Hypercott From United States, joined Apr 2007, 80 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 1 month 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 642 times:
Hi all,
I just passed through MAD, coming in at T4s, going out through T4
(both very nice terminals). I was very surprised to have to leave the
sterile area to get on the train that connects T4s with T4 and then
at T4 to have to go through security again.
Does anybody know the reason for that? As far as I can tell, the
trains sole purpose is to connect the sterile areas of T4 and T4s -- so why
do they make the travellers go out and back through security again?
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 889 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 month 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 602 times:
I've always connected in schengen to out schengen from T4 to T4s and vice versa, so I guess I never even realized everyone passes security. I figured it was all part of the emigration process. Interesting?
Aisak From Spain, joined Aug 2005, 743 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 month 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 589 times:
If you go from T4 to T4s you either have cleared security at T4 or any other Schengen airport where security measures are at the same level.
When you are entering the Schengen area through T4s, there's no way to know if the passenger has any of those highly dangerous items such as deodorant, water or toothpaste so they have to go through security before they can enter the sterile area at T4.
There is a passenger drop-off area in the middle of T4 (level 0) used for remotes and I guess the transfer bus from T1-2-3 and there are two doors: one behind security and another right after the control. I guess it's intended for the same purpose.
Where was your security checkpoint? If it was at level 0, now I would know what that checkpoint is used for....
Hi! Glad to see that you enjoyed, and I hope to see you back soon.
You're right: each time you leave the building (T4 to T4S or T4S to T4), you pass through the security checks as if you just entered the terminal. I also wonder why it is like this, since the T4S doesn't have its own entrance, so any passenger arriving to T4S was already checked at T4. In my opinion, everything should be "sterile". (By the way, I think that passengers can go from T1 to T2 or T3 without exiting the sterile area, so I find this double screening a bit stupid.)
Lufthansa747 From Finland, joined May 1999, 2953 posts, RR: 47 Reply 4, posted (1 year 1 month 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 556 times:
No additional security from T4 to T4S.
There is security T4S to T4 since some stupid EU regulation states non-Schengen arrivals must be screened before entering the Schengen area. Same happens at every EU airport.
UPPERDECKFAN From Spain, joined Jun 2007, 988 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 month 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 547 times:
Quoting Lufthansa747 (Reply 4): stupid EU regulation states non-Schengen arrivals must be screened before entering the Schengen area. Same happens at every EU airport.
If I understand correct, do you mean an arriving pax to EU has to go through X-rays upon landing at a EU airport?
If so it's a very recent thing since I've never been X-ray on arrival, last time ORD-MAD on June.
Quoting Hypercott (Thread starter): I just passed through MAD, coming in at T4s, going out through T4
(both very nice terminals). I was very surprised to have to leave the
sterile area to get on the train that connects T4s with T4 and then
at T4 to have to go through security again.
I've gone that way many many times since T4 is open and on T4S I've only cleared inmigration as it's the point of entry to the EU and then straight to the train, if conecting to a schengen flight then I've had to pass X-rays to get into T4 secure area, if ending my journey in MAD is collecting luggage and clear customs (never been asked to open my bags or passing them through Xrays).
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 889 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 490 times:
Quoting Aisak (Reply 2): When you are entering the Schengen area through T4s, there's no way to know if the passenger has any of those highly dangerous items such as deodorant, water or toothpaste so they have to go through security before they can enter the sterile area at T4.
You are correct. I flew IB last August MIA-MAD-MXP and got screwed with Duty Free packages. Before leaving MIA I went to the Duty Free to buy a bracelet for my Aunt and a bottle of Jack for my uncle (last minute shopping). I never do Duty Free, so I never paid attention to rules. I assumed that I would be able to take the purchases all the way to MXP. Real answer: NO. At MIA the duty free items are delivered sealed to the aircraft to carry on board since bags had already been checked. When connecting at MAD to MXP, MAD officials would not let me carry on the bottle of Jack and required me to check in the bottle of Jack. After waiting in line to check security and having to treking through the terminals and making it to Checking, my MXP flight had already closed since there was 29 minutes left. Obviously, I could do no more and had to leave the bottle with a checkin agent not to let it go to waste. I just barely made it to the MXP flight. I think that is terrible policy, especially since the package is sealed and unopened and I had a receipt of it being purchased at MIA 8 hours prior like in the US. I cringe to think of how many other people have had to throw away money. I guess the rule is never by Duty Free if connecting in Europe.
Hypercott From United States, joined Apr 2007, 80 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 434 times:
Hi all,
thanks for your replies. The thing that annoyed me was that I was coming IN from a Schengen airport (Valencia) and connected to a Schengen airport (TXL), yet still had to go through security again.
BTW: I have to say that I will avoid to fly Iberia in the future -- I paid EUR 360 for the roundtrip, yet didn't even get a free glass of water. Next time it will be easy jet or ryan air. Same level of service, but a factor of a few cheaper.
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 889 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 420 times:
Quoting Hypercott (Reply 7):
thanks for your replies. The thing that annoyed me was that I was coming IN from a Schengen airport (Valencia) and connected to a Schengen airport (TXL), yet still had to go through security again.
yeah, that is not cool. There should be some allowances for Schengen to Schengen. It almost makes it look like MAD has no confidence in its own Spanish airport security in Valencia. It's not like the security was done in another state, it is a national arrival after all! Come on MAD!
