Where's Johnny Jet: Madrid to Cologne

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Guten tag from Germany! Last week we left off in Spain. After exploring the holy city of Santiago de Compestela, it was time to get back on a plane. This week we travel to Germany via Madrid's brand new $7 billion dollar Terminal 4. If you want to get a glimpse of this new airport and take a tour of Cologne's famous chocolate museum, then come aboard -- our plane is leaving. One added attraction: In honor of the busiest travel week of the year, we offer some airport tips to help you enjoy Turkey Day.

Thanksgiving Travel

I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving! Holy cow, did this year fly by fast! Speaking of flying: If you're taking to the skies this week, you're much braver than I. This is the one week I don't travel in the U.S. I can't take the crowds and long lines brought about by people who don't often travel, and have no clue about rules and procedures. Traveling this week in America takes all the fun out of it for me. But if you are, I hope you at least avoid Wednesday and Sunday, the two busiest days of the year for domestic travel. To make your holiday travel a bit easier: Leave extra early, be up-to-date on the new 3-1-1 liquids rule for carry-on luggage [3-ounce bottle or less; 1 quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger that needs to be placed in a screening bin (here's the link for more info]. Note that Europe has similar rules). Also, be sure to take your shoes and jackets off before going through security. As always, put them and your laptop in separate bins. This next bit of advice is crucial: Be polite to everyone and pack your patience. Don't forget to smile -- it's Thanksgiving!

Santiago de Compostela to Madrid

Santiago de Compostela's Lavacolla Airport is located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) outside of the city. The airport is much larger than I imagined, and includes many shops and cafes. Check-in for Iberia Airlines (Spain's national carrier) did not take long, but they do have strict carry-on weight restrictions. That's the one thing that drives me crazy about traveling overseas: Most foreign airlines have ridiculously low weight restrictions for carry-ons. I have no problem checking bags (though I try my best not to), but I do have a beef when they say my small carry-on bag must be under a certain weight. In Iberia's case it's 10 kg (22 lbs). My computer bag is filled with everything a person is supposed to NOT check (the list includes all valuables, medicine, electronic goods such as phones, cameras, chargers -- just about anything expensive and important). I also have a bunch of travel magazines, which add to the few pounds I am always over their limit. My bag usually weighs 12 kg (26 lbs), and my computer weighs 8 lbs itself. The only legal way around this is to put some stuff in your checked luggage -- which I did. FYI: Iberia's checked luggage limit for economy class passengers is 20 Kg. (44 lb.). That is generous. TIPS: Be sure to check your airline's baggage policies before leaving home. You might want to buy a travel utility scale from Magellan's Travel Supplies for $8.95 (click here to purchase one) to weigh your bags when you're not home (and after adding souvenirs). The scale gives weights in kilograms and pounds. It really comes is handy. (Get it? It's a hand scale!)

Madrid's New Terminal 4

My 55-minute flight to Madrid on an MD80 was smooth. I'm not a huge fan of MD80s -- they are old and confining -- but this flight was comfortable, because it was short and no one sat next to me. Beyond northwestern Spain, the climate changed dramatically. We exchanged wet weather for Madrid's dry, warm conditions. I was excited to be traveling through Madrid, even for only a few hours. I looked forward to experiencing the new $7.2 billion (no, that's not a typo) Terminal 4 that opened last February. It took six years to build. This huge ¾-of-a-mile-long terminal doubled the size of Madrid-Barajas Airport. I loved it -- it's modern, bright, colorful, and emits a happy feeling. The two things I did not like were the 6-minute tram to the baggage carousel, and waiting over 45 minutes for our bags to arrive.

Madrid's Terminal 1

After getting my bag I needed to make my way to Terminal 1, to catch a Germanwings flight. I thought it was going to be either a long walk or a short tram, but boy was I wrong. Transferring passengers need to get on a free shuttle bus, which appears frequently but takes 15 minutes to reach Terminal 1. Luckily I was not in a hurry -- in fact, I was happy to get outside and breathe fresh air. But wow, is Terminal 1 far, and boy, is it depressing. The check-in area is the complete opposite of Terminal 4. It's dark with low ceilings, and makes you want to never travel through this place again. Yes, it's that bad.

