And that's not changing. As it turns out, Iberia doesnt participate in TSA PreCheck. While Iberia sometimes has a not-great reputation, in this case I felt like that wasnt warranted. In the air, their flight crew did the bare minimum and asking for a drink was like I had pulled a knife on them - terrible - and they routinely ignored call buttons from other passengers. You could also fly out of Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) or Miami (MIA) for higher award rates, starting at 42,500 miles each way. Keep reading for more instructions, or just read our complete guide to booking business class flights using Iberia Avios. No attention to that whatsoeverI thi k if those giels could have drugged us to put us ALL to sleep they would have done just that! Ink Business Cash Credit Card Limited-time promotion:BEST EVER OFFER! With that said, Ben is probably too young to remember the lines after 9/11. Madrid lounge was much better and you didnt miss anything. It's divided into two small compartments, capable of holding just a pair of headphones, your amenity kit, and not much else. The lavatories were pretty standard, and werent kept particularly clean. On the other hand, breakfast looked good and I appreciate a full hot breakfast service being offered. Check out Iberiasfull calendarto scope out the dates. Unfortunately, it pretty quickly went downhill from there. Your email address will not be published. There was also a map feature, which is the main way that I use inflight entertainment. In fact, its often the opposite. My first time on Iberia. As a fellow south bender I also find SBN to be very expensive. Idk Where you get your information from but it is one of the busiest airports in the nation and won the busiest airport in the world in cargo. 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. There was also a pair of slightly uncomfortable but very noise-canceling headphones at the seat, along with an amenity kit inside a plush red pouch. You and I must never travel to the same airports (although I admittedly fly domestic 90% of the time). The food, entertainment and service were excellent, but what wowed me was the flat-reclining seat. More about the seat Gastronomy A menu that takes care of every detail My husband and I eat slowly and enjoy our meals.we were but starting our meals.when they are again RUSHING around with coffee! With these seats very dated I appreciated the rolled up cover that went completely over your seat / bed. 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. It was fine but unremarkable. I got some work done on my laptop, and the fast Wi-Fi made that pretty productive. Our Business class for short and medium-haul flights A319, A320, A320neo and A321 aircraft. Both transfer on a 1:1 basis. For 2022, it has 18 A330-200s and two A330-300s in its fleet. Make sure you understand, with Iberia just because you see it, it doesnt mean you can book it. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Economy Class flight on Iberia Madrid to Chicago: 20,000 Avios + $123 USD ( transferred from British Airways) Madrid is an airport where you need to arrive a bit early. And generally regular refills without being asked. The only plus point is that usualy they are cheaper than the others but there it ends. They're massive and have wide footrests, which make them comfortable for sleeping. I have had great service experiences with business on Iberia, but it is very hit and miss. I could have had more than one of these desserts and the wafer crisps little bits in the bottom were fantastic and I wanted more more more! 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. #Iberia #IberiaScam #IberiaBusiness Welcome to my new TripReport Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AeroTravel Check out the link. Get our daily email for the latest in travel, flight deals, and how to save on your next trip. Even domestic flights within Spain. Still need help? For dessert, there was a choice between caramel apple cake and a small dish of ice cream. Why not fly from South Bend you ask? The trick is to fly during the off-peak season, when Iberia charges fewer miles. June 4, 2017 travelmentary TV So earlier this month I was travelling to Omaha, in order to visit Warren Buffett's Annual General Meeting. 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 a member of Oneworld, you could book these Iberia-operated flights with any member's loyalty program, but here's the catch. While the one tray dinner service looks better than the current Club World offering by British Airways, it is still sad to offer a "premium economy" meal to your business class passengers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Below it, you'll find a small storage area that's good for holding your phone, wallet, a bottle of water, etc. Iberias A330s have solid staggered seats in business class, with excellent Wi-Fi and good entertainment. js = d.createElement(s); But in the looks department, it's all pretty grey. The strange water bottle holder low I also dont understand. Flew them pre-Covid and they didn't have menu's either. One option is using American AAdvantage miles. Lastly, pre-departure drinks were served in proper glassware, with the choice of water or orange juice. The seats are fine, the food is generally good. By comparison, these are 50,000 and 62,500 Avios on British Airways, respectively. Schedule between Madrid and Buenos Aires. to save on your next trip. Unfortunately, we're not seeing similar award inventory from other U.S. gateways, though you may get lucky with a seat or two on select dates. To see all tables, place the mobile phone in a horizontal position. Iberia is definitely one of the worse european services . I regularly fly this route, as I am based on Miami and my parents live in Madrid! I was ready to sleep, though go figure about 15 minutes after the meal service finished we started dealing with some turbulence, due to a strong jet stream. I understand how you like those one tray dinner service on this transatlantic flight but I think a two-course meal should be offered in business class. Then amenity kits were distributed, which contained earplugs, eyeshades, socks, a comb, a dental kit, and some lotion and cream. Iberia's award search tool has a nasty habit of logging you out. Thrifty Traveler Premium members get award space alerts like this one first, along with cheap domestic and international flights. