madrid to Marrakech at 9:55 a.m. The question is, would there be enough time to make the connection, assuming the flight is on time? I believe AerLingus arrives in Terminal 1 and EasyJet departs from there. I learned by phone w/ EasyJet that (by checking in on line) we can check in only as late as 9:25, 1/2 hr. before (otherwise has to be 40 min before.) It will be tight, b/c baggage claim & customs could take 1+ hrs, and after customs we'll have to go out of the gates to the ticketing area and check our bags w/ Easyjet. If we miss the flight, there is a 50pound each "rescue fee" payable to EasyJet to allow us to take the next flight the next day, or the 1:30 to Cablanca if there is room, then 4 hr train all afternoon to Marrakech. Not all that encouraging, but we think probably worth taking the chance. Has anyone tried making this connection?

This is the reply I received from EasyJet:

"I can confirm that although we do not offer a connecting flights service, you can still book onward flights with easyJet. Each flight that you book represents a separate contract, therefore each flight will be considered as a separate journey and so you will need to check in with your luggage for each journey."

" would strongly recommend that when booking an onward flight with easyJet, you allow at least 2 hours between the scheduled time of arrival of the incoming flight and the scheduled time of departure of the onward flight."
Yours sincerely,
Zohaib
Easyjet Customer Service Representative

Allyscoop Jun 15th, 2011 07:00 PM

LizannoP...did you make your flight? My husband and I are taking the same risk (the 2 1/2 hr layover in Mardrid) at the end of the month. Please give us some hopeful news and advice! How was Marakkech? Thanks!


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