How Long Through the Airport

CSmith · May 18, 2017

Hey all,

My husband and I are at a 2-week countdown to departure. We fly to Madrid and I am pre-purchasing my train ticket today.

In my home city in the U.S., it can take hours to get out of the airport because of immigrations and customs lines. What can I expect in Madrid? We arrive at 8:30 a.m. We need to drop-off a suitcase at the Correos office at Terminal 1 then will transport to the Madrid-Chamartin station to catch our train. I am trying to decide which train schedule to aim for.

Thank you.

Kitsambler · May 18, 2017

CSmith said:
I am trying to decide which train schedule to aim for.

Eventhough your flight is scheduled to land at 0830, it may be late. Let's give it a 30 minute allowance. Baggage, customs and immigration can be highly variable; let's say an hour. Then you need to make that supplemental bag drop; add another 30 minutes. So we are at two hours before leaving the airport. To await a bus, or hail al cab, and get into town to the train station, might take an additional hour. That makes three hours as a very conservative estimate; the process may well take only two hours.

Alternatively, you could make progress as best you can, and buy your train ticket when you do finally reach the station.

natefaith · May 18, 2017

Hi CSmith and welcome to the forum!

Give yourself as much margin as you'd give yourself trying to make it out of your home airport. Madrid Barajas is one of the more sprawling airports of the world, and baggage claim + walking through + customs/ immigration + train shuttle from one terminal to the next + possible post office wait (whatever it might look like) will eat up time.

Hope that helps. Enjoy all the planning and Buen Camino.
Faith

Ahhhs · May 18, 2017

The Madrid airport is huge. It can take 30 minutes by tram (times are posted) just to get from one terminal to the next. I would allow at least a couple of hours or even more if you have things to do at the airport.

And yes, your flight could be late. Especially if you are flying on Iberia.

Rick of Rick and Peg · May 18, 2017

If things get too tight to get a booked train skip the post office at the airport and find one at your train's destination.

notion900 · May 18, 2017

Is there any particular need to book the train? There are also a ton of buses direct from the airport to destinations all over Spain.

whariwharangi · May 18, 2017

I like Kitsamler's time appreciation.

Assuming you're planning on Pamplona ...

I'd plan on 1505 train from Chamartin and, if you buy tickets in advance, buy with the option to exchange for the 1135 in the event that everything goes without snags.

You might want to consider going to Intercambiador de Avenida de America. Between PLM Autocares and ALSA there is a bus for Pamplona hourly.

OTH86 · May 18, 2017

I just came in to T 1 four hours ago, and it took 30 minutes - mid-day - once I was off the plane to go thru pp control (same line as EU folks - I'm a US citizen), wait for and collect my checked bag, and arrive at the bus to take me in to central Madrid. I was coming from London, not from the US.

Jersey · May 18, 2017

You might want to take the taxi to get to the train station.
30 euro flat rate.
And for those who haven't booked there flight yet,
I arrived at Madrid airport 6:30 am last year.
I was out of the airport as quick as I could walk.
It was like a ghost town

CSmith · May 18, 2017

Thanks, all. Very helpful.

LaurieElizabeth · May 18, 2017

CS, I plan on shipping my luggage after I arrive at Madrid AP in June. I was going to use luggage transfer service at Terminal 4 (in the basement) which will shrink wrap & then send luggage to Ivar for $40. If you don't mind me asking - how will you wrap your luggage for transport and how much to ship from the Correaa? TY, Laurie

julia-t · May 18, 2017

I was at Chamartin station 3 weeks ago, and there is a Correos there. I can't advise of the opening times, but it could be worth a google search.

As others have Madrid Barajas is huge. Even if you fly into T4, it may well be the T4S satellite terminal, which involves a train shuttle to the main T4 terminal.

Depending on which terminal you arrive into, you probably should allow at least 3 hours. Better to have too much time than having to rush around in a panic.

Train tickets can be considerably cheaper when booked in advance.
Note that semi-refundable (not sure that's the right term?) tickets are only able to be changed/refunded UP TO the day of travel - meaning you can't change them on the day if your flight arrives late. So not worth buying. Fully refundable advance tickets are the same price as walk-up tickets on the day (but then you maybe don't have the same seating options because the seats have been booked already!)

CSmith · May 18, 2017

LaurieElizabeth said:
CS, I plan on shipping my luggage after I arrive at Madrid AP in June. I was going to use luggage transfer service at Terminal 4 (in the basement) which will shrink wrap & then send luggage to Ivar for $40. If you don't mind me asking - how will you wrap your luggage for transport and how much to ship from the Correaa? TY, Laurie

I hadn't even thought of it, Laurie. It will be a small suitcase. After our Camino, my husband has to fly directly to another continent for a previous commitment, and he needs a different sort of clothes. I only chose Correo because folks on this forum told me about it. I have no idea how much it costs.

bbates225 · May 19, 2017

Ahhhs said:
The Madrid airport is huge. It can take 30 minutes by tram (times are posted) just to get from one terminal to the next. I would allow at least a couple of hours or even more if you have things to do at the airport.

