For the return portion of my trip across the Atlantic on the Airbus A321XLR, I flew Iberia’s Airbus A321XLR business class on the eight-hour flight from Madrid (MAD) to Washington (IAD).
Continue reading: Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A321XLR (MAD-IAD)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label in a business class cabin....on Iberia? I thought this was a typo if it wasn't for the picture of the menu itself. Not sure if any other airlines offer this. And why would anyone chose Black Label over Blue Label
While the amenity kit is a bit basic, I would note that it's from Teresa Helbig - who is a very on-the-rise Barcelona based designer that also recently did the redesign for Iberia's uniforms. It may be basic but much better than brandless generic
Completely disagree. The amenity kit is quite a downgrade from the previous version. The amenity kit is very low quality, and she Teresa Helbig must be a 'very good friend' meaning 'sleeping close to someone high up in Iberia' to have a plane named after her. The previous amenity kit was as much better, and no makes of friends of executives on it
“ Boarding took a long time, given that boarding an entire plane through a single aisle is less efficient”
Probably very much counter-productive to board Business Class first…
First of all the J-Pax are slowing everyone else down until finally settled down, then you get all the Y Pax shuffling though and staring with crew trying to serve pre-departure bevs and take meal orders….
Exact same lethargic service, limited food, but strangely good wine that I’ve had on Iberia widebodies
Great review, thanks!
How would you compare the seat comfort to AAs 321 3 class J seat?
Same question for Iberia’s TATL A350 J seats (not the most comfortable vs AF say).
yeah Iberia has always been just okay. Service and food meh, but occasionally you have a star crew who makes you feel special.
The shift to narrow bodies for long haul is going to take away some of the premium effects. There is one aisle, and everyone boards through the same door. And cabin heights and spaciousness are always lower in a narrow body. That said, the cabin does look sleek.
I think this comment is inappropriate and misogynist. I also question how many years back you must be thinking bc the prior amenity kits for the last few years were plain and very flimsy tannish, gray canvas
And Zacapa 23! Sure, there's better rums out there, but a huge step up from the basic Bacardi that most airlines offer.
at …. one has to agree with much of what you have posted about Iberia. However, to give your comment a little more meat for the benefit of the exclusively U.S. flyers …. Iberia is rated at No: 20 in the world rankings. I know that is only a couple of places above DL, however, it is still streets ahead of other two.
Remember when some of us said narrowbody was going to be more cramped, while all the avgeeks hyped the crap out of the XLR?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
So this perfectly serviceable translatlantic flight gets 3.5 stars and the previous segment with Aer Lingus which does not even provide proper catering gets 3 stars. And we do not even get a lounge review.
After years of reading Ben’s content I know there is a bias against certain airlines/countries, but this is worst than expected. Disappointed but not surprised.
The new bins are TERRIBLE: the headroom is AWFUL and the space really claustrophobic.
Premium airlines don't install them, as the bags belong in the hold and not to steal headroom comfort from the cabin.
Awful choice from IB.
@ Jeff -- Great question! Because I only planned a two-hour layover in Madrid, and I was worried about the possibility of a delay, and a missed connection. American lets you cancel awards up until departure, while Iberia doesn't allow cancellations within 24 hours of departure. So it was a way to hedge my bets. Furthermore, I was able to include my connecting flight from DCA to MIA on the same ticket.
@ Lemd -- I'm sorry you feel that way, but for me, the Aer Lingus flight was a bit better than the Iberia flight, and that largely reflected the soft product. The service on Aer Lingus was stellar, and this flight didn't even have hot water.
My rating reflects experiences on a particular flight, and those can vary between people. For example, if I had someone seated next to me on Aer Lingus, I might have had a different impression.
I'm really curious which countries you think I take issue with, or have biases against? I think Spain is an incredible country, and I think Iberia does a great job with lots of things, like its lounges. For example, I rated the Iberia Lounge Madrid higher than the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin.
Looking at your past posts, you suggest that I'm biased against countries that aren't English speaking, which I can't really wrap my head around. Like, you think I'm negative toward Air France, most Asian carriers, etc.?
