Jenny Sky Is The Limit

We met at 06:00 in the check-in area, Zone A, at London Heathrow Terminal 5. This allowed us ample time to pass through security and enjoy a nice Starbucks coffee before boarding the BA458 flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Madrid (MAD) on an Airbus A321.

The flight ran on time, and all the logistics by the airline were handled efficiently. We travelled on board the Airbus A321-200, which is part of the A320 family.

With a range of 5600 km and a maximum speed of 828 k/p, the A320 family is one of the world’s best-selling airplanes, directly competing with the Boeing 737 series. The aircraft had power sockets at every seat. British Airways operates 22 of these aircraft with various seat configurations, ranging from 154 to 177. This type of aircraft is used for domestic and short European routes but also covers medium to long routes such as Tel Aviv and Moscow.

Madrid Terminal 4 Airport Tour:

Great tour! I certainly enjoyed learning about the extensive procedures at Madrid Airport. The behind-the-scenes visit at SATE was a significant highlight.

Madrid Barajas Airport is the largest in Spain, custom-built to compete with major hub airports within Europe, it boasts four parallel runways. The main building features a sequence of parallel spaces designed to allow ample daylight inside, facilitating various phases of the passenger’s journey, from check-in and security control to lounges and aircraft gates. Spanning an area of 3,050 hectares (twice the size of Heathrow!), it stands as a significant aviation hub.

Interesting Facts: The airport’s ceiling, designed by Richard Rogers, incorporates 200,000 m2 of bent composite bamboo sheets, making it one of the largest industrial bamboo projects in the world. A truly impressive feat of architectural innovation.

Connections:

Terminal T4 consists of two buildings, T4 and its satellite, the T4S, connected through an automatic underground train. Terminals T1, T2, and T3 have six boarding areas: A, B, C, D, E, and F, linked to the terminals.

The remote-controlled train links terminal T4 with terminal T4S Satellite. It can be used by passengers with a boarding pass. The journey takes 3 minutes, and it operates 24/7. Both stops are on level -2. Transfers to other terminals (T1, T2, T3) are facilitated by the free shuttle bus, a transport service operating 24 hours a day.

SATE: (Automated Baggage Processing System):

One of the main highlights I enjoyed was the educational visit to SATE. I learned that over 12,000 pieces of luggage per hour are conveyed daily through high-speed trays beneath Terminal T4 at Madrid Airport. It’s essentially like a baggage highway, where every bag travels directly to its destination accurately through the conveyor avenues. This is an impressive engineering system designed by Siemens, with an investment of 300 million euros..

The enormous underground structure spans 115 kilometres in length, moving baggage through the 2.5 km between Terminals T4 and T4S.

The most significant characteristic of SATE is its extreme automation as a connection hub. The main function of SATE is the efficiency of baggage connections.

The structure covers 176 check-in counters, two special baggage lines, six transfer lines, 12 training courses where luggage is collected to take them to the airplanes, four stations for manual reading, and three levels of luggage inspection. When the checked baggage enters the system, its ten-digit barcode is read and incorporated into its specific journey, identifying travellers and its final destination. All this is controlled by various safety regulations to efficiently load it into the aircraft hold.

T4 Satellite Premium Lounge Velazquez

The spacious lounge is truly a highlight, with impressive features such as showers, family areas, a baby center, and a buffet menu.

The panoramic views of the airplanes and ample space for work and relaxation are particularly noteworthy. I was especially impressed by Ben’s presentation on British Airways & Iberia. His passion for aviation and in-depth knowledge, especially at such a young age, made it an enjoyable and surprising experience.

The lounge is located in the Terminal 4 Satellite building, covering an expansive 26,900 square feet with a capacity to accommodate 500 passengers. Despite being owned by Iberia, it is accessible to all One-world alliance passengers flying in Business or First class, as well as those holding the Sapphire and Emerald levels of the loyalty program.

As it is located in Terminal 4S, access to this lounge is restricted to flights outside the Schengen area, positioned after exit immigration.

The lounge offers a range of amenities, including a sit-down restaurant and a buffet lounge featuring various hot and cold dishes.

Additional facilities include relaxation areas, private spaces for families, showers, game consoles, TV rooms, and a spacious bar offering a variety of wines and local drinks. That concludes my travel experience, now heading back to London.

“Maybe I live in the gates that lead to outbound world flights. Maybe that is my home”