My first impression of the new T4 after leaving the plane was admiration for its ceiling architecture, bright interior and sunny colors. And relief of course, because what a difference when compared to the old smoky and noisy T123 terminals, in which I spent countless hours over the past few years. I had been looking forward to T4. However, it didn't take long (5 minutes) before my "old" Barajas nervousness, exasperation and displeasure resumed. Almost 30min waiting at the luggage belt while the airport was almost empty with only a handful of planes at the gates. Bored, totally indifferent and glumly looking staff in bright green jackets traipsing around, chatting in their mobiles, giving the impression that they'd rather be anywhere else but there. Why do they pay these people and why do they need them? Filthy sanitary facilities (don't want to imagine the place in July/August). Worst of all: no metro stop at T4, a cab ride to down Madrid now more expensive than from the old terminals. Barajas T4 could definitely be the most beautiful and most pleasant airport in Europe, but for that please educate staff, fix the luggage system, and keep it tidy. What a shame for the gateway to Spain and Madrid, such great country and city!

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Robert Dunford
9 March 2006

The description below of this airport as shambolic is far too kind. For a highly expensive new terminal, it's embarrasing for the city of Madrid. Firstly, when you arrive at the new T4 terminal, you have no idea where the metro station is. There are no obvious signs to it, certainly. When asking for help, you're told to take the bus to the older T2 (god help you if you've got heavy luggage) to walk the half mile to the metro. What you're not told is that there is a quicker bus to Barajas metro stop from T4 (though you have to pay for it). Secondly, when leaving from T4, you literally take no less than five escalators of varying directions if you're going to gates M, R, S and U. And that's not including the train ride or passport control. Then, having worn out your feet getting to the right area, you then have to do more searching to find the right gate. Which if you're running slightly late can cause you to easily msis your flight. The place could be a nightmare in the height of summer with a crowd of people, all confused as to where they're going. I'm not sure how many Euros were spent in constructing this maze, but clearly very little was spent on the actual planning. Shame, as it had the potential to be really special.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Gillian Hamper
28 February 2006

Have travelled to Madrid with BA this month (February 2006) and had the misfortune to land at the new international terminal. It is vast, badly signposted, not user friendly, with glass lifts or vertiginous escalators to take you to a shuttle train, (which broke down and we were stuck going backwards and forwards in a tunnel for 30 minutes ) just to get to baggage reclaim. On the return journey to London it took 50 minutes to get from the BA check in desk to departure gate - just moving the whole time via escalators and shuttle train and further escalators to the gates. Even though they have specific staff to direct you it is totally confusing and difficult for elderly people and those with any mobility problems. Be warned and check in with plenty of time to spare before your flight !

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Nick Garrett
30 November 2005

I have been to Madrid 4 times this year and on each occasion, I have found Barajas to be nothing more than shambolic. More often than not, your aircraft is parked on a remote stand which requires a lengthy bus ride to the passport control and baggage claim area. If you're flying Easyjet, they are always parked up at the remotest stand and the aforementioned bus ride can take anywhere between 5-10 minutes. But the main problem are the departures - which more often than not are delayed for no apparent reason. On a recent British Airways flight back to London Heathrow, our gate was changed no less than 3 times!! It was at this stage that I was wondering how any aircraft operated by any carrier ever manages to get away from Barajas at all. The airport itself is okay, but as someone has already pointed out, the catering needs to be looked at as it's pre-historic.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Gareth Bronkhorst
16 November 2005

The airport itself is fine, just very long walk to get to the Metro Station. The only major complaint I have is the airport staff. The most miserable bunch of people I have ever encountered.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Jorg Ludewig
6 November 2005

Haven't been to Madrid airport since 1997 until October 20 this year. Lots of new terminals and constructions. You need some time to walk from C to E gates. Excellent Priority Pass lounge near gate C44, but since my flight left E79 I almost spend 15 mins walking thru the heavy crowd. And besides having all the modern facilities, three out of four arrivals/departures in Madrid meant a nice bus-ride to the plane. Still some way to go.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by M Bolivar
24 October 2005

