Madness in Madrid (transit in Barajas)

Cerealkiller says on Jul 10, 2007, 00:59:

i think there is a trasit visa for spain....

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 10, 2007, 01:07:

Cerealkiller says on Jul 10, 2007, 03:16:

Oh well, my bad. I had no idea.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kalder says on Jul 10, 2007, 07:41:

I've seen Spanish airport personnel there treat Colombian passengers like dirt.

"A piece of cheese may entrap a mouse, but a bicycle could ensnare the Imperial Chancellor."~~An Bai Kuang

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 10, 2007, 07:45:

Iberia personnel the same. I swear they put their rudest and most unkempt stewardesses to work the Bogotá route.

Cheers,
Desi

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kalder says on Jul 10, 2007, 07:48:

Yeah- what's that all about? Usually Spaniards are formal and correct; neither overly friendly nor especially rude. But the ones they employ in the airline business...

"A piece of cheese may entrap a mouse, but a bicycle could ensnare the Imperial Chancellor."~~An Bai Kuang

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jul 10, 2007, 11:58:

Colombians can not enter Spain (not even for less than 12 hours without a Schenghen visa). I think there was a big mistake on behalf of the airline not to warn your friend that he would not be allowed to pick up his luggage at Madrid.

I have even known times when transit passengers have been left sleeping in the airport when the aircraft has been delayed in London and the connection has been missed.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jul 11, 2007, 19:44:

A few years back, Pre 9/11 times, Colombains used to be able to travel enroute to Europe with a stop in Miami Without a Tourist Visa. The Problem was some Colombians would get off at Miami, claim their Luggage and stay in Miami.This Prompted the US State Dept to require ALL Colombians traveling to Colmbia with a Miami Stop to have in hand a Valid US Tourist Visa, even if the stop was for 1 minute. By the actions of some attempting to circumvent the US System, it was Ruined for all. This closed the Door(and the loophole) for all law respecting Colombians as it decreased the number of Airline Price Options for Travel to Europe or beyond and possibly receiving a Much cheaper Airline Ticket. Sad, but like many things in life, a few "Bad Apples" ruin it for all,,,

Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jul 11, 2007, 19:46:

opps, should read "Colombians used to be able..." Where is the Edit feature Peter? LOL

Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cedritos says on Jul 17, 2007, 02:51:

Juanalejo, to clarify: my direct translation of what the Spanish Embassy told us should be changed to what it really means "A Colombian can transit an airport in Spain for up to 12 hours without the need for a visa" .

The moral of this story, in my opinion, is to label the luggage very carefully with the passenger's name, contact details and full details of the onward flight. Yes, Air Comet should have made him aware of this in Bogota.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cedritos says on Jul 19, 2007, 10:38:

One final word on this, he was almost not allowed on the return Easyjet flight from the UK to Madrid today (with a connection in Madrid with Air Comet to Bogota later). The Easyjet duty officer phoned Madrid to find out if a visa was required for Spain. She phoned three times; twice a Spanish official put the phone down on her immediately and one told her straight away that a transit visa was required.

Because of the rudeness of the official, the fact that he had arrived here ok and my insistence that a transit visa for Spain did not exist he was eventually allowed to board the plane to Madrid. Luckily the duty officer was able to bring up information from the Travel Information Manual (TIM) - the world's leading source for information on air travel requirements, used by the majority of airlines. It states the following with regards to Colombians traveling through Spain (might be an idea to print this out)-


IATA TIM/TIMATIC

Visa not required provided:

-arriving and departing from/to a non Schengen country; and
-holding tickets with confirmed onward reservations; and
-all required documents for next destination

Leaving the airport is not allowed

0 funny, 0 helpful.