As the flight time approaches, the boarding gate will be announced on the monitors, as well as any last-minute changes to both the departure time and the boarding gate. You need to arrive at least two to three hours early at the airport to check in your luggage and go through security.

At Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), you can generally pass through security as soon as you have a valid boarding pass, but your ability to do so early depends on whether you have bags to check. If you are traveling with carry-on only and have checked in online, you can often enter the secure area up to 24 hours before your flight, though the airport is not designed for overnight stays in the transit zone. If you have checked luggage, you must wait for your airline's check-in counters to open, which is typically 2 to 3 hours before a domestic/Schengen flight and 3 to 4 hours before a long-haul international flight. Once through security, you can access the various shops, restaurants, and VIP lounges. Note that for flights departing from Terminal 4S (the satellite building), you should allow extra time as you must take an automated people mover (train) after security to reach the gates, which can add 15 to 20 minutes to your transit time.