Barajas service is improving in the past few years. First time I flew from there it was really bad. Overcrowded, dirty, and there were always delays. Continuous changes of gate to board, and eternal waits in front of them. Now the situation is different. The airport is mostly clean, except the check-in area, the transportation links are fairly good, specially the metro service linking the airport and downtown in a few minutes. Baggage claim is good, though a bit hard to find, due to the bad signs, one of the downsides of MAD. Check-in a bit busy, but nice pre-boarding area full of duty-free. We will have to wait till the opening of T4 to see how things work. I find customs really easy to go through, specially compared to those in the US or Canada, a completely different story. Easy to find places to eat, good food and drinks at reasonable prices.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Leendert Jan Wieberdink
3 August 2005

The airport is rather chaotic; it's obvious that it was not designed to handle this number of passengers. The queues at the security check when boarding are terrible. That said, the staff tries its best and is quite friendly (I speak Spanish though so maybe that helps). And on a very positive note: the Metro link to the city is excellent.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Javier Urra
29 June 2005

I am surprised about the "love" or "hate" opinions on Barajas. I agree that Barajas is a little a mess, and you can realize it even at your landing if coming from abroad. You'll find new multi colors terminals (the new T4 so long expected!) and however, perhaps you are going to arrive to T2, the same building from so many years. So, let's understand that Barajas is a little a result of several airports from various times. However, I find several great assets. First - conexion. I live in Paris, and from CDG you have a horrible and expensive commuter train, and from Orly is even worst...and expensive. Arrived at Barajas - you have directly a ultra modern and clean metro for 1'20 euro!!! It's a point to be underlined! You will be in the very center of Madrid in minutes. Check in are usually easy and free time is to be spent face to huge glass windows where you can see the landscape and plane operations. And you are in a hub for latin american, so the offer to fly to South america is simply the best in all Europe. To sum up, an original airport where, I recommend, to take some of the "bad" things in a different manner and enjoy the Spanish way of life.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Susan Paterson

20 May 2005

Taxis which depart from outside the International terminal have a nasty habit of not switching on their meters then charging you a fortune for a ride into the city. Whilst living in Madrid, my Spanish colleagues gave me a handy tip: walk to the neighbouring domestic terminal, and you'll find that that attitudes of the taxi drivers are completely different towards you. Bizarrely they do not view you as a tourist to be ripped off, but as a native of the city, and your fare will reflect this. However, to avoid any likelihood of taxi problems, just take the Metro- it's foolproof. I left Madrid while the Colombia-Nuevos Ministerios express line was being built, but even without it, the journey was a piece of cake.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Tom Neyrinck

13 May 2005

I have been flying to and from Barajas about every two weeks for 3 years now, with destinations Brussels, Paris and Roma. What I love is the proximity of the gates, the big windows that allow for nice views on the runways and mountains beyond, its proximity to the city centre, cheap taxis and excellent metro connection. I also think that the airport is pleasant with its marble floors and enough tax free shops (very cheap as I compared them to other airports). Barajas has also improved since smoking areas have been better marked (and respected), and the continuous loud calls for every flight all over the airport were luckily abandoned last year. Of course there are negative points, of which I'd mention the indifferent staff (not at check-n desks but everywhere else), very slow luggage handling (must have been the same belts for the past 40 years), the poor offer and long waiting lines in the bars and restaurants, and worst of all the filthy toilets all over the airport.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Enrique Reguilón Oter

11 May 2005

The current Barajas is on a process of improving and however gives a complete and efficient service in all areas. The traffic control with the new TWR and APP service controls more than 120 movements per hour with 3 runways now, and 4 in a short time. The organization of aircraft compañies and their separation according to the destination is neat. The terminals are clean and lighty and in each floor you can see easily the cloakrooms, bars, information points, etc. The quickly undergound can take you from the airport to the centre of Madrid in less than 15 minutes, and remember you can check-in even out of the airport in the station of 'Nuevos Ministerios'. Something unknown in other big airports. And English is widely used by the different staffs involved in the air navigation. I would like to see the same grade of manage of Spanish, for example in Heathrow, O´Hare, La Guardia. Anyway, in few months with the new terminal (T4), the goodnesses of this airport 'El Gran Barajas' will be even more.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Pablo Cámara de Domingo

