We are visiting Madrid for the first time next month -- July 2003. While I will be staying a full month (I am teaching a course through Univ of New orleans), my wife and daughter will return after about ten days. She has asked me to find out the recommended time to arrive at the Madrid airport prior to flying out of US Air at 1:40 pm. With custsoms and security, what do the airlines recommend? Two hours before flight? More or less? Gracias,

Dinty

Hi dinty, welcome to the board.

If they get there by 12:00 noon they will be fine.

Saludos,
jer...

Hi Dinty!

First of all, I would like to introduce myself, as I am new arround here I�m Elvira, and I�m from Madrid (yep, I�m Spaniard). I found this site a few days ago and I think is absolutely brilliant I would like to participate and help as much as I can, and also, I apologize if I make mistakes in English (not always as good as it should be)

Dinty, regarding the airport matter, if they arrive to the airport about 2 hours before their flight, they will have plenty of time....time that can be used at the airport shops

Hey Elvira, your English is just fine.

quote:

I found this site a few days ago and I think is absolutely brilliant

Thanks, I'm blushing!!!

For the record, I refuse to get to airports 2 hrs. early ever since I showed up once that early and the airline employees did not get there until an hour later

I now strut in about 90 minutes before my flight times for international flights and 60 minutes before a domestic flight.

Saludos,
jer...

Wanker, how long have you been in Spain? Haven't you learned you have to arrive as the plane leaves, make a scene, make them hold the plane, and throw in lots of �hostia� and �joder�

I mean, come on..

Normally I do :jeje: but the time I mention above was actually a flight from NY to Madrid, not a flight originating in Spain.

Saludos,
jer...

Well, since CleoPoleo mentioned it, let me make Jer blush as well. We discovered this site three weeks ago, as we prepared for our first Madrid trip, and it is wonderful.


Dinty

Saludos,
jer...

My husband flew out of Madrid's airport twice this year and I flew out of it once. Two hours is plenty of time. We had lots of time to walk around for exercise and shopping. This airport is small compared to JFK and easily managed. Have a wonderful trip. We're sure you'll love it!

Thanks for the nice welcome

Yep, Madrid�s airport is quite "small" compared to another airports, so they won�t have any problem.

Anyway, here�s the official site http://www2.aena.es/aeropuertos/barajas/index.htm , unfortunately only in Spanish, where you can find some useful information.
Dinty, you mentioned they are flying with US Air, well, departure is from terminal T1, check in counters should be about number 200, and boarding gates B or C, but you should check it at the information desk.

Asterault, you are completely right about the perfect way to get on board, but don�t forget that for getting more fun, you must have lots of luggage, refuse to pay luggage-excess fee, and for risk lovers, look for your passport in the last minute while lots of people are already queueing behind of you. :jeje: Of course, try to do it on a rush day, like Agust 1st, when everybody wants to start the holidays

Hey CleoPoleo, good to get such great 1st hand info.

Glad you are on our board as we need more "locals" (ie. Espa�oles) participating more often

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. with a nickname like CleoPoleo, I would love for you to post on the WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR NICKNAME? thread HERE

Get on the wrong plane, like I did. That gets things rockin'

All while trying to light a much needed cigarette and talk to someone on the movil...

I work for an airline and although like Jer- you could go there in the 'nick' of time- but depending on the airline and security checks- they aren't going to hold the plane for you if you haven't given yourself enough time to be there when your supposed to be 2 hours should suffice, but it also depends on the airport you're leaving from. JFK for example- depending on the airline you should actually do a 3 hour as some airlines have 2 flights that leave within an hour from eachother and as a result you have 2 planes checking in at the same time which provides for a HUGE line and a longer wait- and thats just for check in!

The best thing you can do is call the airline you're traveling with- they will give you their recommended time that you should be there before your take off. They will also be able to give you the time from the city you'll be returning from.

Jer- keep in mind you're familiar with Barajas- not everyone is- so as you know exactly where to go- others don't and as a result will need more time to make their way.

I showed up to a flight in barajas once 60 min before departure- not only had they finished checking in- but they had closed the gate! I almost missed my plane and believe me I WAS throwing a fit- the only thing that saved me was that plane turned out to be delayed and they finally processed me (we ended up taking off several hours later- only to return to madrid due to a Mechanical problem and the rest of the trip just became more of a nightmare from there- that was all courtesy of Air Europa).

Hi guys,

I think the official policy of JFK (as well as barajas I believe) is the baggage counter closes 1 hour b4 departure time. Just get there around 2 hours early so as to not to argue with the incompetent, sloppy airport personnel.