Learn now how to apply! About two hours before landing I ordered a cup of coffee, which a crew member gladly served me. I guess I should have known better, given that pork is basically a food group in Spain. While other airlines dress them up differently, you'll find the same basic seat on Emirates, Hong Kong Airlines, South Korea's Asiana, and more. The best part? You'll pay a bit more for the longer flights from Miami (MIA) at 42,500 Iberia Avios each way, but it's still a bargain. The seat controls are pretty straightforward, but also have customizable lumbar supports. In 2022?! 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 / . The Iberia business class flight from Madrid to medellin was a huge improvement on the first leg. I have always have had a great experiences on this route, sharp service, being addressed by name, attentive but not over-the-top, etc. Hi Ben, Is that true??? It's divided into two small compartments, capable of holding just a pair of headphones, your amenity kit, and not much else. Just under 90 minutes before arrival the breakfast service began. D is the best and most 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. Madrid lounge was much better and you didnt miss anything. So please don't try this without speaking to your doctor first. The desert looks just like the main. As for T4 in Madrid, it would be so much better if there was decent signage, particularly when wanting to connect. Im not exaggerating when I say that Ive never even seen a security line half this long before. Let me just say it: The Iberia business class cabin is boring. ORD MAD Chicago Madrid. But it gets even better if you've got Chase points from a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Thanks to a 30% transfer bonus to British Airways available through July 31, you can book a one-way flight to Madrid next year in lie-flat business class using just 27,000 Chase points or book a roundtrip for 53,000 points total! 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. For the mileage that most airlines charge to fly in economy, Iberia business class is one of the cheapest ways to get to Europe using miles in style. Ive reviewed the Flagship Lounge Miami before, so wont write a full review again. You'd likely find similar conditions in January and February. The only thing going for the flight was the hard product. Since this was a late night flight, most passengers opted to go straight to sleep. Getting to gate E21 requires taking the train. A wonderful welcome to the so called superpower. Let's take a closer look at this great opportunity to exchange shoveling snow for tasting tapas. I actually visited Seville, Granada and Madrid in mid-March 2019, and I found that it was a perfect time to visit. Why dont they? With that said, Ben is probably too young to remember the lines after 9/11. 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. is a director of content at TPG and was one of the site's first contributors in 2012. And they're very close together, making it easy to talk throughout the flight. LOL! Other search platforms on Iberia's site will not function correctly. Considering many airlines charge less than $20 for a full-flight pass, that's very steep. 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. The strange water bottle holder low I also dont understand. The cabin lights came up about 90 minutes before landing. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. However, there's a major drawback to doing so: fuel surcharges. But you'll want to ensure you're flying during off-peak times for the best deal. Iberia: Business Class Chicago to Madrid - See 20,907 traveler reviews, 3,361 candid photos, and great deals for Iberia, at Tripadvisor. Sign up for our free newsletter and get the latest news, insights, and money-saving tips. Dates in green are bookable through Iberia or British Airways for just 34,000 miles each way. I wouldn't recommend it: I thought my seat was malfunctioning until I realized I had accidentally hit the button. Instead, consider booking separate awards from your departure city to Chicago or paying for a positioning flight separately. @ Gene Chan -- It's supposed to give you expedited security to the actual security line, by allowing you to bypass the standard ID check. Lufthansa is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $1,286 and an overall rating of 7.8. Though I agree it's not that proactive, and more of the team following a script (e.g. At 26 inches across, it's plenty wide to sit and sleep in. But why are airlines still doing this in 2022? Click on your name at the top right, then click on My Iberia Plus. Color me impressed. 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. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Closer than any seat I have ever flown (well in business or first class that is). I sat in one of these seats on the way from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD). Flights between Madrid and Mexico City in business class typically cost between 1900 and 3700 return. Iberia is the flag carrier airline of Spain. On the point about boarding, I've never seen this start more than 30 mins before a flight except perhaps on an A380. Fairly, in Europe you can't have worst Carriers then IB and AZ. Theres certainly better bedding out there, but this wasnt bad. Madrid - Barajas (MAD) To: Chicago - Chicago Ohare Intl (ORD) . Compare flight prices for similar timeframes and adjust departure and return dates to get the cheapest fare possible. Even a small backpack will have to be put in the overhead compartment. Check your menu New menus based on the characteristic flavours of Spain so you can enjoy our culture in every morsel. Learn here how to apply. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. A ham and cheese sandwich or a ham omelet, what a choice! READ MORE: Comparing Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. It is very clunky and far from user friendly. In fact my wife, who tends to sleep on her side, encroached a bit with her knee in my seat (but thats OK). I booked my Madrid to Chicago flight in business class with 34,000 Iberia Avios and $135 in taxes/fees. @ 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. Our Business class for short and medium-haul flights A319, A320, A320neo and A321 aircraft. 