- Time of past OR future Camino
- Annually - often more - from 2014
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A recent thread by @nidarosa prompted a thought.
Now that we in the UK have ‘taken back control’, to the delight of fractionally more than 50% of those who could be bothered to vote - a fair proportion of whom will be anticipating their annual two weeks on the Spanish costas in due course - we will be joining our American, Canadian and other friends in the ‘non-EU’ immigration queues.
Some of us will use the time to meditate on the folly of our friends (and in my case, their wife) whilst others will get mad and miss their onward connection
I digress.
Could those who have arrived at Madrid airport in the past and gone through non-EU immigration give me some idea how long it took to get through? COVID is another variable entirely, so let’s discount that please.
Returning from Santiago to Stansted in 2016 I queued for over an hour to use the bio-metric passport reader (which refused to work) and another 45 minutes in line to have it inspected by a sullen immigration officer.A recent thread by @nidarosa prompted a thought.
Now that we in the UK have ‘taken back control’, to the delight of fractionally more than 50% of those who could be bothered to vote - a fair proportion of whom will be anticipating their annual two weeks on the Spanish costas in due course - we will be joining our American, Canadian and other friends in the ‘non-EU’ immigration queues.
Some of us will use the time to meditate on the folly of our friends (and in my case, their wife) whilst others will get mad and miss their onward connection
I digress.
Could those who have arrived at Madrid airport in the past and gone through non-EU immigration give me some idea how long it took to get through? COVID is another variable entirely, so let’s discount that please.
Both Parisian airports are the same. Not many years ago I twice saw fist-fights in the queues for any kind of inspection.I have decided, after flying into Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on my way to walk the Aragones from Oloron Ste Marie, that I shall never again fly through that airport. The lineup for people going through immigration was so long that it stretched right out of the huge room set aside for it, with people packed in tightly. After a year and a half or so of "social distancing" I am not sure that my nerves could take it if anyone coughed in my vicinity.
Try flying through Dublin. They have U.S. Customs there. Get off plane in T5 and walk right out. Also a nice place to relax after a Camino.I experience extremely long "cattle lines" every time I return to Chicago international from overseas...it's unbelievable. Of course I avoided all lines in 2020...if there even were any.
Me, too. Never a problem.My experiences @ Madrid airport have not been bad. U.S. flights usually arrive early. Always carry on my backpack. I am sure that helps.
Something else that helps a LOT with making time from arrival gate to immigration hall is to walk rather than ride on the moving sidewalk. You will be ahead of hundreds of people by the time you get all the way from one end of T4-S to the other. You came to Spain to walk, didn’t you?!My experiences @ Madrid airport have not been bad. U.S. flights usually arrive early. Always carry on my backpack. I am sure that helps.
Gone through non-EU immigration at Barajas airport many times--no problems whatsoever.A recent thread by @nidarosa prompted a thought.
Now that we in the UK have ‘taken back control’, to the delight of fractionally more than 50% of those who could be bothered to vote - a fair proportion of whom will be anticipating their annual two weeks on the Spanish costas in due course - we will be joining our American, Canadian and other friends in the ‘non-EU’ immigration queues.
Some of us will use the time to meditate on the folly of our friends (and in my case, their wife) whilst others will get mad and miss their onward connection
I digress.
Could those who have arrived at Madrid airport in the past and gone through non-EU immigration give me some idea how long it took to get through? COVID is another variable entirely, so let’s discount that please.
I agree. I often go through Dublin on the way home and spend a day or two there. This year no...because, I was concerned about one country being open and possibly another shutting down...who knows...so we just limited exposure to Spain for our camino.Try flying through Dublin. They have U.S. Customs there. Get off plane in T5 and walk right out. Also a nice place to relax after a Camino.
