We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR

Province of...
7 posts
Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

On 6 December I'm going to travel to Spain from Italy and I will stay in the Madrid Airport just a few hours to take another flight to Mexico. I have two separate tickets however I will land to terminal 4 (maybe Cound change to 4s) with Aireuropa and I will take the second flight Aereomexico from terminal 4 too (maybe could be terminal 4s).

Do I still need to have and show the PCR test in order to do this transit?

Madrid, Spain
Level Contributor
7,915 posts
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
1. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

If you are on separate tickets and need to collect baggage and recheck it, then theoretically, you will need to pass immigration and health screening prior to baggage reclaim, prior to rechecking bags. Officially you would be entering Spain and this necessitates the need for a PCR.

That said, I was under the impression that Air Europa and Air Mexico are codeshare partners - perhaps I’m mistaken. In the first instance I recommend you speak with your airline who will advise.

Province of...
7 posts
2. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

Thanks for the help. However I just have a hand laggage so I won't have any checked luggage to check.

Would it make a difference?

Albuquerque, New...
Destination Expert
for Spain, Tudela
Level Contributor
5,152 posts
54 reviews
17 helpful votes
3. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

I believe code share partners might be able to provide a boarding pass for your second flight. Contact them and ask.

Rutland, United...
Level Contributor
9,689 posts
142 reviews
53 helpful votes
4. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

It's not the luggage that makes the difference but whether you have to go through immigration and health screening or transfer directly to your Mexico flight gate. Please follow LivvyMad's suggestion.

Sao Paulo, SP
Level Contributor
42 posts
26 reviews
27 helpful votes
5. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

I guess the only way to really know how this will work is if anybody posts what actually happens with transit passengers after they have been through this.

Here's my scenario - Myself and my wife want to travel from Milan to Sao Paulo with Madrid to SP on business class.

if I pay for the Milan to Madrid with Iberia and then Madrid to Sao Paulo with LATAM separately its GBP630

If I do the whole thing through Iberia then they want to charge GBP900!!!

So to have Iberia switch my bags onto the LATAM plane and therefore not have to do the PCR test I'm going to have to pay GBP540 more. So do I take a chance that they won't apply the rules to people who have no intention of staying in Spain and buy separately....Would be great to get an official answer from somewhere but imagine there's no real chance of being able to get that.....

Rutland, United...
Level Contributor
9,689 posts
142 reviews
53 helpful votes
6. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

Travelller

The issue is not luggage but you having to go through immigration and health screening if you are on two separate tickets. I understand that LATAM is in a form of bankruptcy protection and has had to return some of its aircraft to leasing companies for non-payment. A case for good travel insurance perhaps.

Sao Paulo, SP
Level Contributor
42 posts
26 reviews
27 helpful votes
7. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

Thanks for the reply. I get that you have to go through health screening but with the ticket clearly showing you are leaving the same day would they waive the PCR test as you aren't going to stay in Spain, that's the question. The common sense answer would probably be yes but who knows. When we arrived here in Italy supposedly they were supposed to be doing PCR tests in the airport yet when we got here there was absolutely no sign of that at all....So who knows in reality how it will work there....

Just to check though - in theory if I book the whole trip through Iberia I will just go through transit and therefore I won't need to do the PCR test, is that right?

Madrid, Spain
Level Contributor
7,915 posts
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
8. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

If you are travelling on ONE ticket you will be treated as a passenger in transit and will not have to pass through immigration, or health screening and will remain airside. If you are on TWO separate tickets you will need to pass through immigration and health screening before checking in and clearing security.

The issue here is that you are technically entering Spain, and going landslide, irrespective of how long you will be there. From the perspective of the authorities, for all they know, you could decide not to take the second flight and head into central Madrid instead! Indeed, many passengers on separate tickets, with time on their hands, actually do head into central Madrid for a few hours. I appreciate that is not your intention, but it is a scenario that could happen, and as such, poses an element of risk.

I have flown in and out of T4 during the pandemic, and can confirm that all passengers are stopped after passing immigration, on the approach to baggage reclaim/exit area, by staff undertaking temperature/visual checks, and are asked to show a QR form. After 23 November I assume that they will also ask to see proof of negative PCR at this point. Passengers arriving without a negative PCR from 23 November will be subject to a PCR test and fines of up to €6000. I believe that airlines have also been asked to check that passengers heading to Spain from high risk countries are in possession of proof of a negative PCR prior to boarding.

As previously suggested, you should try speaking with your airline to see if there is anything they can do to help, or what advice they can give.

Edited: 3 years ago
9. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR

Tripadvisor staff has removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum guidelines with regards to off-topic chat.

What are forum guidelines?
Province of...
7 posts
10. Re: Transit in Madrid Airport (MAD) requires PCR
Save

Mm that's very interesting however I have spoken to the Aena chat assistance and they have told me that even if I have two separate tickets as long as I don't have to deal with checked baggage I can pass without any PCR negative test. Also in Italy any private hospital in my city told me that they could give me the PCR result in 72 working hours so it was practically impossible to do a test in the last 72 hours before arriving (considering I'm going on a weekend).

However. from what you know if I don't have to show a PCR negative test I don't have to show a health control form either right? Because I tried to compile it but they asked me the address of the place where I'm staying (that I don't have because I only have to transit there).

Tomorrow I will have the flight so I will also update everyone with my experience.

Hope everything is gonna go fine.

Edited: 3 years ago
© 2024 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Ireland. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.