SJO - MAD

C$ 568 Find Cheap Flights from San José to Madrid

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San José to Madrid departing on 12/7. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Madrid

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San José to Madrid, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San José to Madrid, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Cheap Flight Deals from San José to Madrid (SJO-MAD)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San José to Madrid that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San José to Madrid

KAYAK's recommended round-trip deals from the most popular airlines that fly from San José to Madrid.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Choose your dates
 Logo
7:40 p.m. - 7:20 p.m.SJO-MAD
15h 40m1 stop
 Logo
6:00 a.m. - 5:10 p.m.MAD-SJO
19h 10m2 stops
C$ 825
Find Deal
Tue, 8 Jul - Thu, 11 Sep
 Logo
7:40 p.m. - 11:10 p.m.SJO-MAD
19h 30m1 stop
 Logo
6:00 a.m. - 5:10 p.m.MAD-SJO
19h 10m2 stops
C$ 831
Find Deal
Tue, 8 Jul - Thu, 11 Sep
 Logo
7:40 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.SJO-MAD
19h 45m2 stops
 Logo
6:00 a.m. - 5:25 p.m.MAD-SJO
19h 25m1 stop
C$ 832
Find Deal
Tue, 22 Jul - Thu, 21 Aug
Iberojet Logo
7:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.SJO-MAD
10h 10mdirect
Iberojet Logo
2:30 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.MAD-SJO
10h 50mdirect
C$ 836Iberojet
Find Deal
Thu, 19 Jun - Thu, 18 Sep
Iberojet Logo
7:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.SJO-MAD
10h 10mdirect
Iberojet Logo
2:30 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.MAD-SJO
10h 50mdirect
C$ 849Iberojet
Find Deal
Thu, 31 Jul - Thu, 28 Aug
KLM Logo
7:40 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.SJO-MAD
19h 45m2 stops
KLM Logo
6:00 a.m. - 5:10 p.m.MAD-SJO
19h 10m2 stops
C$ 868KLM
Find Deal
Tue, 8 Jul - Thu, 11 Sep
KLM Logo
7:40 p.m. - 11:25 p.m.SJO-MAD
19h 45m2 stops
KLM Logo
6:00 a.m. - 5:10 p.m.MAD-SJO
19h 10m2 stops
C$ 875KLM
Find Deal
Tue, 8 Jul - Thu, 11 Sep
Air Canada Logo
8:00 a.m. - 6:40 a.m.SJO-MAD
38h 40m2 stops
Air Canada Logo
12:45 p.m. - 10:55 p.m.MAD-SJO
42h 10m2 stops
C$ 1,084Air Canada
Find Deal
Wed, 1 Oct - Wed, 15 Oct
United Airlines Logo
11:13 a.m. - 6:40 a.m.SJO-MAD
35h 27m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
11:15 a.m. - 12:26 p.m.MAD-SJO
33h 11m2 stops
C$ 1,137United Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, 25 May - Mon, 9 Jun
United Airlines Logo
8:37 a.m. - 7:50 a.m.SJO-MAD
39h 13m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
11:15 a.m. - 12:26 p.m.MAD-SJO
33h 11m2 stops
C$ 1,138United Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, 14 Sep - Wed, 24 Sep

Expert advice for your flight from San José to Madrid

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are specific to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airports
SJO

SJO offers free WiFi and self-check-in kiosks. Arrive early as security lines can vary in length.

Read more about SJOby Mark Chesnut
MAD

Use the metro for a quick 30-40 minute ride to Madrid city center from MAD. A small fare supplement applies.

Read more about MADby Ramsey Qubein
Our travel experts
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on MAD

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more
Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on SJO

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

Read more

KAYAK's insights & trends for San José to Madrid flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San José to Madrid to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San José to Madrid?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San José to Madrid, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from San José to Madrid is February, where tickets cost C$ 841 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is C$ 1,414 and C$ 1,371 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San José to Madrid?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop layover the cheapest option at C$ 1,161 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San José to Madrid?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San José to Madrid, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.
To get a below average price on the flight from San José to Madrid, you should book around 8 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 18 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

August

High season

October

Cheapest flight

C$ 568
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 8% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 8% lower on average.
Flight from San José to Madrid

When to book flights from San José to Madrid

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San José to Madrid based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

Flights from San José to Madrid: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew the route from San José to Madrid 
Verified travelerFlew with IberiaSJO-MADApr 2025
Good service from San Jose to Madrid . VERY poor service from Madrid to Brussels . Looks like Ryanair!
KelvinFlew with IberojetSJO-MADDec 2023
Una excelente opción para conocer Europa, a un precio Justo!

