If you’ve always dreamed of flying in Business Class, but the price has been out of reach, you’re in the right place!
I had a great experience flying Iberia’s Business Class on their Airbus A330-300 from Madrid to Miami.
I have been navigating the world of points and miles since 2015, so when I learned about this award travel sweet spot it was a no-brainer!
If it weren’t for points and miles we would never have been able to afford a roundtrip business class flight for under $300.
In this post, I’ll share my experience about why we chose Iberia Business Class, the pre-departure experience including check-in, security, VAT Refund process, and our airport lounge experience.
You’ll also get insight into my experience onboard in business class from the meals to the entertainment and landing in Miami.
Why Iberia Business Class
Iberia business class has been on my list for a while because of a sweet spot booked between Chase and Iberia Plus loyalty program.
Iberia is one of the many airline transfer partners for Chase Ultimate Rewards® which is my favorite points and miles currency.
I booked a round-trip business class flight for only 85,000 Iberia Avios, and trust me that is a total steal!
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Getting to MAD – Madrid–Barajas Airport
Metro: This is one of the most convenient and economical ways to reach the airport. From central Madrid, the trip typically takes about 45 minutes. Check for routes on Google Maps.
Train (Cercanías): The Cercanías trains (Renfe suburban trains) have lines directly to Terminal 4 of the Madrid airport. The trip from central Madrid would take about 25 minutes.
Bus: The Exprés Aeropuerto bus runs 24/7 most days of the year with direct service to all the major terminals and takes about 30-40 minutes depending on traffic from central Madrid.
Taxi: This is the option we chose mostly because of the convenience of our luggage. It took about 20-30 minutes from the Hyatt Centric Madrid.
Taxis operate at a flat rate to the airport. We spent $31.28. During our time in Spain we used the FREENOW app exclusively to call our taxis. It was great!
Ride-Sharing Services: Services like Uber and Cabify are available in Madrid, but the pricing was so similar to the taxis that we just opted to use the FREENOW app.
Check-in and Security Process in Madrid
Business Class check-in at the Madrid Airport went smoothly even with checking our bags. We always pack carry-on only but after 12 nights in Spain, we had souvenirs and didn’t want to cram it all in a suitcase.
Checking our carry-on luggage was free with our business-class tickets and very little risk since we had a nonstop flight home.
Luckily, we always pack a collapsible backpack when we travel. We took it on the plane as a carry-on item. It’s great for souvenirs or any extra stuff you may need.
For security, we took advantage of the “Fast Track” perk included with our business class tickets.
Fast Track is a separate security checkpoint, similar to TSA Precheck so we didn’t have to go through regular security. And it was empty so we breezed right through!
VAT Refund
Before we enjoyed the “Fast Track” through security, we had a very important task – collecting our VAT Refund.
As non-EU citizens, we were eligible for a VAT or Value Added Tax Refund. At the Madrid Airport, there are several kiosks for you to scan your paperwork.
Once we scanned our receipts and were given the green check mark, we were ready to get through security, and off to the airport lounge!
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Iberia VIP Lounge Madrid Airport
We were pretty excited to get to relax and enjoy the food and amenities at the Iberia Premium Lounge – Velázquez. There are two Iberia VIP Lounges at the Madrid Airport, both are located in terminal T4.
The Dalí lounge is the domestic lounge located right when we exited the “Fast Track” security checkpoint. But since our flight was international, our terminal was T4S which is where the Iberia Premium Lounge – Velázquez was located.
T4S is the satellite terminal of T4. This meant that we had to take a train to get there.
That’s why I like getting to the airport well in advance of departure. It took us an extra 30 minutes just to get to T4S.
Iberia Premium Lounge – Velázquez Experience
Once we finally arrived at T4S, we were directed through to the Duty-free shop to get to the lounge. Yup, the lounge is literally inside the Duty-free shop!
Once we entered the lounge, it was like we opened the door to another world. We were definitely not in the Duty-free shop anymore.
After presenting our boarding passes, we walked to the right of the check-in counter and noticed a room with several clear lockers to store our luggage.
After lugging it through the airport for what felt like forever, it was a relief to walk around the lounge hands-free.
The view from the lounge was amazing. The tarmac was right in front of us with planes going up and down while some Iberia planes waited at their gates.
The lounge itself was quite narrow and long, but it didn’t matter which direction you chose to hangout in.
I loved how much light came in from the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, it was a great way to enjoy the time we had before boarding the flight.
Lounge Food and Beverage
The lounge had a buffet on each end. It was the same food selection, so it didn’t matter which side you chose to hang out in.
Buffet Area: The buffet had a nice selection of hot and cold dishes. For breakfast, they had eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, donuts, pastries, fruit, yogurt, granola, salads and more. They even had several fruit juices and smoothies available.
Snacks: On top of what was available at the buffet, they had a table with a bunch of snacks like popcorn, nuts, granola bars, and even candy. I was so full and regret not grabbing from the snack table.
Beverages: There was a wide range of beverages. I mean if you could think of a beverage they had it.
I made a game of grabbing as many different beverages as I could to try them. Of course, they had your usual coffee, tea, soft drinks, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Lounge Amenities
This lounge had no shortage of amenities. If we had a long layover I could have spent it just in the lounge and would be a happy camper.
