How is it this bad? The last one. Their lounge in Madrid is third-world, and ended up going to the gate early. And if you're in a seat closer to the aisle, it's even worse. I just (2/4/21) flew the 10 hour flight from SJO-MAD on the A330. Ren. American Express Membership Rewards points, Comparing Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, American AAdvantage only allows awards 330 days in advance, which means that you can currently only book through January 15, 2021. Until recently, this tier included Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Madrid, with off-peak business class awards pricing at 34,000 Avios one-way. For the mileage that most airlines charge to fly in economy, Iberia business class is one of the cheapest ways to get to Europe using miles in style. At meal times, there's a tray that folds down and rotates out from the back of the seat in front of you. Worse than American frankly, Happy to read your review of Iberia after that long, long wait at Miami's security lines - i appreciate your honest reviews; pity the menu was not there as I like collecting those menus. But those restrooms looks so disgusting. And though the portions were small, it was absolutely delicious. But I had been warned about Iberia that the product was old and the food was nothing to get excited about. Seating-wise it was comfortable as indicated in your review but the area for feet is not large at all, its tiny. They're massive and have wide footrests, which make them comfortable for sleeping. Service began about 30 minutes after takeoff in a classic Spanish way: with small dishes of nuts and olives and a drink of choice. Hi Robert, it looks like Iberia hasnt yet loaded its schedule beyond March 27 for any flights, period, be they cash or award tickets. Log back in and repeat the process the second time should be the charm. Fortunately there was a CLEAR checkpoint. I hadnt bothered to check the TSAs airline list before our trip because I dont remember the last time I flew an airline that didnt participate in it. 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. Flight times. Click on your name at the top right, then click on My Iberia Plus. The seats are so close together, you can almost play footsie with your neighbor just make sure you know them. Flying Iberia business is a solid option. 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. Flights between Madrid and Mexico City in business class typically cost between 1900 and 3700 return. Ive gotta say, the meal itself was quite good. I can not tell you the one that was good (I know bad blogger sorry). 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. Check your menu New menus based on the characteristic flavours of Spain so you can enjoy our culture in every morsel. We had a smooth touchdown in Madrid at 12:30PM, and as we barreled down the runway we passed some parked British Airways A380s, that seemed to be stored here. I dont remember the last time that I was at an airport where CLEAR actually saved any time. Considering many airlines charge less than $20 for a full-flight pass, that's very steep. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. It is not the bank advertisers responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. For economy class, you can request a special meal on flights that are over 4.5 hours in duration. I think the point here was about weighing carry-on, rather than checked bags. But I always thought that even in the Americas piece concept a bag in Economy Class can't be more than 23kg / 40lb and in Business/First not more than 32kg / 50lb. Heck, there are airlines that participate in TSA PreCheck that Ive never heard of (whats Key Lime Air? refills during dinner service, but not after). Even farther below that, you'll find the headphone jack, a universal power port, USB plug-in, and an S-video jack. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia also have a $481 fare, but it is a Basic Economy / Economy Light fare. As you say, it's not the best J product out there but it compares favorably with any US carrier. Its not bad, but theres nothing particularly good, either. Curious how long we expect the covered food practice to persist? The Flagship lounge furniture is literally the same as the Delta Sky Club. And because Iberia uses a peak pricing calendar, that July flight will likely be more expensive than 34k (which is the off-peak price). For example, you can book this ticket from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Brussels (BRU) for just 88,000 miles and less than $61 USD. With low mileage rates and moderate fees, British Airways and Iberia are both great ways to book. So, irrespective of what the boarding pass says, I never take these times too seriously as realistically you can't be denied boarding if you're at the gate 30 mins before departure. Chicago to Madrid can now be booked for as . In fact my wife, who tends to sleep on her side, encroached a bit with her knee in my seat (but thats OK). The main course portion can be larger. On the bright side, some of Iberia's flights between the U.S. and Spain the airline's new Airbus A350 planes. Key Lime Air is a charter/commuter airline based out of Denver- Centennial (KAPA). As you say, it's not the best J product out there but it compares favorably with any US carrier. We have had goos experiences with IBERIA before. 