Madrid Travel Forum

Recently read that soon - as of July? - there will be a direct flight from Gibraltar to Madrid. Naturally I can't find the link...

Anyone heard anything about this or know where I can find details on it?

There was a flight some time ago, but i really don't know if they stoped it, it was www.iberia.com, try it

Want a laugh? I did that. The bloody fools have me marked in (cookie?) as wanting a flight from Tel Aviv and won't let me change it!!!!

From may 1 British Airways is flying from Madrid to Gibraltar, you can see prices and timetables on www.britishairways.com
Cheers!
Gil

??????????

Oooops, sorry! I see now that this is not a direct flight but you have to change in Gatwick! But I've read too about a new direct connection between Madrid and Gibraltar, I think this is the link: http://www.vuelosmundo.com/nuevarutamadridgibraltar.php

Hi Gil,

Yes! That is the site and there is a notice about the flight. Translated it using Google translate.

The flights began on 10/05 according to the notice but I can't find any way to reserve a flight.

Perhaps because I can't read Spanish?

Okay - British Air is doing the flights, but it is not listed on their page :(

BTW - that should have read 01/05 and not 10/05.

Hiya,

there is also another company called andalus:
http://www.andalus.es/andalus/index.asp?id_sessionlangue=4

which offers direct flights Madrid-Gibraltar and Gibraltar-Madrid, 50 minutes for 89euro. If you need help with the page, let me know is only in Spanish and French languages.

:) go well,
Tzuki

Thanks Tzuki. They travel on Saturdays only if I understood the site correctly :(

As Gloria says, the new airline that is based in Andalucia has started offering these flights. Poor old BA and Iberia couldn't make this route pay despite all the fanfare when it was launched just a few years ago.
The Andalus Lineas Aereas has a web site in Spanish & French http://www.andalus.es/
I think French because they hope to take lots of people over to Morocco. And because of the French influence in Morocco French is a common language.
But those hungry Euro Budget Boyos from Ireland - Ryanair - are after them already. Ryanair have started Andalucia flights (not from Gibraltar) to Morocco. Competition hots up !

The Gib-Mad flights will appeal to expense account business people as well as early bookers.
I like the gentle but long journey by train from nearby Algeciras to Madrid using the ALTARIA train. Sometimes they can be booked in advance for reasonable fares.

Just opened this and can answer "pronto". "Places disponibles" or "Destinos disponibles" (the green) means places available. I think red means no flights. Which figures if business people don't work on Saturdays.

One site says to book with Rail Europe and another to book with RENFE.
Which would you suggest?
How long is the train trip?

They want 100 Euro (97,78€) for that flight!
I am booking early - I want the flight for the end of September!

The RENFE Spanish site does offer discounts when booking online. These apply to long distance trains and the super fast AVE. Some discounts reach 60%. (Of course there are other discounts available using Spanish trains such as Tarjete Dorada - for over 60s, but they do not accumulate with the web discounted fares)
www.renfe.es will allow you to book these fares up to 62 days ahead of travel. So if you are absolutely certain of your travel date and can book early it can make sense especially if you get the discount !)
The train does get increasingly popular during the annual rush to Morocco during the summer. It is like the birds migrating to Africa. So discounts at that time will be most uncertain. RENFE are really offering discounts to fill their trains like the airlines do with budget fares. I have 'bagged' some nice fares.

That's fine. I want to make that trip at the end of September, so I can book early.

If for some reason I don't get the early booking discount, do I have to buy the dorado card before I can apply for the age discount, or can I apply for the age discount before I have arrived in Spain, to buy the dorado card?

As long as you get the GOLD card before you purchase your ticket, that's fine. I think most main line stations can print it off. I got mine at a RENFE sales office in Ronda because it was empty and I had a sudden 'whim' but was not travelling by train that time ! As I say, if you don't get the web fare discount, at least the €5 spent on the Card can save a bit on any rail journey in Spain and it lasts a year.

Hmmm yes.....If you chance on a super dooper discounted web ticket (I have seen some going cheap on Algeciras - Madrid line like €27 if you book now for July) then you don't need your DORADA of course. But I guess that you can book a ticket on line without having the Dorada in your hand if it gives you that option. The ticket inspector may ask to see the card on the train.
Have a read of this about the history of the line from Algeciras. The pictures don't show unfortunately but the printed text is good.
http://www.andalucia.com/accounts/ronda.htm

Thanks, that article was fun reading despite the typos.

I don't know at this point if I will stop off in Ronda or not. Will depend I think, on the hour the train leaves, how long it takes, and if there will be another continuing on to Madrid at a reasonable hours.