Brrr Chicago! A MAD Transit!

Brrr Chicago! A MAD Transit!

• Seriously… go somewhere warmer!!!
• Early morning Heathrow – Off to Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5, South Galleries Lounge
• BA458 London Heathrow to Madrid
• A MAD transit
• Iberia IB6725 Madrid to Chicago O’Hare
• Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Dealing with Chicago Cold
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• More Chicago O’Hare
• BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow
• Homeward
• Thawing out…

With one hour or so on the clock, hanging around Madrid Barajas was not high on my agenda – however nice the architecture was.

Well- it’s pretty I suppose looking back on it now. Although let’s be honest, if you have an hour on the transfer clock – architecture is pretty low on the list of things to worry about.

Umm. Follow the signs?

Following the signs to the RSU zone, it was time to re-clear security – which was near complete disorganisation as there was one queue with two lots of people feeding in with a security queue.

And of course, the queue didn’t exactly move at light speed. Which for those of us on tight connections wasn’t exactly welcome.

Eventually, I cleared security and grabbed my stuff, and followed the signs to the U Zone of RSU. There were two issues with that  – one being you had to navigate duty free, and the other being that the U Zone is a long hike away from anywhere.

Lots of useful information.

I didn’t hang around for once, and put my skates on.

Thankfully, there are wondrous things called moving walkways that can speed up the process – which help an awful lot when in a rush for a connection.

This way looks darn good. Now, kindly shimmy out of the way people…

Although Madrid is home to many a quad-jet plane, as evidenced by this waiting Iberia A340. And it would had been rude not to take a picture – even with the restricted time I had to hand.

As I entered the U zone the destinations became more international, and eventually to the passport check zone.

This flight apparently knows the way to San Jose.

Pre-departure checkpoint ahead

The checkpoint serves as an ESTA check and checking you’re not on any naughty lists. With that formality completed, finally I reached the gate.

By this time, boarding was in full swing – with business class boarded as well as premium flyers. I lined up at the podium – and after having to point out my elite status allowing me pre-board rights, I was beeped and allowed to board the waiting plane.

My chariot to Chicago

With the formalities done and dusted – there was no time to waste down the jetway, as I headed aboard my first Iberia flight.

Next: Iberia IB6725 Madrid to Chicago O’Hare

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