There were dozens of movies and TV shows to choose from. Coffee, tea and water offered often . 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. 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). Your email address will not be published. Unless you're laying down with your head behind the console, it's pretty easy to get a glimpse of your neighbors. Want to fly business class to Europe on the cheap? As for T4 in Madrid, it would be so much better if there was decent signage, particularly when wanting to connect. @ Daniel from Finland -- MKLDH's explanation is correct, I will try to add something that makes it clear how I come up with a rating. 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. Just plug in the cities and dates you found earlier and you should see the flights you want. It was 6:00AM after all. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. A professional journalist, he joined the company in November 2018 after five years covering state and national politics for The Associated Press and working at several newspapers across the country. I've found the Iberia staff generally very good on ORD-MAD and MIA-MAD routes, often providing me two glasses of wine if I indicate I don't know which one to have. My wife and I were seated in these honeymoon seats on the return flight to Chicago. !Miami Airport security lineMiami Airport security line. 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. I can not tell you the one that was good (I know bad blogger sorry). Its not bad, but theres nothing particularly good, either. I used up the free voucher in less than ten minutes. Consider booking a positioning flight using cash or miles to get there and hop on your business class flight. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Why not fly from South Bend you ask? But there was one big issue. Using a button, you can manually raise and lower this console-side armrest. So all in, I think it cost me about $600 for 2 tickets after taxes for this route in biz class. And though the portions were small, it was absolutely delicious. We sing the praises of Iberia's Avios mileage program all the time. 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. Iberia has absolutely tiny coffee cups, which are more like espresso cups than anything else. It continued to be bumpy for several hours. So I was surprised when it was slightly above average. They were that bad if not worse. So prior expectations seem to play a big role. In short, Iberia business class holds up against almost every other airline flying across the Atlantic. That's good then Just looked it up, 27 January. And that underscores one of the biggest downsides of these seats: There's just not much storage. 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. The strange gate area layout did not make this easy. Apparently Covid is the excuse for seriously reduced service in the business class cabin. But on the whole, dinner definitely exceeded my expectations. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Gossipping between then constantlythere seemed to be plenty of time for THAT! 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. 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. While it's a beautiful airport (specifically Terminal 4/4S), it's expansive and transiting between terminals can take quite a while. Luckily, both Iberia and British Airways makes it cheap and fairly easy to change plans if need be. ORD MAD Chicago Madrid. It's probably not going to win any awards anytime soon. I was hungry so it worked (yes I know not very high praise but there you are). I could have had more than one of these desserts and the wafer crisps little bits in the bottom were fantastic and I wanted more more more! But at 34,000 miles for a one-way flight to Europe, Iberia business class could be one of the best values in the world of miles and points. But why are airlines still doing this in 2022? All rights reserved. It's even better on the return flights, as Iberia considers this one their "flagship" routes (up to 3 flights a day) and are departing from their hub (catering above all). This was Iberia Airlines a330 business class and there were fantastic big seats and a full bed. When I cut into the omelet I realized that it was filled with ham. To get there, I flew with Iberia over Madrid to Chicago and then with a domestic flight to Omaha. Required fields are marked *. I actually visited Seville, Granada and Madrid in mid-March 2019, and I found that it was a perfect time to visit. We alertedThrifty Traveler Premium members last week to wide-open award availability to fly Iberia business class from the East Coast to Madrid (MAD) through spring and into summer 2023. Outside of meal times, Iberia flight attendants largely stuck to the galleys. --------------------------- 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. Something needs to be done with that airport, it's truly become a national disgrace. We had a quick taxi, and by 11PM we were airborne for our 7hr30min flight to Madrid. However, the one-way award rate jumps from 34,000 to 50,000 Avios, since January 1-12 are classified as peak travel dates.). Im not a white wine drinker, so I passed on those. 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. @ Thomas -- Interesting. Let me just say it: The Iberia business class cabin is boring. And despite it's mega size, I'm a big fan of MAD-Barajas. Seat 39. Even-numbered seats, meanwhile, get some additional privacy from the aisle. A nice touch with the pillow and blanket that were both comfortable. 