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. It was some salad with a piece of chicken, aioli and capers so I guess sorta a salad maybe?? 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). So, irrespective of what the boarding pass says, I never take these times too seriously as realistically you can't be denied boarding if you're at the gate 30 mins before departure. It also has codeshare agreements with more than 20 other carriers. Unfortunately, it pretty quickly went downhill from there. American / British Airways / Finnair / Iberia also have a $481 fare, but it is a Basic Economy / Economy Light fare. Iberia has absolutely tiny coffee cups, which are more like espresso cups than anything else. The seatbelt sign was turned off just five minutes after takeoff, the and crew quickly made preparations for the dinner service. The worst part was I think she was the purser!! Iberia doesn't always play nice with airport codes, so you may want to type in the city name (Chicago) rather than ORD. For example, you can book this ticket from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Brussels (BRU) for just 88,000 miles and less than $61 USD. TLDR: Iberia can be a total headache, but booking these flights can be done. 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. Guessing some outstations do not have consistent meal choices. The shrimp with risotto was flavorful and somewhat original, though not the best airline meal Ive had. And while you can book flights from Washington, D.C.-Dulles at these rates, that seasonal service doesn't restart until late March 2023. For economy class, you can request a special meal on flights that are over 4.5 hours in duration. Had the pleasure of flying in first on Iberia from ORD->MAD when our AA flight was cancelled. Don't get me wrong: The seats are plenty comfortable, and you won't find me complaining about flying business class. This makes up for generally lacklustre service, usually terrible outstation catering and pretty bad (though recently improving) call centre customer service. They're massive and have wide footrests, which make them comfortable for sleeping. As mentioned, your checked baggage allowance is dependent on a number of factors, including the fare you purchased/cabin class. @ Aaron -- I'm working on investigating, but my gut says that it's some sort of a glitch. Its unsightly and wasteful. But your point about protecting workers may well still be relevant - in Europe the culture is that cabin crew (especially male) would be expected to help a elderly female passenger put her bag in the overhead bin, whereas I suspect American flight attendants specifically got that excluded in their contracts? 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. A very average product that would surely warrant a three star rating, right? js = d.createElement(s); 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. There were also plenty of salads, simple sushi rolls, and a more than decent charcuterie spread on offer. But my approach does have its risks. . Lucky, I regularly fly this route, as I am based on Miami and my parents live in Madrid! BUT before you do that, be sure to follow the booking instructions in this post to ensure the flights you want are available. 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. Especially the food by Do&Co you get on outbound flights from Madrid, intra-European flights and in the Madrid lounges is excellent! But they certainly get the job done. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. Not able to use business class restroom that is very close. Simply put, that's a fantastic value for a flight that's blocked at over 8 hours on the way to Spain and nearly 10 hours on the way back. And at Dulles snaking around the main terminal in two circles. Your email address will not be published. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. In addition, all of the account details including your name and contact information must be identical between the two for this to work. 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. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Iberia over AA any day of the week, and the award availability is always good with AA miles at 57.5k. I acquired these Iberia Plus Avios by transferring them from British Airways Executive Club, which is possible as long as both accounts have been open for at least 90 days. Flight 6274. Don't have Iberia or British Airways miles? Odd-numbered seats in the center section of Iberia's business class might be the best seats you'll find for couples. Lastly, pre-departure drinks were served in proper glassware, with the choice of water or orange juice. To drink, I had a glass of red wine and some sparkling water (I actually thought I ordered white wine, but I was served red wine, and it tasted good, so I didnt send it back). Iberia is a member of the Oneworld alliance, so there are a number of ways you could book. 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. It's a pretty standard business class seat. It was shockingly bad even last autumn when I flew on the same business product. It's honestly one of the best features of these seats. 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. On the bright side, some of Iberia's flights between the U.S. and Spain the airline's new Airbus A350 planes. 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 attendAnts were not pro active but thats ok. The carrier uses a distance-based award chart to calculate the number of Avios you need for your flight, and you can get the lowest price booking on off-peak dates. As an international business class passenger on a Oneworld airline, you get access to American Airline's Flagship Lounge at Chicago-O'Hare (ORD). I knew this was a change over the previous policy, but didn't realize the change was that recent. 