If you’re flying SkyTeam through Madrid–Barajas and eyeing the Puerta de Alcalá lounge, temper your expectations. For an airport that serves as a major hub for Air Europa, this space lands well short of what most travelers would call “business class.” The experience is defined by bare‑bones catering, a drab, institutional vibe, and service that feels more gatekeeping than welcoming. Here’s what to know before you commit your pre‑flight time here.
Location
You’ll find the lounge immediately after priority security in Terminal 2. That part is genuinely convenient: you clear the fast‑track lane and it’s right there, so you’re seated within minutes. Keep in mind that on the airside, T1, T2, and T3 function as one connected terminal, so you are not confined to T2’s offering. If your boarding pass and time allow, you can walk to other lounges in T1 or T3 instead. Given the limitations here, that flexibility matters.
Decor
The first impression is stark and never really improves. The room reads less like a premium lounge and more like the cafeteria in a government office—serviceable tables, basic chairs, harsh lighting, and the kind of bland finishes that make you check the clock more often than you’d like. There’s little in the way of warmth, design coherence, or even a basic attempt at creating a comfortable atmosphere. It’s function over form, but even the function feels unimaginative: rows of tables and seating with minimal attention to privacy or comfort.
Food and Beverages
Catering is the lounge’s weakest point. Options are extremely limited—enough to stave off hunger, not enough to feel taken care of. Think of it as a pit stop rather than a place to have a proper pre‑flight meal. Hot choices are scarce, replenishment can lag, and the beverage setup is uninspired. If you’re looking for anything beyond a very simple snack and a basic drink, the public concourse may serve you better.
Service and Access Policy
Staff interactions are inconsistent at best, with a tone that can come off as brusque and unhelpful. The rigid three‑hour access rule is enforced without nuance—you won’t be admitted earlier than three hours before departure, even on a same‑day connection and even if you hold airline status. That hard line, coupled with the lounge’s modest comforts, flips the calculus for many travelers: instead of a sanctuary, it can feel like another checkpoint to negotiate.
It’s especially disappointing in the context of Madrid’s role for Air Europa. Because the carrier doesn’t operate its own lounge here, SkyTeam elites and premium‑cabin passengers are effectively funneled into a space that doesn’t represent the alliance’s better standards. When an airport is a hub, you expect a lounge that acts like a calling card. Puerta de Alcalá doesn’t; it feels like a stopgap.
Verdict
Use Puerta de Alcalá for proximity if you’re pressed for time after priority security and just need a chair and a quick drink. But if you have a longer layover, take advantage of the fact that T1, T2, and T3 are one airside complex and try an alternative lounge. The combination of cafeteria‑style decor, extremely limited food and beverage, uneven service, and the strict three‑hour door policy makes this a last‑resort option rather than a perk—particularly disappointing at a SkyTeam hub that should be showcasing something much better. I ended up eating better at the Priority Pass restaurant in T3.