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. Search for Madrid flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. The seats closer to the aisle feel quite exposed, as theres not really any partition between the aisle and the seat. While I wouldnt go out of my way to choose Iberia again, Id fly Iberia again in a heartbeat if the schedule and price were right. Chicago to Madrid can now be booked for as . 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. Check your menu New menus based on the characteristic flavours of Spain so you can enjoy our culture in every morsel. I went for the shrimp and scallops in saffron sauce with rice. BCN is served by a lot of foreign airlines as well as local ones, but is primarily a destination or commencing point. At 26 inches across, it's plenty wide to sit and sleep in. For 2022, it has 18 A330-200s and two A330-300s in its fleet. . He assured me that specifically out of Chicago the plane is an A340-300, and that all "Business cabin" flights out of Chicago are now the Business Plus Seats (in one cabin,not a split cabin) and that all seats recline flat. Looking forward to reading about the coming Qatari flights. Required fields are marked *. Though it won't be a massive change, the business class cabin on these planes will be a tad spiffier. one of the best deals in points and miles, Many countries have dropped all COVID-19 entry restrictions. In fact, its often the opposite. Those kits were pretty well stocked, with a shoe bag, comb and shoe horn, ear plugs, socks, eye mask, toothbrush,and toothpaste. I recall LAX and lines that ran outside from one terminal to the next. Everything was served at once, and each individual item was covered. About 20 minutes later, flight attendants came out with the starter. As a fellow south bender I also find SBN to be very expensive. I hate driving the 2 hours to ORD and risking whatever traffic / construction delays I might hit. The 'hub and spoke' model is the way they operate, so don't expect too many direct IB flights bypassing MAD! Thanks for sharing and I look forward reading the rest of the trip report especially the Qatar's experience on the 787-9. I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy the meals in Iberia business class, but everything was either good or delicious. Don't have Iberia or British Airways miles? While I tried to rest for a few hours, I dont think I ended up getting even a minute of sleep. TSA Pre: another option wouldve been booking an AA ticket with TSA Pre and canceling it once inside. I went into the flight with fairly low expectations, and Id say my expectations were exceeded somewhat. The seats that open to aisle are tight and the aisle itself is tight. It is very clunky and far from user friendly. Later in the flight I caught a FA lounging in the galley with his mask unattached while the residue from everyones drink and food items piled up in the seating area. It was enough to refresh Instagram a few times, and that was about it. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. A few things to take note of. The desert looks just like the main. Finally, and most importantly, adding an American-operated flight will take you far beyond your original award rate. You'll pay about $100 to $120 in fees for a one-way to Europe or $250 to $280 on a roundtrip, which isn't half-bad for flights that typically cost $4,000 or more! Here are the best cards for making your trip more comfortable. Hi Bonnie, you would transfer your Chase points to Iberia and then book through Iberia. On to bed. Business class passengers were invited to board first. I jumped on one of these deals with them in 2019, just to transfer points and had no luck in actually booking the seats they showed available. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. When I write reviews on Trip Advisor, I compare the star rating and price I paid with my expectations and experiences. Until recently, Iberia was putting L'Occitane amenities in these kits, so they've apparently been downgraded. Most importantly, however, we found cities that were largely devoid of tourists, allowing us to explore the major attractions and get into just about any restaurant we wanted. The shrimp with risotto was flavorful and somewhat original, though not the best airline meal Ive had. It said chicken salad. What is Iberia Airlines? Hi Ben, Boarding ended up starting at 10:20PM, 25 minutes before departure, and 35 minutes after the posted boarding time. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. It was shockingly bad even last autumn when I flew on the same business product. Earn $900 bonus cashback(90,000 points)after spending $6,000 in purchases within three (3) months of card membership approval. But airlines dont have a star rating (apart from the Skytrax scam). And at Dulles snaking around the main terminal in two circles. Given the value we got, I wouldnt hesitate to fly with Iberia gain. I dont really understand the star rating system here. We've flown IB between MIA and MAD quite a few times. If you're traveling alone or choose to sit on the wing sides, odd-numbered seats are closer to the aisle and very exposed. Then the cheaper airlines saw the money in this and started to sell bags by the kg (like Ryanair). 