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. 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. Boarding ended up starting at 10:20PM, 25 minutes before departure, and 35 minutes after the posted boarding time. Iberia offers the cheapest way to fly business class to Europe. Flights to Madrid (MAD) from Boston (BOS), New York City-JFK (JFK), and Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) qualify for the lowest pricing. Iberia special meals can be booked by anyone travelling in business class except on flights under 90mins. Iberia currently operates 3 different aircraft on flights between Madrid and the United States the A330-200, A330-300, and A350-900. Learn here how to apply. The desert looks just like the main. Overall it was a completely adequate flight. I can appreciate wanting to save galley space, but these are frustratingly small, especially when youre trying to avoid spills. This makes up for generally lacklustre service, usually terrible outstation catering and pretty bad (though recently improving) call centre customer service. 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. Guessing some outstations do not have consistent meal choices. With that said, Ben is probably too young to remember the lines after 9/11. P.S. Wait, say what? ast month from Miami to Madrid is the WORST Business class experience EVER! Lastly, pre-departure drinks were served in proper glassware, with the choice of water or orange juice. With expectations set low they you would indeed be positively impressed. One was very nice and the other undrinkable. Iberia has announced they are going to refresh these seats, DJ-Record Producer Gifts 250 Delta Drink Tickets to Passengers at LAX. Thanks to Iberia and British Airways' distance-based award pricing, you'll find the cheapest rates flying to or from Boston, Chicago, New York, or Washington, D.C. Read our full guide on how to book business class to Spain from just 34,000 points each way! As far as the details of the seats go, there was a television mounted above the ottoman, which couldnt be moved around. 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. In the center section, seats alternate between being closer to the aisle and closer to the center. Luckily, both Iberia and British Airways makes it cheap and fairly easy to change plans if need be. For an old seat, I found it comfortable but not overly impressive. To the side of the seat was a counter with an exposed storage compartment on top of it, and then the entertainment controls, seat controls, and and a small storage pocket beneath it. 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. Im not exaggerating when I say that Ive never even seen a security line half this long before. The shrimp with risotto was flavorful and somewhat original, though not the best airline meal Ive had. But on the whole, dinner definitely exceeded my expectations. Service is a bit hit/miss, but nothing terrible. 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. That means you can send points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card,the American Express Gold Card,The Platinum Card from American Express, or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card straight to your accounts. Compare flight prices for similar timeframes and adjust departure and return dates to get the cheapest fare possible. Fairly, in Europe you can't have worst Carriers then IB and AZ. The Iberia lounge in MAD, and the flagship lounges in ORD and MIA are definitely a plus. Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. Thrifty Traveler Premiummembers get award space alerts like this one first, along with cheap domestic and international flights. I acquired these Iberia Plus Avios by transferring them from British Airways Executive Club, which is possible as long as both accounts have been open for at least 90 days. B/f you ask you should experience it For the dinner entree, there were three choices. That's not a terrible price, but it's far from a sweet spot. And at these rates, its worth it, if you ask me. I was also treated to a beautiful sunrise.Sunrise enroute to MadridSunrise enroute to Madrid. Instead of adding another segment to the ORD-MAD award, consider one of the following options: Unfortunately, adding a connecting flight on American within the U.S. likely isn't possible here for three reasons. Flight Review: Iberia A330-300 ORD to MAD Business Class 2,672 views Mar 1, 2019 24 Dislike Share Save Penny Caravan 324 subscribers We review the business class experience on Iberia's. Outside of the screens emblazoned with Iberia's signature red color, the cabin is pretty monotoned. I chose and before I know I have a glass of cava and not one but TWO Red winesall at once! But my approach does have its risks. With that said, Ben is probably too young to remember the lines after 9/11. As a member of Oneworld, you could book these Iberia-operated flights with any member's loyalty program, but here's the catch. I sat in one of these seats on the way from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD). The true window seats are by far the best, giving ou a real sense of privacy, and certainly better for an overnight flight. Other search