Arriving Madrid Airport Sept 2021. Queue delays??

[Walkingmad]

Hi Everyone, arriving into Madrid 3rd September 2021 around 9.45am from Dublin to resume my Camino Frances from Astorga. I will have my backpack on board with me. I am double vaccinated since June and will have all correct paperwork needed etc. Just wondering if any others who have flown into Madrid either from Dublin or other EU countries in last few weeks could comment on how fast or slow they got through passport/covid control? Hoping to make a bus connection at 12pm from Estacion Sur to Leon, arrives 4pm. Otherwise I plan to get fast Train to Leon at 2.40pm arriving at 4.45pm. I will then get another train or taxi to Astorga same evening. Just wondering what experience ppl have had in last few weeks arriving into Madrid Airport and if it is slow or fast to exit airport controls? Thanks everyone

 

[peregrina2000]

Hoping to make a bus connection at 12pm from Estacion Sur to Leon, arrives 4pm.

If you haven’t checked the Alsa website lately, you can see that they have once again put back their 11:15 stop at T4. This is the same bus that you are planning to get from Estación Sur, but no need to go there now!

 

[Walkingmad]

If you haven’t checked the Alsa website lately, you can see that they have once again put back their 11:15 stop at T4. This is the same bus that you are planning to get from Estación Sur, but no need to go there now!

Thanks for that tip, much appreciated. Hoping to get through security and passport control quickly..

 

[Calisteve]

I flew into Madrid on Sunday 8th (landed around 11am) and it was semi-organised chaos. Queues all over the place and people walking past them to join other queues further ahead - and it wasn't clear what they were for. Eventually worked out they were for the Spanish health control form which a lot of people hadn't completed. The sheer volume of people meant it was slow going getting through. Fingers crossed it is a bit quicker for you.

 

[ScottPilgrim]

I would think things would improve by september as holiday crowds thin.

 

[peregrina2000]

arriving into Madrid 3rd September 2021 around 9.45am from Dublin to resume my Camino Frances from Astorga.

Do you know which terminal you are arriving in, @Walkingmad?

If you are on Iberia or a partner, you will arrive in T4. The Alsa bus stop is outside on the arrivals level, very close to where you exit.

If you are on another airline, you will arrive in another terminal and will need to take the intra-airport bus. It operates every 10 minutes or so, and takes about 10 minutes to get to T4.

 

[lt56ny]

One time when I flew into Madrid I had a tight connection to make my flight to San Sebastian and it was also a very long walk from where my flight on Iberia from Mexico City arrived to get to my Vueling flight. I was given a pass when I de-boarded which allowed me to get through customs quickly and then to go through security screening. What would have taken a long time allowed me to get through both checkpoints within a matter of just a few minutes. Does anyone know if this service is still given to passengers with very tight connections?

 

[Brooklynpoet]

I flew in from the US on July 28 and it all went quickly . Should be even faster for Europeans, you might think.

 

[Walkingmad]

Do you know which terminal you are arriving in, @Walkingmad?

If you are on Iberia or a partner, you will arrive in T4. The Alsa bus stop is outside on the arrivals level, very close to where you exit.

If you are on another airline, you will arrive in another terminal and will need to take the intra-airport bus. It operates every 10 minutes or so, and takes about 10 minutes to get to T4.

@peregrina2000 Yes I am arriving at T4 off Aerlingus from Dublin. Great to know Alsa are close by. Hoping all goes smooth and quick on arrival but at same time I appreciate things are very different right now and anything can happen on the day. I have the later train option if I don't make the bus options. Getting hopeful and excited now!

 

[LynnT]

I flew into T4 at 8:15 on July 28. I caught the 915 ALSA bus to Oviedo. Fastest exit of the airport ever. Wishing you luck on your entrance experience.

 

[Walkingmad]

I flew into T4 at 8:15 on July 28. I caught the 915 ALSA bus to Oviedo. Fastest exit of the airport ever. Wishing you luck on your entrance experience.

Oh that's great to hear. Thanks for reply.

 

[Leemac40]

@peregrina2000 Yes I am arriving at T4 off Aerlingus from Dublin. Great to know Alsa are close by. Hoping all goes smooth and quick on arrival but at same time I appreciate things are very different right now and anything can happen on the day. I have the later train option if I don't make the bus options. Getting hopeful and excited now!

Hi, I am arriving same date from Scotland to walk primitivo, had given up hope that it would actually happen so am now madly trying to get fit and organised! Will be gutted if it doesn't happen now! Best of luck to all our fellow peregrines, this will be the year!

 

[Albertagirl]

@Walkingmad
Do you have the Alsa app? If you do, you can buy your ticket online and just show it to the driver. A recent poster on this forum said that he did so successfully. I found that, when flying into Madrid, then needing to take an Alsa bus somewhere with no way to get my ticket but to stand in line, it took longer to get to the front of the line than to get through all the arrival procedures. Good luck and Buen camino.

 

[world walker]

Hi, I am arriving same date from Scotland to walk primitivo, had given up hope that it would actually happen so am now madly trying to get fit and organised! Will be gutted if it doesn't happen now! Best of luck to all our fellow peregrines, this will be the year!

Am arriving from Seattle via Frankfurt to Bilbao in mid September how’s that ?

 

[Jim ME]

Hi... I arrive on Sept 6th at 9:50 and am going to Leon for the Salvador. Alsa has a non-stop at 11:15, but did not think that would be doable, so booked on a multi-stop leaving at 1:30. Arrive Leon at 4:45. I paid a little extra for a changeable ticket. If I make it through customs ect... for the 11:15 then I should be able to hop on. If not, the 1:30 is fine. I wonder if the bus driver can let me on without a formal changing of the ticket? Although, I hate to give up my assigned seat on the 1:30 bus. Also, I was told to look at the arrivals at MAD for the time of your arrival. If there are a lot of international flights into T4 at your arrival time, your chances go down. I did that in 2019 and found that my flight was the only one in a 30 minute window. I breezed through and got to my flight in a different terminal to Pamplona with a lot of time to spare. Best of luck.