Iberia340600 From Spain, joined Oct 2003, 804 posts, RR: 21 Reply 9, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 381 times:
Quoting Hypercott (Reply 7): thanks for your replies. The thing that annoyed me was that I was coming IN from a Schengen airport (Valencia) and connected to a Schengen airport (TXL), yet still had to go through security again.
Something doesnt sound right here. If you were arriving from Valencia, you should have arrived at Terminal T4 not T4s. Maybe there were no gates available at T4? The norm is for all international and non-shengen flights to arrive and depart from T4s therefore the need to pass through security if you have a connecting flight in T4.
Talaier From Spain, joined May 2008, 37 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 377 times:
Quoting Iberia340600 (Reply 9):
Something doesnt sound right here. If you were arriving from Valencia, you should have arrived at Terminal T4 not T4s. Maybe there were no gates available at T4? The norm is for all international and non-shengen flights to arrive and depart from T4s therefore the need to pass through security if you have a connecting flight in T4
No, it's perfectly possible since some domestic flights are operated from a special level at T4S. It's an area free of immigration controls coming in from T4 and there's even an IB VIP Area solely dedicated to those flights.
About x-ray controls, it's one of those nonsense things that no nobody ever understands.
Iberia340600 From Spain, joined Oct 2003, 804 posts, RR: 21 Reply 11, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 362 times:
Quoting Talaier (Reply 10): No, it's perfectly possible since some domestic flights are operated from a special level at T4S. It's an area free of immigration controls coming in from T4 and there's even an IB VIP Area solely dedicated to those flights.
Yeah its a pain. I think those gates were created as to have reserve gates in case all gates at T4 are full. The only problem is that....if you are connecting to a flight at T4, you are obligated to go through x-ray since there is no way to diferentiate pax on the train.
R2rho From Germany, joined Feb 2007, 873 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 308 times:
Ah yes, duplicate security checkpoints! Don't you just love air travel since 9/11?
Quoting Iberia340600 (Reply 11): Quoting Talaier (Reply 10):
No, it's perfectly possible since some domestic flights are operated from a special level at T4S. It's an area free of immigration controls coming in from T4 and there's even an IB VIP Area solely dedicated to those flights.
Yeah its a pain. I think those gates were created as to have reserve gates in case all gates at T4 are full. The only problem is that....if you are connecting to a flight at T4, you are obligated to go through x-ray since there is no way to diferentiate pax on the train.
I've used that area when going to the Canary Islands on an A340. I guess T4 doesn't have A340 gates so they use that area of T4S instead. On that occasion I only passed security at T4, and not again at T4S.
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 889 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 304 times:
Quoting Talaier (Reply 10): No, it's perfectly possible since some domestic flights are operated from a special level at T4S. It's an area free of immigration controls coming in from T4 and there's even an IB VIP Area solely dedicated to those flights.
Couldn't they specially bus those passengers to T4 to separate them from the international arriving passengers or would that be too costly or too slow?
Talaier From Spain, joined May 2008, 37 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 264 times:
Quoting Sflaflight (Reply 13): Couldn't they specially bus those passengers to T4 to separate them from the international arriving passengers or would that be too costly or too slow?
It's a complete different area, in a different floor of T4S. Non-Schengen flights operate from levels 1 and 2 and this is level 0 (I think that's how its laid out, but you can still check the airport website ) . Just so that you make yourself an idea the train leaves you in level -1, and then you have to go upstairs. Level 0 is a level without immigration controls (but still airside obviously) and its only when you reach the first floor that you have to go through the Schengen border.
Apart from the fact that bussing them would be way slower than using the train transfer which barely takes a couple of minutes.
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 889 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 227 times:
Quoting Sukhoi (Reply 14):
As for now you can only buy Duty Free bottles and transfer in the EU when its bought at a EU airport, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Singapore.
Thanks Sukhoi, now I know, but MIA duty free personnel either 1) didn't know it or 2) did know it but didn't say anything to make a sale. I showed duty free all my boarding passes including connections. I wonder how many passengers get screwed on that deal if they don't have time to recheck 1 simple bag with a bottle (apart from the fact that it is fragile).
BTW, interesting that Singapore is included in that deal. Strange?
Quoting Talaier (Reply 15): Just so that you make yourself an idea the train leaves you in level -1, and then you have to go upstairs. Level 0 is a level without immigration controls (but still airside obviously) and its only when you reach the first floor that you have to go through the Schengen border.
Yeah, that is right. I forgot about that! Thanks Talaier.
Sukhoi From Sweden, joined May 2006, 335 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (1 year 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 188 times:
Quoting Sflaflight (Reply 16): Thanks Sukhoi, now I know, but MIA duty free personnel either 1) didn't know it or 2) did know it but didn't say anything to make a sale. I showed duty free all my boarding passes including connections.
I guess nr 2
Quoting Sflaflight (Reply 16): BTW, interesting that Singapore is included in that deal. Strange?
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) . Just so that you make yourself an idea the train leaves you in level -1, and then you have to go upstairs. Level 0 is a level without immigration controls (but still airside obviously) and its only when you reach the first floor that you have to go through the Schengen border. 
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