Airline Profile: Iberia

Featured Image: An Iberia Airbus A320 in Hamburg

The Facts:

Analysis:

Travel Classes:

Economy Class:

On Iberia, economy class is in a 2-2 configuration on all regional aircraft, a 3-3 configuration on all Airbus A320 series aircraft, a 2-4-2 configuration on all Airbus A330s and A340s, and in a 3-3-3 configuration on all Airbus A350s. Iberia features personal on-demand entertainment screens on all long-haul aircraft but doesn’t feature any entertainment on short-haul aircraft.

Additionally, WiFi and power outlets are available on long-haul flights, but not on short-haul flights. On all flights over 4.5 hours, Iberia offers free warm meals to all passengers in economy. However, on trips shorter than that, passengers do have to pay for meals (such as sandwiches) and drinks. Finally, passengers traveling in economy class are allowed to check one 23kg (50lbs) bag for each flight.

Premium Economy:

Premium Economy on Iberia is featured on all Airbus A330-300s, A350-900s, and is featured on some Airbus A340-600s. It is in a 2-3-2 configuration on A330s and A340s and in a 2-4-2 configuration on A350s. The seats feature 37 inches of seat pitch (legroom), which is pretty average for a substantial premium economy seat. Also, the seat features footrests, although it has no legrests, which most premium economy seats have. Passengers receive amenity kits, blankets, and pillows, have access to a 12-inch entertainment screen, and get meals better than in economy. Passengers don’t have access to lounges in premium economy like many Asian airlines offer.

In premium economy, one is allowed to check two 23kg (50lbs) bags for each flight. Premium economy costs around 1.5x the cost of regular economy class on most long haul class (from New York to Madrid one-way, it costs around $2,000 in economy and around $3,000 in premium economy). I would recommend not buying the upgrade to premium economy, as prices are costly, and the upgrade won’t even give you a leg rest. Overall, premium economy is average, but like most European airlines, it is a bit overpriced.

Business Class (Short Haul):

Business Class on most short-haul flights on Iberia is not worth it and should be avoided. Like most airlines in business class in Europe, Iberia features the same seats as in business that they have in economy on most short-haul aircraft (the Airbus A320 series). However, the middle seat is blocked, but there isn’t any table in between the seats like many European airlines offer. Seats don’t have much more legroom than in economy, with only 33 inches of pitch.

Passengers in business class also have access to the Iberia Lounges, get priority check-in, and receive free warm meals on board. No amenity kits or pillows are offered on short-haul flights. Also, one is allowed to check two 23kg (50lb) bags for each flight. On intra-European flights on Iberia, business class can be up to 3x as expensive as economy. For the same seat as in economy, not really getting any more legroom, getting a meal that you could pay for at a fraction of the price in economy, and only getting lounge access isn’t worth the price, in my view.

Iberia also claims on its website to operate on select routes planes which have “Business Club” seats. Business Club supposedly is featured on multiple Airbus A319s, is in a 2-2 configuration, and has seats that recline and have leg rests. Also, passengers in business class receive personal entertainment tablets handed out by the crew. Iberia states that these planes operate on routes to Malabo, Moscow, Lagos, and Tel Aviv. However, per FlightRadar 24, it seems that no A319s operate on such routes, and Iberia seems to have discontinued their routes to Malabo and Lagos, and the route to Tel Aviv has been upgraded to an A330-200. This does lead me to believe that Iberia has discontinued or altered their Business Club service, or that it has changed it to different routes. If you have flown in Business Club or know more about it, please respond in the comments section below.

Business Plus (Long Haul):

Iberia recently refurbished its entire fleet with a fully flat business class product. Up until recently, it used angle-flat seats on all of its aircraft, although aircraft with those seats have since been refurbished or retired. Currently, business class is featured on all Airbus A330s, A340s, and A350s, and features Solstys Style (see video below) staggered seats in a 1-2-1- configuration. While the product is comfortable enough with fully flat seats and every seat has all aisle access, the product is far from revolutionary and is a standard off-the-shelf seat. Passengers onboard also receive amenity-kits, warm meals, and the seats have IFE screens. Please note that unlike many airlines, Iberia doesn’t offer much bedding such as mattress pads, and only offers a pillow and blanket on long-haul flights.

Passengers also have access to Iberia and partner Oneworld lounges. Iberia names their lounges “VIP Lounges,” which are located in Madrid, Paris-Orly, Frankfurt, and Mexico City. Lounges have free wifi, lounge seating, business centers, restaurants, buffets, showers, and even a children’s play area (in Madrid only). Passengers also are allowed to check 2 23 kg (50lbs) bags for each flight. For reference, on average, from New York to Madrid roundtrip in Business Plus ranges from around $3,200 to $9,000 depending on dates.

Notes:

• Iberia is owned by IAG, or the International Airlines Group, and is part of the OneWorld Alliance. British Airways is also owned by IAG, so Iberia has strong ties with them.
• While Iberia has no direct low-cost subsidiary, two Barcelona based low-cost carriers are also owned by IAG – Vueling which flies on short-haul routes and LEVEL which mostly flies on long-haul routes. 
• Iberia operates two Airbus A330-200s for IAG’s low-cost subsidiary LEVEL.
• The airline recently took delivery of its first Airbus A350, which it currently flies to New York JFK, and will eventually fly it to Chicago O’Hare.
• Due to Spain’s vast colonial connections to Latin American countries, Iberia flies to many more destinations in Latin America than most European airlines do, even “smaller” cities such as Medellin, Guatemala City, and Montevideo.

Have you ever flown on Iberia? Share about your experience below in the comments section!