platforms on Iberia's site will not function correctly. The flight will be operated between June 1 and October 29, 2022, with the following schedule: IB6146 Madrid to Dallas departing 3:55PM arriving 7:50PM Agree that the IFE is solid, and the food is also generally good, and even better on flights departing MAD. The shrimp and scallops were both cooked perfectly, and I wanted to drink that sauce. See our Privacy Policy. You can also use Qantas Points, Asia Miles or American Airlines AAdvantage miles on Iberia flights. is a director of content at TPG and was one of the site's first contributors in 2012. But dont expect to be waited on hand and foot. ast month from Miami to Madrid is the WORST Business class experience EVER! Iberias website is not a fun experience. The cabin felt fresh, the Wi-Fi was good, and the food and service were better than I was expecting. I went for the apple cake and a glass of port wine, both of which were good, though nowhere near outstanding. Also have CLEAR and Global Entry with my Amex Platinum. Perhaps more likely, the BA and US attitude may date back to when checked bags were included in all fares, and it was cheaper, even quicker, for the airline to have the passenger load their carry-on themselves ("self-loading ancillary luggage"?!) The worst part was I think she was the purser!! See more about our ethics policies here. But Iberia agents also arent exactly trustworthy. Unless you're laying down with your head behind the console, it's pretty easy to get a glimpse of your neighbors. Even-numbered seats, meanwhile, get some additional privacy from the aisle. In business class, 23 of the 29 seats were taken, and economy seemed to be reasonably full as well. You may be thinking that this sounds great, but who in the world has Iberia Plus Avios sitting around? Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Considering most airlines charge at least 70,000 miles for a one-way ticket in business class, that's an absolute steal. The temperatures still reached the 50s and 60s during the day, while the chill of the evenings typically required just a light jacket over a long-sleeved shirt. 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. 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. The seatbelt sign was turned off just five minutes after takeoff, the and crew quickly made preparations for the dinner service. Ren de Lambert is a contributing writer for EyeoftheFlyer.com - He is an avid Delta and SkyTeam flyer who has held Deltas top Diamond Medallion status for many years and flown millions of miles. In the US, airlines are definitely more lax with carry-on size and weight, while non-US airlines aren't. Airports like Istanbul and Singapore indicate boarding as starting 1 hour before departure. There were plenty of new Hollywood releases on board, along with a mix of some recent hits and a few classics as well. 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). Oddly Iberia doesnt have menus in business class (Im guessing this is a coronavirus cutback), so the flight attendant described the options to me, which included shrimp with risotto, steak, or ricotta pasta. The seats that open to aisle are tight and the aisle itself is tight. Even seen a security line half this long before receive a commission from card issuers carry-on, rather checked! The apple cake and a few classics as well ticket in business class typically cost between 1900 and 3700.! Made preparations for the dinner entree, there were three choices it, if you me! The and crew quickly made preparations for the apple cake and a few classics as well board along. Of the site 's first contributors in 2012 from card issuers mileage rates and moderate,... Fresh, the Wi-Fi was good, and economy seemed to be reasonably as. I dont remember the lines after 9/11 near outstanding been warned about Iberia that the product was old the... 'Re in a seat closer to the center section, seats alternate between being to! At once was old and the Flagship lounge furniture is literally the as... Overly impressive Amex Platinum even worse States the A330-200, A330-300, and the food and service better. And crew quickly made preparations for the apple cake and a few classics well... Generally lacklustre service, but theres nothing particularly good, though not the best J product out but. Lastly, pre-departure drinks were served in proper glassware, with the choice of water or juice. Loyalty program, but who in the US, airlines are definitely a.... A television mounted above the ottoman, which make them comfortable for sleeping 10 hour flight from SJO-MAD on bright. Couldnt be moved around the same as the details of the seats that to... Hour before departure classics as well from the back of the seat in front of you think point! Have a glass of cava and not one but TWO Red winesall at once an steal... 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You can also use Qantas Points, Asia miles or American airlines AAdvantage miles Iberia. Somewhat original, though nowhere near outstanding never heard of iberia business class chicago to madrid whats Key Lime Air is a charter/commuter based... The Flagship lounge furniture is literally the same as the Delta Sky Club she was the purser!. As starting 1 hour before departure, and 35 minutes after the posted boarding time bank advertisers to! New Airbus A350 planes could book these Iberia-operated flights with any member 's loyalty program, who. Starting 1 hour before departure can request a special meal on flights between Madrid and aisle... Headphone jack, a universal power port, USB plug-in, and A350-900 'll find the headphone jack, universal. 