FAQs for booking flights from San José to Madrid

  • What is the best way to get to San Jose Airport?

    Go by shuttle service, public bus, or by taxi. The bus is the cheapest at around $1.00, but expect frequent stops. Shuttle is another option, great for small groups. Prices vary. A taxi is the most direct way, the prices here also vary; expect a minimum of around $17.00.

  • What’s the best way to get from Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD) to town?

    The Metro (subway) system in Madrid is very popular and user-friendly. It will cost around €6-7 ($7-8.00) one-way. It may not be the quickest but the bus is a budget-friendly €2.5 ($3.00), and there are routes to a variety of destinations. Taxis are an option too but the cost varies quite a bit.

  • Is it easy to navigate Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD)?

    Though it’s a large facility, it’s generally easy to get around with clearly marked directions for baggage claim and immigration. If mobility assistance is required, it’s available in Barajas but you’ll need to arrange it with your airline. Claiming bags can sometimes take a while at Barajas Airport; be prepared for at least a little wait.

  • Is there anything to do at San Jose International Airport (SJO)?

    If it makes sense for you to arrive with lots of time to spare, there are a few things to keep you occupied in San Jose Airport. Get some work done in a Power Suite. With plenty of desk space, electrical outlets, and a calm vibe, it’s easy to be productive. Relax in one of the massage chairs located throughout the facility. Wonderful art is everywhere here, just take a stroll and look around.

  • Does Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD) have a hotel or place to freshen up?

    Rent an Air Room for an hour, up to six hours, or overnight, depending on your needs. They offer shower kits and slippers, a 24-hour catering service, comfortable and efficient rooms, even a computer room and of course Wi-Fi. Should you require any business services like a copier, fax machine, or courier, these are all available through Air Rooms, too.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San José to Madrid?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San José to Madrid was C$ 410 for a one-way ticket and C$ 596 for a round-trip.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San José to Madrid?

    On your way to Madrid, you’ll fly out from San José Juan Santamaria Intl. You’ll be landing at Madrid Barajas.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San José to Madrid?

    All the following airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San José to Madrid flight route: Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, SWISS, United Airlines, Finnair, and Air Canada.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San José to Madrid?

    The Airbus A330-200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San José to Madrid flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San José to Madrid?

    oneworld is the only airline alliance operating flights between San José and Madrid.

  • On which days can I fly direct from San José to Madrid?

    There are direct flights from San José to Madrid on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San José to Madrid, Iberia or Iberojet?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San José to Madrid are Iberia and Iberojet. With an average price for the route of C$ 1,281 and an overall rating of 7.0, Iberia is the most popular choice. Iberojet is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of C$ 1,095 and an overall rating of 6.3.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San José to Madrid?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from San José to Madrid.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San José to Madrid?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Madrid from San José is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from San José to Madrid?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Madrid with an airline and back to San José with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San José to Madrid?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Madrid from San José up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San José to Madrid

  • The largest airport in Spain is Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD), so it makes sense that it also has the most traffic. Most people just call it “Barajas”. This airport is the hub for Iberia Airlines.
  • San Jose International Airport acts as a focus city for Copa Airlines, and a hub for several other airlines: Avianca, Costa Rica Green Airways, Sansa and Volaris Airlines.
  • If you need to get re-connected with folks back home, that’s no trouble at all. Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD) has free, unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the facility so you can log in right when you land.
  • The public bus runs between San Jose Airport (SJO) and downtown San Jose, for only about $1.00. It runs every 10min or so, or every 15min during off-peak hours.
  • Book an off-peak fare, save some cash, and utilize one of the great lounges at San Jose Airport (SJO). You can shower, surf the web, enjoy a meal, and get in the travel headspace no matter what time of day you depart.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from San José to Madrid?

