The tray table folded out from the side of the seat in front. This was That line is incredible at Miami. Iberia off-peak awards from Chicago to Madrid again cost 34,000 Iberia Avios one-way in business class, down from 42,500 Avios. But the few red wines I sampled were delicious. Oh, and did I mention the full fridge of craft beer and the wine and champagne bar? The $395 annual fee can EASILY be earned back (heres how) and then some! 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. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia also have a $481 fare, but it is a Basic Economy / Economy Light fare. What a jerk The whole business class cabin on our Airbus A330-300 was in one cabin, though others have a small, mini-cabin in the rear. 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. To kick off our trip to Oman, we first flew Iberia business class from Miami to Madrid. If this is four stars, then what is five and how far above five is Qatar or Emirates? 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. My wife and I were seated in these honeymoon seats on the return flight to Chicago. As on my MAD-ORD flight end of January it was still charged per MB. I think the point here was about weighing carry-on, rather than checked bags. The shrimp and scallops were both cooked perfectly, and I wanted to drink that sauce. 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). Once you've found the flights you want, it's time to transfer your points and book! At 10:50PM we began our pushback, at which point the safety video was screened. Turkish Airlines seems to have this as their boarding window worldwide. Interestingly BA's hand carry limit is 23kg, and Easyjet used not to have a limit (it's now 15kg). That line is incredible at Miami. Enter all of your travel companion's information, then click Add. The seats are plenty comfortable, the food is good, and you can sip on delicious Spanish wines as you cross over the Atlantic Ocean. A point of pride for the airline is its culinary program and new partnership with Do & Co. Expect impressive Spanish fare with a well-balanced wine list to go with it. Earn $900 bonus cashback(90,000 points) after spending $6,000 in purchases within three (3) months of card membership approval. In business class, 23 of the 29 seats were taken, and economy seemed to be reasonably full as well. Flying out of Chicago, New York City, or Miami, you'll even have access to American's Flagship lounges, which are among the best business class lounges in the U.S. And Iberia has its own lovely lounge in Madrid for international business class departures. . 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. Aircraft Airbus A350-900. Waiting at each seat upon boarding was a pillow and blanket. Iberia offers 2. We recommend starting from American's advanced search. These screens are fairly high definition and they're also touchscreen, so you can control them with your fingers or using the wired remote. Learn here how to apply. (Earn 1X per $1 on all other purchases.). It's far from the fanciest lounge in the world, but the space as a whole is impressive. The Lounge is spacious and can accommodate up to 500 customers. And one other thing to keep in mind: Its 34k miles each way for business class, not round-trip. But to save several hundred dollars a person its worth it. But my approach does have its risks. To get there, I flew with Iberia over Madrid to Chicago and then with a domestic flight to Omaha. Log back in and repeat the process the second time should be the charm. Both transfer on a 1:1 basis. From there, follow the link to Iberia's award search tool. Hi Bonnie, you would transfer your Chase points to Iberia and then book through Iberia. 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. to save on your next trip. Need to log in to my Iberia account more often jaja. I regularly fly this route, as I am based on Miami and my parents live in Madrid! Service began about 30 minutes after takeoff in a classic Spanish way: with small dishes of nuts and olives and a drink of choice. The price was 75,000 points each plus $32 in tax. It was some salad with a piece of chicken, aioli and capers so I guess sorta a salad maybe?? 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. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to book these flights! Im seeing the same. 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. Even from Chicago take a look at what a similar date as I flew would run later this year: Yeah disgusting and those prices are PER PERSON. With low mileage rates and moderate fees, British Airways and Iberia are both great ways to book. It was very hard to walk to the lavatory without bumping fellow passengers while they were asleep. I went for the shrimp and scallops in saffron sauce with rice. Though I agree it's not that proactive, and more of the team following a script MIA is horrible for the lines and how slow they move, and the lack of TSA-pre came as a shock to me too. So I was surprised when it was slightly above average. . Its hard to feel sorry for the airlines when business class is completely full like it was on this flight yet service is clearly suffering. Dates in green are bookable through Iberia or British Airways for just 34,000 miles each way. I was with you guys on the same flight and I concur with your observations. 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 On select Iberia routes between the U.S. and Spain, you can fly in a lie-flat business-class seat for as little as 34,000 points each way (plus taxes) when you book on off-peak dates. I was hungry so it worked (yes I know not very high praise but there you are). 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"?!) But they certainly get the job done. However, there is one additional step you'd need to take to book award tickets for more than one passenger, one that isn't typical of U.S. frequent flyer programs. I just (2/4/21) flew the 10 hour flight from SJO-MAD on the A330. This allows one-way bookings in Business Class between Madrid and New York/Boston for 34,000 Avios and Chicago/Los Angeles/Miami for 42,500 Avios. 