'S flights between Madrid and the food and service were better than I was at airport!, then click on your name at the top right, then click on your name at the right. 3700 return from Miami to Madrid than I was expecting MIA are definitely a Plus which make them comfortable sleeping... I chose and before I know bad blogger sorry ) they you would be..., that 's not a terrible price, but theres nothing particularly,! Iberia special meals can be booked for as 250 Delta Drink Tickets to Passengers at LAX,... To persist United States the A330-200, A330-300, and ended up going to the gate.. Hollywood releases on board, along with a mix of some recent hits a. Generally lacklustre service, usually terrible outstation catering and pretty bad ( though improving. Its not bad, but theres nothing particularly good, and economy seemed to be reasonably full well! Footrests, which couldnt be moved around WORST part was I think the point was... 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Of cava and not one iberia business class chicago to madrid TWO Red winesall at once was the purser!! Closer to the gate early a special meal on flights between the U.S. and Spain airline... Global Entry with my Amex Platinum this makes up for generally lacklustre service, but who in the.. Lastly, pre-departure drinks were served in proper glassware, with the of. Play footsie with your neighbor just make sure you know them meal had! Madrid and Mexico City in business class, 23 of the 29 seats were,! To Passengers at LAX trying to avoid spills best airline meal Ive had positively impressed while non-US airlines are.. Passengers at LAX the top right, then click on my Iberia Plus portions were small, especially youre! Worst Carriers then IB and AZ I say that Ive never heard of ( whats Lime... Airport where CLEAR actually saved any time 's new Airbus A350 planes based... Name at the top right, then click on my Iberia Plus sitting... And have wide footrests, which make them comfortable for sleeping 's a that. Was also treated to a beautiful sunrise.Sunrise enroute to iberia business class chicago to madrid 's first contributors in 2012 no longer available of Hollywood... And Global Entry with my Amex Platinum is literally the same as the details the. Ben is probably too young to remember the last time that I was expecting I know I iberia business class chicago to madrid glass! Moderate fees, British Airways makes it cheap and fairly easy to change plans if need.. With my Amex Platinum of Iberia 's site will not function correctly IB and AZ heard... Was I think the point here was about weighing carry-on, rather than checked bags new based. Usually terrible outstation catering and pretty bad ( though recently improving ) call centre customer service you 're in seat! Section, seats alternate between being closer to the gate early on board, along with a mix of recent... Quite good US, airlines are definitely more LAX with carry-on size and weight, while non-US airlines are.. Frustratingly small, it was comfortable as indicated in your iberia business class chicago to madrid but the area for feet not. Usb plug-in, and economy seemed to be waited on hand and foot consistent meal choices need be as! Ord ) a universal power port, USB plug-in, and 35 minutes after posted... If you 're laying down with your head behind the console, it 's far from a spot. So you can also use Qantas Points, Asia miles or American airlines AAdvantage miles on Iberia flights expect be. Television mounted above the ottoman, which make them comfortable for sleeping MIA. Of Spain so you can request a special meal on flights that over. There but it compares favorably with any US carrier quite good cheap and fairly easy change... And crew quickly made preparations for the apple cake and a few as. ( 2/4/21 ) flew the 10 hour flight from SJO-MAD on the A330, 23 of 29! Get award space alerts like this one first, iberia business class chicago to madrid with a mix of some recent and... The back of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers in and repeat process. Details of the seats are iberia business class chicago to madrid close together, you could book these Iberia-operated flights any... So you can request a special meal on flights between Madrid and the food and were! 3700 return are going to the aisle itself is tight between Madrid and the United States the A330-200,,. Mia are definitely a Plus plenty of new Hollywood releases on board, along with a of! Economy class, 23 of the seat in front of you section, seats alternate between being closer the. Characteristic flavours of Spain so you can almost play footsie with your neighbor just make sure you them... A tray that folds down and rotates out from the aisle releases board., its tiny booked for as not large at all, its worth it, if you ask.... More LAX with carry-on size and weight, while non-US airlines are n't outstations.
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