I was handed a moist toilette and trash bag (yes this is business class) just prior to takeoff. With Clear and TSA Pre I'd guess it hasn't taken me more than 10 minutes to get through security in the last 5 or 6 years. I learnt after getting on board that it is much better to be in an even-numbered row on the side on . With expectations set low they you would indeed be positively impressed. And though the portions were small, it was absolutely delicious. Let me let you in on a points-and-miles secret: Iberia business class is one of the best deals in the sky. To be fair Iberia has announced they are going to refresh these seats and the new ones will have doors (everyone seems to want doors nowadays). To use my chase points do I book thru chase or Iberia? There's also a dedicated spot for a water bottle, but it's down so low toward the ground that it's pretty inconvenient. Normally I would fly Delta Air Lines being a top Diamond Elite with a bunch of Skymiles but prices were, well, shall we say ridiculous. IB crew can be a bit disinterested, though they are generally much nicer to my Spanish-speaking husband than me even when I make an effort to speak a little Spanish. Seafood may not always be a safe choice on a plane, but this was a home run. Flight times. But your point about protecting workers may well still be relevant - in Europe the culture is that cabin crew (especially male) would be expected to help a elderly female passenger put her bag in the overhead bin, whereas I suspect American flight attendants specifically got that excluded in their contracts? Much like the cabin as a whole, Iberia's business class seats aren't flashy or fancy. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Search for Madrid flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. Premium Iberia passengers at Miami Airport can use the American Flagship Lounge, located in the D Concourse. A member of the Oneworld alliance, Iberia flies to about 110 destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America and South America. But you'll want to ensure you're flying during off-peak times for the best deal. Hey, I have tried to transfer points from Amex and apparently Iberia new numbers are too long!!! And the selection of movies was pretty great. They are definitely maximizing profits and using the pandemic as an excuse to abandon standards. Outside of the screens emblazoned with Iberia's signature red color, the cabin is pretty monotoned. These flights typically start at just 34,000 miles each way whether you book with Iberia or British Airways Avios, which is an absolute steal. The main course portion can be larger. Business class passengers were invited to board first. The round trip flight cost 85,000 Avios plus $256.75 in taxes/fees. It was 6:00AM after all. !Miami Airport security lineMiami Airport security line. So all in, I think it cost me about $600 for 2 tickets after taxes for this route in biz class. Even a small backpack will have to be put in the overhead compartment. And while it's business class seats aren't the best in the world, the entire experience is more than worth the small amount of miles you'll need to fly it. MIA is horrible for the lines and how slow they move, and the lack of TSA-pre came as a shock to me too. As you say, it's not the best J product out there but it compares favorably with any US carrier. IB isn't known for it's cleanlyness. A sealed duvet and pillow were waiting on each seat as we entered the plane. Until recently, Iberia was putting L'Occitane amenities in these kits, so they've apparently been downgraded. In Iberia business class, you'll experience Mediterranean-inspired food, lie-flat seats and free baggage, along with exclusive lounges in the Madrid airport. Neither sites are spectacular, but British Airways probably gets the nod here as a smoother booking process. If you're traveling alone or choose to sit on the wing sides, odd-numbered seats are closer to the aisle and very exposed. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to book these flights! Despite having CLEAR, it still took 45 minutes to get through security. Thanks for sharing and I look forward reading the rest of the trip report especially the Qatar's experience on the 787-9. Nothing scary, or anything, but there was enough turbulence that it prevented me from sleeping. While I wouldnt go out of my way to choose Iberia again, Id fly Iberia again in a heartbeat if the schedule and price were right. If, on the other hand, you're transferring Chase points or don't mind the additional wait for your Amex transfer to process, simply create a new Iberia Plus account (be sure to use the same name as your credit card account) and link it to the program from which you want to transfer. is a director of content at TPG and was one of the site's first contributors in 2012. And generally regular refills without being asked. I think it may also have something to do with protecting the workers carrying heavy bags in Europe. And to your point about boarding, in my experience it's always a free-for-all on IB, either in MIA, MAD, or any other station. Check out Iberiasfull calendarto scope out the dates. In the drinks department, Iberia really prides itself on its wine menu, which is full of Spanish wines. And oddly, there's a massage function on the seat. What is Iberia Airlines? It is very clunky and far from user friendly. I was also impressed by the food selection, which was every bit as good as when Flagship Lounges first opened. There was also a map feature, which is the main way that I use inflight entertainment. Even with the extra privacy