Madrid to Cologne

Germanwings (a low-fare German carrier that flies new Airbus A319/320 aircraft to over 50 European destinations) does not start checking customers in until two hours before departure. The Germanwings counter in Madrid stayed unattended until that designated time, because they only have two flights a day -- one to Cologne, the other to Stuttgart. They depart 20 minutes apart, at 7:25 and 7:45 p.m. I should have stood in line when I arrived two and a half hours early, instead of finding an electrical outlet and working offline (there is no wireless access in Terminal 1). I watched the line get longer and longer, until I could no longer take it. Germanwings had two agents working. They checked passengers in quickly -- fortunately, they all either obeyed Germanwings' usually strict baggage rules or the agents let them slide. The agent who checked me in did not give me a difficult time about my over-the-limit carry-on. I don't know if it was because she was from Spain, and the Spaniards are more lenient than the Germans, but whatever the reason she made my Germanwings experience much better. Germanwings passenger (except those under 2 years old) can bring on board 8 kg (17 lbs), and check suitcases up to a combined weight of 20 kg (44 lbs). If you're over, be prepared to pay 7€ ($8.88) per kg (2.2 lbs), up to a maximum of 50 kg (110lbs). For more information, click on Germanwings.com. Note: I flew before the recent new European Union hand baggage rules went into effect (here's the link to the rules).

Oktoberfest

I'm a bit behind on my stories because I went into a lot of detail with my Portugal and Spain trips; this journey took place in October. After Spain I had a few days off before I needed to be in two very special countries (which I'll tell you about next week). Instead of heading back to the U.S., I decided to visit a friend in Cologne. You'd think that because I was in Germany in October I would automatically go to an Okotberfest celebration. But you might be surprised to learn (as I was) that Oktoberfest takes place only in Munich (a six-hour drive from Cologne), and the two-week festival begins in late September and ends in early October! So no Oktoberfest for me. However, my buddy Kevin from PubClub.com made the trek. He has some good tips for next year, which you can find through this direct link to the story on PubClub.com. For more info on Oktoberfest, check out wikipedia.org.

Chocolate Museum

By the time I made it to Cologne I wasn't feeling well (I caught a cold), so I mostly hung out inside catching up on sleep and work. However, I did manage to visit the one Cologne attraction that eluded me on my first visit here a month earlier (here's the link to that story). The Schokoladenmuseum (Chocolate Museum) opened in 1993 in a beautiful location on the Rheinau Peninsula at the center of Cologne (a 10-minute walk from the Cologne dom). Almost 1,500 people per day learn the 3,000-year cultural history of chocolate in this 13,000-square foot museum, featuring three levels and 2,000 exhibits. There's even a tropical greenhouse, with cocoa trees and 60 other exotic plant types. This is not only a museum, but a working factory where visitors can see how chocolate is made, and enjoy a free sample from the chocolate fountain. Of course, a store at the end is packed with salivating chocolate lovers and screaming kids. Exhibitions are handicapped-friendly, and in German and English. Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Closed on Monday. Admission: Adults: 6€ ($7.70). Children under 6, and those with a birthday on the day of their visit enter free. The 16€ family pass ($20.50) is valid for two adults and any number of your own children and grandchildren. Chocolate Museum, Am Schokoladenmuseum 1a, Köln; 49-(0)-221-9318880.

Video

Sorry -- no video this week. However, here's a link to all JohnnyJet Videos ever made.

Happy Travels,

Johnny Jet

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John E. DiScala (aka Johnny Jet), is the founder of www.johnnyjet.com, the ultimate travel website and weekly newsletter. He logs over 150,000 miles a year, has been featured in over 850 articles (including Frommers.com, USA Today, Time, Fortune, the New York Times, CNBC and MSNBC), and has published the book, You Are Here Traveling With JohnnyJet.com.

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