- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances in 2016, Portuguese in 2017, and Frances again in 2018. Madrid to Ponferrada 2019.
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If you go to the Alsa website and plug in Madrid -Ponferrada, you will see that when the bus schedule comes up, the designation for the 10 am bus from the airport is “Superflex” and underneath it says — changes and cancellations permitted. I have had good luck with Alsa and their ticketing but have never had to change or cancel so I can’t give you any first hand experience.I'll be arriving at the Madrid Airport a little after 9 a.m on September 3rd. There is an Alsa bus at 10 a.m. to Ponferrada that I would like to catch. I may miss it, however so I'm reluctant to buy my bus ticket ahead of time. Any suggestions?
Thank you for taking the time and thoughtfully answering my question. I know that one can cancel the bus ticket one or two days prior but I don't know if one can do that after the fact. I think I'll take my chances for an empty seat and buy my ticket at the airport. It's very possible that I may not make that bus and have to catch the 3 pm bus.If you go to the Alsa website and plug in Madrid -Ponferrada, you will see that when the bus schedule comes up, the designation for the 10 am bus from the airport is “Superflex” and underneath it says — changes and cancellations permitted. I have had good luck with Alsa and their ticketing but have never had to change or cancel so I can’t give you any first hand experience.
I suppose the other option is to just assume that the bus will have seats, which is extremely likely. It starts at the airport before going down to two other in-town bus stations (Estación Sur and Moncloa) so you will be ahead of any walk-ons from those stations.
Do you know which terminal you arrive in? The Alsa bus leaves from T4, which is where Iberia and all its One World partners land. If you land in the other terminals,you will have to catch an intra-airport bus over to T4. The buses are very efficient and leave every ten minutes, but it will add another 15-20 minutes to your journey.
And who knows what immigration and the health form check will look like when you arrive!
Good luck and buen camino. Are you by any chance walking the Camino Invierno from Ponferrada?
Thank you for your response. Do you know if it can be cancelled within a few minutes prior to the departure? ThanksI've had to cancel an ALSA bus ticket several times and never had the slightest problem. Money quickly refunded. (I always buy my ALSA bus tickets using Movelia, btw.)
9 AM flight arrival time, and 10 AM bus departure time? In the Age of the Virus? Good luck with that, my friend.
I was thinking of walking the invierno but when I last looked there didn't appear to be adequate infrastructure for beds along the way.Thank you for taking the time and thoughtfully answering my question. I know that one can cancel the bus ticket one or two days prior but I don't know if one can do that after the fact. I think I'll take my chances for an empty seat and buy my ticket at the airport. It's very possible that I may not make that bus and have to catch the 3 pm bus.
I am planning the Invierno for mid-October & I was looking at that same 10:00 bus to Ponferrada but I was able to find a flight that arrives ~7:00 am & was still hoping I could make it! I have already been able to book accommodations along the way but I stay in small hotels. Good luck, KathiI was thinking of walking the invierno but when I last looked there didn't appear to be adequate infrastructure for beds along the way.
In June, I arrived around 8:35 and was through immigration, off the train and back in T4, and then down to the Renfe office in Cercanías by shortly after 9. It can happen!9 AM flight arrival time, and 10 AM bus departure time? In the Age of the Virus? Good luck with that, my friend.
Thank you for your post Kathi. Sounds like you're all squared away. Wishing you a Buen Camino.I am planning the Invierno for mid-October & I was looking at that same 10:00 bus to Ponferrada but I was able to find a flight that arrives ~7:00 am & was still hoping I could make it! I have already been able to book accommodations along the way but I stay in small hotels. Good luck, Kathi
I'll certainly give it a shot. Thank you for posting.In June, I arrived around 8:35 and was through immigration, off the train and back in T4, and then down to the Renfe office in Cercanías by shortly after 9. It can happen!
Checked luggage or carry-on only?In June, I arrived around 8:35 and was through immigration, off the train and back in T4, and then down to the Renfe office in Cercanías by shortly after 9. It can happen!
I had only carryon. The waits at the T4 baggage claim for luggage coming from the T4S satellite terminal are usually VERY long. So even if you zoom through immigration, immediately hop on the train, and sail through the health care QR inspection, it may all be for naught. Because if you have checked luggage, you will frequently beat it to the carousel, and often by a long shot.Checked luggage or carry-on only?
My experience of catching a Burgos bus was exactly what you describe. Waiting for the pack was nerve-wracking. I caught a bus that was 3 hours after landing, and after the wait in baggage claim I still had time, but not that long, maybe 30-45 minutes.had only carryon.
Hi @Chito, just a few additional comments to what has already been said.I'll be arriving at the Madrid Airport a little after 9 a.m on September 3rd. There is an Alsa bus at 10 a.m. to Ponferrada that I would like to catch. I may miss it, however so I'm reluctant to buy my bus ticket ahead of time. Any suggestions?
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