Madrid Airport is officially known as Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD). It actually has some fairly decent airport lounges. If you are flying with British Airways out of Madrid Airport, with a Club Europe / Business Class ticket, you will have access to the two Iberia lounges, which are the best airport lounges in Madrid, and the one you choose will depend on which is the most convenient for your gate.
If you are not traveling in Business Class, Madrid has some of the best Priority Pass lounges in the world. They are great, with terraces, very decent food, and a great array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The airport is located in the district of Barajas, within the city limits of Madrid, 9 km from the financial district. Along with Barcelona-El Prat Airport, it is the main international and busiest airport serving Spain.
The airport has 5 huge terminals that handle around 50 million passengers a year. Getting from one terminal to another can take up to 30 minutes and involves a train and lots of walking. Around the airport, we have outlined some of the best airport hotels in Madrid.
Once you arrive into Madrid, we have reviewed the best hotel executive club lounges in Madrid and the best luxury hotels in Madrid.
Free Airport Lounge Access
If you have not paid for Business Class or First Class, you can still access a number of brilliant lounges at Madrid Airport for a fee or for free if you have a Priority Pass. There are four different Priority Pass MAD airport lounges:
- Neptuno Lounge, Terminal 4, Satellite, Airside, Non-Schegen area, 2nd Floor
- Plaza Mayor, Terminal 4, Airside, 1st Floor
- Premium Traveller Arrivals Lounge, Terminal 4, Landside, Arrivals Hall, Level 1
- Sala Puerta de Alcala, Terminal 2, Airside, near Gate D62
- Sala VIP Cibeles, Terminal 1, Airside, P2, non-Schengen flights, between Gates B26 and 29
- Sala VIP Puerta Del Sol, Terminal 3, Airside, P2, domestic & Schengen flights, near Gate E69
It’s worth mentioning that the American Express Platinum and Centurion cards come with an unlimited Priority Pass (contact our concierge for a referral for extra free bonus points) or you can apply for a free Amex Gold Card, and you will get two free Lounge Club passes which can be immediately used to get into these Priority Pass lounges to enjoy free drinks (including alcohol) and food.
Below I outline the very best British Airways airline lounges at Madrid Airport (MAD). The IBERIA VIP Lounges are the best at Madrid Airport. Iberia Airlines actually offers three VIP Lounges. Two are located in terminal T4 in the boarding area, and one is located in the arrivals area, but the arrivals area can only be used for people arriving on flights of more than 4 hours, so most British Airways passengers will not have access to this lounge.
1. Iberia Terminal 4: VIP Velazquez Business Lounge
Iberia VIP Velazquez Business Lounge is the 24 hour lounge at Madrid-Barajas airport. Iberia uses Terminal 4 as its main hub for intercontinental flights. Spain’s national carrier has three Business Class lounges in this terminal, but only one of them is open 24 hours a day: the Velazquez lounge, pictured above, and in our photos. You can access this lounge if you are flying British Airways out of Madrid Airport with a Club Europe / Business Class ticket.
Since my flight to Johannesburg departed around midnight, the two other lounges were closed already, and I was directed towards the Velazquez lounge.
The entrance is hidden away in the duty-free shopping area. Still, once inside, it’s a large, airy, rectangular, and modern space, with floor-to-ceiling windows along its entire length offering nice views of the runways and airport activities.
The reception is located at the very center of the lounge, with plenty of seating areas spreading out from there towards both ends. The layout of the lounge is mirrored, and both sides feature a food station, where a decent buffet is on display with a mix of cold and hot items, including smoked salmon, salads, pasta, chicken curry, and premade sandwiches. Check out the photos. The food here is great! In addition, there are also some self-service cafés nearby, where one can grab lighter items such as sandwiches, cereals, and fresh fruits.
The lounge also has an à la carte restaurant (that seats around 20 people) and a wine bar, but I had a very short connection time, so I was not able to spend some time here. The usual lounge facilities – such as showers, a business center, and free Wifi – are also available and offered for free.
From the lounge, it was a 10-minute walk to the gate for my flight on Iberia in Business Class, Madrid to Johannesburg.
2. Sala VIP Dalí Lounge
Iberia Sala VIP Dalí Lounge is open 5:45 am – 11:00 pm for Business Class passengers. This is one of the best VIP lounges in Madrid airport and is located in Terminal 4 on floor 2. Characterized by its functional and modern spaces, this lounge also offers good food and drink, including alcohol, as well as bathrooms and showers. You can access this lounge if you are flying British Airways out of Madrid Airport with a Club Europe / Business Class ticket.
The lounge is pleasant, airy, and shares the same ceiling as the rest of the terminal. The lounge doesn’t feel massive, but there is plenty of space between the seats.
The buffet offers self-serve alcohol, soft drinks, juice, beer, wine, and an espresso machine, as well as sandwiches, pastries, bread, pretzels, nuts, and Haagen-Dazs.
3. VIP lounge at T4 Arrivals Hall
You can also use the VIP lounge in the Arrivals Hall of T4, where you have all that you need to rest after a long flight. Take a breather and start your day energized after a long trip.
If your final destination is Madrid and you are in Business Class on a flight of more than four hours operated by Iberia Group, you will get access to this lounge. Iberia Plus Platinum customers (on flights operated and/or marketed by Iberia Group, Vueling and Oneworld flights), Iberia Plus Gold, and Iberia Singular customers (on flights operated and/or marketed by Iberia Group) will also have access when traveling with final destination Madrid on flights of more than 4 hours, regardless of the class they fly in.
To access the lounge, go to Level -1 at the Arrivals Hall. This lounge is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Note: None of these benefits applies to flights operated by Iberia for LEVEL IB26XX.
Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2024. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.
Image(s) courtesy of The Luxury Travel Expert.
Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.
