Have you wondered what it’s like to fly Iberia Business Class on their Airbus A330-300?
I had the fun experience of enjoying Iberia Business Class on a roundtrip flight from Miami to Madrid.
As someone who has been navigating the world of points and miles since 2015, finding this sweet spot was a great way to start and end our trip in Spain.
I first started researching our next trip to Europe and we chose Spain because of this sweet spot. I followed the deal!
I’ve always wanted to visit Spain, my family is from Puerto Rico but beyond that I have strong ancestry from the Iberian Peninsula.
I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explore my heritage!
In this post, I’ll share the ins and outs of our trip to Spain in the luxury of business class for less than $300 roundtrip.
You’ll get all the details from the comfort level, service, and overall experience that the Iberia Business Class A330 offers.
Spoiler alert: We really enjoyed this experience and would highly recommend that you take advantage of this business class deal using points and miles!
Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links, meaning that at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why Iberia Business Class
I didn’t have high expectations for Iberia Business Class. In my research, I read that they were not exactly industry-leading with this product.
But honestly, a lie-flat seat for a 9-hour flight with food and drinks sounded like the perfect way to start our 12-night trip around Spain regardless of how fancy.
Iberia Business Class offered all the amenities that you could expect from this type of ticket class:
- Comfortable and Lie-Flat Seats
- 1-2-1 seat configuration
- In-flight Entertainment
- In-flight Wifi – complimentary messaging option for business class and loyalty members.
- High-Quality Meals and Drinks
- Superior Amenities – noise-canceling headphones, plush bedding.
- Amenity Kits – skincare products, sleep masks, and other travel essentials.
Booking Process
Iberia Airlines is definitely a sweet spot for Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
I transferred 85,000 points from Chase Ultimate Rewards® and paid under $300 in taxes and fees for this roundtrip Iberia business class flight.
The cash price would have been over $4,000 for the same exact roundtrip flight.
Previously, I had flown business class with Air France (MIA-CDG) which cost me 70,000 points one way, that’s over 60% more!
That’s what I love about the world of points and miles, I earn on purchases that I was going to make anyway and then I turn around and use those points for experiences I would otherwise not be able to afford.
This was a roundtrip flight, so I also have a post about our experience flying from Madrid to Miami with Iberia Business Class.
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Pre-Flight Experience
Our flight from Miami to Madrid departed at 4:45 pm so we arrived at least 3 hours early at Miami International Airport.
I don’t like feeling rushed and knew that even if getting through security was quick, getting there early would pay off because of our complimentary airport lounge access.
Airport Check-In Process
Although we did have 2 complimentary checked bags included in our business class tickets, we are proudly team carry-on so we skipped the check-in counter and checked in online on the Iberia app.
It’s a good thing we did because the check-in counter was not open when we arrived early at the airport.
We would have had to wait 30 minutes which would have cut into our airport lounge time!
We have TSA Pre-check and Global Entry which would normally mean that security was a breeze, but for some reason, TSA Pre-check was not showing up on our boarding passes.
I had read that Iberia recently joined the list of airlines that accept TSA Pre-check but all it said on our boarding pass was “Fast Track” which was not available in the U.S. (it was valid on our way back from Madrid).
So since the check-in desk was not yet open and there weren’t any Iberia staff members in sight, I decided we would just wait in the normal security line.
Thankfully, the regular security line was not yet very long.
So in the time that we would have to wait for the check-in desk to open (with a high chance we’d have to go through the regular checkpoint anyway), we were already well on our way to the airport lounge.
Lounge Amenities and Services
Iberia does not have an airport lounge at Miami International Airport.
However, thanks to the One World Alliance we gained access to both the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge from American Airlines.
We decided to spend our time in the Flagship Lounge which had more amenities and required a special pass to enter.
The Flagship Lounge was great with no shortage of amenities:
Comfortable seating: The lounge had plenty of seating from tables, booths, a workstation area, a movie theatre, and couches. You name it, they had it and a lot of it. The lounge is very spacious and comfortable.
Complimentary food and drinks: As soon as you walk into the lounge, you are greeted with a champagne stand. The perfect way to start the trip!
There was also a buffet of hot and cold dishes, snacks, and all the beverages you could ever want, including alcoholic beverages.
The food was good, but not great. Still, it beats paying for airport fast food.
There was a selection of salads, sandwiches, meats, cheeses, hot dishes, sides and desserts. Later in our stay, they opened a fresh tostada stand as well.
There were also plenty of snacks available, so you would not go hungry!
Wi-Fi and workspaces: High-speed internet and quiet areas were available for getting some work done or catching up on emails.
Entertainment options: TVs, magazines, and newspapers were also available.
Shower facilities: I love it when a lounge has showers!
Even if we hadn’t had access to these lounges, I get a complimentary Priority Pass membership with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Priority Pass gives me access to a network of lounges all over the world.
But, the Priority Pass lounges at MIA (although very nice) don’t hold a candle to the Flagship Lounge.
Boarding Procedure and Departure from Miami
When it was about 30 minutes before boarding, we left the lounge to head to our gate.
The walk took about 10 minutes and people were already lining up.
As business class passengers we were in the first group to board which went pretty smoothly.
However, once we boarded the plane and got settled, I noticed that many people around me were getting menus and pre-departure beverages but no one had come to me yet.
I tried to get the flight attendant’s attention, but they were busy.
It wasn’t until they came to take my meal order right before take-off that they realized no one had given me a menu or asked me if I wanted a pre-departure beverage.
They apologized profusely and remedied the situation immediately.
In-Flight Experience
The in-flight experience in Iberia business class was what I would expect. The cabin itself was small and a bit outdated, but my seat was comfortable and I had a relaxing flight experience.
