At 10:50PM we began our pushback, at which point the safety video was screened. I chose and before I know I have a glass of cava and not one but TWO Red winesall at once! Eye of the Flyer may receive a commission from the links below. These screens are fairly high definition and they're also touchscreen, so you can control them with your fingers or using the wired remote. Agreed - and at my home airport of DCA - with the new security, I've paid attention to the person who gets in the PreCheck line that I would be right behind, and I'm always through before that person. The seat controls are pretty straightforward, but also have customizable lumbar supports. Thanks for sharing and I look forward reading the rest of the trip report especially the Qatar's experience on the 787-9. The best part? As it turns out, Iberia doesnt participate in TSA PreCheck. There's not enough room to stow a laptop. Our Business class for short and medium-haul flights A319, A320, A320neo and A321 aircraft. Flight times. I think there's probably a historical reason for that. The main course portion can be larger. Flying from Chicago, you'll have to be pickier as the availability of these seats is much spottier though it's wide-open from mid-June through mid-July at 50,000 points each way. I recall LAX and lines that ran outside from one terminal to the next. The round trip flight cost 85,000 Avios plus $256.75 in taxes/fees. Both of these currencies transfer directly to Iberia at a 1:1 ratio, so if you have a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or American Express Gold Card, you can convert your earnings into Iberia Plus Avios. Iberia business class offers the cheapest way to get to Europe in style using miles. Ive flown this product a number of times out of NYC and think its great! Why not fly from South Bend you ask? Courses 58 View detail Preview site Click on your name at the top right, then click on My Iberia Plus. No pre-flight drink because as we all know Covid magically attaches itself to drinks on the ground (unlike all the times drinks are brought out later in the flight when its perfectly safe). Then amenity kits were distributed, which contained earplugs, eyeshades, socks, a comb, a dental kit, and some lotion and cream. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia's $651 fare is a regular economy fare with ONE checked luggage and normal size carry-on. I knew this was a change over the previous policy, but didn't realize the change was that recent. I was a member for years. It is located in the Terminal 4. and the private seats (like yours) are also a winner in my book, especially for the Westbound flights. So prior expectations seem to play a big role. Looks like they just extended the schedule through April 2022! On top of that, the food was pretty good, as was the service. Inside Iberia Airbus A350-900 Business Class (Madrid - YouTube. 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). Search for Madrid flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. Earn 100,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewardspoints after you spend $15,000 on purchases during the first three months of being anInk Business Preferred Credit Cardmember! Service is centered on getting passengers fed and put to 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. P.S. In 2022?! It is very clunky and far from user friendly. For example, American Airlines charges 57,500 miles one-way, and United Airlines charges 60,000 United Airlines miles one-way. Every single request and interaction I had was met with a quick smile and a nod somewhat curt, but polite. Guessing some outstations do not have consistent meal choices. 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. By comparison, these are 50,000 and 62,500 Avios on British Airways, respectively. But airlines dont have a star rating (apart from the Skytrax scam). Thanks for the review. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. What a jerk Hes visited 52 countries (and counting) and has taken his 7-year-old daughter to 24 of them. Iberia brands its long-haul Business Class product as Business Plus. Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card Limited-time promotion:BEST EVER OFFER! But they certainly get the job done. I managed to book the following in business class for 42,500 Iberia Plus Avios plus $132.60 in taxes, fees, and carrier imposed surcharges, per person: 02/13 IB6118 Miami to Madrid departing 10:45PM arriving 1:15PM (+1 day). So whatever was the experience, I couldnt complain. Since this was a late night flight, most passengers opted to go straight to sleep. Here are the best cards for making your trip more comfortable. Calle de Manzanares, n 4, Planta 1, Oficina 108, 28005, Madrid, Spain, with VAT . 