Check through problems
This is more by way of being a bit irritated on a friends behalf.
Travelling from Panama to LHR via MAD on Iberia. Checking in in Panama was told not able to check luggage through to the connecting flight. Argument and discussion with supervisor got nowhere. On arrival at MAD informed that needed to pick up luggage, leave airport and re enter in order to check in. This meant there were unable to make their connection. Iberia initially argued the toss and said there was nothing they could do about it but eventually provided hotel accommodation for that night and transferred to MAD LHR next morning.
Is this just stupidity at Panama (I have heard the airport quite inefficient) or genuinely something wrong with Iberias procedures?