Tokyo and Shanghai on a direct flight from Madrid: a guide to departing from Barajas

The direct flight from Madrid to Tokyo has existed since 2016, when Iberia restored the non-stop link between Spain and Japan after many years without one, and shortly afterwards it also announced the route to Shanghai. Iberia's flights leave from Barajas T4 and, like all long-haul flights outside the Schengen area, usually board in the T4S satellite building. It is best to be at the airport about three hours beforehand and to check the terminal and the schedule on your ticket, because routes to Asia and their frequencies have changed several times since then.

In this article we tell you how these connections came about, what steps you need to take at Barajas for a flight to Asia and what you will find when you take a taxi in Tokyo or Shanghai.

Until the mid-2010s, flying non-stop from Madrid to Asia was a very limited option: Asian airlines such as Korean Air and Air China linked Barajas with Seoul and Beijing, and for almost everything else you had to change at another European airport or in the Middle East. In 2016 Iberia launched its Tokyo route and announced the Shanghai one, two destinations with growing demand for both tourism and business.

Since then, the offer has varied: there are seasons with more frequencies, routes that are suspended and others that come back, and the pandemic forced a large part of long-haul flights to be reorganised. So before you plan, check the current schedule on the airline's website or on Aena's. What does not usually change is the terminal: Iberia and its partners operate from T4.

Barajas has four terminals (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and, in practice, T4 works as two buildings:

• T4: the main building, with check-in desks, security and most flights within the Schengen area.
• T4S (satellite): the building from which many international flights outside Schengen depart, such as long-haul flights to Asia or the Americas. You reach it from T4 on an automatic underground train, after security.

For a flight to Tokyo or Shanghai you will also have to go through passport control, so add the transfer to the satellite to the time for check-in and security. If you are unsure which airline operates from each building, we explain it in which Barajas terminal do I need, and for timings, in how early to arrive at T4.

On a trip to Asia your luggage is usually bigger than on a European getaway, and many long-haul flights leave at times when public transport is not the most convenient. A taxi drops you at the door of T4 with no changes and no stairs with suitcases, and with an advance booking the price is fixed beforehand: from inside the M-30 it is €33, and the other zones are listed in our airport fares. You can book your taxi to T4 days in advance, pay online or to the driver, and if several of you are travelling with a lot of luggage, ask for a larger vehicle.

Tokyo

• Do not touch the door. The rear left door opens and closes by itself, operated by the driver.
• Traffic drives on the left, so get in and out on that side.
• There is no tipping. The amount on the meter is what you pay.
• Carry your address in Japanese. Many drivers do not speak English and Japanese addresses do not follow the street-and-number logic we are used to. The hotel name written in Japanese or a pin on your phone's map avoids confusion.

Japanese taxis are famous for their cleanliness and the courtesy of their drivers; we tell you about them, along with other curious taxis, in the most unusual taxis in the world.

Shanghai

• Use the official taxi rank at the airport and avoid anyone offering you transport in the arrivals area.
• Destination in Chinese characters. As in Japan, have the address written in the local language.
• Payment. In China, paying by phone is very widespread; carry some cash too in case your payment method does not work.

After many hours in the air and with jet lag setting in, it is best to have your journey home sorted. With airport pickup you give your flight number, we check the arrival terminal and confirm the meeting point; if the flight is delayed or changes, you just have to let us know by phone or WhatsApp. And to make the trip easier, read our tips for a good flight.