Madrid Flights

Madrid is fairly large airport but not as crazy as Paris. I never had problems with connections there I have flown through there 3 times. That be said, I always think smaller airports are easier. I would assume Bologne is smaller, however I have never been there. If the price is the same I would go through Bologne. If the price is higher I would go through Madrid.

I've heard only bad things about Iberia and the more I heard, the more I wanted to fly with them. Yesterday, I got my wish.

Iberia isn't as bad as I thought of. Every other airline has to deal with delays, lost baggage, cranky personnel, etc. I have nothing to say but good things from the check-in employee to the pilot. Danny and I fly stand by with employee discount, so we always get the seats last. The check-in clerk said that there were 3 seats left but that there was a group with a tight connection so that he didn't think it was a problem.

Coming to the gate, Danny was given the last confirmed seat and the last thing I thought of was asking if I could go in a jump seat (as told by the check-in clerk). They asked and I got a "yes", so I got to go as part of the cabin crew. Dear didn't I have a blast or what? Those flight attendants were very nice and friendly, I saw them being very professional with rude people who wanted to go to the bathroom when the seat belt sign was on and the plane moving like if it was in a blender, people who would not turn off their mobiles when landing or taking off, etc. Even if the pilot had said no, the gate clerks said that the next flight was wide open and were willing to give me a ticket right there.

In short, I have nothing bad to say because I know they have the same problems as all other airlines.

Well it isn't a moving transport tip as such, more a sitting down!
If you are like me and want to make the most of your sunshine on holiday, right up to the last minute, getting to the airport in plenty of time can be downer.
DON'T let them tell you there is no place to go but the departure lounge after check-in at Madrid's Barajas airport. Over the road and in line with the far side of security baggage clearance, at terminal 1, there is a lovely little sun trap. But, don't tell everyone!

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Even though I'd been toying around with the idea of going to Spain for quite sometime, I ended up booking my entire trip quite rapidly because I happened to stumble upon a sale with KLM. It was my first time flying with them, and I have to say that it was a really good experience. Service was nice, food was pretty decent too, and they had a great movie selection! But for me the best part about flying with KLM was that my transfer in Amsterdam was sooooo quick and simple! Shiphol Airport is quite small for an international airport (only one terminal), so there's no danger of getting lost or having to run around to catch your next flight. Going through customs only took a few minutes, and I still had plenty of time left to enjoy a cold Heineken!

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I flew from Liverpool airport by Ryanair on the Saturday. Departed at 08.40 and arrived Madrid 12.15.

I was going to fly from East Midlands airport, as this would have been nearer to my home.

The flight out was at the same time as Liverpool and for the same price (1p! - well £14 when taxes etc added!), but there weren't flights out on Saturday, plus the return flight would have been departing at 06.35.


I found that Easyjet returned on the Monday at 17.25 arriving Liverpool 18.55, so although it cost a bit more (£42.02 including taxes etc) The time was more convenient.

When flying with these cut price companies it's worth considering the convenience of times as well as cost, so look at flying in and out with a different airline if it allows you more time to stay at Your destination!

Madrid Barajas airport (Aeropuerto de Barajas) is 16km North East of the city centre.

Buses, taxi and Metro all provide easy ways to reach the city.

I opted for the Metro.

It is located in Terminal 2 and 4 - well signposted. (it is about a 5 - 10 min walk from Terminal 1)
Please see my next tip for info re. Metro from Airport to the city

***API - It is now compulsary for travellers to Spain to provide information of each traveller prior to departure (name, date of birth, flight number, passport number).

Ryanair notified me of this a few days prior to departure, and provided an easy link to complete my details. Failure to provide this information will result in passengers not being allowed to fly!!! This security check will eventually apply to all other routes****

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We will be flying to Madrid on EasyJet this year.
They are very cheap comparing to other airlines, but full of restrictions.
There is no seat reservation, so I guess I will have to fight with some older lady over my seat (I know my luck).
The time of the departure keeps changing to later hours.

I hope we will get where we want to get without any problems.

Our review this fall.
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Well, it was great ride on those orange easyjet planes. The only thing.........the seats do not recline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You sit on your butt in 90 degree position (or at least it feels like it).
The crew is great. Food is expensive. The crew is great. And I really like orange color.
We will definitely fly EasyJet again, even though the seats do not recline but... The crew is great. :-)

If you're arriving in Madrid with a fair amount of luggage, I strongly recommend that you pre-book a taxi transfer to your hotel. We researched this idea before we went, but dismissed it as not really being worth it. If I knew then what I know now, I would DEFINITELY have prebooked the transfer. Paying up front would have saved hassle and we would have known exactly where we stood. At the airport, I asked the taxi driver (in Spanish) approximately how much the journey would cost (just for a ballpark figure). He replied that he didn't speak English (well, tell me in Spanish then!) and clearly avoided the question. When we arrived at the hotel, the meter read 25 but he kept saying 35, 35 (a ten euro supplement? I don't think so ....) so just to get away I threw 40 euros at him and called it a lesson learned. I think he thought he'd done pretty well. So in future I would definitely prebook.

We returned to the airport on the Metro - a bargain at 1 euro each. This did involve quite a few changes and carrying suitcases up and down stairs though, so if you're not familiar with Madrid it's probably best to get a taxi when you arrive, and then perhaps get the Metro back to the airport.

Plenty of international airlines fly into Barajas. I belatedly did via TWA 904 on 3 July 1990 after all the HOO-HAH (nonsense) described in the introduction. There is nothing glamourous about the beginnings of Barajas airport. In the 1920s the big city figured it needed a big airport and a piece of wasteland at Barajas, only 9 miles (15 km.) from downtown, was just the place for it. That's not unusual, when you think about it. What is now Kennedy Airport (from where I flew to get here) was once a landfill. They are planning a whole new terminal and another runway too. Barajas already has the longest runway in Europe. Not surprisingly, Barajas is the European gateway to Central and South America.