I allow the same four hours as you, Kitsambler, and that normally serves me well. However, when I flew from Seattle to Paris in 2017, the plane was delayed out of Sea-Tac (no worries). Immigration at CDG took 45 minutes (budgeted). There would still be plenty of time to get to the Gare Montparness. I took a taxi as I enjoy seeing Paris from above ground. I did not anticipate the unusual volume of traffic this morning (surely it would not take more than an hour to get to the station). As we crawled along, the minutes began ticking by inversely proportionate to the distance traveled (getting anxious). The driver assured me we would get to the station soon. I checked my phone. 30 minutes until departure—the Gare is nowhere in sight (now I'm uneasy). The taxi dropped me off with 15 minutes to spare! I had my ticket, but how do I navigate this cavernous station and find a ticket validation station? Found it! Down to the main platform and into my seat with 5 minutes to spare. Off to Bayonne. Garçon, s'il vous plaît, I need a drink!In general, my experience has been that optimistic short layovers are the key cause of high stress levels. Rather, plan for 'stuff' to happen and then be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't. I always allow 4 hours for layovers, arriving from Seattle. If things go smoothly, I have the time for a leisurely lunch.
I allow the same four hours as you, Kitsambler, and that normally serves me well. However, when I flew from Seattle to Paris in 2017, the plane was delayed out of Sea-Tac (no worries). Immigration at CDG took 45 minutes (budgeted). There would still be plenty of time to get to the Gare Montparness. I took a taxi as I enjoy seeing Paris from above ground. I did not anticipate the unusual volume of traffic this morning (surely it would not take more than an hour to get to the station). As we crawled along, the minutes began ticking by inversely proportionate to the distance traveled (getting anxious). The driver assured me we would get to the station soon. I checked my phone. 30 minutes until departure—the Gare is nowhere in sight (now I'm uneasy). The taxi dropped me off with 15 minutes to spare! I had my ticket, but how do I navigate this cavernous station and find a ticket validation station? Found it! Down to the main platform and into my seat with 5 minutes to spare. Off to Bayonne. Garçon, s'il vous plaît, I need a drink!
Solid advice, henrythedog. It's something I would never say, but I must admit the sentiment of desiring a drink was momentarily there. Truth is, after flying all night with no sleep, I think I was in zzzzzzzzz-town before the train left the station. ;-)Your time planning is very sensible and I share your preference for overground travel.
A suggestion which is intended to be helpful - calling a Parisian waiter ‘garçon’ is unlikely to result the rapid, carefree service for which they are renowned (cough!)
I have always found the airport staff in Amsterdam (Schiphol) to be the friendliest and most helpful, and although the airport is huge, it's reasonably easy to navigate. Unfortunately, I have not found the same in Paris. I avoid routing through France when going on to Portugal, even though there are plenty of flights from Canada.We flew from Chicago to a smaller airport in the UK pre-covid 2019 with the shortest layover ever in Amsterdam. There was a work vehicle at the gate holding up our plane to disembark. We literally had to run through the airport to make our connection, scared we would miss it. We were the last ones to arrive at the gate and they actually had the plane wait for us to arrive and board before it left. I felt like an important person...I was quite impressed.
In 2018 It took us a good hour before we realized that we were in the wrong place (along with several other people). We then found the correct place where it took us about an hour and a half. We should have cheated and used our still valid British passport and stayed in the original line but I worried that we could be in more trouble doing that.A recent thread by @nidarosa prompted a thought.
Now that we in the UK have ‘taken back control’, to the delight of fractionally more than 50% of those who could be bothered to vote - a fair proportion of whom will be anticipating their annual two weeks on the Spanish costas in due course - we will be joining our American, Canadian and other friends in the ‘non-EU’ immigration queues.
Some of us will use the time to meditate on the folly of our friends (and in my case, their wife) whilst others will get mad and miss their onward connection
I digress.
Could those who have arrived at Madrid airport in the past and gone through non-EU immigration give me some idea how long it took to get through? COVID is another variable entirely, so let’s discount that please.
