Iberia Airlines Iberia Plus - I need an Iberia expert - a few questions

I just booked an LAX-TLV trip on IB through Madrid (in biz)

A couple of questions.

-Does Iberia always do food service front to back?
-Are normal menus ok for a Vegetarian (fish and dairy are ok)
-What is the limousine service?
-I have an 8 hour lay over in Madrid - would you suggest a quick trip downtown for dinner?
-I then have a 2 hour connection in Madrid returning (which I think is ok because I don't have to clear customs in Spain? I am arriving and departing from 4S I believe)

Thanks!

I am not an IB expert, but I have flown them recently (CPH-MAD-EZE and GIG-MAD-CPH) in the back of the bus. I cannot answer all of your questions, but:

I ordered asian vegetarian meal (AVML), and on the outbound I got two boiled potatoes, some beans and carrots.
On my homebound, I got chicken breast with rice, broccoli and carrots. The profusely excused the mistake, and offered me a fish meal from C, crew food, fruit basket etc.

Cabin crew are better than expected on the IC legs.

2 hours should be more than enough at MAD T4S, but I have no experience with TLV flights.

I would suggest a trip to downtown. The Metro leaves from the airport, and will take you downtown in just over half an hour. You can also get a cab (approx €30). I suggest a tapas restaurant, but do some research before going.


I just booked an LAX-TLV trip on IB through Madrid (in biz)

A couple of questions.

-Does Iberia always do food service front to back?
-Are normal menus ok for a Vegetarian (fish and dairy are ok)
-What is the limousine service?
-I have an 8 hour lay over in Madrid - would you suggest a quick trip downtown for dinner?
-I then have a 2 hour connection in Madrid returning (which I think is ok because I don't have to clear customs in Spain? I am arriving and departing from 4S I believe)

Thanks!

I'm in need of IB experts too, figured I'd add my questions here -

I'll be using AA miles to book business class, LAX-MAD-FCO.

In looking at IB's site I'm confused about their Hand Luggage Policy, seen here:
http://www.iberia.com/OneToOne/v3/program.do?prgOid=9465&tabId=3&menuId=02130900000000&language=en&country=US&market=US&IS_ANONYMOUS=true

It shows a different policy for "Business Plus" and for "Business Class". Does anyone know what would apply to my LAX-MAD-FCO in J?

Does IB strictly enforce their policy? (i.e. Will my carry-on be put in the sizer?) The carry-on dimensions are wider than AA requirments, but the depth is less at 20 cm (7.87 inches).

I see no mention of weight restrictions on the page I linked, so I don't have to worry about that at least, right?

Lastly regarding Hand Luggage, it says you can have 1 "accessory" and then lists them. Does this mean that if I have a coat I can not then have a purse?

Any comments on flying in J on IB concerning "Hand Luggage" experiences would be very appreciated (I always avoid checking luggage if possible).

TIA

Actually that page does document the maximum weight of 8kg (18 lb) for carryon. Business Plus applies to LAX-MAD flight, and Business to the MAD-FCO flight. The "1 accessory" rule does mean that if you have a purse you cannot have a coat (or a laptop, etc.). For business class the hand luggage limits are loosely enforced, so you don't have to worry as long as you "look reasonable".

As for the OP's question, often there is a fish meal boarded in J TATL, but would not expect that for MAD-TLV. The limo service is part of some J fares (the more expensive ones), and has a distance limitation that varies by fare but often over 100 miles at your origin and destination airport. If your fare includes it (most do not) then IB will contact you to arrange for the limo (operated by 3rd party). As for 2 hours being "plenty of time" for the return transit, it is barely adequate as there is special security checks for US departures and I think cut-off is at 90 minutes.

Actually that page does document the maximum weight of 8kg (18 lb) for carryon. Business Plus applies to LAX-MAD flight, and Business to the MAD-FCO flight. The "1 accessory" rule does mean that if you have a purse you cannot have a coat (or a laptop, etc.). For business class the hand luggage limits are loosely enforced, so you don't have to worry as long as you "look reasonable"...

Thanks for the info - I had missed that 8kg mention. I've never actually weighed my packed carry-on bag. And on AA I've never been made to fit my bag in the sizer or had my bag weighed. Since you say the limits are loosely enforced for the J cabin, I take that to mean that most likely my bag won't be weighed?

But I sure do want to "look reasonable". My Bric's cabin luggage is 40x53x20 cm so the size is right. But I also wanted to bring a tote - the type that you slide on the handle of your roll-aboard. I'm use to AA's stipulation that the second piece can't exceed 36 linear inches (91.44cm). But there's no mention on IB's site (that I see) stipulating the maximum size of the personal item.

Do you think if I wore my coat, had my Bric's rollaboard and then had the type of tote shown here (http://www.antler.co.uk/catalog/0200x38.cat) which is 38x31x14cm (83 linear cm) that I'd "look reasonable"?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

I cannot fathom that you'd have any trouble with that luggage. Unless you're really going over, they likely won't notice and/or care.