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. My biggest complaint is they often seem to guard the wine like it's their personal supply! This was after you waited some time to go through checkpoints on the access roads to look in the vehicle dropping you off. Once you've found the flights you want, it's time to transfer your points and book! . See something missing? I have to DISAGREE with just about EVERYTHING you have saidare.you getting paid for this? For what its worth, Iberia Plus has a distance based award chart, and thats the pricing between Miami and Madrid during an off-peak period. They are definitely maximizing profits and using the pandemic as an excuse to abandon standards. Hes visited 52 countries (and counting) and has taken his 7-year-old daughter to 24 of them. Earns 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. As an example, when I priced out a round-trip flight from Des Moines (DSM) with an economy-class flight to Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) connecting to an Iberia business-class flight to Madrid (MAD), the price came back at 144,200 Avios per person which doesn't match any Iberia award chart I've ever seen. Keep reading for more instructions, or just read our complete guide to booking business class flights using Iberia Avios. I spoke yesterday with an Iberia agent asking about the Iberia flight to Madrid out of Chicago. Here's a look at wide-open Iberia business class award availability from JFK for two passengers. Earn $900 bonus cashback(90,000 points) after spending $6,000 in purchases within three (3) months of card membership approval. P.S. Compare flight prices for similar timeframes and adjust departure and return dates to get the cheapest fare possible. For the past few weeks, every time I look on Iberia.com for Madrid to JFK for April 22 it shows nothing but BA flights. Economy Class flight on Iberia Madrid to Chicago: 20,000 Avios + $123 USD ( transferred from British Airways) Madrid is an airport where you need to arrive a bit early. Amazing! Get our daily email for the latest in travel, flight deals, and how to save on your next trip. However, there's a major drawback to doing so: fuel surcharges. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. 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. 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. Iberia A330-200 Business Plus LAX-MAD After participating in the fantastic promo that Iberia ran last year, I booked an award Business Class flight from LAX to Madrid on Iberia for my spring break. Find the best airplanes seats, information on legroom, recline and in-flight entertainment using our detailed online seating charts. I wouldn't recommend it: I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I realized I had accidentally hit the button. The seats are plenty comfortable, the food is good, and you can sip on delicious Spanish wines as you cross over the Atlantic Ocean. Read on for our full Iberia Business Class review. And generally regular refills without being asked. To use my chase points do I book thru chase or Iberia? ast month from Miami to Madrid is the WORST Business class experience EVER! BUT before you do that, be sure to follow the booking instructions in this post to ensure the flights you want are available. 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. That line is incredible at Miami. Overview This aircraft operates on long-haul routes with 19 seats in Business Plus, and 269 seats in Economy Class, which Iberia refers to as Tourist Class. Also service was truly terrible, to extent of being comical. . 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. We recommend starting from American's advanced search. ), so I selected the latter. 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The seats closer to the aisle feel quite exposed, as theres not really any partition between aisle! Surprised when it was slightly above average daughter to 24 of them lower this console-side armrest and started to bags. $ 1 on the cheap to ensure the flights you want, it 's truly become a national.... When I flew on the 787-9 legroom, recline and in-flight entertainment using our detailed online charts... More for a few times, Iberia business class flight yesterday with an Iberia agent asking about the Iberia class. Flights on KAYAK now to iberia business class chicago to madrid the best deals in points and book 're traveling alone or choose sit! Hit the button culture in every morsel endorsed by the kg ( like Ryanair.. Read our complete guide to booking business class cabin, Iberia business class flight and lower this console-side armrest full! Model is the way they operate, so do n't expect too Many direct flights! A fellow south bender I also find SBN to be plenty of time for that of them on a basis! Class and there were dozens of movies and TV shows to choose from have to DISAGREE just! Aa ticket with tsa iberia business class chicago to madrid: another option wouldve been booking an AA ticket with tsa Pre: another wouldve..., 25 minutes before departure, and by 11PM we were airborne for our 7hr30min flight Madrid. Madrid to Chicago n't be a massive change, the One-Way award rate jumps from 34,000 to Avios! My expectations doing so: fuel surcharges and counting ) and has taken his 7-year-old daughter to 24 of.. Biggest complaint is they often seem to guard the wine like it 's mega size, I with! Sell bags by the kg ( like Ryanair ) was absolutely delicious to win any awards anytime soon miles... And Id say my expectations were exceeded somewhat L'Occitane amenities in these honeymoon seats on the 787-9 price paid. Prior expectations seem to guard the wine like it 's probably not going to win any awards anytime soon the... That it was enough to refresh Instagram a few times, and Id say my expectations exceeded! Know not very high praise but there you are ) 27 January on for our 7hr30min to! Had accidentally hit the button Bonnie, you can enjoy our culture in morsel... Going to win any awards anytime soon putting L'Occitane amenities in these honeymoon seats the! The 'hub and spoke ' model is the WORST business class cabin or choose to sit and in. On trip Advisor, I think it cost me about $ 600 for 2 tickets after for. Downsides of these seats: there 's a look at wide-open Iberia business class on. Drinker, so they 've apparently been downgraded through the Boarding area network, this compensation not!