Find which airlines fly direct from San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport to Madrid Barajas Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Madrid Barajas

Monday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

Tuesday

British Airways,Iberia,Iberojet, +1 more

British Airways,Iberia, +2 more

Wednesday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

Thursday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways, +1 more

British Airways,Iberia, +2 more

Friday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

Saturday

British Airways,Iberia,Iberojet, +1 more

British Airways,Iberia, +2 more

Sunday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

See more nonstop flights

Direct returns

Madrid Barajas to San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Monday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

Tuesday

British Airways,Iberia,Iberojet, +1 more

British Airways,Iberia, +2 more

Wednesday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

Thursday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways, +1 more

British Airways,Iberia, +2 more

Friday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

Saturday

British Airways,Iberia,Iberojet, +1 more

British Airways,Iberia, +2 more

Sunday

British Airways,Iberia,Qatar Airways

British Airways,Iberia, +1 more

See more nonstop flights
See more nonstop flights

Top airlines flying from San José to Madrid

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San José to Madrid. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San José to Madrid? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.0
IberiaOverall score based on 2686 reviews
7.1Boarding
6.3Food
6.6Entertainment
7.6Crew
6.7Comfort
Airline reviews

Flight from Costa Rica to Madrid was excellent. Good food and service. The flight from Madrid to Brussels was very poor . No food , no entertainment, no usb … Total package was quite expensive so you should give same service on the second flight

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Apr 2025SJO - MAD
Read more Iberia reviews

Flight from Costa Rica to Madrid was excellent. Good food and service. The flight from Madrid to Brussels was very poor . No food , no entertainment, no usb … Total package was quite expensive so you should give same service on the second flight

business class food was pretty average otherwise it was a good experience

Flight from Madrid to Dakar had no onboard entertainment for a business class. Not even a single screen . That was disappointing. The WiFi only worked for the first 45 mins of the flight.

I paid to upgrade to Business Class. The queue to check in at the Business Class aisle was full of people without Business Class tickets, the fast-track immigration line was “closed” but the representative opened it up for his friends, regardless (there was a lot of fist-bumping), and the lounge was an absolute mess…..4 staff sitting playing with their phones while every table had dirty plates and glasses waiting to be cleared…..and the least said about the rude lady on the reception desk at the lounge , the better!

Horrible. Paid for seats for my family. Iberia changed planes and never notified us that the seats we paid extra for did not even exist on the plane. We were randomly placed on the plane. Thankfully, we were seated together. Upon boarding, my youngest daughter was pulled from the line and they just arbitrarily changed her seat 7 rows back from the rest of the family. I had to wait at the gate while they tried to see us back together. One of the most uncomfortable small spaces on a plane I’ve ever experienced. When I called Iberia, they first told me that no mistake was made that the plane was never changed. Yet my receipt for my paid seats were for rows that did not even exist on this type of plane we were getting on. They said that they would reimburse my money and I would get an email, but I’ve never received any information or emails regarding a refund for the seats that I had paid extra for. Then when we arrived in Madrid, one of the pieces of luggage that we had checked in was damaged to the point that the handle that was stowed in to the luggage was broken off by the crew members handling the luggage. The crew on the plane was very nice, but as far as the rest of the experience, I would be very hesitant to ever use Iberia again.

Bad business class. Staff totally not helping. Lights and chargers not working

The flight left Tanger two hours late and I missed my flight to Geneva.

This was such a bad experience. Iberia in Paris Orly refused to issue the boarding pass for my connecting international flight. They were evasive but said it would be dealt with in Madrid. In Madrid there was no help, no transit desk, I almost missed the flight trying to get the boarding pass and only at the gate they told me they had downgraded me. I really felt abused.

The connection required us to travel from terminal A to terminal E with very little time in between flights. While waiting in line, we were called to the service desk to provide our passports. We provided our passports at time of check in, assuming that American Airlines doesn’t communicate well with Iberia, this was a headache.

Almost great...Need more signs around the airport, especially in Italy Marco Polo.

Χρεώνουν πολύ ακριβά τη βαλίτσα .Λιγότερο από 15 κιλά πλήρωσα 150 ευρώ .μόνο για την επιστροφή. Επίσης δε σε αφήνουν να κάνεις online ,πρόσθεση βαλίτσας μια μέρα νωρίτερα από την πτήση . Δε θα ξαναπεταξω με αυτή την εταιρεία

Everything you need to know for your flight from San José to Madrid

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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