Thursday 14 Sept
I woke before the alarm went off this morning. Had a restless nights sleep. For some reason my luggage scales are registering heavy than I know that the luggage is. I was trying to pack the hand luggage as it was when I left home.
When I weighed the checked luggage it was saying 35kg. I knew that all my luggage came to under 23kg anyway.
When I checked out I asked the porters to weigh the luggage for me, which they did. I just moved an item from the hand luggage. It is now under 10kg.
I was picked up by Paris Shuttle. The driver spoke excellent English. My flight itinerary has the flight departing from
T3 and he was dropping me at T3. When I mentioned to him that the paperwork my TD gave me said that the flight was departing from 2B, he went on to 2 different apps and they both said T3. As the terminals are miles apart, I was grateful that he double checked for me.
When I checked in, the checked luggage was 14.2kg and the hand luggage 9.5kg, so all is okay.
Will put new batteries in my scales and see if that makes a difference to the readings. EDIT. I don't have the screwdriver with me to change the battery. As I know the allowance for when I next fly, I'm sure that I'll be under the limits.I have another week or 2 before I need worry about that.
Going through security was interesting. I had to go through twice. Just be prepared for the 'quirks' of the locals. I am not complaining. I just thought it was interesting/amusing that the 2nd time round I had to remove my wrist watch. Part of the fun of international travel.
We were bussed out to the plane from gate 11
and we were onboard around 11:20. The flight is due to take off at 11:40 and it’s a 1hr 40min flight.
The flight pushed back at 11:59 and lift off was at 12:11.
Iberia Express is Iberia’s budget airline. My TA suggested it and booked it, because it was a short flight and not to expensive.
I went googling and like all things, most of the comments on sites were fairly negative, especially about the leg room. I wouldn’t recommend it for very tall people. I’m 5’6” and this is the leg room for me.
It’s also a pay if you want food or drink. As I missed breakfast this morning, I decide to just have a nibble of something, with a glass (small bottle) of wine. It’s also non cash, so had to use the cc for the first time.
Personally, I have no complaints about Iberia Express. I believe that their business class seats are exactly the same as the economy, you just don’t have someone sitting in the middle seat. I could have that wrong though.
13:25 and it feels like we are descending.
Touched down at 13:45
At the gate 13:54
At belt 11 waiting for luggage. 14:09
I noticed that most people were sitting down waiting for the luggage. Maybe it takes a while here in Madrid!! Then I noticed that the signage above the belt was saying that the first luggage would be out at 14:22. AND it was.
I had collected mine, met my driver and was out of the airport but 14:38. Actually, the driver who had my name asked if I was happy for another driver, his colleague, who was there next to him, to take me into the city, as they wanted to swap jobs. I was happy with that, as long as one of them took me to the hotel.
The new Madrid airport is huge and fabulous. A couple of pics from the bag collection area.
One thing that I did find unusual, was that people could meet friends when they first come off the plane, before they need to pick up their checked luggage. Might be a common thing within EU airports.
I was at the Melia Madrid Hotel Serrano and checked in just after 3pm. Room 327, hidden away in a little corridor, all by itself.
The main corridor
and my corridor
And that's it for today. I'll go exploring tomorrow. Night all.
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