And yes, your flight could be late. Especially if you are flying on Iberia.

I leave in just under two weeks (5/31/17) and arrive in Madrid 02:20 pm 6/1/17. I thought I had worked through all of my night-time terrors and was just starting to sleep at night. Now this Madrid airport thing has come up and I'm at it again. Yes, Iberia... however, my question is this? I have a connecting flight to Pamplona departing 04:10pm. If I'm fortunate enough to get my backpack onto the cabin, I won't have checked luggage. I never thought about customs... do I have to go through prior to my flight to Pamplona or can I go through customs there? Now I am really beginning to wonder if my 02:20pm arrival (in a perfect world will be on time ) and a departure time of 04:10pm is enough time. BTW, the flight to Pamplona is on Air Nostrum Lam operated by Iberia. I never questioned timing since my reservations were made through a travel agent. Kind of too late to make a changes now . Any help with be greatly appreciated.

C clearly · May 19, 2017

bbates225 said:
Kind of too late to make a changes now .

So, relax and let it happen!

whariwharangi · May 19, 2017

bbates225 said:
I leave in just under two weeks (5/31/17) and arrive in Madrid 02:20 pm 6/1/17. I thought I had worked through all of my night-time terrors and was just starting to sleep at night. Now this Madrid airport thing has come up and I'm at it again. Yes, Iberia... however, my question is this? I have a connecting flight to Pamplona departing 04:10pm. If I'm fortunate enough to get my backpack onto the cabin, I won't have checked luggage. I never thought about customs... do I have to go through prior to my flight to Pamplona or can I go through customs there? Now I am really beginning to wonder if my 02:20pm arrival (in a perfect world will be on time ) and a departure time of 04:10pm is enough time. BTW, the flight to Pamplona is on Air Nostrum Lam operated by Iberia. I never questioned timing since my reservations were made through a travel agent. Kind of too late to make a changes now . Any help with be greatly appreciated.

You do customs at Madrid. Pamplona has only domestic flights.

If your flight from origin to Pamplona via Madrid is one ticket then don't worry about it. If you don't make a connection you'll get placed on the next flight.

I might suggest looking at Barajas Airport map and plot your route from arrival terminal to departure terminal.

http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html

If you find yourself stranded ... take a bus to Pamplona. No sweat.

Paddington Bear · May 19, 2017

As with all flights and airports wait times are variable.
I came through Madrid airport at 1 pm theee days ago through the non EU citizen queue and the lines were huge. At least 1/2 hr.
Thenthere was a lot of walking plus a train to baggage collection from our terminal (at least 20 mins).
The customs inspection was walk straight through.

The time your ticket says you will land is on the runway.

Usually if you have a deadline the queues will be huge, if you have no deadline you will breeze through.

bbates225 · May 19, 2017

C clearly said:
So, relax and let it happen!

Thanks... I know this is exactly what I need to do. My mom used to tell me if I didn't have something to worry about I would worry about it. Guess she was right

bbates225 · May 19, 2017

whariwharangi said:
You do customs at Madrid. Pamplona has only domestic flights.

If your flight from origin to Pamplona via Madrid is one ticket then don't worry about it. If you don't make a connection you'll get placed on the next flight.

I might suggest looking at Barajas Airport map and plot your route from arrival terminal to departure terminal.

http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html

If you find yourself stranded ... take a bus to Pamplona. No sweat.

Thank you. All good advice, which is why I turn to this forum in the first place . I will definitely check out the airport link.

Rick of Rick and Peg · May 19, 2017

bbates225 said:
I have a connecting flight to Pamplona departing 04:10pm.

BTW, there is no bus service from the airport into Pamplona. You can take a taxi or a street bus but the street bus does not stop at the airport. It does run by it though and should only cost a bit over a euro. It is line #16 and will stop across from the Pamplona bus station. From the airport you have to walk either north or south along the main road to a bus shelter. From Google street view it looks like the southern stop is more interesting. You want the stops on the other side of the road from the airport.

Here is an interactive map point out the above mentioned places:
https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4....Line 16 bus stop||42.770318,-1.645714^Airport

bbates225 · May 19, 2017

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
BTW, there is no bus service from the airport into Pamplona. You can take a taxi or a street bus but the street bus does not stop at the airport. It does run by it though and should only cost a bit over a euro. It is line #16 and will stop across from the Pamplona bus station. From the airport you have to walk either north or south along the main road to a bus shelter. From Google street view it looks like the southern stop is more interesting. You want the stops on the other side of the road from the airport.

Here is an interactive map point out the above mentioned places:
https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4....Line 16 bus stop||42.770318,-1.645714^Airport

Thanks much. I have actually planned on taking a taxi. I have a reservation in Pamplona and figured a taxi could just take me right there. After a long flight(s) from LAX I thought it would just be the easiest way. Even with all my anxiety, I really am looking forward to my pilgrimage . Just last minute jitters getting to me.

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How Long Through the Airport

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