@ WorldLiner -- Explained it above, but the short answer is that it allowed my to include my connection to MIA, and it also allowed me to cancel within 24 hours of departure, in the event that I misconnected.
@ CapitalMike -- In general that's true, though in fairness, Iberia doesn't do pre-departure drinks on narrow bodies (presumably for this exact reason), and the meal orders were taken after the bulk of boarding finished up.
@ Beachfan -- I'd say this product is probably a bit better than the A321T J seat on American, especially since that has a 2-2 layout. I think the Iberia A350 seat is definitely quite a bit more spacious and comfortable.
Ben - no criticism of you here, you might consider just getting rid of the stars since it's so hard to compare different airlines apples-to-apples. I instead appreciate your "Top 10 business class seats" or "Top 10 International First Class" lists, which are more apples-to-apples. You might consider a more specific "Top X Business Class North America to Europe" or "Top X Business Class NA to Asia" lists.
@ LP -- Thanks. Yeah, I'm with you, you're probably right about getting rid of the star system.
Recently flew A330 MAD-DFW. Lounges (I went to both) have bleh food not worth eating. They're spacious yet crowded. Good spot for free water/coffee/cocktails/shower I suppose, but if you're hungry please go downstairs and buy some delicious real food.
My catering was a bit better, and the espresso machine was ripping. Although the first "espresso" was just hilariously just brewed coffee in an espresso cup - I then went to the galley and asked for another and watched them make it (they were annoyed, of course). All that being said, a bed across the ocean with miles is hard to beat and I'd happily fly Iberia when available.
I think the star rating sets the tone for the article and quickly indicates your impression. Maybe it can be a system that clearly states it's against expectations? Like a DL economy flight could get the same as Emirates first, per se.
Recently flew the A321 from MAD to BOS in June. You actually missed a great lounge. The A321 is much better than Iberia's A330 or A350 in my opinion. I booked for fam of 4 at 59K points, but with a 30% bonus from AMEX, it was only 46K AMEX points a person. No pre departure service since its a single aisle, but i enjoyed the flight as there is only 14 seats in business class and would recommend.
Just took this flight yesterday and can confirm they had JW Blue. I was surprised that the flight attendant served to me from a real bottle, rather than a miniature.
I like the star system. A first class flight may get 3 stars while a coach or premium economy may get 5 stars. I see the star system as "expectations vs delivery". I except very little in coach with United and every little thing makes me a happy customer. I expect a whole lot more in Polaris or JetBlute Mint and I easily get upset when services are not delivered properly. So please keep the stars.
Im an AvGeek. (And airline crew) I have never "hyped the crap" out of the XLR.
I flew this earlier in the year (MAD-BOS), and had a much more positive impression. I am rather tall, and did not find it to be that tight. I especially liked the lack of armrest on the one side, as it created a bigger space for your upper body in the reclined position. Personally I preferred this product to KLM's 787-10 hard product, and it was much better than the older Lufthansa product I flew over to Europe that trip (which is not saying much).
The service was quite slow. No PDB, and the first drink did not come out for over an hour. I enjoyed the food more than Ben did, and in particular, thought the quantity was appropriate for a short daytime flight over the Atlantic. There was a snack basket in the galley between meals, and I was always encouraged to take extras. The crew was very personable (the best I have had from Iberia).
A couple random things--the alcohol selection was reduced because of the narrowbody, but they did not cut out the best stuff (they had Johnnie Walker Blue, and skipped the Black label). And a minor thing, but I appreciated how the amenity kit matched the flight attendant uniforms (which have subtle flair). All in all, I really enjoyed my flight. I would have given my experience 4 or 4.5 stars out of 5.
Oh, and just 'meat' for US exclusively yanks on the 'wrong' side of the pond ? No poultry, pork, fish and/or veggie ?
Sorry, I just couldn't resist 'stirring the pot' of gastronomic metaphors ...
... lol
It's the 'Espana' time zone ! ... Slow down and savour that excellent vino until the wee morning hours ! ...
Wow in the 'good ole days' I recall getting a PDB as well as an offer to hang my coat when I was fortunate to get first class seat on my flights.... Guess times and/or expectations have changed and not for the better... 🙁
and most certainly better than that infamous AA cardboard version, but whatta low bar !