Hello~~ June 2018 arriving Madrid at 9am from Dallas, TX USA....approx 30 minutes, perhaps a bit more...I didn’t feel it was long. However I was extremely anxious as I had to collect baggage; change terminal recheck to an Iberia flight by 11:30am. I made it with a little time to spare. (I made the mistake of booking the flights separately, so airline would not check baggage to final destination)A recent thread by @nidarosa prompted a thought.
Now that we in the UK have ‘taken back control’, to the delight of fractionally more than 50% of those who could be bothered to vote - a fair proportion of whom will be anticipating their annual two weeks on the Spanish costas in due course - we will be joining our American, Canadian and other friends in the ‘non-EU’ immigration queues.
Some of us will use the time to meditate on the folly of our friends (and in my case, their wife) whilst others will get mad and miss their onward connection
I digress.
Could those who have arrived at Madrid airport in the past and gone through non-EU immigration give me some idea how long it took to get through? COVID is another variable entirely, so let’s discount that please.
Don’t ever try flying out of either Paris airport or Rome!Madrid is on my list of terrifying airports. I got lost for over an hour, and yelled at, at the informacion desk.
To be fair, I was also running on close to 24 hours of no sleep that wasn't making it any easier, but I learned from this incident to always google a map of the airport I'm landing in, and to find out ahead of time if there is a shuttle I need to take to a different terminal.
I agree! If I hadn't had my son with me my first time there in 2015, I would still be wandering around the airport aimlessly to this very day looking for help to get out!Madrid is on my list of terrifying airports. I got lost for over an hour, and yelled at, at the informacion desk.
To be fair, I was also running on close to 24 hours of no sleep that wasn't making it any easier, but I learned from this incident to always google a map of the airport I'm landing in, and to find out ahead of time if there is a shuttle I need to take to a different terminal.
I was thinking about all of this the other day when I was dreaming of starting in SJPP. I can't decide the best way to get there. lolDon’t ever try flying out of either Paris airport or Rome!
I didn't tell the end of my story. When I finally got to the terminal I had a camino friend (we had not met yet IRL) waiting for me. I was so turned around I couldn't find her and she finally texted me with "Eve. Just stand still. I'll find you."I agree! If I hadn't had my son with me my first time there in 2015, I would still be wandering around the airport aimlessly to this very day looking for help to get out!
Agree with this. Dublin was always a great experience for me. The person checking your passport was always in a good mood...even funny.Try flying through Dublin. They have U.S. Customs there. Get off plane in T5 and walk right out. Also a nice place to relax after a Camino.
Eve: Where are you flying from? The states?I was thinking about all of this the other day when I was dreaming of starting in SJPP. I can't decide the best way to get there. lol
Yeah. I also had a great experience flying in and out of Dublin, but that was a trip to Ireland. The flights from my area don't ever route through Dublin.Eve: Where are you flying from? The states?
I flew from Pitts to Newark and then straight to Dublin. I stayed one day and explored Dublin and the next day I flew from Dublin on Ryanair straight to Biarritz FR (flight was about 1 hour). I used taxi service Express Bourricot that took me from airport straight to SJPP (taxi ride was about 40 min). The cost of Ryanair was around $100 one way and the taxi ride (because it's a ride share with other pilgrams) was around $20 for each person.Yeah. I also had a great experience flying in and out of Dublin, but that was a trip to Ireland. The flights from my area don't ever route through Dublin.
I flew from Pitts to Newark and then straight to Dublin. I stayed one day and explored Dublin and the next day I flew from Dublin on Ryanair straight to Biarritz FR (flight was about 1 hour). I used taxi service Express Bourricot that took me from airport straight to SJPP (taxi ride was about 40 min). The cost of Ryanair was around $100 one way and the taxi ride (because it's a ride share with other pilgrams) was around $20 for each person.