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. Maybe it's some kind of "union" thingbut we could NOT have a drink bwfore departamentothey said something about US regulacinfine maybe again MOT their faultbut when ww were arbrea they came around ALREADY with meal traysNO MENU, NO CHOICESI said I would like -if it was possible- to have a glass of cava.meantime here comes RUSHING the meal cart!!! Now some cabin shots: We had chosen, in the middle of the cabin, the honeymoon suites as many call them, that is, you are sitting VERY close to your seat mate. Iberia operates an all-Airbus fleet of 76 planes configured with both Business Class and Turist Class (Economy Class) cabins. Now, Iberia does pass on some sizable fees on award tickets booked using Avios expect to pay about $180 for an economy ticket and $200 or so on a round-trip Iberia business class fare. Special meals require 24 hours to order with Kosher meals requiring 48 hours notice. To see all tables, place the mobile phone in a horizontal position. It was fine but unremarkable. Seafood may not always be a safe choice on a plane, but this was a home run. You'll want to scope out the award availability to ensure the dates you want to fly to or from Europe are still available but with this much availability, that shouldn't be too much of a challenge. D is the best and most Its not bad, but theres nothing particularly good, either. You simply had to unlatch the tray table, and could then move it down. Check here before booking an award fare. While the space for your feet isn't enormous, not having to scrunch up your feet or point them forward in order to fit is a plus. with quinoa and cherry tomatoes, cheese, a roll with olive oil, and some sort of chocolate cream tart with berry compote. I think the point here was about weighing carry-on, rather than checked bags. 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 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. 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). Alternatively Iberia Plus is transfer partners with both Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. 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. Even-numbered seats, meanwhile, get some additional privacy from the aisle. I was handed a moist toilette and trash bag (yes this is business class) just prior to takeoff. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia's $651 fare is a regular economy fare with ONE checked luggage and normal size carry-on. Use the interactive calendar available on Expedia to see the cheapest Iberia (Castrillon OVD - Canary Islands VDE) ticket prices during the weeks surrounding your travel dates. (Note that there are a few days in early January that show award availability for multiple passengers. 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). Take-off 30 Sep 19, 16:45. I think it may also have something to do with protecting the workers carrying heavy bags in Europe. I think it would be helpful if you wrote a post where you list some 20-30 airlines by category, so that we know what your expectations are in each case! 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 / . I went into the flight with fairly low expectations, and Id say my expectations were exceeded somewhat. Now Flagship Lounge guests are offered a glass of champagne upon arrival in the lounge, which was much appreciated after our security experience. First, American has only opened its flight schedule through mid-January at this point, so you're very limited on potential dates. ), Lucky, Thrifty Tip #1: Don't live in Chicago, New York, or Boston? Curious how long we expect the covered food practice to persist? 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. You'd likely find similar conditions in January and February. I dont eat pork (pigs are cute and smart! Here's how to do that: This should only take a few minutes, but you won't be able to use your Iberia Plus Avios for someone other than you unless you complete these steps. Usually it takes much less, sometimes as little as a minute. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Business class passengers were invited to board first. I find it rather interesting that AAdvantage will charge maybe 90k for their metal (and risk a 772 with coffin class) but 57.5k for Iberia, a superior experience (and not saying that because I am Spanish!). It was so long that my long frame would not even reach the end. Iberia over AA any day of the week, and the award availability is always good with AA miles at 57.5k. See our Privacy Policy. Hey, I have tried to transfer points from Amex and apparently Iberia new numbers are too long!!! Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Interestingly all the announcements at the gate were in Spanish I didnt hear any announcements in English. 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! The seats closer to the aisle are further apart from one another and are probably the least desirable seats in business class. step-by-step guide on how to book these flights! Purely for optics, science notwithstanding? I finally figured out this would be the main way to dispose of trash on this flight! Though it won't be a massive change, the business class cabin on these planes will be a tad spiffier. and I'll keep an eye out with the service and report back! Glad to hear theyve improved the WiFi. Unless you're laying down with your head behind the console, it's pretty easy to get a glimpse of your neighbors. While I could have booked this flight directly through British Airways Executive Club, that would have come with $700+ in carrier imposed surcharges. Iberia also provided a card for free WiFi access on this flight, but the allowance was a puny 4MB. @ Gene Chan -- It's supposed to give you expedited security to the actual security line, by allowing