Introduction
Hello amigos,
Welcome to this FR on IB's (Air Nostrum really) flight betwen Madrid and Valencia.
Contrary to Barcelona, which keeps the 'Puente Aéreo', the Madrid-Valencia route has been relegated to a feeder flight. Most traffic between the cities uses the high speed rail. Thus, timings and fares are inconvenient betweeen these two cities.
But every once in a while the stars align for AvGeeks like me and there is a perfect timing/price combo that beats the rail offering.
So here goes my FR on a route that may be only a memory if the Spanish Government succeeds in linking MAD with the HSR lines.
At Madrid Barajas
Another perk of flying instead of riding a train in my case is that I have a more convenient metro connection to MAD than to Atocha or Chamartin.

Back in the day I had fast track as an IB Gold traveller…which allowed me to get airside in almost no time. BTW, you also have to go through security on the HSR in Spain.





I was also entitled to the VIP Lounge where I had some pre-party drinks





Boarding Air Nostrum's CRJ 1000
Time flew while I had my Alhambra and tapas…and so it was time to walk to the north end of T4 where Air Nostrum's ops are relegated.
This took a while, and by the time I arrived I was almost due to board.




Fortunately we didn't have to take a bus

I had previously flown CRJs but as I don't do it often, I forget how small and tight these planes feel (specially compared to the Embraers)



And while the planes are relatively new, Air Nostrum's choice of seats make them feel as if they are out from the 80s. I can't complain about confort though, they are better than the crappy seats on the mainline A32Xs.



Enroute to Valencia!
Boarding completed in no time and we were good to go. I was on a tight schedule. I had to catch the metro at VLCs station at a specific time or else I would miss the last bus that would take me to Port Saplaya, were I was going to spend the weekend.
And so I hoped for a southward departure.




And the Flight Gods obliged





We basically followed the same route as the highway and train…which took us over Cuenca



And in no time we were ready for a direct approach to Manises. Bad for the sightseeing, great for my timing.





And so the very short flight came to an end



It took us some time to disembark…and then I rushed to the metro station (it's quite a walk BTW).





Made it!