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Why does Google Flight offer a First Class on Iberia flying from Madrid to IAD? Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Another Year On The Executive Platinum Hamster Wheel. Use this wide open award space to lock in a trip to Spain next year in style! Flights to Madrid (MAD) from Boston (BOS), New York City-JFK (JFK), and Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) qualify for the lowest pricing. The attendAnts were not pro active but thats ok. Gastrobar You can pre-order your on-board refreshments, choosing from a varied selection of drinks and sweet and savoury snacks. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. These so-called honeymooon seats get some additional privacy with the console tables on the aisle. I was also impressed by the food selection, which was every bit as good as when Flagship Lounges first opened. I was also never addressed by name, thanked for flying Iberia, etc. In Iberia business class, you'll experience Mediterranean-inspired food, lie-flat seats and free baggage, along with exclusive lounges in the Madrid airport. Luckily, both Iberia and British Airways makes it cheap and fairly easy to change plans if need be. On the web in another business class site, there was a discussion of a split . At the conclusion of the meal I was offered a bottle of water. We recommend starting from American's advanced search. But in this case, I used one of the most insane airline promotions we've ever seen to get the miles necessary to book these flights. As far as lavatories go, there was one bathroom at the front of the cabin and one at the back of the cabin, right in front of premium economy. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Just because one agent tells you something doesnt mean its true. Class Economy. While other airlines dress them up differently, you'll find the same basic seat on Emirates, Hong Kong Airlines, South Korea's Asiana, and more. While not industry leading, Iberia offers a solid business class experience, with comfortable seats, excellent and reasonably priced Wi-Fi, and good enough food and service. However, there is a workaround for this: Transfer your Amex points to British Airways first and then use the Combine my Avios tool to move them to your Iberia Plus account. Fly round-trip from Newark from $2,371, from New York from $2,386, from Boston from $2,586, from Washington, D.C. from $2,766, from Chicago from $2,797. It is not the bank advertisers responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. I finally figured out this would be the main way to dispose of trash on this flight! This was Iberia Airlines a330 business class and there were fantastic big seats and a full bed. Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A330 (MIA-MAD), Introduction: An Open-Ended Journey To Oman, Our COVID-19 Testing Mess At Madrid Airport, Review: Iberia Lounge Madrid Airport (MAD), Review: Iberia Business Class A320neo (MAD-MXP), Review: Sala Montale Lounge Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Review: Qatar Airways Business Class Boeing 787-9 (MXP-DOH), Review: Qatar Airways A320 Business Class (DOH-SLL), Traveling As A Gay, Married Couple: My Philosophy, Review: Oman Air A330 Business Class (SLL-MCT), Review: Primeclass Lounge Muscat Airport (MCT), Review: Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class (MCT-IST), Review: Turkish Airlines 737 MAX Business Class (IST-CPH), Review: AC Hotel By Marriott Copenhagen Bella Sky, Copenhagen Airports Awesome COVID-19 Testing Center, Review: SAS Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH), Review: Eventyr Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH), Review: SAS Business Class Airbus A350-900 (CPH-MIA), How I booked our Iberia business class tickets, Iberia Lounge Miami (American Flagship Lounge), Iberia Airbus A330 business class cabin & seats, Iberia business class entertainment & Wi-Fi, Ive reviewed the Flagship Lounge Miami before, Iberia Reveals Routes & Configuration For New A350, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Its not bad, but theres nothing particularly good, either. ans hiw could we possibly want coffee when we had not even been able yo finish our CAVA! Take-off 30 Sep 19, 16:45. You can learn about how to transfer Chase points here: https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/points/chase-transfer-partners/. This is a great chance to book a trip this year or next to Europe in some serious style on the cheap. Hi Ben, It's honestly one of the best features of these seats. For economy class, you can request a special meal on flights that are over 4.5 hours in duration. Just note that to do this, both of your accounts must have been open for at least 90 days, and they also must be active (meaning you've earned or redeemed Avios in some way). Search for Madrid flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. OK you travel for free? Im seeing the same. Log back in and repeat the process the second time should be the charm. It's usually bad but that is appalling. Ive flown Iberia business class, and my experiences are very similar to yours. Dinner was equally OK but overcooked and lacking much flavor. There are high-backed chairs that are great for relaxing as well as a dedicated office space to work in peace. Thrifty Tip #1: Don't live in Chicago, New York, or Boston? Im not a white wine drinker, so I passed on those. After dinner I made my bed, which was quite comfortable. I can appreciate wanting to save galley space, but these are frustratingly small, especially when youre trying to avoid spills. And generally regular refills without being asked. 