I am booking a domestic flight from Malaga to Madrid before our trip back to the US. The Spanair flight gets in at 12:25pm into Terminal 2, and our flight back to the US departs at 1:40pm in Terminal 1.

1) Will we have to collect and re-check our luggage?
2) How long does it take to get between terminals?

Is 1hr15min just cutting it too close?

There is an earlier flight that we could take, but we would then have an extremely long layover (3hrs) in Madrid.

Any advice is appreciated!!

I don't think three hours is a long layover. Actually I think that is a good layover time these days. It's just too hard to guess if the first flight will be on time. Whether it's on time or not, there is still the worry about getting to the other gate on time. And it gives you time eat some lunch.

Hi Lorib1,

I have done what you are doing several times and I would have not made it with that short connecting time. My domestic flights came into T3 , which is slightly further from T1 than T2 , but not by much. It took me approx.15 mins walking fast (this is after collecting my lugagge).

Regarding if they ticket your lugagge to destination it depends on 2 things: If your carrier to the US is a partner of Spanair ( in that case they should do it with no problem) or if not, if the person at the Spanair check in counter is nice. A couple of years ago the person at the Spanair check-in counter ticketed my backs straight through to Newark, eventhough they are not partners with my US carrier, Continental.

Last year Iberia refused to do the same because they are not partners with Continental.

So if they are not partners you have to assume the worse scenario that you will have to wait and collect the lugagge and check them in again. You also have to go through security at T1 .

In summary, IMO 1 15 mins is an almost impossible connecting time at the Barajas airport in the circumstances you describe.

The 3 hours layover that you describe as "extremly long" is the minimum I would accept in Barajas if I have to change terminals and fly 2 different airlines (unless they are partners , and even then 1 hs 15 mins is IMO too short)

Who is your US carrier?

this is not so hard to figure out for ME.

what will happen to your u.s. portion of ticket if your spanair flight is late..or there is fog, technical delay.. and you don´t have this "long" 3 hour layover?

let´s face it. there is no way to know what is going to happen at any time.. and taking a short layover would only be acceptable for me if i were certain the rest of my trip is secure, and i do not mind being put on a flight the next day or many hours later ( assuming i don´t have to buy a new ticket)..

take the long layover..or go the day before and enjoy madrid. (that is what i would probably do)

Continental is my US Carrier.

You all have me sold on taking the earlier Spanair flight that gets into Madrid around 10:30am.

Thanks for all of the input.

You are making the right call. BTW, Continental is the last check-in counter in Terminal 1. In other words, the furthest one!

Enjoy your trip!