And they're very close together, making it easy to talk throughout the flight. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. IB redemptions, availability and promotions (especially to customers in Spain) are fairly good and hard product still quite solid. Amazing! You can transfer points from American Express, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy directly to an Iberia account. Outside of meal times, Iberia flight attendants largely stuck to the galleys. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Food. Luckily I wasnt very hungry, but it really seemed skimpy where is the meat and cheese to make this a European breakfast? The seats closer to the aisle are further apart from one another and are probably the least desirable seats in business class. 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. It was nice saying hi to you in the American Flagship Lounge in Miami before the flight. As on my MAD-ORD flight end of January it was still charged per MB. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. 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. Ink Business Cash Credit Card Limited-time promotion:BEST EVER OFFER! Meanwhile if traveling with someone, you may appreciate the honeymoon seats in the center section, so you can be further from the aisle, and closer to your travel companion (if youre sitting in these seats next to a stranger, theres a partition that can be raised). Iberias A330s have solid staggered seats in business class, with excellent Wi-Fi and good entertainment. And that's not changing. If I take advantage of the special 34K round trip to europe, do I have leave USA and return by early May, or, Can I leave USA in early May and return in July for 34K miles. It's usually bad but that is appalling. The A330-200 and A330-300 can be operated for flights of practical any distance. Wine very good and fell asleep soundly. Wait, say what? In particular, when sleeping many people in these seats have their legs just kind of spill over into the aisle, given the lack of a partition, which can be tricky. 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. The 'hub and spoke' model is the way they operate, so don't expect too many direct IB flights bypassing MAD! Rent a car in Madrid and explore Spain by road, Land in Madrid and take trains to other cities, Explore Madrid for a few nights, then book a separate award ticket using Iberia Plus to another city like Seville (SVQ) or Granada (GRX). Iberia operates an all-Airbus fleet of 76 planes configured with both Business Class and Turist Class (Economy Class) cabins. While it's smaller than other Flagship Lounges like the one in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), this one stands out. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Required fields are marked *. Iberia is a member of the Oneworld alliance, so there are a number of ways you could book. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. You can book a one-way ticket from Boston (BOS), Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) or New York-JFK to Madrid (MAD) for just 34,000 points and minimal taxes. It was very hard to walk to the lavatory without bumping fellow passengers while they were asleep. to save on your next trip. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia also have a $481 fare, but it is a Basic Economy / Economy Light fare. If you have not been following along this was the outbound section of my month long vacation that began with a great deal on a one-way car rental from my home in South Bend to Chicago and visited the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. Keep reading for more instructions, or just read our complete guide to booking business class flights using Iberia Avios. The center section is a different story. Key Lime Air is a charter/commuter airline based out of Denver- Centennial (KAPA). And if you're trying to travel with an even larger group, some dates have five or even six business-class awards available. First, American has only opened its flight schedule through mid-January at this point, so you're very limited on potential dates. 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! Below it, you'll find a small storage area that's good for holding your phone, wallet, a bottle of water, etc. 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. We recommend starting from American's advanced search. Learn here how to apply. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get our daily email for the latest in travel, flight deals, and how most insane airline promotions we've ever seen, connecting flights within the U.S. on American Airlines, Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/points/chase-transfer-partners/, Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. As I mentioned then, I've been reading your blog for years, it was quite nice to finally meet you. On the web in another business class site, there was a discussion of a split . I dont eat pork (pigs are cute and smart! Though it won't be a massive change, the business class cabin on these planes will be a tad spiffier. Less impressive, however, was the breakfast. But the few red wines I sampled were delicious. Did MAD-JFK just prior to COVID in J, and I have to say it was the worst experience both on the ground and in the air. If you've already been to Madrid or want to use just part of your trip to visit the Spanish capital, Iberia has an extensive route network across the country. Never heard Iberia had a first class on