1 April 2005

One thing I love about this airport that it is very clean and there is a good overview. Madrid has also a nice offer of tax-free shops. The Metro connection to the centre is nice, cheap and very fast! But there are a lot of negative points of Barajas, more than any other large European airport, namely - bad conditions of the signs inside the airport, sometimes it's difficult to know on which belt your luggage can be found. Also the great number of people who refuse to put out their cigarette, when the signs prohibit it! Also the offer of good food in the bars and restaurants is not good at all. The people in Barajas don't speak English, that's what many people mentioned. But does there any staff in Heathrow or JFK speak Spanish? No I never saw someone speaking Spanish there! For me it is no problem, I'm a Spaniard, and I'm able to speek English. But in fact there is a small part of staff in Barajas who talks English and every year more people who are trying to speak it better!

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Brian Smith

20 December 2004

Have been using Madrid for eight years on Schengen and non-Schengen European flights and it's a very variable experience, mostly dependant on the airline you fly with, and the time of day and/or year. Locos tend to have slow check-ins and buses to planes. Scheduled have much quicker check in and (often, but not always) airbridges. Arrival is a lottery too, passport control has only two desks and if three or more flights arrive together be ready for a long wait. Baggage reclaim is a matter of chance too - sometimes it's instant, sometimes it's interminable, sometimes it's on a completely different belt to the one sign posted. The worst feature of Barajas is undoubtedly the catering with, at present, all outlets franchised to a company who live in a time warp, with food and facilities right out of the 1970s.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by José Amorim

9 September 2004

I strongly disagree with the majority of the posts since, having used Barajas many times, as well as several airports throughout the world, I consider it efficient and clean! With regards to the concerns expressed by some users in relation to the security checks, please note that there is merely a different approach when compared with the US. Whereas in US airports the officers consider that performing a security check must be done assuming that they are handling criminals (that is the only excuse I can find for their extreme rudeness), in Europe we tend to do things in a polite manner! I must confess that I feel much safer boarding a plane in Madrid that at ATL or at JFK.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Victor Flores

11 August 2004

I disagree with some of the comments about Barajas being dirty. For example any one that has travelled into any of the airports of the world that are carpeted must agree with me that that, is a lot dirtier than the beautiful polished marble at Barajas. Long travelling distances and poor signage at Barajas? then you've never been at Heathrow. THe employees only speak Spanish? How many languages speak the employees at say JFK?. Certainly better than Heathrow or Melbourne.

Editor: Tend to agree with your comments about cleanliness - this airport is a whole lot cleaner than LHR for one, and the marble floors are bliss compared to the dirty and smelly carpets of many airports.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Stephen D'Arcy

30 June 2004

Organised chaos is the best way to describe this airport, on what was I suppose a busy day in the holiday period, but in particular the queues at all food and drinks outlets were from 12-20 people - highly unsatisfactory. Plenty of shopping: alcoholic drinks seemed good value. Best feature: the 45-minute journey from Plaza Mayor by Metro - two easy changes and cost only €0.53 with a 10-journey ticket, or else €0.95 single!

Madrid Barajas Airport review by A Teck

9 June 2004

I've been to many airports around the world, the first one that I see with immigration located next to the check in counters. Straight after the immigration, it was the security check. This causes a long queue, especially at the departing hall. I don't know this happens to other gates or not, but I was at the gate B entrance. Despite the sign "No Smoking", I see many people smoking, and there were nobody there to stop them. The staffs' spoken language were limited to Spanish, and very little English. I had difficulty seeking help. But overall, the new renovation and stuffs, it looks better than many other airports that I've been to.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Martin Guinness

2 June 2004

Just had the misfortune to get stuck at Madrid airport for 12 hours. Big mistake. Because it was the week-end, the business lounge was closed. And, amazingly, because it was the week-end the one place where I could possibly have taken a shower was also closed. So there was nowhere in the whole airport to get a shower. Appalling for a supposedly major international airport. Also, apart from there being nowhere comfortable to sit in the whole airport - as mentioned by others - the horrible stench from the frequent "smoking areas" was difficult to take. I will try and avoid this airport in the future.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by John Frewen-Lord

22 January 2004

Arriving recently at Terminal E (on Iberia from Miami) and departing from Terminal B (on Iberia to Heathrow) involves a very long walk. Add in marginally adequate signage (difficult to find where our Heathrow flight was leaving from until you were in the main hall), indifferent Iberia staff at the transit desk, surly staff at one of the two coffee shops, dismal decor, and I found Barajas one of the more unpleasant airports.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Daniel Delgado