Seating Areas: There were so many comfortable seating options available throughout the lounge. There were different types of tables and chairs to accommodate whether you wanted to dine, rest, or work.
Wi-Fi: Complimentary high-speed internet access was available.
Showers: Shower facilities were available.
Resting Areas: There were separate rooms for sleeping.
Flight Information Monitors: Screens displaying flight information help passengers keep track of their flight status.
Rest Zones: Specific areas designed for relaxation and quiet.
Family Rooms: Facilities catering to travelers with children.
Boarding Procedure and Departure from Madrid
After about 90 minutes in the business class lounge, we decided to head over to our gate and prepare to board our flight.
Right in front of the gate, was a checkpoint where they asked for our boarding passes and passports. I’d never seen that before and thought it was interesting.
Anyway, when it was time to start boarding we were in the first group as business class passengers. Now, this is where it gets interesting and a little bit frustrating to be honest.
They scanned our boarding passes, we headed down the the breezeway and down two flights of stairs with our bags, which wasn’t fun.
Once we got to the ground, we were packed like sardines into shuttles and driven to the plane on the tarmac. The fumes and enclosed space made things very uncomfortable.
Once we got to our plane, we were told the plane was not ready so we could not get off the shuttle. I needed some fresh air!
Turns out the crew hadn’t even arrived on the plane yet. So we were stuck on a hot shuttle with nowhere to sit breathing in a ton of fumes while holding our bags for 20 mins.
Why they would have us start boarding the shuttles when the crew hadn’t even arrived to prep the plane is beyond me.
Needless to say, being in the first boarding group did not matter at all!
The worst part was the chaos that ensued once they allowed us to board. Everyone was jammed on top of each other trying to go up the stairs to board the plane.
I had to carry my bags and help my mom with hers because it was too much for her to climb up the stairs while being pushed around by people.
Needless to say, it was not a great experience at all. I felt like it could have been executed in a much better way.
In-Flight Experience
Even though the boarding process was a bit of a nightmare, once we arrived in business class and at our seats it got 100% better.
Immediately upon getting to my seat, I was greeted by one of the flight attendants and given a cold glass of cava!
In this type of situation, I was happy to have my own space in my business class seat.
For more details on the cabin layout, amenity kit, and seat comfortability in-flight entertainment check out my post for our flight from Miami to Madrid in Business Class on Iberia.
Food and Beverage Service
The daytime business class experience was very different from the evening service. Right after take off, I was given a few slices of Spanish cheese and mini bread sticks. Lunch service began shortly after.
Appetizers: I chose marinated octopus served on a bed of sauteed vegetables. It was pretty tasty. They also served bread and olives. I opted for a glass of wine for my beverage.
Main Courses: Options included chicken, shrimp, or pasta.
I went with the pasta because I was afraid the chicken would be dry or the shrimp would be tough and I thought – you can’t mess up ravioli, right?
Well, I was right. The pasta turned out to be a very safe choice.
Desserts: I had 2 options: raspberry ice cream or a hazelnut chocolate cake.
During our previous business class flight, I had chosen the ice cream and loved it. So I decided to go with the chocolate cake and was not disappointed! It was light and not too sweet.
Snacks: For snacks, they had a variety of chips and crackers. At some point during the flight, they came around with cookies and cream white chocolate ice cream bars.
Before Landing: To my surprise, they offered a warm meal about 90 minutes before landing. I chose a vegetable lasagna. It didn’t look appetizing and ended up pretty greasy.
The beverage service had a selection of wines including Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), spirits, soft drinks, juices, coffee, and tea.
Overall, I would say the food was just ok.
I was ready for some real food as soon as we landed. I don’t understand why they can’t offer you a nice hearty sandwich on these types of flights. Those can be fancy!
Cabin Crew Service
After having such a horrible boarding experience, I thoroughly enjoyed the service provided by the crew on this flight. They were both friendly and attentive.
At the beginning of the flight, the lead flight attendant came to every business class passenger to introduce himself and wish us a pleasant flight.
He then came around again before landing to make sure we didn’t need anything to thank us for flying with them.
I have only flown international business class a handful of times, but I thought this was a nice touch.
Arrival in Miami
And then it was time to land!
We landed in Miami at a gate that appeared to be at a satellite terminal as well. We had to jump on a shuttle to get to the customs and luggage carousel.
We have Global Entry so getting through customs did not take long at all.
Once we were through customs, the luggage carousel was close by. It was definitely a separate area from the main luggage pick-up carousels which was kind of nice.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’d say that we had a good experience flying on Iberia Business Class Airbus A330-300 from Madrid to Maimi.
Apart from the less-than-pleasant boarding experience, we really enjoyed our Iberia business class lounge experience in Madrid.
During the flight, we were comfortable with plenty of entertainment options and plenty of food, drinks, and snacks. If given the option I would absolutely do it again.
The next time we go to Spain, I will be booking the Iberia business class experience again. The points and miles sweet spot is just too sweet to pass up!
Planning a Trip to Spain?
If you’re planning a trip to Spain, I have several blog posts to help you plan an amazing and affordable trip!
- Take the highspeed train from Madrid to Seville
- Fly from Seville to Barcelona on Vueling
- Find free things to do in Barcelona
- Take the highspeed train from Barcelona to Madrid
- Visit Barcelona on a budget
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