We have used the Madrid airport four times so far – once for departure to Asunción in Paraguay, once for arrival from Santa Cruz in Bolivia and twice for arrival and departure to/from Vienna. This is the Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), one of the larger and more modern airports in Europe.
The airport offers practically everything you can imagine – all types of shops, various kinds of restaurants, branches of most well-known airlines and car rental companies. At the same time, you should expect that it’s easy to get lost here if you’re a bit inattentive. Transfers between terminals are longer, distances are large and there are almost always many people.
Arrival in Madrid from Vienna
We flew to Madrid with Iberia on a direct flight from Vienna. Since we were traveling within the European Union, no lengthy administrative procedures were required – neither for us nor for our dog Iba. Likewise, no veterinary check was necessary.
The airport has designated belts for oversized and non-standard luggage, where we originally expected Iba’s crate to arrive. After waiting a long time, we asked the staff just to be sure and learned that animals transported in the cargo hold usually end up at the Lost and Found counter (sometimes also labelled as Baggage Claim). That’s exactly where we found Iba – fortunately in completely intact condition.
We only took Iba out of the crate after leaving the customs area. Airport rules generally do not allow it earlier.
Arrival in Madrid from Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
After arriving from Bolivia the process was very similar, but there was a short veterinary check. An official looked at Iba’s passport and scanned the code from his microchip with a special device. To our surprise, he did not require any additional documents that we had had prepared in Bolivia.
The whole check was quick and without complications.
Departure from Madrid to Asunción (Paraguay)
For the departure to Paraguay we arrived at the airport approximately 2.5 hours early, which we definitely recommend to anyone traveling with a dog. This time buffer proved to be very sensible for us.
Even though we had all the necessary veterinary documents with us, including an official translation into Spanish, during check-in the Air Europa staff member acted as if something else was missing. In the end she handed us a simple form that contained questions to which the answers were already included in our documentation.
We filled out the form on the spot and after submitting it the whole process continued without any problems. Therefore, we recommend accounting for the possibility that additional administrative steps by the airline may appear even with complete documentation.
WiFi, facilities and dog walking
The airport offers relatively good and free WiFi, which is available in most areas. There are also outdoor spots designated for dog walking. However, we recommend studying the terminal maps before arrival or departure so you can quickly find these places – as well as the taxi stands.
Transport from the airport
Regarding transport, we can recommend online platforms like Uber. However, you should expect longer waiting times, especially after arrivals in the night or early morning hours. There are often many people waiting for taxis here.
If you travel with a larger amount of luggage, we recommend ordering a bigger car, ideally a van, or accounting for the possibility that you will need two taxis.
Attitude toward transporting dogs
As a minor downside, we must mention the lower knowledge of English among some staff and taxi drivers. At the same time we noticed that transporting a dog in a taxi or airport shuttle bus is not always received with enthusiasm here. The relatively cold to negative attitude of some drivers surprised us a few times. Nevertheless, a solution could always be found in the end.
Overall rating
We rate the airport in Madrid overall positively. It offers full facilities for traveling – whether with a dog or without. It is modern, clean and functional. The drawbacks can be the large distances, the number of people and the occasional language barrier, but with a bit of preparation everything can be managed without major stress.
If you are traveling with a dog, Madrid is among the airports that are well prepared for this type of travel – it’s just good to know what to expect.