Cabin Layout and Seating Arrangement
The Iberia Business Class cabin seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
I could have chosen the 2 middle seats so we could sit next to each other, but I love waking up to a window view of the sky in a new place.
Plus, the window seat gave me more privacy. My seat felt spacious and airy, with plenty of room to stretch out and relax.
Seat Comfort and Features
Iberia’s Business Class are fully lie-flat seats, allowing you to adjust them to a position that feels most comfortable.
I found the seat cushion and bedding to be very comfortable.
The seats are equipped with your typical business-class features:
- Power outlets and USB ports for charging devices.
- Personal reading lights so you can read without disturbing your neighbors.
- Adjustable headrests to support your neck and head.
- Storage compartments to keep personal items.
Amenity Kit
In Iberia Business Class we all received an amenity kit which contained everything we needed for a comfortable flight!
- Sleep mask
- Socks
- Ear Plugs
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Lip Balm
- Moisturizer
- Hair Comb
In-Flight Entertainment Options
Iberia offers an “ok” array of entertainment options.
- Movies: There were only a handful of movies that interested me, but some recently released options were available.
- TV Shows: Some popular series and documentaries.
- Music: I didn’t listen to the music, but it was an option.
- Games: I didn’t play the games, but it was an option.
- Digital Newspapers and Magazines
They had English and Spanish available, and many more languages for subtitles.
In the business class cabin, noise-canceling headphones are provided and complimentary. They worked pretty well.
Food and Beverage Service
Not long into the flight, they began the dinner service. Before meal service, we were given a hot towel for our hands.
They offered a multi-course meal service:
Appetizers: I chose the duck with peaches. It was delicious!
They also serviced bread and olives. I opted for a glass of wine for my beverage. The olives were yummy, but the bread was a bit hard.
Main Courses: Options included meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes.
I chose the fish option which came with a nice sauce, black rice, and vegetables. I thought the fish was a bit dry but mixed in with everything else it wasn’t bad at all.
Desserts: I had the ice cream option which had vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate served with granola and strawberries. I loved it!
The beverage service had a selection of wines including Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), spirits, soft drinks, juices, coffee, and tea.
Cabin Crew Service
Apart from the minor inconvenience of not receiving a pre-departure beverage once I boarded the plane, I thought the cabin crew service was quite adequate.
The crew came by a few times to clear plates and glasses or offer refills. I did not have to get up to ask for anything.
Can I access Wi-Fi on Iberia Business Class flights?
The Iberia Wifi was not great. Complimentary Wifi is available for messaging if you’re a business class passenger or a member of the Iberia Plus program (which is free). However, it was terrible.
I couldn’t get it to work for iMessage or WhatsApp for most of the flight. Finally, I just gave up and went to sleep.
I did not bother with the paid Iberia Wifi since this was an evening flight and I didn’t need to browse or send emails.
Arrival in Madrid
Touching down in Madrid after a long flight went smoothly!
In the morning, breakfast was served about 90 minutes before arrival.
I chose to have the omelet with sausage and vegetables. The omelet was flavorless, but I ate it with the croissant and bread roll.
The coffee and orange juice were very good.
Once we started our descent, the crew announced our arrival, and we landed right on schedule.
Iberia’s Business Class passengers were the first to de-board and the de-boarding process was straightforward and efficient.
Customs and Immigration
Once inside the terminal, signs directed us toward customs and immigration. The process was surprisingly quick, but it was pretty early in the morning.
There were dedicated lines for non-EU passport holders, which helped in managing the crowd.
The officers were professional yet friendly, asking standard questions about our stay. With plenty of kiosks available, the wait time was minimal.
Currency Exchange
We rarely exchange currency before an international trip. When traveling to Europe, we always get cash out of a bank ATM at the airport.
In the Madrid airport, we used a CaixaBank ATM. They have several ATMs throughout the airport.
I never let the ATM convert the currency for me.
I took out 50 euros from the ATM. The amount taken out of my account would have been $67 with all their fees and conversion.
Instead, I paid $56.
My bank reimburses me for ATM fees. But if even they had not it still would have been cheaper than letting the ATM do the conversion.
Don’t ever let the ATM do the
conversion for you. I selected “No, continue”.Transportation to our hotel in Madrid
Our hotel was located in Plaza de España. Normally, I wouldn’t mind taking public transportation.
We were already planning to share a metro pass. But with our luggage, we opted to grab a taxi instead.
The taxi cost was $36 and the most expensive option. Here are your options:
Metro: The easiest and most economical way is to take the metro. The trip would have taken 40-45 minutes. Check Google or CityMapper for routes to your hotel.
Bus: The Express Aeropuerto (Airport Express) bus runs 24 hours a day, but keep in mind that the rest of the buses run from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m., varying according to the line. Honestly, I’d pick the metro over the bus.
Taxi: Taxis are available outside all airport terminals. The taxi ride during rush hour traffic takes about 25 minutes and has a flat rate to the city center.
Ride-sharing: FREENOW, Uber, and Cabify operate in Madrid. Since the taxis were a flat rate to our destination, I didn’t bother with a ride-share service.
Final Thoughts
Overall, flying business class with Iberia from Miami to Madrid was a wonderful experience.
The comfort, service, and food were awesome for a business-class flight that cost me less than $300.
Yes, the free WiFi sucked. But I didn’t plan to use it anyway so it wasn’t a deal breaker.
If given the opportunity, I would fly Iberia Business Class again.
Planning a Trip to Spain?
If you’re planning a trip to Spain, I have a several blog posts to help you plan an amazing and affordable trip!
- Get Your VAT Refund
- 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
Want to Travel More for Less?
Become a Budget Traveler! Head over to my start here page and grab my free budget travel cheat sheet – it’s packed with valuable tips to help you create your own winning budget travel strategy.