Connect time in Madrid from Santiago?

[mblind]

Hi. I have connected in Madrid on many occasions on an outbound flight. So I am pretty familiar with how much time is needed. But in October I will fly from Vigo and connect in Madrid for a flight back to the USA. I arrive in Terminal 4, then my departure flight is from Terminal 4S. How much time do I need? Any hints for making it easier/faster??
Thanks!

 

[Former member 102963]

Hi. I have connected in Madrid on many occasions on an outbound flight. So I am pretty familiar with how much time is needed. But in October I will fly from Vigo and connect in Madrid for a flight back to the USA. I arrive in Terminal 4, then my departure flight is from Terminal 4S. How much time do I need? Any hints for making it easier/faster??
Thanks!

I think that the Minimum Connecting Time at Madrid is 60 minutes, though it may vary by carrier, so for the majority of flights that will be achieved.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, @mblind,

You’re going to get a lot of different opinions in response to the question, but I think the thing that matters most is whether this is all on one ticket. If it is, I just wouldn’t worry. Do your best to make the connection, but if you don’t, the airline will rebook you. I have mised a connection in Madrid on several occasions and have always been able to get home that day - the airline usually rebooks me through London, since most of the direct flights to the US leave before noon, at least on American.

I personally would not risk missing my international flight if the flight from Vigo is on a different ticket, and would probably come in the day before. I have seen people show up at the American ticket counter in Madrid having missed their flight to the US because of a delayed “connecting” flight that was not on the same ticket. Not only did they lose their ticket on the original flight to the US, but they also had to buy a new last minute one way ticket home. That may be very unlikely, so it depends on your level of risk aversion, I guess.

 

[trecile]

Listen to @peregrina2000
Unless the flights are on the same ticket you don't have a "connection," and your expensive transatlantic flight is at risk.

Besides the risk of your first flight being delayed, there is a risk that one or both flights will be rescheduled, making the connection impossible. Flight changes seem to be a way of life these days.

However, if the tickets are all on one ticket (hopefully purchased directly from the airline) you have a "protected" connection, meaning that the airline is responsible for getting you from Vigo to the US. Beware that there are some third party booking sites that will sell you separate tickets.

 

[trecile]

think that the Minimum Connecting Time at Madrid is 60 minutes

That is for true connections on one ticket.

 

[peregrina2000]

(hopefully purchased directly from the airline)

That is excellent advice. If you buy your tickets from third parties like expedia, cheapo air, kayak, priceline, etc, you are much more likely to be taken care of last when it comes to airline rebooking. The airlines may not have much left in the way of customer loyalty and TLC, but you can be sure they have much less of it when it comes to passengers who buy from those sites. In this day of frequent cancellations and changes, I have heard many horror stories. IMHO, it is well worth it to spend the extra money to avoid that increasingly likely hassle.

 

[Former member 102963]

That is for true connections on one ticket.

Yes I am assuming that the OP had booked a through journey otherwise in the eyes of an airline he/she is on 2 point to point journeys as opppssd to a connecting one.

 

[trecile]

IMHO, it is well worth it to spend the extra money to avoid that increasingly likely hassle.

The fact is, you probably won't spend extra money. It's unlikely that third party bookers sell tickets for lower prices than the airlines. They do advertise low prices, but once you go to book the prices are usually the same as directly through the airline.
Or you make a booking "request" (read the fine print) that you think has gone through because they took your payment only to get a message from them that they weren't able to purchase your tickets at the advertised price and the tickets are actually XX$/€/£ more - in other words, the same price as direct from the airline. This is because many of these companies don't have "live" pricing.

 

[trecile]

Yes I am assuming that the OP had booked a through journey!

By the nature of their question it sounds like all of the flights have not yet been booked.

 

[Former member 102963]

By the nature of their question it sounds like all of the flights have not yet been booked.

Sure I didn’t read it that way but agree direct booking on same PNR/ticket number is way to go!

 

[mblind]

Thanks to all. Yes, I have the entire itinerary booked through Iberia with flights on Iberia Vigo-Mad, American AIrlines Mad-Dulles) , so I know my flight to USA is protected. I have about 1 hr 20 min connect tine. I wouldn't like this on an inbound itinerary when I have to clear immigration/security upon arrival in Madrid. But hopefuly the flight from Vigo will be on time--which should give me a comfortable connect time.

 

[Former member 102963]

Thanks to all. Yes, I have the entire itinerary booked through Iberia with flights on Iberia Vigo-Mad, American AIrlines Mad-Dulles) , so I know my flight to USA is protected. I have about 1 hr 20 min connect tine. I wouldn't like this on an inbound itinerary when I have to clear immigration/security upon arrival in Madrid. But hopefuly the flight from Vigo will be on time--which should give me a comfortable connect time.

That’s a pretty good connection time! Out of interest what time is your flight from Vigo?

 

[mblind]

Flight from VIgo is 9:20 a.m. I think I ned to get from Terminal 4 to 4S.....but that should be fairly quick, since I won't have to go through security/customs. At least, I don't think I have to!

 

[frjuliangreen]

Hi. I have connected in Madrid on many occasions on an outbound flight. So I am pretty familiar with how much time is needed. But in October I will fly from Vigo and connect in Madrid for a flight back to the USA. I arrive in Terminal 4, then my departure flight is from Terminal 4S. How much time do I need? Any hints for making it easier/faster??
Thanks!

It's a fairly easy connection. 4S is an extra 15 minutes on the little train to the satellite terminal. What I'm not sure about is extra security or immigration requirements for onward flight to the USA.