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. In the US, airlines are definitely more lax with carry-on size and weight, while non-US airlines aren't. It turns the seat into a fairly spacious sleeping surface, more than comfortable enough for the short trip across the Atlantic Ocean. https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/points/chase-transfer-partners/, Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. These planes are fairly old and showing their age, with lots of scuffs and dings throughout the cabin and seats. There was also a trio of lip balm, hand cream and facial mist spray from Germaine de Capuccini, a company I'm not familiar with. They better get back on trackthat was basic cabina service in Iberia at best! That simplifies the process of booking these 68,000-mile business class awards, as you can skip Iberia's wonky IT and do it straight through British Airways. The seat back pocket does allow for more knee room on these Recaro designed seats, and could be the reason that it felt so spacious. Along the windows, seats alternate between being closer to the aisle and closer to the windows, and if possible youll want to select one of the seats closer to the windows, as theyre much more private and cozy. Business class passengers were invited to board first. It continued to be bumpy for several hours. Any idea what's going on with AAdvantage redemptions on Iberia? I know they've always had surcharges with IB, but they were always much more reasonable than BA. Iberia over AA any day of the week, and the award availability is always good with AA miles at 57.5k. My wife and I were seated in these honeymoon seats on the return flight to Chicago. Why is that? Flight. Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). Iberia adding Madrid to Dallas flight For the summer of 2022, Iberia will operate 4x weekly seasonal flights between Madrid (MAD) and Dallas (DFW). Then you're ready to send your credit card points over to Iberia to lock in these award tickets. Still, it was nice. Chicago to Madrid Costs at Least $2,052 One-Way in Business Class Other airlines charge much more for a transatlantic Business Class award seat. Unfortunately it wasnt all smooth sailing from there, as Ill cover in the next post. Earn $900 bonus cashback(90,000 points)after spending $6,000 in purchases within three (3) months of card membership approval. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. READ MORE: Comparing Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. View the current offers here. I was also treated to a beautiful sunrise.Sunrise enroute to MadridSunrise enroute to Madrid. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. 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. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia also have a $481 fare, but it is a Basic Economy / Economy Light fare. What am I not understanding? Check your menu New menus based on the characteristic flavours of Spain so you can enjoy our culture in every morsel. Is that true??? Good the wifi has been improved. Also service was truly terrible, to extent of being comical. I had to call to their attention that we had JUST received (an untimely meal mind you!) Coffee, tea and water offered often . Iberia currently operates 12 weekly flights between the capitals of Spain and Argentina on Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A350-900 aircraft, configured with 288 and 348 seats respectively. Thrifty Traveler Premiummembers get award space alerts like this one first, along with cheap domestic and international flights. Fortunately there was a CLEAR checkpoint. Champagne No Krug here. Amenities Kit What's included? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the new must-have it card for travel lovers! It's probably not going to win any awards anytime soon. As is the case with so many airlines, it appears that the boarding time posted on boarding passes isnt actually the time that boarding is intended to start, which sure is frustrating. While the one tray dinner service looks better than the current Club World offering by British Airways, it is still sad to offer a "premium economy" meal to your business class passengers. Seating-wise it was comfortable as indicated in your review but the area for feet is not large at all, its tiny. A professional journalist, he joined the company in November 2018 after five years covering state and national politics for The Associated Press and working at several newspapers across the country. I appreciated how quickly the meal was served, as it was cleared within 50 minutes of takeoff. --------------------------- Lucky, I regularly fly this route, as I am based on Miami and my parents live in Madrid! Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Ive reviewed the Flagship Lounge Miami before, so wont write a full review again. VIP lounges to business class passengers in Terminal 4. of Madrid airport. However, the one-way award rate jumps from 34,000 to 50,000 Avios, since January 1-12 are classified as peak travel dates.). If you haven't already done so, you'll need to add your travel companion as a beneficiary on your account. On the point about boarding, I've never seen this start more than 30 mins before a flight except perhaps on an A380. Gossipping between then constantlythere seemed to be plenty of time for THAT! 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