Review: Iberia Airbus A350 Business Class (LHR-MAD)
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Iberia A350 – London Heathrow to Madrid route
Business class on short-haul intra-Europe flights tends to be uneventful, resembling economy seats with a blocked middle seat, especially on narrow-body planes. However, Iberia stands out on the London to Madrid route by deploying A350-900 and A330-300 aircraft for some of its frequent daily flights, offering a premium experience on this key route linking the two IAG group hubs in Europe.
Iberia A350 – Booking Process
Booking this route can be achieved by using British Airways Avios , Qatar Airways Avios or even American Airlines AAdvantage miles .
For my case I booked the flight using my British Airways Avios , transferring from my American Express Cobalt® Card with a 1:1 ratio
Using British Airways Avios, the flight cost me 15,000 points plus $97.70 CAD in taxes & fees.
It’s also possible to earn Avios indirectly as a cardholder of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege or RBC Avion Visa Infinite, by transferring Avion Rewards points (especially when there’s a transfer promotion) to British Airways Executive Club, or more directly as a cardholder of the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $191.88 | |||
| $120 | |||
| $165 | |||
| $399 |
Iberia A350 – Lounge Options at Heathrow
My Iberia business class ticket allowed me entry to the three British Airways Galleries Lounges situated in Heathrow’s Terminal 5: Galleries North, South, and B Gates lounges.
Lounges at Heathrow
I made my way to the largest of the three, the Galleries South Lounge. Despite its runway views, the gloomy, rainy London evening meant there wasn’t much to see.
For a quieter, more intimate experience, the Galleries B Gates Lounge, located a short shuttle train ride away in Satellite Terminal B, is a solid choice.
In summary, I found the lounge to be exceptionally roomy and ideal for unwinding. The buffet presented a delightful assortment of food options, and the self-service bar boasting a wide range of alcoholic beverages was a superb addition.
Iberia Business Class on the new A350-900
Initially, I had booked my ticket expecting to fly on the older version of the A350-900. However, to my surprise, 24-48 hours before the flight, upon checking FlightRadar24 and cross-referencing with the tail number, it became apparent that I would be on the newer cabin featuring Recaro CL6720 suite. It was a pleasant surprise indeed.
Iberia has opted to equip its new business class cabin with the Recaro CL6720.
The new cabin offers passengers an unparalleled business-class journey with 31 exclusive suites. These premium accommodations are arranged in a spacious 1-2-1 layout, occupying a dedicated cabin that spans nine rows.
In odd-numbered rows, the window seats are positioned closer to the aisle. Consequently, if you’re flying solo, it’s advisable to select even-numbered seats for enhanced aisle-side isolation.
In the center pair of seats, every alternate row (in this scenario, the odd-numbered rows) presents what Iberia refers to as a ‘honeymoon suite,’ where the seats are positioned closer together.
Iberia A350-900 New Recaro Seat
Being a staunch advocate of window seats, I settled into 4A . One notable distinction from the previous seating arrangement is the addition of a private door.
The CL6720 boasts a unique feature I’ve yet to encounter on any other aircraft: tiny seat numbers projected onto the cabin floor. I found this to be an incredibly convenient feature, especially when navigating back to my seat in the dimly lit cabin after a visit to the restroom during the overnight flight.
The seat has its console on the aisle side featuring the seat controls and above you’ll discover a compact storage cupboard, a convenient shelf spacious enough to accommodate a 500ml bottle of water, a remote control for the in-flight entertainment system, and several power sockets. These sockets include a universal mains adapter, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port.
The cupboard opens to reveal a pop of red, the only bright color in the mostly gray interior. Inside, there were headphones.
Each seat is equipped with a small literature pocket and a convenient coat hook within easy reach.
Moreover, passengers can enjoy a spacious screen featuring Panasonic’s cutting-edge NEXT 4K display system. This A350 is proudly the pioneer in having Panasonic’s latest in-flight entertainment system across all cabins. Boasting the highest pixel density in the market, the screen delivers stunning visuals and is highly responsive, enhancing the overall passenger experience.
Below the screen sits the tray table, which can be effortlessly released. Impressively deep, it’s one of the most spacious tray tables I’ve encountered.
I reclined the seat into its fully flat bed mode to assess its size. While sleep may not be a priority on such short flights, I found the bed to be exceptionally comfortable.
Iberia Business – Inflight Experience
Given the flight’s duration of two hours and its late evening departure, dinner became the singular meal provided.
The meal options featured either :
- Grilled Chicken Breast accompanied by sautéed chickpeas, tomato, and Picual olives
- Mezzi Rigatoni pasta with creamy tomato sauce, Parmesan, and ricotta cheese
Opting for the Chicken Breast, I found it satisfying. As for dessert, passengers were offered a choice between a creamy vanilla cake and a zesty raspberry jelly.
Plan the booking with our Iberia guide from Canada, covering routes, cabins, baggage and points options. Check the product scheduled for your departure and the issuing program’s current conditions. This review covers a particular aircraft and experience, which can differ from the selected flight.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Iberia’s offerings may not be the most glamorous, those seeking flights between London and Madrid should consider their widebody operated journeys. With Avios bookings priced at just 15,000 points, it offers a compelling alternative to cash fares for a comfortable journey to Madrid.
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- $255
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- Up to 15,000 points
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