 

[LNsLife]

If you haven’t checked the Alsa website lately, you can see that they have once again put back their 11:15 stop at T4. This is the same bus that you are planning to get from Estación Sur, but no need to go there now!

Do you know where exactly you catch this bus at T4? I'll be there in 24 hours and would appreciate any info you may have so that I can find it on the first try! The website is confusing as it's not clear as I go the the floor where there is the ticket office or to the floor where the "local" bus is. Thanks!

 

[LNsLife]

Hi Everyone, arriving into Madrid 3rd September 2021 around 9.45am from Dublin to resume my Camino Frances from Astorga. I will have my backpack on board with me. I am double vaccinated since June and will have all correct paperwork needed etc. Just wondering if any others who have flown into Madrid either from Dublin or other EU countries in last few weeks could comment on how fast or slow they got through passport/covid control? Hoping to make a bus connection at 12pm from Estacion Sur to Leon, arrives 4pm. Otherwise I plan to get fast Train to Leon at 2.40pm arriving at 4.45pm. I will then get another train or taxi to Astorga same evening. Just wondering what experience ppl have had in last few weeks arriving into Madrid Airport and if it is slow or fast to exit airport controls? Thanks everyone

In 24 hours I'll be arriving in Madrid and catching the 11:15 am bus to Leon. Overnighting in Leon and then taking the 8:15 am-9am bus to Astorga! I'm happy to give you any tips regarding that trip. The Leon bus leaves from T4 so I'm hoping it will be smooth going. Buen Camino!

 

[Jim ME]

Best of luck! Thanks

 

[peregrina2000]

Do you know where exactly you catch this bus at T4? I'll be there in 24 hours and would appreciate any info you may have so that I can find it on the first try! The website is confusing as it's not clear as I go the the floor where there is the ticket office or to the floor where the "local" bus is. Thanks!

All you have to do is leave the airport beyond baggage claim. Signs for the metro and train will point to the right, and you just go straight outside. Cross the taxi lane and you will see the bus bays.

 

[Jim ME]

All you have to do is leave the airport beyond baggage claim. Signs for the metro and train will point to the right, and you just go straight outside. Cross the taxi lane and you will see the bus bays.

View attachment 107023

This is very helpful to me! Thank you!

 

[Walkingmad]

In 24 hours I'll be arriving in Madrid and catching the 11:15 am bus to Leon. Overnighting in Leon and then taking the 8:15 am-9am bus to Astorga! I'm happy to give you any tips regarding that trip. The Leon bus leaves from T4 so I'm hoping it will be smooth going. Buen Camino!

In 24 hours I'll be arriving in Madrid and catching the 11:15 am bus to Leon. Overnighting in Leon and then taking the 8:15 am-9am bus to Astorga! I'm happy to give you any tips regarding that trip. The Leon bus leaves from T4 so I'm hoping it will be smooth going. Buen Camino!

Brilliant, would love to hear how you get on. Buen Camino

 

[Walkingmad]

Hi everyone, just to say I breezed through passport control and Spanish Locator points this morning from Dublin to Madrid. Flight touched down early in Terminal 4S and I was sitting up front so I could get off plane quicker. Instead of planned 11am bus to Leon I was literally on a 10am bus straight to Astorga instead. Sitting now in front of Gaudi Palice with cold beer. Happy days. Start walking towards Santiago tomorrow

 

[Jim ME]

Great to know... So they just let you jump on the earlier bus or did you have to change your ticket? Thanks for letting us know. I will be there on Monday! Slainte!

 

[Walkingmad]

Great to know... So they just let you jump on the earlier bus or did you have to change your ticket? Thanks for letting us know. I will be there on Monday! Slainte!I

Great to know... So they just let you jump on the earlier bus or did you have to change your ticket? Thanks for letting us know. I will be there on Monday! Slainte!

Hi Jim, I had paid for 11am ticket but it was too late to try to cancel it. I bought a new ticket online for Astorga literally coming out the airport exits. Long journey though. Have a safe trip Monday and try to sit up front on plane if you can to get out earlier.

 

[peregrina2000]

Start walking towards Santiago tomorrow

Have a wonderful camino! Are you planning to sleep in albergues? What about reservations?

 

[Jim ME]

Thanks very much for the advice... My plane is just over half full and I am up front, so looking good. I arrive at 9:50 and bus to Leon leaves at 11. Maybe I will use your trick, but my ticket is changeable, so I might just try to get on and ask them to change it! Ha ! Enjoy your Camino. Hopefully my wife and I will get to Ireland again in 2022, we love it there. Wouldn't mind moving there at all. Peace go with you!

 

[Walkingmad]

Thanks very much for the advice... My plane is just over half full and I am up front, so looking good. I arrive at 9:50 and bus to Leon leaves at 11. Maybe I will use your trick, but my ticket is changeable, so I might just try to get on and ask them to change it! Ha ! Enjoy your Camino. Hopefully my wife and I will get to Ireland again in 2022, we love it there. Wouldn't mind moving there at all. Peace go with you!

Also check Madrid airport arrivals online. It will give you an indication if there are many flights arriving at same time as your flight to T4/S. Buen Camino.

 

[Walkingmad]

Have a wonderful camino! Are you planning to sleep in albergues? What about reservations?

I will be doing mostly private albergues. I use booking.com. I like to know what mileage I have to do to get from A to B each day and to know I have a place. That's just me.