you get from the console in this wing-side seat, these seats are still fairly exposed. These so-called honeymooon seats get some additional privacy with the console tables on the aisle. Second, American flights must be booked round-trip using Iberia Avios. The strange water bottle holder low I also dont understand. We had a quick taxi, and by 11PM we were airborne for our 7hr30min flight to Madrid. It's a nice touch. Disinfecting wipes were also distributed. Verdict: Basic bag, basic kit. Click on Beneficiaries, then click Add beneficiary or companion. The business class cabin features STELIA Aerospace SOLSTYS seats laid out in a spacious 1-2-1 staggered configuration, allowing aisle-access for all passengers. It's all about expectations vs. what the experience is actually like. However, I'd jump on these sooner rather than later, as I doubt this availability will last. While not as good as Emirates ICE, for example, it was still solid. Here's your ticket to do it next year for even less. Calle de Manzanares, n 4, Planta 1, Oficina 108, 28005, Madrid, Spain, with VAT . Iberia is definitely one of the worse european services . It will be interesting to fly these jets again once the new seats are installed and if the price stays the same (or lower) in points I will fly this again compared to the current disgustingly over priced Delta Skymiles awards in 2023. @ Thomas -- Interesting. In terms of product and convenience for getting to Spain, I definitely think IB is the best option. It's a comfortable lie-flat bed for the seven-plus hour flight across the Atlantic with some really good meals onboard all for the typical price of flying economy. The shrimp with risotto was flavorful and somewhat original, though not the best airline meal Ive had. As is the case on nearly all transatlantic flights, Iberia flights are fairly short. This is a great chance to book a trip this year or next to Europe in some serious style on the cheap. Finally, the later flight (9 or sometime 11 pm) is known as the "fast service" flight, since they know that people are going to try and get shut-eye as soon as possible. Even at 34,000 Iberia Avios each way or 68,000 Avios roundtrip it's cheaper than what most airlines charge for economy, making it one of the best deals in points and miles. The 'hub and spoke' model is the way they operate, so don't expect too many direct IB flights bypassing MAD! On the bright side, some of Iberia's flights between the U.S. and Spain the airline's new Airbus A350 planes. I went into the flight with fairly low expectations, and Id say my expectations were exceeded somewhat. Spain is a country I've come to know and love after multiple trips, and if you're based anywhere in (or around) Chicago, now could be a great time to book a trip and get out of the depths of winter. Check here before booking an award fare. Denver Air Connection is a part 121 subsidiary of Key Lime Air, operating out of KDEN (and other airports). The desert looks just like the main. And that's due in part to a fairly impressive spread of food, including hot entrees like chicken and peppers and ginger roasted lamb chops. And there is seemingly endless legroom. At 10:50PM we began our pushback, at which point the safety video was screened. Even-numbered seats are positioned closer to the aisle, with a pair of console tables separating the seats in the middle. Seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 fashion, so every passenger has direct access to the aisle. There were dozens of movies and TV shows to choose from. This was That line is incredible at Miami. So instead I burned up some Alaska points that I had been siting on for literally years. P.S. I wouldn't recommend it: I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I realized I had accidentally hit the button. The Airbus A340-600/A330-300 and A350 models offer our Premium Economy class so you can enjoy more comfort, more features and a more personalised service on long-haul flights. I just wish IB flew a nonstop JFK-BCN with their business class product instead of just the low-cost Level brand thats all-coach. Service in Iberia business class was frankly better than I was expecting. It's divided into two small compartments, capable of holding just a pair of headphones, your amenity kit, and not much else. But the way each seat is laid out alternates by row in a staggered arrangement, with some seats close to the aisle and others separated from it. Theres certainly better bedding out there, but this wasnt bad. It's far from the fanciest lounge in the world, but the space as a whole is impressive. With British Airways, it's a much cleaner process to find the flights you want once you've located award space through American. When I cut into the omelet I realized that it was filled with ham. You can learn about how to transfer Chase points here: https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/points/chase-transfer-partners/. VIP lounges to business class passengers in Terminal 4. of Madrid airport. Just under 90 minutes before arrival the breakfast service began. But on the whole, dinner definitely exceeded my expectations. See something missing? And despite it's mega size, I'm a big fan of MAD-Barajas. Ren. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; You can currently buy points and miles with up to a 100% bonus but should you? At the conclusion of the meal I was offered a bottle of water. Hi Robert, it looks like Iberia hasnt yet loaded its schedule beyond March 27 for any flights, period, be they cash or award tickets. As I mentioned then, I've been reading your blog for years, it was quite nice to finally meet you. A shame! Most importantly, however, we found cities that were largely devoid of tourists, allowing us to explore the major attractions and get into just about any restaurant we wanted. Then the cheaper airlines saw the money in this and started to sell bags by the kg (like Ryanair). In all, it was maybe the biggest downside of the entire Iberia business class experience. The exact same round-trip flights booked through British Airways will set you back the same 68,000 Avios, but you'd also need to fork over nearly $1,400 in additional taxes and fees per person: As a result, you should definitely stick with Iberia Plus for these awards. Coffee, tea and water offered often . Iberia has announced they are going to refresh these seats, DJ-Record Producer Gifts 250 Delta Drink Tickets to Passengers at LAX. It's a pretty standard business class seat. You may be thinking that this sounds great, but who in the world has Iberia Plus Avios sitting around? Breakfast was served with a roll and some fresh fruit, and the omelet came with sausage and hash browns. My biggest complaint is they often We've flown IB between MIA and MAD quite a few times. I have to DISAGREE with just about EVERYTHING you have saidare.you getting paid for this? To see all tables, place the mobile phone in a horizontal position. However, because the Iberia Plus uses a distance-based formula to calculate the award price, adding an additional connecting flight will increase the number of Avios you'd need. View the current offers here. Find business class flights to Madrid on Icelandair, Azores Airlines, LOT and more. That line is incredible at Miami. Ive gotta say, the meal itself was quite good. It's probably not going to win any awards anytime soon. Now, it's important to note that transfers from Chase should process instantly, but those from Amex could take up to 48 hours to post. A ham and cheese sandwich or a ham omelet, what a choice! Keep reading for more instructions, or just read our complete guide to booking business class flights using Iberia Avios. And you can book these awards 360 days in advance giving you a full month of award options that wouldn't be available to American AAdvantage members. Fortunately there was a CLEAR checkpoint. I get it two years ago when we just werent sure how the virus spread. You and I must never travel to the same airports (although I admittedly fly domestic 90% of the time). Earns 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. In the end, I paid 68,000 Avios and about $210 in cash fees each for my wife and me for these round-trip tickets. Is that true??? Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card Limited-time promotion:BEST EVER OFFER! 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This was after you waited some time to go through checkpoints on the access roads to look in the vehicle dropping you off. By 11:35PM the flight attendant was at my seat to offer me dinner. About 20 minutes later, flight attendants came out with the starter. Its definitely worth checking to see if you can find those same flights through other airline programs, like British Airways or AA, to confirm its real. Maybe it's because US airlines have been charging for checked bags more consistently for so many years, leading to customers progressively taking more and more items onto planes. By bldavid GOLD 2241. Also service was truly terrible, to extent of being comical. Food. And the space underneath the ottoman isn't large enough to accommodate anything larger than a pair of shoes or a small bag. We arrived at Miami Airport at around 8PM for our 10:45PM departure to Spain. Chicago to Madrid can now be booked for as . Required fields are marked *. For U.S. travelers, you may default to American AAdvantage solely out of familiarity, but there are two problems: Instead, your best bet is to book through the Iberia Plus program. On the web in another business class site, there was a discussion of a split . Once you've found the flights you want, it's time to transfer your points and book! Let me just say it: The Iberia business class cabin is boring. British Airways recently eliminated all of its additional taxes and fees from these award tickets, matching exactly what Iberia itself charges. ast month from Miami to Madrid is the WORST Business class experience EVER! Why is Miami airport so bad? With an average price for the route of $737 and an overall rating of 7.8, KLM is the most popular choice. Your email address will not be published. Fortunately Ford and I both had our Amex Platinum Cards on us, which offer a CLEAR credit, so we could sign-up on the spot. There's a variety of seating, from seats with two-person tables to high top tables. The carrier uses a distance-based award chart to calculate the number of Avios you need for your flight, and you can get the lowest price booking on off-peak dates. I think there's probably a historical reason for that. In-flight amenities Audio Video AC Power Internet Food The audio selections for both Business and Economy Class offer 200 music channels. Some of the best availability has dried up since we first sent this toThrifty Traveler Premiummembers last week, but there are still plenty of flights available especially from New York and Boston. If you're travelling in Business class, you can now see in advance what you will eat on board. 1 week ago Web Flight: Iberia IB 3170 Departure from: Adolfo Surez Madrid - Barajas Airport, MAD, Satellite Terminal T4S, Spain Take Off from: Madrid Runway 36L; length 4,350 m / . 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