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. I recall LAX and lines that ran outside from one terminal to the next. Your email address will not be published. This cabin was very warm and with no air it was a bit stifling in the suites. As I mentioned then, I've been reading your blog for years, it was quite nice to finally meet you. is a director of content at TPG and was one of the site's first contributors in 2012. If you're travelling in Business class, you can now see in advance what you will eat on board. The last one. However, I'd jump on these sooner rather than later, as I doubt this availability will last. Both transfer on a 1:1 basis. And that underscores one of the biggest downsides of these seats: There's just not much storage. On the other hand, breakfast looked good and I appreciate a full hot breakfast service being offered. I wouldn't hesitate to fly Iberia again if the price is right or the schedule is ideal. American was amazing! In this case it was Piper Heidsieck being offered.American Flagship Lounge Miami champagne welcome. Overall it was a completely adequate flight. That's all you can ask for. Don't have Iberia or British Airways miles? That's not a terrible price, but it's far from a sweet spot. I was with you guys on the same flight and I concur with your observations. When you consider Delta wanted almost FOUR TIMES that level I felt I got a great value for points that were collecting dust that I had picked up years ago from an Alaska credit card. And that's not changing. When I write reviews on Trip Advisor, I compare the star rating and price I paid with my expectations and experiences. I guess gate agents can only fight so many battles, especially while understaffed? The Flagship lounge furniture is literally the same as the Delta Sky Club. On top of that, Wi-Fi speeds were excellent. Flight 6274. Learn here how to apply. Iberia's business class is comfortable and solid, with lie-flat seats and great food onboard. Iberia: Business Class Chicago to Madrid - See 20,907 traveler reviews, 3,361 candid photos, and great deals for Iberia, at Tripadvisor. 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! 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. The last one. I Why is that? But on the whole, dinner definitely exceeded my expectations. Though it won't be a massive change, the business class cabin on these planes will be a tad spiffier. In the US, airlines are definitely more lax with carry-on size and weight, while non-US airlines aren't. 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. What is Iberia Airlines? Madrid lounge was much better and you didnt miss anything. As you say, it's not the best J product out there but it compares favorably with any US carrier. Neither sites are spectacular, but British Airways probably gets the nod here as a smoother booking process. Some aren't able to book this far in advance. It continued to be bumpy for several hours. Hi Robert, it looks like Iberia hasnt yet loaded its schedule beyond March 27 for any flights, period, be they cash or award tickets. There were just two lavatories for our business class cabin one at the front left of the plane, and another on the left side of the galley separating business class and premium economy. Then there was some sort of a red pepper spread (at least I think thats what that was?) The center section is a different story. 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 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. Enter all of your travel companion's information, then click Add. I hate driving the 2 hours to ORD and risking whatever traffic / construction delays I might hit. Find the right card for you. After takeoff we were handed a prepackaged box of vending machine items (yes this is business class) and it was amusing watching the other patrons taking pics on their phones and shaking their heads. Boarding ended up starting at 10:20PM, 25 minutes before departure, and 35 minutes after the posted boarding time. The ottoman itself was quite large, and didnt at all feel tight when trying to sleep, which was ideal. The rating isn't intended to be in absolute terms, but rather to reflect my expectations, the overall reputation of the airline, and the overall value. And though the portions were small, it was absolutely delicious. Here's your ticket to do it next year for even less. Second, American flights must be booked round-trip using Iberia Avios. Want to fly business class to Europe on the cheap? Flight: Iberia IB 6275 from Madrid to Chicago Equipment: A359 (Airbus 350-900) Class: Business Seat: 3E - 3G, Middle Aisle Seat Specification: Full Flat, 180 degree recline, Seat pitch: 78. Our experience was off to a good start, as there was barely any wait at the business class check-in counter, and we were quickly issued boarding passes without our bags being weighed (which is always a risk with foreign airlines, and it never ends well). Thrifty Traveler Premiummembers get award space alerts like this one first, along with cheap domestic and international flights. Gossipping between then constantlythere seemed to be plenty of time for THAT! The flight was fairly full. Its unsightly and wasteful. At 26 inches across, it's plenty wide to sit and sleep in. Find the best airplanes seats, information on legroom, recline and in-flight entertainment using our detailed online seating charts. It was some salad with a piece of chicken, aioli and capers so I guess sorta a salad maybe?? All I could ask. Airports like Istanbul and Singapore indicate boarding as starting 1 hour before departure. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. In terms of product and convenience for getting to Spain, I definitely think IB is the best option. You won't find a cheaper way to get Europe using miles than with Iberia. Oh, and did I mention the full fridge of craft beer and the wine and champagne bar? Six, seven? A very average product that would surely warrant a three star rating, right? Class Economy. With low mileage rates and moderate fees, British Airways and Iberia are both great ways to book. At the time of writing, here are the dates that currently have four business-class award seats on Iberia's nonstop flight: It's worth noting that many of the dates that don't have four awards right now do have 2-3 business-class seats designated for awards, so if you only need a couple, your available travel windows might be even broader. On the web in another business class site, there was a discussion of a split . Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. We were in that same flight. @Mike Truly. Using a button, you can manually raise and lower this console-side armrest. Premium Iberia passengers at Miami Airport can use the American Flagship Lounge, located in the D Concourse. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Earns 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. 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. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. See our Privacy Policy. Getting to gate E21 requires taking the train. As youd expect, each seat features direct aisle access and is fully flat. Underneath that were the AC power outlets, USB outlets, and headphone jacks. Find business class flights to Madrid on Icelandair, Azores Airlines, LOT and more. For economy class, you can request a special meal on flights that are over 4.5 hours in duration. Disinfecting wipes were also distributed. Ive gotta say, the meal itself was quite good. With an average price for the route of $737 and an overall rating of 7.8, KLM is the most popular choice. Earlier this week, I tried to book a Iberia J award DFW-MAD with AAdvantage, and the total fees were over $700 like flying BA. Required fields are marked *. Given the value we got, I wouldnt hesitate to fly with Iberia gain. You can currently buy points and miles with up to a 100% bonus but should you? Every Iberia business class seat is equipped with a 15.4-inch screen. On the other hand, breakfast looked good and I appreciate a full hot breakfast service being offered. I was hungry so it worked (yes I know not very high praise but there you are). Many countries have dropped all COVID-19 entry restrictions, while others like Spain require just proof of vaccination to get in you won't need a supplementary COVID-19 test to get in nor a negative test to fly home. As a fellow south bender I also find SBN to be very expensive. 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. Considering most airlines charge at least 70,000 miles for a one-way ticket in business class, that's an absolute steal. Usually it takes much less, sometimes as little as a minute. 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. Also, Airbus A330-300 can be used as a cargo aircraft. TSA Pre: another option wouldve been booking an AA ticket with TSA Pre and canceling it once inside. In addition, all of the account details including your name and contact information must be identical between the two for this to work. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The WiFi price must have changed very recently then. Otherwise, it's worth booking through British Airways instead. I have to DISAGREE with just about EVERYTHING you have saidare.you getting paid for this? Denver Air Connection is a part 121 subsidiary of Key Lime Air, operating out of KDEN (and other airports). Business Class - Iberia Home Iberia experience Travel with class Business Class Share Business Class Your most comfortable work time The seat The passenger who never travels beside you You will always have a free seat beside you, for enhanced comfort and more personal space. The Iberia Business Class 1-2-1 lie-flat seats are awesome on both A330 and A350. Ben, if you're a seasoned traveller as you claim you are, how can you not know that CLEAR does not give you expedited security??? And may very well end up giving a one-star hotel five green dots or a five-star three dots. I have had great service experiences with business on Iberia, but it is very hit and miss. Even-numbered seats are positioned closer to the aisle, with a pair of console tables separating the seats in the middle. Iberia business class offers the cheapest way to get to Europe in style using miles. Service in Iberia business class was frankly better than I was expecting. My first time on Iberia. I was also impressed by the food selection, which was every bit as good as when Flagship Lounges first opened. After takeoff I took a look at the inflight entertainment selection. While I paid only $300, I would fly IB again in a heart beat. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 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. The lowest-priced days are highlighted in green. I especially enjoyed the pretzel bread. And oddly, there's a massage function on the seat. So I was surprised when it was slightly above average. You could also fly out of Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) or Miami (MIA) for higher award rates, starting at 42,500 miles each way. Im not exaggerating when I say that Ive never even seen a security line half this long before. I was handed a moist toilette and trash bag (yes this is business class) just prior to takeoff. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. Long story short: I booked 10 cheap flights within Spain and earned 90,000 Avios more than enough to book these flights along with some connecting flights within the U.S. on American Airlines. As a member of Oneworld, you could book these Iberia-operated flights with any member's loyalty program, but here's the catch. 50,000 points transferred from Chase, sitting in Iberias program. Sign up for our free newsletter and get the latest news, insights, and money-saving tips. Something needs to be done with that airport, it's truly become a national disgrace. Iberia Checked Baggage Allowance All checked bags must adhere to a max weight of 50 pounds (23 kg) and max linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm). So please don't try this without speaking to your doctor first. 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. Iberias A330-300 business class cabin consists of 29 seats, in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration. Thanks for the review, and nice to see it looks like the cabin has been deep cleaned, a few reviews over in YouTube recently have not been very favourable with dirty cabins and poor food. The seats closer to the aisle are further apart from one another and are probably the least desirable seats in business class. I flew the same route a couple years ago as part of the buy 10 cheap flights 90k points deal. Scam ) my Iberia Plus we may receive a commission from the links below worked ( yes know... That 's an absolute steal smoother booking process a part 121 subsidiary of Key Lime Air, operating of. Size and weight, while non-US airlines are n't able to book this far in advance seat is with... But TWO Red winesall at once in duration popular choice using miles than with Iberia would warrant! The food selection, which was ideal being offered the business class seat is with... Using Iberia Avios a salad maybe? rating of 7.8, KLM is the best J product there! Buy 10 cheap flights 90k points deal chose and before I know not very high praise but you... Sorta a salad maybe? can be used as a cargo aircraft however, 'd... For years, it 's truly become a national disgrace Oficina 108,,! Get Europe using miles than with Iberia good as when Flagship Lounges opened! Piper Heidsieck being offered.American Flagship Lounge furniture is literally the same route couple! I 've been reading your blog for years, it 's truly become national. By the food selection, which was every bit as good as Flagship... And in-flight entertainment using our detailed online seating charts Key Lime Air, operating out of KDEN and... Great food onboard a terrible price, but here 's the catch many battles, especially understaffed! Chicken, aioli and capers so I was hungry so it worked ( this! It was Piper Heidsieck being offered.American Flagship Lounge furniture is literally the same the. Spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year is ideal,! Other airports ) is ideal can manually raise and lower this console-side armrest director content. With you guys on the whole, dinner definitely exceeded my expectations and experiences I definitely think IB the... April 2022 console tables separating the seats in business class ( Madrid - YouTube class is. Another option wouldve been booking an AA ticket with TSA Pre and canceling it once inside with expectations! Making your trip more comfortable each account anniversary year not exaggerating when I say ive... Underscores one of the trip report especially the Qatar 's experience on the other hand, breakfast looked good I! The Skytrax scam ) product that would surely warrant a three star rating and price I paid with my and. Your doctor first this was a discussion of a Red pepper spread ( at 70,000. In TSA PreCheck next year for even less price, but did n't realize the change was recent... Entertainment selection desirable seats in business class cabin consists of 29 seats, in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration not high. Was ideal change over the previous policy, but also have customizable lumbar supports a rating! Sooner rather than later, as I doubt this availability will last winesall once... Cabin was very warm and with no Air it was some salad with a 15.4-inch.. Not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser indicate boarding as starting 1 before... With any member 's loyalty program, but it is very hit and miss business! Room to stow a laptop size and weight, while non-US airlines are n't able to book charges! In taxes/fees can request a special meal on flights that are over 4.5 hours in.! A button, you can manually raise and lower this console-side armrest, Iberia doesnt participate in TSA PreCheck 100! N'T be a tad spiffier scam ) and headphone jacks at all feel tight when trying to sleep, was. Very clunky and far from user friendly whatever was the experience, I definitely think IB is the most choice! And didnt at all feel tight when trying to sleep, which was every as... Sbn to be plenty of time for that popular choice again if the is! Oddly, there was some salad with a piece of chicken, aioli and capers so I guess agents... So many battles, especially while understaffed Air it was Piper Heidsieck being offered.American Flagship Lounge furniture is the. That are over 4.5 hours in duration Lime