I did have a one way ticket back from SDC to Dublin used Iberia air and it went through Madrid airport with a quick layover...again cost was about $100. Yep...I had a round trip ticket to Dublin from Pitts. On my way back I also stayed one night in Dublin in a hotel by airport which had free (from and to) airport shuttle. While researching the Camino I realized a lot of Irish Citizens walk the Camino so I figured there must have been something set up to make it easy for them to get to and from - and there was...Ryanair.Hmmm. I didn't realize you could fly directly from Dublin to Biarritz. /wheels turning...Did you have a one way ticket then from SDC back to Dublin in order to do a round trip ticket Dublin back to Pitt?
On Ryanair were you able to do carry on with your pack?
This is awesome. Thank you!I did have a one way ticket back from SDC to Dublin used Iberia air and it went through Madrid airport with a quick layover...again cost was about $100. Yep...I had a round trip ticket to Dublin from Pitts. On my way back I also stayed one night in Dublin in a hotel by airport which had free (from and to) airport shuttle. While researching the Camino I realized a lot of Irish Citizens walk the Camino so I figured there must have been something set up to make it easy for them to get to and from - and there was...Ryanair.
The Ryanair flight had mostly pilgrams (you could tell because of how they were dressed and the backpacks) and most of them carried on their packs. I made friends with a few pilgrams in the airport and saw them many times throughout the walk.Hmmm. I didn't realize you could fly directly from Dublin to Biarritz. /wheels turning...Did you have a one way ticket then from SDC back to Dublin in order to do a round trip ticket Dublin back to Pitt?
On Ryanair were you able to do carry on with your pack?
No problem. The name of the hotel I stayed at in Dublin was Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport. It was clean and inexpensive with restaurant and a bus stops nearby to take you to downtown. When are you thinking of going? Buen Camino!This is awesome. Thank you!
I spent several weeks in Ireland in 19, so I’d be more tempted to try to go straight through to Biarritz and then spend a day there. I’ve not yet been to France.No problem. The name of the hotel I stayed at in Dublin was Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport. It was clean and inexpensive with restaurant and a bus stops nearby to take you to downtown. When are you thinking of going? Buen Camino!
I’m not so sure there will be a deluge this summer. Not everyone has the option yet to be vaccinated. It will be interesting to see how rapidly camino traffic increases. I’m thinking ‘22 is the year that will be really busy. I’ve still got school aged kids at home but my husband will be working from home full time through the end of 21, so by going this year, I can be gone longer than normal, and I’m really hoping to take advantage of that. The advice here to start out slow is very appealing to me. I’m hoping for 8 weeks (including flying and jet lag days).The reason I stayed in Ireland 1 night was to help with jet lag and because the timing for the Ryanair flight out and my United flight in was 1 day difference. Ryan air only flies to Biarritz certain days (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays).
I'm waiting to see when the restrictions are lifted. I like the idea of September -- crowd will thin out a bit by then with kids back in school...and summer heat w/pack sounds not ideal to me.
A recent thread by @nidarosa prompted a thought.
Now that we in the UK have ‘taken back control’, to the delight of fractionally more than 50% of those who could be bothered to vote - a fair proportion of whom will be anticipating their annual two weeks on the Spanish costas in due course - we will be joining our American, Canadian and other friends in the ‘non-EU’ immigration queues.
Some of us will use the time to meditate on the folly of our friends (and in my case, their wife) whilst others will get mad and miss their onward connection
I digress.
Could those who have arrived at Madrid airport in the past and gone through non-EU immigration give me some idea how long it took to get through? COVID is another variable entirely, so let’s discount that please.
There was no line for EU citizens pre-Covid. No documents checking, nothing. We were just leaving the airport like we were still in the same country. There was always a separate line for UK though, as UK has never been part of the Schengen agreement. Therefore regular border rules applied (yet simple passport control only or ID only if you were non British EU flying from/to the UK). Not sure how it is going to look now with vaccination passports. This year I walk Cammino di San Benedetto in Italy in August and I chose less convenient late night flight just to avoid change and possible additional check points. I thought 70 minutes might not be enough in Germany to change the flight.(...) you might actually find the non-EU line (queue) almost exclusive for the British. You may get through faster than you would in the EU line, as everyone in both lines has to present their covid documents
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