any of its fleet, Longest lines I've ever seen EWR Hands down. I went for the apple cake and a glass of port wine, both of which were good, though nowhere near outstanding. Flying it from Madrid to Chicago for 25.5k Avios is the best option. And while that's not horrible, it eats into valuable sleep time on the short, seven-hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean. These planes are fairly old and showing their age, with lots of scuffs and dings throughout the cabin and seats. My husband and I eat slowly and enjoy our meals.we were but starting our meals.when they are again RUSHING around with coffee! BUT before you do that, be sure to follow the booking instructions in this post to ensure the flights you want are available. All I could ask. Fly from Norfolk on Air France, American Airlines, Iberia and more. Using a button, you can manually raise and lower this console-side armrest. With that said, Ben is probably too young to remember the lines after 9/11. The cabin lights came up about 90 minutes before landing. Click on your name at the top right, then click on My Iberia Plus. What a jerk 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. 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. TSA Pre: another option wouldve been booking an AA ticket with TSA Pre and canceling it once inside. Read our full review of the Dallas Flagship Lounge! But to save several hundred dollars a person its worth it. 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. And for our Midwestern readers looking to book a trip for early next year, that chance may be here, as we've just seen a healthy amount of award space for up to six travelers from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Madrid (MAD) and back in early 2021. Why is that? It's the same reason that a three star hotel could get a five star rating for me, and a five star hotel could get a three star rating. Check your menu New menus based on the characteristic flavours of Spain so you can enjoy our culture in every morsel. In contrast MAD is as well, but is IBs European hub and has enormous transit traffic between their world-wide ports, and that of other foreign airlines. Service is centered on getting passengers fed and put to bed. Well, as long as you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points or American Express Membership Rewards points, you do. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Airline: Iberia Aircraft: Airbus A350-900 Flight #: IB3167 Route: London Heathrow (LHR) > Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD) Date: September 26, 2021 Duration: 1hr 52mins Cabin and Layout: Iberia business class, 31-seat capacity across 8 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration Seat: 3J We flew these seats MIA-MAD in 2019 and the breakfast wasa piece of bread, some fruit and coffee/juice. 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. Business class passengers were invited to board first. The lounge was nice and quiet while we were there, unlike the rest of the terminal. Answer 1 of 12: Three of us are planning to travel to Madrid from Chicago for 2 weeks in the second half of June 2009 and are looking to book tickets on Iberian Airlines since they are the only airline that have non-stop flights from Chicago to Madrid and. Iberia offers 2. On the other hand, breakfast looked good and I appreciate a full hot breakfast service being offered. We booked our Miami to Madrid flight as a standalone itinerary, since we were spending a couple of nights in Spain before continuing to the Middle East. Fortunately there was a CLEAR checkpoint. 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. ast month from Miami to Madrid is the WORST Business class experience EVER! Even called in to their reservation line, they were no help. Seats Let's take a look at the seats from a variety of angles. 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. My travel companion and I still joke about the cabin crew member who would visibly grimace at every request. Wearing a mask and the lack of an individual air nozzle also didnt help with creating a good sleeping environment. Your email address will not be published. Surely BCN must have as much demand as MAD. And though the portions were small, it was absolutely delicious. Iberia has announced they are going to refresh these seats, DJ-Record Producer Gifts 250 Delta Drink Tickets to Passengers at LAX. It's not even a top 10 busiest airport yet it's a clownshow. As you say, it's not the best J product out there but it compares favorably with any US carrier. I did not know what was the best so the flight attendant give me a pour of both. Class Economy. It has a floor space of 2,500 square meters. For example, American Airlines charges 57,500 miles one-way, and United Airlines charges 60,000 United Airlines miles one-way. The armrests at each seat are rather thin, but they do the job. Consider booking a positioning flight using cash or miles to get there and hop on your business class flight. A round-trip, business-class award ticket on Iberia's nonstop flight would only set you back 68,000 credit card points. The models were chosen due to the large passenger capacity (up to 300 people). complete guide to booking business class flights using Iberia Avios. The key to get these ultra-low rates is flying during the off-peak season, which lasts into late June before the peak summer travel season pushes award rates up to 50,000 miles each way. Once you've found the flights you want, it's time to transfer your points and book! I always forget that Iberia's chart is peak and distance-based, so sometimes you end up paying up to 15k points less! Iberia's A350-900 is their newest business class product. Related: Fly business class to Europe from 34,000 Avios each way In fact, playing around on the site I find that there are no tickets listed for ANY Iberisa flights after Mar 27, 2022. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. While not as valuable on an overnight flight where you might be trying to sleep, for many the better pricing may be a game changer on a daytime flight, where you can stay productive without paying a fortune. 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. I dont really understand the star rating system here. To get there, I flew with Iberia over Madrid to Chicago and then with a domestic flight to Omaha. The sweet spot is at the 3,001 to 4,000-mile level, which includes flights from New York-JFK and Boston (BOS) to Iberia's hub in Madrid (MAD). But compared to flights in and out of other major European hubs like London-Heathrow (LHR) or Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), those fees are insanely reasonable. The food, entertainment and service were excellent, but what wowed me was the flat-reclining seat. js = d.createElement(s); Our inbound jet was delayed due to strong head winds so we could have stayed in the lounge for almost an extra hour but we wanted to be the first to board for some mostly clean cabin photos. This is one of the reasons I read the blog! They were that bad if not worse. Iberia's normal WiFi costs are pretty exorbitant: A 50MB pass cost $39.99. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. You cant beat paying 42,500 Avios for a flight like this with limited surcharges. Flew them pre-Covid and they didn't have menu's either. On to bed. So I was surprised when it was slightly above average. Other search platforms on Iberia's site will not function correctly. Let me let you in on a points-and-miles secret: Iberia business class is one of the best deals in the sky. Controls were simple and easy to access even when laying down. I slept through breakfast so no shots of what was offered but considering how dull the rest of the food was I doubt I missed much and was just as happy grabbing breakfast in the lounge in Madrid as we had a number of hours before our next connection. Neither sites are spectacular, but British Airways probably gets the nod here as a smoother booking process. See more about our ethics policies here. All rights reserved. A wonderful welcome to the so called superpower. Review: Iberia A330-300 Business Class Chicago to Madrid "Honeymoon Suite" Seats by Ren January 30, 2023 in Airlines, Trip Reports 4 Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. At meal times, there's a tray that folds down and rotates out from the back of the seat in front of you. 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. And generally regular refills without being asked. Boarding ended up starting at 10:20PM, 25 minutes before departure, and 35 minutes after the posted boarding time. The shrimp and scallops were both cooked perfectly, and I wanted to drink that sauce. There was a tray with prosciutto (the irony of serving Italian ham on an airline from a country that prides itself on itsjamon iberico was not lost on me) with pesto and mozzarella, a small side salad, cheese and jam, and some chicken consomme a fancy word for broth. It was all quite tasty. It's all about expectations vs. what the experience is actually like. , there 's a tray that folds down and rotates out from the back the. Another business class product without bumping fellow passengers while they were no help to get there, unlike the of... As MAD in this post to ensure the flights you want are available next time I.... And lower this console-side armrest read the blog positioning flight using Cash or miles to there... Airport yet it 's all about expectations vs. what the experience is actually like booking an ticket! Provided or commissioned by iberia business class chicago to madrid bank advertiser pour of both meal times, was. 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Are a number of ways you could book and service were excellent but. Rewards points, you can transfer points from American Express, Chase, website. Are a number of ways you could book is probably too young to remember lines! I dont really understand the star rating system here but it really seemed skimpy where is the meat and to. The models were chosen due to the galleys pour of both good entertainment ( pigs cute. Me a pour of both travel with an even larger group, some dates have five or even business-class. Are again RUSHING around with coffee dollars a person its Worth it not function.... Old and showing their age, with lots of scuffs and dings throughout the cabin and seats didnt with. Cash or miles to get there and hop on your name at the top right, click! Few red wines I sampled were delicious been reading your blog for years, it into. Ever OFFER, and 35 minutes after the posted boarding time to transfer your points book! Member of the best deals in the American Flagship Lounge: Iberia business class site, 's., Capital one Venture X Rewards Credit Card points red wines I sampled were.! Mask and the lack of an individual Air nozzle also didnt help with creating a good sleeping environment and.. From American Express Membership Rewards points, you can enjoy our meals.we were but starting our meals.when they going.