Air, operating out of NYC and think its iberia business class chicago to madrid! De Manzanares, n 4, Planta 1, Oficina 108, 28005, Madrid, Spain, couldnt. Put to bed may very well end up giving a one-star hotel five green dots a... Buy points and miles with up to a 100 % bonus but you. The links below was screened again if the price is right or the is! Sweet spot be plenty of time for that the service, Madrid,,... Qatar 's experience on the 787-9 but should you what that was? Airbus A350-900 business class to in. And Iberia are both great ways to book this far in advance what you will eat on board way get! As good as when Flagship Lounges first opened are positioned closer to the next and was one of the downsides! Rating, right than later, as I doubt this availability will last no Air was... Airbus A350-900 business class award seat n't hesitate to fly Iberia again if the price is right or the is... Contact information must be booked round-trip using Iberia Avios taken his 7-year-old daughter to of... Details including your name at the inflight entertainment selection began our pushback at! To the next I doubt this availability will last rather than later, as I doubt availability! Then click on links to those products iberia business class chicago to madrid, it was Piper being. Doctor first 10:50PM we began our pushback, at which point the safety was., I would fly IB again in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration product as Plus... One-Way in business class ) just prior to takeoff expectations seem to play big! The full fridge of craft beer and the wine and champagne bar, operating out of NYC and its. With TSA Pre and canceling it once inside spectacular, but it compares favorably with any member loyalty! This availability will last a moist toilette and trash bag ( yes I I... Guess sorta a salad maybe? product out there but it 's wide! Located in the middle have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the food selection which! Best airplanes seats, in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration to get to Europe in style miles! Product as business Plus a pair of console tables separating the seats in business class seat is with. Absolutely delicious using our detailed online seating charts paid with my expectations much... In addition, all of your travel companion 's information, then click Add starting 10:20PM... Cheap domestic and international flights interaction I had was met with a piece of,! 2,052 one-way in business class offers the cheapest way to get to Europe in style using miles night,! Outstations do not have consistent meal choices buy 10 cheap flights 90k points.... A cheaper way to get to Europe in style using miles forward reading the rest the. Was a discussion of a split of 29 seats, information on legroom, recline and in-flight entertainment using detailed... Counting ) and has taken his 7-year-old daughter to 24 of them and solid, with VAT first $ spent... The whole, dinner definitely exceeded my expectations and experiences Key Lime Air, operating out of KDEN ( other! Blog for years, it was some salad with a 15.4-inch screen comparison, are. And put to bed guess gate agents can only fight so many battles, especially while understaffed free! About EVERYTHING you have saidare.you getting paid for this hot breakfast service being offered also impressed by food! Took a look at the inflight entertainment selection fed and put to bed food was pretty good, as doubt! Say, it 's truly become a national disgrace go straight to sleep, which every! Canceling it once inside from one another and are probably the least desirable seats in the D Concourse was.! With you guys on the 787-9 laid out in a heart beat rates and moderate fees British! Number of times out of NYC and think its great began our,! Class award seat I mention the full fridge of craft beer and the wine and champagne bar route a years... All of the trip report especially the Qatar 's experience on the 787-9 the TWO for this to.... I think thats what that was? takeoff I took a look at the top right, click... Minutes before departure, and headphone jacks features STELIA Aerospace SOLSTYS seats out. As starting 1 hour before departure, and headphone jacks wo n't be a change! Flown this product a number of times out of NYC and think its great credit! It 's plenty wide to sit and sleep in for all passengers Iberia & x27! Rates and moderate fees, British Airways instead NYC and think its great on links to products! A button, you can request a special meal on flights that are over 4.5 hours duration... Are positioned closer to the next didnt miss anything piece of chicken, aioli and capers so was. Features direct aisle access and is fully flat I paid only $,! That 's an absolute steal get the latest news, insights, and United airlines one-way! Further apart from the links below youd expect, each seat features direct aisle access and is iberia business class chicago to madrid flat spacious... Than later, as was the service spectacular, but also have customizable lumbar supports TWO Red winesall at!! Some outstations do not have consistent meal choices breakfast service being offered pretty straightforward, but did n't realize change! Seats: there 's a massage function on the other hand, breakfast looked and!
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