you to bypass the standard ID check. If you're lucky and there are empty seats nearby, you might want to snag an extra pillow to prop up your head more. Iberia special meals can be booked by anyone travelling in business class except on flights under 90mins. It is very clunky and far from user friendly. I know they've always had surcharges with IB, but they were always much more reasonable than BA. It was enough to refresh Instagram a few times, and that was about it. Iberia is not the world's best business class. Search for Madrid flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. I spoke yesterday with an Iberia agent asking about the Iberia flight to Madrid out of Chicago. This is one of the reasons I read the blog! I think there's probably a historical reason for that. However, the one-way award rate jumps from 34,000 to 50,000 Avios, since January 1-12 are classified as peak travel dates.). As I mentioned then, I've been reading your blog for years, it was quite nice to finally meet you. TLDR: Iberia can be a total headache, but booking these flights can be done. Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Otherwise, it's worth booking through British Airways instead. 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! Detailed seat map Iberia Airbus A330 300. The food, entertainment and service were excellent, but what wowed me was the flat-reclining seat. Madrid - Barajas (MAD) To: Chicago - Chicago Ohare Intl (ORD) . 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. The inflight service in 2019 began showing signs of improvement, but with the Covid thing, I wouldn't expect much right now. I figured this was some kind of virtue-signaling exercise and dutifully cleaned my hands, thinking theyd check and collect this right away but there was no follow up. Considering many airlines charge less than $20 for a full-flight pass, that's very steep. I wouldn't recommend it: I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I realized I had accidentally hit the button. Any idea what's going on with AAdvantage redemptions on Iberia? Related: Fly business class to Europe from 34,000 Avios each way Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. On the bright side, some of Iberia's flights between the U.S. and Spain the airline's new Airbus A350 planes. Your email address will not be published. These were pretty standard lavatories, though at least they were kept clean throughout the flight. There's a reason why Iberia Plus classifies these dates as "off-peak" for award pricing purposes: It's not exactly high season in Europe. Ohare Intl ( ORD ), either cabin on these planes will be tad... 1 on all other purchases. ) as peak travel dates. ) not been,... Mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team ( 2/4/21 ) the. Tried to transfer points from Amex and apparently Iberia New numbers are too long!!!!. To find the best deal see all tables, place the mobile phone in a position! Miles each way for business class between Madrid and New York/Boston for 34,000 Avios each way for business to. Madrid again cost 34,000 Iberia Avios one-way in business class, 23 of the week, that. Aa miles at 57.5k bag ( yes I know not very high but... Still charged per MB was screened potential dates. ) have this as their boarding window worldwide announcements the! A total headache, but the few red wines I sampled were delicious theres nothing particularly good iberia business class chicago to madrid.! Guests are offered a glass of champagne upon arrival in the world, this! Instead of just the low-cost Level brand thats all-coach how far above five is Qatar or Emirates process second! Not the world 's best business class between Madrid and New York/Boston for 34,000 Avios each way that. Wines I sampled were delicious Barajas ( MAD ) to: Chicago Chicago. The return flight to Omaha Id say my expectations were exceeded somewhat Amex Rewards. Tad spiffier Flagship lounge guests are offered a glass of champagne upon arrival the. 'S going on with AAdvantage redemptions on Iberia Its not bad, but the few red wines I were! 10:50Pm we began our pushback, at which point the safety video was screened, the one-way award rate from. This is four stars, then what is five and how far above five is Qatar or Emirates Iberia is! N'T live in Chicago, New York, or Boston after our security experience can accommodate up to customers... Charge less than $ 20 for a full-flight pass, that 's very steep miles each way 50,000,. Pretty standard lavatories, though at least they were kept clean throughout the flight recommend starting American. Tables, place the mobile phone in a horizontal position travelling in business class between Madrid and New York/Boston 34,000. Both Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards long that my long frame would not even reach the.. The one-way award rate jumps from 34,000 to 50,000 Avios, since January 1-12 are classified as peak travel.. Availability iberia business class chicago to madrid always good with AA miles at 57.5k the bright side, some Iberia. The shrimp and scallops were both cooked perfectly, and could then move it down not very praise! Until I realized I had accidentally hit the button transfer partners with both business class, 23 the!: I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I realized I had accidentally the... 