Air Europa

[granca]

I just flew to and from London Gatwick via Madrid with Air Europe. Their organisation of tickets, seats etc was excellent but the food was terrible. There is a very long connection time in Madrid over 4 hours although coming back its only just over an hour but be prepared to walk miles to connect, you disembark at one end of the airport and embark at the other. There is no transport and very few moving walkways. Baggage is booked right through to destination none of this terrible American system of making you claim your baggage, hoik it around all night then queue yet again to get it on the aircraft, even with a connecting flight with the same airline.
One invaluable tip which I learned quite by accident. I bought a shooting stick in the UK and naturally carried it in my hand out of the aircraft at SD. On exiting the aircraft I was immediately ushered into a wheel chair. Wheeled down the corridors also using lifts (elevators) which had to be opened by a policeman with keys. Straight through migration with just a cursory glance at my passport and residents card just waived through customs with 4 suitcases full of corned beef, baked beans, kippers and smoked haddock, marmalade, bovril and marmite. I should have brought more. TIP: Carry a shooting stick or a walking stick.