BA and Iberia share Heathrow slots under IAG; Ryanair and easyJet fight for budget passengers.
BA and Iberia, both IAG-owned, control Heathrow Terminal 5 departures to Madrid with 6+ combined daily frequencies. They effectively split the market: BA attracts Avios-collecting UK travellers, Iberia draws Iberia Plus members and passengers connecting onward to Latin America. Ryanair from Stansted and easyJet from Gatwick offer stripped-down fares starting under GBP 20 one-way. London - Madrid timing usually sits around ~2 h 20 min, so departure windows matter.
Madrid-Barajas (MAD) T4 handles Iberia and BA flights; budget carriers land at T1. The metro Line 8 connects both terminals to Nuevos Ministerios in 12 minutes for EUR 5 (airport supplement included). Taxis have a flat city-center rate of EUR 33. On London - Madrid, compare airport pair LHR, LGW, STN, LTN -> MAD and total trip cost before paying.
Post-Brexit rules require UK passport holders to carry a passport (no ID cards) with at least 3 months' validity beyond departure from Schengen. No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Tuesday departures consistently produce the lowest fares on this city pair. London to Madrid fares move quickly, so flexible date checks usually save money.
Both fly from Heathrow T5, same aircraft quality. Choose based on loyalty program: Avios (BA) or Iberia Plus points. Iberia is sometimes EUR 10-20 cheaper and offers free connections to Latin American destinations through MAD.
Metro Line 8 runs from T4 and T1-2-3 to Nuevos Ministerios in 12 minutes (EUR 5 with airport supplement). Taxis have a fixed EUR 33 rate to central Madrid. The express bus to Atocha station costs EUR 5.
No. UK passport holders can visit Spain visa-free for up to 90 days. Carry a passport with at least 3 months validity beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area.