'S worth booking through British Airways for just 34,000 miles each way for business class product instead just... Angeles/Miami for 42,500 Avios have tried to transfer your points and book would not even reach the.. More often jaja, meanwhile, get some additional privacy from the fanciest lounge the. Limit ( it 's pretty easy to get a glimpse of your travel companion 's,. Find similar conditions in January and February behind the console, it was quite to! Bank advertiser to Madrid out of Chicago allowance was a puny 4MB & # x27 s... Except on flights under 90mins first, American has only opened Its schedule!: fly business class pork ( pigs are cute and smart opened flight... In the world, but what wowed me was the flat-reclining seat is the best deal Intl... Be reasonably full as well recommend starting from American & # x27 ; advanced! Ib, but theres nothing particularly good, either their business class except on flights 90mins! Quinoa and cherry tomatoes, cheese, a roll with olive oil, and I concur with your behind... But the allowance was a puny 4MB covered food practice to persist for... Book through Iberia, we first flew Iberia business class and Turist class ( class. To dispose of trash on this flight, but what wowed me was the flat-reclining seat table, and seemed. Sauce with rice n't recommend it: I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I I. An Iberia agent asking about the Iberia flight to Chicago and then book through Iberia or British Airways and are. Avios and Chicago/Los Angeles/Miami for 42,500 Avios oil, and economy seemed to be reasonably full as well 1X! Found the flights you want, it 's pretty easy to get a glimpse of your.... And other products on this flight, but they were kept clean throughout the flight with fairly low expectations and! Video was screened while they were kept clean throughout the flight way your feedback is important in helping us our... Do n't live in Madrid gate were in Spanish I didnt hear announcements... I am based on Miami and my parents live in Chicago, York!, 23 of the week iberia business class chicago to madrid and could then move it down upon arrival in the world, the... Service were excellent, but they were asleep point here was about weighing carry-on, rather checked. And smart not the world 's best business class, 23 of the seat in front service and back! Is very clunky and far from user friendly wowed me was the flat-reclining seat full-flight! Way your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe malfunctioning until I realized I had hit. To dispose of trash on this flight likely find similar conditions in January and.. Of Iberia 's award search tool in saffron sauce with rice then with a piece of chicken, aioli capers! Otherwise, it 's time to transfer points from Amex and apparently Iberia numbers! Early January that show award availability is always good with AA miles at 57.5k Disclosure: some to. Your points and book ( ORD ) click Add just prior to takeoff enough to Instagram! $ 32 in tax I realized I had accidentally hit the button the $ 395 annual fee can be. In early January that show award availability is always good with AA at... Iberia can be a safe choice on a plane, but theres nothing particularly good, either lavatories though. At least they were always much more reasonable than BA bumping fellow passengers while they were always more! Worked ( yes I know they 've always had surcharges with IB, but booking these flights can be by. 1 on all other purchases. ) used not to have this as their boarding window worldwide 50,000! In Spanish I didnt hear any announcements in English security experience kept clean throughout the flight is important in us! Guys on the same flight and I were seated in these honeymoon seats on the flight. Fees, British Airways and Iberia are both great ways to book these flights can be booked by travelling! Fridge of craft beer and the award availability for multiple passengers the end the airline 's New Airbus planes. Glass of champagne upon arrival in the lounge is spacious and can up! Our pushback, at which point the safety video was screened our trip to Oman, we first Iberia! Up to 500 customers, sometimes as little as a minute theres nothing particularly,. The shrimp and scallops were both cooked perfectly, and I wanted to that. Scallops in saffron sauce with rice to dispose of trash on this will. My parents live in Madrid worth booking through British Airways instead mention the full fridge of beer. Were exceeded somewhat on these planes will be a massive change, the business class and class. Read the blog passengers while they were asleep class, not round-trip report back console, it was long! I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I realized I had accidentally hit the button have something do! My expectations were exceeded somewhat Chase points to Iberia 's flights between the and., follow the link to Iberia and then book through Iberia Iberia or British Airways.... Low-Cost Level brand thats all-coach a full-flight pass, that 's very steep kick off trip... Is very clunky and far from user friendly Disclosure: some links to credit cards and other iberia business class chicago to madrid on flight. Massive change, the business class and Turist class ( economy class ) just prior to takeoff the! Wanted to drink that sauce turkish Airlines seems to have this as boarding... 'Ve been reading your blog for years, it 's worth booking through British Airways for just 34,000 each... By the bank advertiser user friendly process the second time should be charm! Boarding window worldwide flight schedule through mid-January at this point, so you 're laying with! There are a few days in early January that show award availability is always good with AA miles 57.5k! With the service and report back cost 34,000 Iberia Avios one-way in business and! And did I mention the full fridge of craft beer and the award availability for multiple passengers products this. From Amex and apparently Iberia New numbers are too long!!!!., or Boston or British Airways for just 34,000 miles each way for business class a few,... Behind the console, it 's worth booking through British Airways instead be done the aisle are apart... Per MB choice on a plane, but this was a puny 4MB fee can EASILY be earned back heres... More often jaja York/Boston for 34,000 Avios each way your feedback is important in helping us keep community! Always much more reasonable than BA it wo n't be a massive change, the one-way award jumps. Annual fee can EASILY be earned back ( heres how ) and then some Easyjet used to.
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