16 January 2004

The best feature of Madrid Barajas is the location of departure gates just behind the check-in area, cutting out the endless treks along tunnels and walkways which are the norm at most major airports. On the downside: lack of trolleys, inadequate seating - in fact there is no departure lounge as such - and poor catering facilities can make using the airport at peak times a total nightmare.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by M Devor

8 August 2003

Good airport. I was surprised when I arrived. We actually had a jetbridge (BM) and I learn that is a rare blessing. My biggest complaint is that there are no arrival boards by the customs exit to see what planes have landed. I came in from London, my friend from Paris, I had no way of knowing if his flight had landed, which drove me crazy. Fortunately, he showed up on time. The airport is big and spacious. Staff are friendly and signs are actually first in English, then Spanish, which blew me away and is a nicety to us anglophones. It is a good airport for the aviation enthusiast with a large selection of model planes to enjoy and big windows at the central shopping/eating area where you can watch the planes. Lounges were big and comfortable and actually had food. I was surprised by the egregious security check just going back to London, the full range of questions, but she spoke English fluently and was friendly. Transfers from Schengen to Int'l are easy and convenient but sorry to say, not v.v.  

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Paul Oliver-Smith

16 June 2003

My main complaint about Madrid is that the signage is poor. It is very difficult to locate the lavatories, which must be one of the most important facilities. Like so many airports it is forever extending and there are no maps showing just where you are. However I was approached by a young girl who spoke excellent English and who used a palm computer to log all my comments. There were other people doing the same work elsewhere, and I saw others after our return flight. As long as someone acts on the analysis I praise such proactivity.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by Leo Guidroz

16 May 2003

Arrival in madrid was not a problem. Departure, on the other hand, is one of the worst airport experiences I have ever had. If you are returning to the United States via Madrid airport, you need to arrive 2-3 hours prior to departure. Security was also a joke. They tried to give the impression of seriousness, but instead only added to the misery. It seemed as though one in every four US bound passengers were singled out for both check-in baggage and carry-on baggage security checks. You are forced to wait in line for 45 minutes, then enter a small room where you must completely empty the contents of you bag(s) onto a small table. The security officer confiscated an unopened bottle of liquor from my check-in baggage. Stating his excuse was it was a US Customs regulation. I confirmed in Miami that this is not the case. If you can route yourself out through Barcelona, do so and avoid Madrid

Madrid Barajas Airport review by C Koehnke

27 April 2003

I disagree about the past coment about Madrid. I have been living in Madrid for about 4 months now and have flown in and out of it about 7 times. The airport is mediocre at worst. I woudn't call it dirty or horrible. Frankly, I have had very little wait at any airline for check in. The check in area is rarely crowded even in the morning, security has had 5 people in line max, and it is clean an pretty new. The best thing is that the Metro leaves from the airport and you can get downtown for $1.20 on one of the most clean and efficient subway systems in Europe. If you do fly out of Madrid however, be prepared for frequent unannounced gate changes. Check those monitors often, and be prepared to take a bus to your plane.

Madrid Barajas Airport review by R Aptroot

17 March 2003

I must say that it is a horrible, dirty, unorganised place, without any service . The people of Madrid are extremely proud of their city and football club, but forget that for each visitor to the capital of Spain, this is more important. Also there are no connections to Asia , a very important part of the world and the main airline Iberia has a poor service as well. Spain is a fantastic country , but has to do a lot of work to catch up in this field. The airport of Barcelona is much better if you have to connect .

Madrid Barajas Airport review by E Hartal

4 February 2003

Connected through Barajas Airport on December on my way to Barcelona. Packed airport, without enough gates for airplanes to dock. The way Terminal 1 is constructed doesn't leave enough seating room for waiting passengers. Iberia staff is not really organized or willing to help. When you need to get to a bus for your plane, there is a lot of stairs to go down. I saw a mom with a child who had a cart also to take down to the bus - none of the agents at Barajas airport would offer help. They would just talk among themselves. On the other end very good choice of duty free, and a beautiful design. Not a lot of walking distance if you transit thru Iberia.