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Iberia Business Class Review: Is it Worth It?

I was quite excited about Iberia Business Class. A Spanish airline means cava and great food right? and a bit of style? Well, I got a mix of that – but also some rather questionable service. Anyway, I won’t ruin the story.

Let’s start at the beginning which is almost always for me Heathrow. Iberia partners with British Airways so my London-Madrid legs were with British Airways and then Madrid-Medellin was with Iberia.

Here is my Iberia business class review:

Check out Prices and Availability on Iberia Airlines Here

Iberia Business Class Review: British Airways Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5

Heathrow Terminal 5 has two business lounges. Most Iberia business class review options hold them to be quite equitable so I went to the North Lounge.

It was big but strangely only had 6 ladies toilets – there was actually a queue.

The food area was large but the quality questionable. The egg and cheese and bacon mini rolls were quite dried out. There was, however, some lovely greek yoghurt.

The coffee machine was quite average at the British Airways Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5. The lounge was very busy (this was the end of July) and the staff really couldn’t keep up with it.

The lounge was not as clean as I would have expected. On the plus side, it was a Sunday and they had every Sunday paper on offer but lacking on the magazine front.

I have been spoilt by the middle eastern airlines where you get magazines galore.

BA Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 used for Iberia business class flights
BA Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5

There was a great entertainment space – this would be a fabulous lounge if you were travelling with kids. There were loads of screens and headphones available.

I also really liked the “outside” area which is of course within the terminal but external to the lounge.

Iberia Airlines Reviews: London to Madrid

The Iberia Airlines plane from London Heathrow to Madrid was old. One of those 3 seaters on each side where they leave the middle seat empty and then call it business class.

This is common in Iberia airlines short and medium-haul flights in the business class cabin where they use A319, A320, A320 Neo and A321 planes.

I was in the last row which is of course right next to the Iberia economy section and I had a very annoying kid behind me. The service on board was ok but a bit slow.

I do feel for the staff at British Airways when obviously costs are being slashed and things are a bit miserable. However, the reality is the middle eastern and Asian airlines are operating at a whole different level when it comes to service in business class which you will see when you read a business class flight review.

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Iberia Reviews: Lounge at Madrid Airport for the U gates

The Iberia lounge at Madrid airport was nice and big lounge and met my expectations for some good food. I was at the lounge for lunch and they had prepared a big spread.

My only disappointment was that the only cava they had was in absolutely tiny bottles. Where was my expected Iberia business class champagne?? This lounge is also strangely located in a duty-free shop. Which is fine but a bit odd.

plate with tortilla glass of wine on a table in the iberia business class lounge
Wine and snacks in the Iberia Business Class Lounge in Madrid

Iberia Business Class Review: Madrid to Medellin

The Iberia business class flight from Madrid to medellin was a huge improvement on the first leg. This was Iberia Airlines a330 business class and there were fantastic big seats and a full bed.

I learnt after getting on board that it is much better to be in an even-numbered row on the side on the Iberia a330 Business Class flight. The odd numbers are the equivalent of having an aisle seat so you are going to get walked past whilst you sleep.

The even numbers are right next to the windows on business class Iberia a330s so much more private. I believe it is the same for the a350 after reading Iberia a350 business class reviews.

seat in iberia busienss class with view of the entertainment screen
Iberia has a nice big screen for entertainment

The entertainment system on the Iberia plane was quite good. A lovely big screen but the selection of films was quite limited – and the tv selection was even more limited.

Very poor in relation to most other major airlines and their business class offers.

And if you’re planning your Colombia Trip don’t miss my 2 Week Colombia Itinerary post.

seat in iberia business class to colombia with blankets etc on it

The Iberia onboard service was quite good. The flight attendants were fairly friendly and nothing was slow but again it does not compare to the middle eastern and Asian airlines like Qatar Airways.

business class flight dinner of grilled chicken with salad and cheese
Dinner!

There was a nice light blanket/duvet and a decent sized pillow on the flight. Iberia also gives you 30 minutes of free wifi. This does seem a bit on the cheap side for a 10-hour flight in business class but oh well.

beef with gravy and mashed potato on an iberian flight business class to bogota
Interesting meat for dinner

The amenity kit was filled L’Occitane which was a nice surprise – excellent quality. The food was quite good – particularly the charcuterie – and there was a good selection of wines.

I really don’t understand why all airlines don’t have some kind of brochure for their business class offer. Business-class seating is different on every airline and every plane model.

For example, I stumbled across the fact that I could put my USB into the laptop and watch stuff from my computer on a nice big screen. This was fantastic for editing photos.

However, I stumbled across it rather than having this clearly communicated to me as a benefit on this Iberia flight.

If you’re heading to Medellin read my Post on Things to do in Medellin.

Iberia Reviews: The Lounge in Medellin

This was not a fantastic lounge experience. The international departures area at Medellin airport is quite small. The Iberia business class lounge is located upstairs and not so easy to find.

This was not helped by the fact that I was flying out at night and there were virtually no lights on.

lounge at medellin airport for iberia business class with coffee and tea station
Time for Crisps for dinner!

