JDiver

I take my own IFE - though Business Plus has it in armrest screens, I won't rely on it. As for surly service, Spain doesn't have much of a cultural value for slavish customer service, so most will not provide Sterling service unless one personalizes and initiates pleasantries.

OTOH, I was very surprised with really brilliant customer service provided by the luggage desk when our bags went missing, and an occasional employee - but ground staff are not empowered to handle problems, and some can even be surly (not more, IME, than many other airlines).

Paying for different services or seats - this a la carte pricing is insinuating itself to many airlines. We will see a rationalising of practices and pricing with AIG owning both Iberia and British Airways, IMO, much as we are seeing the rationalisation of their FFPs with the new Avios points.

In the end, I am paying for the immense convenience of LAX-MAD and decent connections as well as lower pricing in some instances, and will leave top notch entertainment and food to my ground plans.