Just flew IB TATL with a 55 pound duffel. No weighing, no inspection, not a second glance. Flew in Y but checked in at Business counter. Last time I had the same duffel up to 31kg and again, no problems. Nothing is certain, but my experience has been that IB really doesn't enforce baggage policies to elites/Business Class pax. I suppose if you were rude or you really pushed it with absolutely ginormous luggage both huge and heavy, you might finally get a reaction out of them.

Thanks alanw and malcomkettering, glad to hear your good news re carry-ons. IB then is a viable option for me, which brings me next to the issue of award availability.

AA has award availability for the LAX-MAD-FCO flights which will leave about 2 hours at MAD. And they're also showing availability for the return longhaul MAD-LAX. However, AA is not showing award availability for the early flight out of FCO that will allow a connection for MAD-LAX. If that flight was available tho, it would also allow for 2 hours at MAD. (But in all the flights I've taken out of FCO, on AA, BA and LX, not one has left on time. Which leads me to assume that the MAD layover could be less than the scheduled 2 hours).

Considering this comment from number_6:

... As for 2 hours being "plenty of time" for the return transit, it is barely adequate as there is special security checks for US departures and I think cut-off is at 90 minutes.

do you think I should forego trying to get that FCO-MAD 8AM departing flight and just plan on overnight-ing it at MAD (and the MAD Hilton does look fantastic to me - relative to airport hotels).

I was actually planning on spending the first and last night at the FCO Hilton anyway (which is NOT fantastic). But reading number_6's comment makes me ask: Do you experts think I should opt instead to overnight it in both directions at the MAD Hilton - and therefore remove the stress of these 2 hour layovers not being adequately long?

If yes, my follow up question concerns the limo service:

...The limo service is part of some J fares (the more expensive ones), and has a distance limitation that varies by fare but often over 100 miles at your origin and destination airport. If your fare includes it (most do not) then IB will contact you to arrange for the limo (operated by 3rd party)...

Am I correct in thinking that the J mileage award would not entitle me to this perk?

Thanks again everyone.

Does Iberia always do its food service front to back in J?

Does Iberia always do its food service front to back in J?

This is my experience but I only fly in Biz long haul with IB once or twice per year.

Am I correct in thinking that the J mileage award would not entitle me to this perk?

Thanks again everyone.

In the past IB Plus Platinum(and probably also Gold) members also had this perk when flying on J awards, but I do not know if this is the case any longer.
You loose nothing by asking.

Considering this comment from number_6:
Originally Posted by number_6
... As for 2 hours being "plenty of time" for the return transit, it is barely adequate as there is special security checks for US departures and I think cut-off is at 90 minutes.



Having just passed through VLC-MAD-JFK-SFO, I can tell you that there was in fact no special screening for US-bound flight leaving MAD. The gate area is cordoned off but all we were required to do was show our boarding pass upon entry to the gate area. Not a single security question. In the IB lounge, they told us that they would call us for boarding 30 mins prior to departure. So that 90 minutes rule doesn't seem to apply anymore. From the Velásquez lounge to our seats was less than 10 minutes since they had Priority Access/Business Class boarding open which saved waiting in a huge line on the jet bridge.

In the past IB Plus Platinum(and probably also Gold) members also had this perk when flying on J awards, but I do not know if this is the case any longer.
You loose nothing by asking.No chance for an AA issued award, as AA does not pay for this! Also OP shows AA Gold status, which is a far cry from IB Plat (which is higher than EXP as it is rarer and has lots of informal benefits, like this limo and valet parking etc.). As for the extent of security checks, that varies with the threat level, but having a cordoned off area makes it easy to control entry. With the current Libya situation it seems not unlikely that security checks will be ramped up as MAD has been targeted by terrorists in the past.

I echo the earlier posts about hand luggage when flying in J (or checking in at the Business counter). No measuring, no issues, etc.

With regards to the connection time, coming in from FCO, 2 hours should be fine time-wise to get onto a US bound flight. Should there be a delay in the FCO arrival, the ground staff can help you (T-4 is big and going to T-4S takes a bit of time).

Finally, if you are having trouble getting award availability for the FCO-MAD segment, I have in the past done that as a one way on Vueling and AirEuropa for $50-100. I think EasyJet also flies the route and may be even cheaper.

Forgot to add, that connection time obviously much different if you are coming in another airline!

I echo the earlier posts about hand luggage when flying in J (or checking in at the Business counter). No measuring, no issues, etc.

With regards to the connection time, coming in from FCO, 2 hours should be fine time-wise to get onto a US bound flight. Should there be a delay in the FCO arrival, the ground staff can help you (T-4 is big and going to T-4S takes a bit of time).

Finally, if you are having trouble getting award availability for the FCO-MAD segment, I have in the past done that as a one way on Vueling and AirEuropa for $50-100. I think EasyJet also flies the route and may be even cheaper.