Seattle-Tacoma to Madrid Barajas
5297 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 11h 03m with 8 airlines operating direct service from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Madrid Barajas (MAD). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $699 return), with peak prices in August (around $2097). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Seattle-Tacoma
Seattle-Tacoma is Alaska Airlines' principal hub and Delta's growing Pacific Northwest base. The Link Light Rail Red Line runs from the airport's elevated station directly to Westlake in downtown Seattle in 38 minutes for $3.25 — possibly the easiest big-city transfer in the country. International long-haul has expanded sharply post-2023 with new direct service to Tokyo, Seoul, Frankfurt, London Heathrow and Auckland. Weather delays are rare; SEA is one of the most operationally reliable winter airports in the US.
Arriving in Madrid
Madrid Barajas is the largest airport in Spain and Iberia's main hub, 12 km northeast of the city. Metro Line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in 16 minutes for €5. Iberia, American, Delta and United operate the US-Madrid corridor. Madrid is one of the cheapest European long-haul destinations from the US East Coast; January and February deliver the best fares year-round.
Who flies SEA to MAD?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 11h 03m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 11h 03m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 11h 03m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 11h 03m | Economy |
| Korean Air | KE | 11h 03m | Economy |
| ANA | NH | 11h 03m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 11h 03m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 11h 03m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SEA→MAD
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Seattle to Madrid FAQs
Direct flights from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Madrid Barajas (MAD) take approximately 11h 03m for the 5297-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $699. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Madrid Barajas (MAD): Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Korean Air and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Alaska Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free Schengen for US passport holders up to 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS authorisation will be required from late 2026. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Madrid Barajas (MAD) is the primary international airport for Madrid. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.