Flight Delayed or Cancelled at Madrid-Barajas (MAD)? Claim up to €600

Q: Does the terminal at MAD affect my EU261 rights?

No. Your EU261 rights are identical regardless of which terminal your flight departed from at Madrid-Barajas (T1, T2, T3, T4 or T4S). Mention your terminal and flight number in your claim letter to help the airline locate your case quickly.

Q: How long do I have to claim for a flight delayed at MAD?

Since MAD is located in Spain, the 5-year prescription period applies (Article 1964 of the Civil Code). You have five years from the date of the flight to submit your EU261 claim. This is one of the longest deadlines in Europe, but acting promptly is always better while your documents are to hand.

Q: Iberia or Vueling offered me a voucher — do I have to accept it?

No. EU261 Article 7 gives you the right to cash compensation. A voucher can only replace your legal entitlement if you explicitly accept it in writing. Decline the voucher and insist on monetary payment.

Q: What should I do if Iberia or Vueling do not respond?

If the airline does not respond within 4 weeks or rejects your claim, file a complaint with AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) at seguridadaerea.gob.es. If AESA does not resolve the matter, the Juzgado de Primera Instancia can issue a binding judgment compelling the airline to pay.

Madrid-Barajas is Spain's largest airport and the main hub for Iberia and Vueling. Thousands of passengers experience delays or cancellations at MAD every year. If your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more at arrival, or cancelled less than 14 days before departure, EU Regulation 261/2004 entitles you to compensation of up to €600. Spain's 5-year prescription period is one of the most generous in Europe.

Situations covered by EU261 from MAD

✓
Delay of 3 hours or more at arrival — the actual arrival time (doors open) counts, not the departure delay.
✓
Cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure — without an adequate alternative offered by the airline.
✓
Flight brought forward by more than 1 hour — if the airline moved your departure earlier and you could not board at the original time.
✓
Involuntary denied boarding — overbooking or a documentation issue attributable to the airline.

Main airlines at MAD

Madrid-Barajas is the hub for Iberia and Vueling (IAG group) and a significant base for Ryanair, easyJet and other European carriers.

Airline	Terminal(s) at MAD	Claim link
Iberia	T4, T4S	Iberia claim →
Vueling	T4	Vueling claim →
Ryanair	T1	Ryanair claim →
easyJet	T2	easyJet claim →
Air Europa	T4	EU carrier — covered

EU261 compensation amounts — examples from MAD

Flight distance	Compensation	Example from MAD
≤ 1,500 km	€250	MAD → Lisbon (~630 km), MAD → Paris (~1,270 km)
1,500–3,500 km or intra-EU	€400	MAD → Athens (~2,600 km), MAD → Bucharest
> 3,500 km outside EU	€600	MAD → New York (~5,770 km), MAD → Mexico City

The airline may reduce these amounts by 50% if it offered you a rerouting with a limited arrival delay.

What to do if the airline refuses

MAD is located in Spain. If the airline refuses or does not respond within 4 weeks, you have the following escalation options:

1
AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea) — file online at seguridadaerea.gob.es. AESA can urge the airline to pay.
2
Juzgado de Primera Instancia — first-instance civil court. 5-year prescription period in Spain.

Why use Claimy instead of a claims agency?

Services like AirHelp or Flightright charge 25–35% commission on your compensation. On €250 recovered, you only receive ~€175.

	Claims agency	Claimy
On €250	You receive ~€175	You receive €240.10
On €400	You receive ~€280	You receive €385.10
On €600	You receive ~€420	You receive €575.10

Claimy generates your formal claim letter in 30 seconds for a fixed fee from €9.90. You send it yourself and keep 100% of your compensation.

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Frequently asked questions — Madrid-Barajas (MAD)

Does the terminal at MAD affect my EU261 rights?

No. Your rights are identical across all terminals at Barajas (T1, T2, T3, T4 and T4S). Including your terminal and flight number in your claim letter will help the airline identify your case faster.

How long do I have to claim for a flight delayed at MAD?

Spain applies a 5-year prescription period from the date of the flight — one of the most generous in Europe. Act promptly to keep all your documents accessible.

Iberia or Vueling offered me a voucher — do I have to accept it?

No. EU261 Article 7 entitles you to cash compensation. A voucher can only replace your entitlement if you explicitly accept it in writing. Decline the voucher and demand a bank transfer.

What should I do if Iberia or Vueling do not respond?

After 4 weeks with no response, file a complaint with AESA (seguridadaerea.gob.es). If not resolved there, the Juzgado de Primera Instancia can issue a binding judgment.

Does EU261 cover connecting flights departing from MAD?

Yes, provided your journey was booked as a single ticket. The delay is measured at the final destination. If you arrived 3 hours or more late at your final destination, you are entitled to compensation even if each individual leg was delayed by less.

More information

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