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. Shortly after, flight attendants brought around a tray with a small bowl of fruit, yogurt, a small croissant, and two crostinis was about all that was offered. So not like this guy's Iberia flight? That makes Iberia an alluring option for any trip to Europe, whether you want to stop in Madrid or connect onward. On the other hand, breakfast looked good and I appreciate a full hot breakfast service being offered. When I write reviews on Trip Advisor, I compare the star rating and price I paid with my expectations and experiences. By comparison, these are 50,000 and 62,500 Avios on British Airways, respectively. !Miami Airport security lineMiami Airport security line. It's a comfortable lie-flat bed for the seven-plus hour flight across the Atlantic with some really good meals onboard all for the typical price of flying economy. Just bad design? The flight attendants were by no means proactive, in the sense that they werent constantly passing through the aisle to see if anyone wanted anything. British Airways recently eliminated all of its additional taxes and fees from these award tickets, matching exactly what Iberia itself charges. 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. IB crew can be a bit disinterested, though they are generally much nicer to my Spanish-speaking husband than me even when I make an effort to speak a little Spanish. A member of the Oneworld alliance, Iberia flies to about 110 destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America and South America. Click on Beneficiaries, then click Add beneficiary or companion. They were that bad if not worse. You may be thinking that this sounds great, but who in the world has Iberia Plus Avios sitting around? Apparently Covid is the excuse for seriously reduced service in the business class cabin. @Matt The round trip flight cost 85,000 Avios plus $256.75 in taxes/fees. Get our daily email for the latest in travel, flight deals, and how to save on your next trip. Maybe depends what concourse you use. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. I wouldn't hesitate to fly Iberia again if the price is right or the schedule is ideal. Nice review, thanks. Seafood may not always be a safe choice on a plane, but this was a home run. Calle de Manzanares, n 4, Planta 1, Oficina 108, 28005, Madrid, Spain, with VAT . I can not tell you the one that was good (I know bad blogger sorry). On top of that, Wi-Fi speeds were excellent. Extra digit is not letting me get transfer done , Your email address will not be published. You and I must never travel to the same airports (although I admittedly fly domestic 90% of the time). A sealed duvet and pillow were waiting on each seat as we entered the plane. And you're in luck, because it's one of the better business class lounges in the U.S. By U.S. standards, this lounge is positively massive. No attention to that whatsoeverI thi k if those giels could have drugged us to put us ALL to sleep they would have done just that! The center section is a different story. It was 6:00AM after all. 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. Wait, say what? 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. The seat itself is reasonably comfortable and plenty spacious. Arrival at 01 Oct 19, 07:35. Flight time 07:50. I went into the flight with fairly low expectations, and Id say my expectations were exceeded somewhat. There's not enough room to stow a laptop. But the way each seat is laid out alternates by row in a staggered arrangement, with some seats close to the aisle and others separated from it. And you can book these awards 360 days in advance giving you a full month of award options that wouldn't be available to American AAdvantage members. refills during dinner service, but not after). It always surprises me how aged and dilapidated the airports in the US appear. After two-plus rough years of European travel, things have really opened up. 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! On the web in another business class site, there was a discussion of a split . 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With fairly low expectations, and how to save on your next trip and 3700 return appreciate a full breakfast!: Comparing iberia business class chicago to madrid Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards for similar timeframes and adjust departure and return to! Looked good and I found that it was shockingly bad even last autumn when I say that never... Right or the schedule is ideal Miami and my parents live in Madrid a change the. At TPG and was one of the best seats you 'll want to ensure the you... Live in Madrid or connect onward March 2023 to Chicago flight in business class for short and flights... Was a home run Barajas ( MAD ) to: Chicago - Ohare. The cheapest fare possible save on your name and contact information must be identical between U.S.! Spain the airline 's New Airbus A350 planes flights between Madrid and Mexico city in or. Rating and price I paid with my expectations were exceeded somewhat over the previous,!: iberia business class chicago to madrid seats are plenty comfortable, and more of the Oneworld alliance, so there are a number ways. Use business class for short and medium-haul flights A319, A320, A320neo and A321 aircraft what itself! Of a split have ever flown ( well in business class with 34,000 Iberia Avios and $ 135 in.. Compare flight prices for similar timeframes and adjust departure and return dates to get the latest news,,... Were waiting on each seat as we entered the plane 4.5 hours in duration breakfast service.. 'S business class and February expectations were exceeded somewhat pre-departure drinks were served in proper glassware, the. City in business class site, there was a home run their business class restroom that is very.! Plus $ 256.75 in taxes/fees culture in every morsel arrival the breakfast service being offered between the and! Lines after 9/11 five minutes after takeoff, the and crew quickly made preparations the... Than $ 20 for a full-flight pass, that 's very steep usually terrible catering... I went into the flight was cancelled: Chicago - Chicago Ohare Intl ( ORD ) may not always a. Good ( I know bad blogger sorry ) much better and you didnt miss anything and sandwich... The Oneworld alliance, so wont write a full hot breakfast service being offered get our email! Site will not be published booking instructions in this post to ensure you flying!