I stumbled into the lounge and it wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great. It was dinner time but the only food on offer was crisps and biscuits. The business class Iberia flight was departing at 2230.

I was then rather shocked to find out that the lounge closed at 2100. How could they not align the lounge hours to flight departure times?

bar in the business class lounge at medellin airport
Home of the grumpy bartender

The only staff was a rather grumpy man on the bar. He did a Colombian pour of my cava (eg tiny). When I asked him to fill it up further he refused.

I mentioned I would just be back sooner and I was summarily dismissed. I wasn’t thrilled about having to exit the lounge at 2100 and then sit in a standard chair downstairs. There is very little on offer at Medellin airport.

the lounge in broad view at medellin airport for business class
Full view of the lounge at Medellin Airport

The return Iberia business class flight was basically as per the inbound flight. The flight attendants were very friendly on this leg.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten my own advice about sitting in the even-numbered rows on the flight and I was in row 1. That is normally a great thing but not when it is an aisle seat and you are next to the toilets. Oh well, it wasn’t so bad.

Iberia Airlines Business Class: The Lounge in Madrid

Alas, things were not so great upon arrival in Madrid. I was mistakenly told by the cabin crew that I needed to change terminals for my connecting flight to London.

I didn’t double-check – which I should have done – and just followed signs. It turned out that this was incorrect information.

I somehow ended up going through immigration at Madrid Airport 3 times and security twice as a result which was quite frustrating.

read seats in the iberia business class lounge madrid airport
Iberia business class lounge in Madrid

I finally arrived at the Iberia business class lounge again in the Duty-Free section. On arrival, I asked if there was a shower that I could use. I was told there was not.

I asked if there were any other Iberia lounges I could use that had a shower or partner lounges – and again the answer was no.

I was very shocked this was the case in Iberia’s hub airport. The man on the desk was very dismissive of my concern which did not help.

The Iberia lounge at Madrid airport was pretty awful. To be fair there were signs up saying they were in a refurb but gosh. I went to the bathroom to wash my face and there was literally nothing apart from toilet paper that I could use to dry it – that and the air blower.

This was an extra-large surprise because I had read in an Iberia Airlines review that the Madrid lounge was fantastic. The seats were so old that they were threadbare – very contrary to the reviews for Iberia airlines which I had read.

However, the food was quite good as were the drinks. My last leg was back on British Airways and with the old empty seat in the middle means business class.

The Verdict: Iberia Airlines Business Class Review

So overall I would not be actively looking to fly with Iberia Airlines Business Class again. The in-flight experience was good from Madrid to Medellin return.

However, I was very much put off by some of the service and lounge experiences – which is a good chunk of what you are paying for with business class.

Having said that if they had a much much better deal than everyone else I would probably consider flying with them again long-distance vs Premium Economy with someone else.

Check out Cheap Flights to Medellin Here

Iberia Business Class Review Useful Links:

Boutique Hotels in Madrid:

For a terrific bargain on a boutique hotel check out the friendly Room Mate Mario which is near the Opera district. For sleek sophistication in the Salamanca area try the Totem Hotel.

If you’re after a bit more room have a look at these stylish apartments – the well-named Madrid Boutique Apartments.

seats and corridor at british airways business class lounge heathrow terminal 5
Lounge at Heathrow

There are some great opportunities in Madrid to stay in boutique hotels with a historical base. AC Palacio del Retiro is a former Edwardian palace and the Urso Hotel is in a building that was a royal palace.

red toiletries bag for iberia airlines business class with L'Occitane products
Iberia business class toiletries

Who Paid for What in this Post

I covered all of the costs associated with flying Iberian Airlines Business Class. This Iberia Business Class Review post contains affiliate links. That means if you click through on them and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. This will not affect the price that you will pay. I wanted to make sure you knew this.

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Swiss Air Business Class Review

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Planning a business class trip with Iberia Airlines? My review covers what you need to know before making that booking to make sure it is value for you #iberiabusinessclass #iberiabusinessclassreview #iberiaairlinesreviews #iberiaairlinesreview #iberiaairlinesbusinessclass #iberiaairlinesbusinessclassreview

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Flor Dimassi

Tuesday 28th of January 2020

Great content! Thanks for your review!

ATTICUS

Wednesday 12th of September 2018

We have plans to do small road trips, so the car is necessary.

Diego Johnson

Tuesday 1st of May 2018

Nice post! Thanks for sharing.

The Boutique Adventurer

Thursday 3rd of May 2018

thanks Diego!

Rachelle

Friday 20th of October 2017

I only travel coach, so I'm living vicariously through your experience. It's such a bummer that your in-flight entertainment was sub-par. And that you were told incorrectly to change terminals in Madrid. Going through security and immigration multiple times is a drag!

Diana

Thursday 19th of October 2017

I've never flown business class nor taken an Iberia flight. The lounge and entertainment system are rather disappointing but bonus points for L’Occitane products. Thanks for the in-depth review!

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