Connecting flight time in Madrid

[Marbe2]

I have friends on Iberia with a connecting flight of 1 hr ten minutes. They are coming in from USA early in the morning. I have been told that many flights from USA come into Madrid a bit early. They do have a connecting flight into Santiago and only have carry on luggage. However they will be making the connection the day before Easter. Flights are already booked. They have set up car service from SCQ to Sarria where we will connect. Does anyone think the connection is doable? Any suggestions if they do not make the connection?

 

[peregrina2000]

This connection will probably require going from Terminal 4S (the satellite terminal where international arrivals and customs are) to T4. That involves several flights on an escalator and a train ride (but the trains come very frequently). I have made similar connection times, and I have missed a flight with similar connection times. When I missed my flight, the Iberia personnel were terrific -- they pulled our luggage and got us on a Vueling flight out of T2, (yes it was hectic, but we made it!) so that we wound up just being about an hour later than our original reservation. This was a flight to Lisbon, so there may have been more choices than Madrid to Santiago.

I am assuming this is all one ticket, and if it is, Iberia will be the ones to have to fix the problem if your friends miss their connection. But your friends should have a list of all the next flights from Madrid to Santiago, including airlines other than Iberia, so that they can see what the options are when they actually arrive. You are right, they may make it fine. If they are going to miss the connection, there will be an Iberia agent greeting them at the arrival gate with the new information on the next flight. But knowing what is available is going to give them the knowledge they need to know whether Iberia's offer to re-route is the best that can be done. Iberia will have a financial incentive to keep the passengers on an Iberia plane, but if you know there is, say, an Easy Jet flight leaving sooner, it would be worth it to try to get them to move you to that flight.

 

[Marbe2]

This connection will probably require going from Terminal 4S (the satellite terminal where international arrivals and customs are) to T4. That involves several flights on an escalator and a train ride (but the trains come very frequently). I have made similar connection times, and I have missed a flight with similar connection times. When I missed my flight, the Iberia personnel were terrific -- they pulled our luggage and got us on a Vueling flight out of T2, (yes it was hectic, but we made it!) so that we wound up just being about an hour later than our original reservation. This was a flight to Lisbon, so there may have been more choices than Madrid to Santiago.

I am assuming this is all one ticket, and if it is, Iberia will be the ones to have to fix the problem if your friends miss their connection. But your friends should have a list of all the next flights from Madrid to Santiago, including airlines other than Iberia, so that they can see what the options are when they actually arrive. You are right, they may make it fine. If they are going to miss the connection, there will be an Iberia agent greeting them at the arrival gate with the new information on the next flight. But knowing what is available is going to give them the knowledge they need to know whether Iberia's offer to re-route is the best that can be done. Iberia will have a financial incentive to keep the passengers on an Iberia plane, but if you know there is, say, an Easy Jet flight leaving sooner, it would be worth it to try to get them to move you to that flight.

Their booking, except a short flight in USA, is all on Iberia. However, the first segment is American and the flights were issued by American. The overseas segment are code shared, except the sections between Madrid/Santiago which are Iberia only. Will they need clearance from American if a change is to be made? Since this is an Iberia only flight, can Iberia make the change themselves if they need to catch a different flight.

Will their really be an agent at the gate when they arrive to assist them if they can not make the flight? I do have the additional flights to give them. Thanks for that suggestion.

 

[peregrina2000]

Their booking, except a short flight in USA, is all on Iberia. However, the first segment is American and the flights were issued by American. The overseas segment are code shared, except the sections between Madrid/Santiago which are Iberia only. Will they need clearance from American if a change is to be made? Since this is an Iberia only flight, can Iberia make the change themselves if they need to catch a different flight.

Will their really be an agent at the gate when they arrive to assist them if they can not make the flight? I do have the additional flights to give them. Thanks for that suggestion.

Hi, Marbe2, I always book my flights through American, they are code shared with Iberia. (Actually, I think you will see that the Madrid Santiago segment has an AA code share as well). But Iberia will handle the whole rebooking thing if they get off an Iberia plane in Madrid. As far as whether there will be an agent there, I can only tell you that has always been my experience. Sometimes there are agents there to give you rebooking information, but other times they are there with passes if you have a tight connection to let you jump the line in security and immigration. My memory is that they hold up a little sign with your destination rather than with your name, since there are frequently other passengers who are missing the same connection you are.

Hope your friend makes it -- have you found that there are good options for rebooking in case they do arrive late?

 

[Marbe2]

Hi, Marbe2, I always book my flights through American, they are code shared with Iberia. (Actually, I think you will see that the Madrid Santiago segment has an AA code share as well). But Iberia will handle the whole rebooking thing if they get off an Iberia plane in Madrid. As far as whether there will be an agent there, I can only tell you that has always been my experience. Sometimes there are agents there to give you rebooking information, but other times they are there with passes if you have a tight connection to let you jump the line in security and immigration. My memory is that they hold up a little sign with your destination rather than with your name, since there are frequently other passengers who are missing the same connection you are.

Hope your friend makes it -- have you found that there are good options for rebooking in case they do arrive late?

Thank you you Laurie! I will pass this information on to them! Yes, I have looked the flights up. There are two on Iberia later. One abt 11:30am and one at 4pm. There is also an 8:30am flight with Ryan air, but that is out of terminal 1 and as you know the luggage rules and seating are different. I am hoping that if they miss the original flight there would be room on the 11:30flight. However it is the day before Easter and not sure about availability...planes may be full.

 

[Marbe2]

Apparently, they would not allow them to reserve seats for the Madrid/Santiago segments? Will Iberia issue them and boarding passes for those segments in Boston?

 

[peregrina2000]

Apparently, they would not allow them to reserve seats for the Madrid/Santiago segments? Will Iberia issue them and boarding passes for those segments in Boston?

When I book through American and fly on Iberia, I cannot pre-book a seat on any of the Iberia segments. I get all my seat assignments when I check in for the first leg of the flight. So if they were able to get their seat selection for Boston to Madrid, they are one step ahead of me! But yes, they should get seat assignments when they check in at their first airport.

 

[Marbe2]

When I book through American and fly on Iberia, I cannot pre-book a seat on any of the Iberia segments. I get all my seat assignments when I check in for the first leg of the flight. So if they were able to get their seat selection for Boston to Madrid, they are one step ahead of me! But yes, they should get seat assignments when they check in at their first airport.

Thank you so much. I will relay your experience. Grateful!