UK to Colombia via Madrid

johnny2008 says on Sep 8, 2008, 05:56:

I do it frequently and buy tickets separately. LON MAD BOG, by "servie" do you mean service? and what do you mean by service if that is indeed what you mean? If you mean do they have shops open then I doubt that very much, maybe a cafe until midnight then it will open again at 6am.

What do you mean by "how strict madrid is?" Madrid is in Spain, which is a member of the EU, so far as I am aware they have not implemented mohammedist-sharia law yet so you probably will not be buried up to your shoulders and have your face stoned if you wink at an air hostess.

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ingles says on Sep 8, 2008, 06:05:

I haven't done trip via Miami, but did go through JFK on 2 separate tickets once and that was fine. No hassle at immigration or customs - worth considering rather than just writing off the USA routes as they are quite a bit cheaper than through Europe.

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Ctg Bound says on Sep 8, 2008, 06:08:

JumboBond007,

Its OK, but via Houston or Atlanta I find is the best way to Colombia.

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ozgringo says on Sep 8, 2008, 06:10:

JFK and Miami are fine if you don't mind the mugshot, finger printing and generally enjoy the Gitmo induction process.

tried to think of something deep to write here.. but couldn't think of anything..

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kalder says on Sep 8, 2008, 06:24:

Madrid's fine if you're a UK national. Colombian passport holders are often treated with rudeness and contempt.

The airport services are minimal; a lot less extensive than Bogota's.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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kalder says on Sep 8, 2008, 06:24:

If you're going to be overnighting in Madrid, get a hotel.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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ConorC says on Sep 8, 2008, 06:39:

I went Lon - Madrid - Bogota but booked seperate trips i.e. BA to Madrid and Avianca to Bogota and because of that found I didn't have enough time inbetween so ended up spending another night going and returning to meet the connections. Mind you, Avianca is pretty late in the afternoon (around 5pm I think) so if you get a decent Easyjet flight in the morning to Barajas it would be fine. Flights all in were about £690.

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 8, 2008, 07:29:

Kalder......... I'll stay at airport overnight - no fees for hotel :P would appreciate for the 24 hours SERVICE - coffee small food like Gatwick or Heathrow Airport have .......

Deaf But Happy :)

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 8, 2008, 07:31:

Johnny . How strict? I meant when you go to Miami, you have to go out of passport control to change the plane!!! What a time waster - almost miss the Miami-Cali leg flight. I had some help because I told them I am deaf. I made myself look like an idiot so that I could get extra help to jump the queue :-D If I were not deaf, I probably would have missed the Miami-Cali leg, because it was delayed by 1 1/2 hour from London to Miami

Deaf But Happy :)

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 8, 2008, 07:34:

ConorC

I have looked at EasyJet flight for London - Madrid and found Iberia the cheapest so far for late October flight (Madrid - Barranquilla via Bogota). It was £100 cheaper than I looked the day before. only £542 from Madrid to Baranquilla and return which leaves me about £120 ish from London - Madrid and return = total approximately £660 - £670

Deaf But Happy :)

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 8, 2008, 07:58:

ConorC..what hotel did you stay when you arrived Madrid and how much and how far to the airport is the 'airport' hotel?

Deaf But Happy :)

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Sep 8, 2008, 08:53:

kalder says on Sep 8, 2008, 08:54:

Jumbo- you're a bold man. I really wouldn't want to spend a night in MAD. Are you sure you can't stretch to a hotel room? Admittedly, I haven't spent a night in Spain for years, but when I did it was a fraction of London or Paris prices.

Anyway, good luck!

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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johnny2008 says on Sep 8, 2008, 09:06:

Jumbo, I agree with Kalder, so I must be wrong!

Spending a night in an airport is rubbish, I did it last time I flew through Madrid and spent a night at CDG as I also went through Paris. I am sure they put those arms along the benches especially so you cannot get comfy on them. You can actually get a cheapo hotel for maybe 50€ in madrid, it only costs 2€ to get to and from the airport too.

As for ·"strictness" if you are flying with 2 different airlines on separate bookings you will always have to reclaim and recheck your bags. Furthermore at Madrid, Easyjet lands at T1 or T2 and Iberia fly out of the new T4 so you will aslo have to take the free bus.

As someone else said, the Avianca flight to BOG leaves at about 4pm, so that gives you lots more options for flying into MAD without having to spend a night on a bench with the vagrants.

As I also said on here, check edreams.es for the cheapest flights and you can often get more flexibility with different flights for the same price on the airline's own website

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curramberochris says on Sep 8, 2008, 10:11:

i always go easyjet to madrid then avianca or ibera to bogota and then to quilla. Never had any problems (touch wood)

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 8, 2008, 13:33:

I spend the night at Paris airport in the past so was in Heathrow or Gatwick, I am born a survivor !!!!!! I hate Paris because they did not have 24 hours service.

THe real reason to stay up so that I can get good sleep in the plane...... otherwise cannot sleep :((

Deaf But Happy :)

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kalder says on Sep 9, 2008, 00:16:

God- there's a memory. I kipped at Charles de Gaulle one night, twenty five years ago. Never again.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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travelingirl says on Sep 9, 2008, 00:25:

Spending the night on the floor in de Gaulle is HELL. Avoid it at all costs.

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Dolfi says on Sep 9, 2008, 00:54:

I was arriving late at Barajas at 2 am and a lady was allready waiting for me and a handful of other passengers, there was no problem. Iberia even book a hotelroom for you if you have to stay overnight with no aditional money.

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el flaco says on Sep 9, 2008, 03:44:

Well I would prefer long haul with Virgin to Iberia. I can't believe the savings are worth the difference in comfort.

Immigration in the USA is awful but not that awful.

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 9, 2008, 08:14:

El Flaco

As a matter of fact, Iberia is much quicker than going to Virgin and then on American Airlines

Deaf But Happy :)

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sandramoreno80 says on Sep 10, 2008, 01:17:

I suppose it is a matter of preference but because we need the extra baggage allowance 2 pieces at 23 kilos via the States instead of 20 kilos via Europe our family have now started to travel via the US from London.

Have travelled via Atlanta and Miami and the immigration process though lengthy is ok and no missed connections touch wood. The flights have always been on one ticket though so assume that we would be reprotected if one leg were to be late.

We have always recently found flights via Europe to be the most expensive for the dates we wish to travel, but I have recently purchased tickets for beginning of Nov to beginning to Dec for £534 with AA via Miami and my parents have purchased tickets for beginning of Nov to mid Dec with Virgin/AA for £609.

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JumboBond007 says on Sep 10, 2008, 09:17:

Sandra :)

Believe it or not, it is cheaper to go to Barranquilla via Madrid route. It costs only £528 (price will rise anytime). The London - Madrid return will cost around £120 on easyJet.

Otherwise it would be £800 to Barranquilla.

If the prices still the same by next week, I'll book the flight. If not, I'll go to Cali instead

Deaf But Happy :)

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