Very impressive for J and wild considering there are a few incremental offerings between Blue and Black.
I will say that preferring Black over Blue isn't too crazy; as far as whiskies go, Black has a smoother drinkability and finish than Blue. On ULHs I used to take (10 hours+) I would veg out with a few smooth, mid-range whiskeys and binge terrible TV and movies. On TATL hops, I preferred one slow-sipper like a top-shelf or single malt and got busywork done (emails, etc.). But ultimately individual tastes are strange; I remember the FA's discomfort when I asked for a ton of ice in my John Walker & Sons King George V pour on NH F.
i booked this on alaska but iad-mad for 45k points and taxes. great deal but i also did not like the seat. service was meh.
For someone who eats pork, the menu is much more enticing. Spain has excellent ham and the Iberian pork is a delicacy.
Surprised to see Johnny Walker Blue Label in Business Class - EVA serves it too.
Thanks for the review, Ben! I'm flying this cabin on two routes (fall and spring) and it's useful to know what to expect.
I'm excited about the new cabin (i've only done biz on their dated A330s before), but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be w/ you on the feeling of being cramped. It's a pity they don't have A350s on more routes, it looks like all of Iberia east coast routes are converting to A321XLR...
I've generally found Iberia's product and service to be fine for regional flights, but when it comes to long hauls, they - as with the other southern European airlines - are decidedly inferior to the northern European carriers.
Additionally, I prefer sitting 2x2 up front as opposed to the narrow, walled in confines of these modern day Business Class pods
I have wanted to say this for years…I am a picky eater. Some say I have the super taster gene. The end result is I really do not enjoy a lot of foods. Especially “gourmet” things that foodies are really into. It is even worse on a plane where taste buds are impacted and I often do not want to eat due to travel schedules or jet lag. I could care less about Top Chef terminology like “mouth feel” or umami. So for me, reviews of wine selections and how well a multi course business or first class meal are prepared is just lost on me. I do enjoy business and first class for the comfort and convenience but when it comes to menus, what can I eat? Perhaps you could add additional commentary about how flexible an airline is when it comes to food selection in addition to your obvious love of eating gourmet offerings.
I'm flying BOS-MAD with IB during Thanksgiving week.
This plane looks like the one TAP uses also?
@ Ed -- TAP flies the A321LR, which is just a slightly shorter range version of this. The seating layout is different, though.
I have never been excited about Iberia after a flight with them from MAD to TLV about 5 years ago. Your review has not changed this for me. It has also confirmed my concerns about today’s business class travel….all these new seats are like coffins. Where is the shoulder space?
Yes, had JW Blue on my recent SFO-MAD. Nice, but actually I prefer single-malt scotch. The IB seat on our 330 was quite narrow.
Food generally good, but I never got what I ordered. Worst yet was the staff: I certainly have a typical American accent, but they somehow they misunderstood almost ALL my food choices and brought me the opposite of my choice. I’m not picky so I just ate what was furnished and got some sleep.
I think their service on this route is abysmal, and there was no one present later in the flight forcing me to go looking for additional water, snacks etc.
I appreciate the Madrid nonstop so I won’t avoid it, but it certainly isn’t up to par.
Just two comments:
1. I generally feel that cabin crew interact more friendly when you speak their mothertongue fluently. Yes, also the English speaking crews (e.g. on UA or BA) are generally very reserved against passengers who are not fluent in English. I find the IB crews constantly very friendly and interactive, but that's in Spanish.
2. I never really understood why herringbone seats got out of fashion. I find them very private and spacious (no foot well!). So I am happy to see them coming back, at least in narrow body aircraft.
This was a great review of a trip on an A321XLR, which if you aren't a very frequent traveler on foreign airlines, you won't get to see too often to the US. I really enjoyed the great pictures of the amenity kit and the food, though I believe other carriers serve more food than that. The food did seem rather basic for business class, but I like flying in business on narrowbodies as the service is much more personal. The seats are nothing to write home about, but the cabin was spotless. I might just try IB next time.