Two days ago we flew Iberia LIS-MAD in seats 1A and 1C with a lap infant. Like the 10+ other flights (with other carriers) we’ve flown with the infant on row 1, there was no issue.

Today, we flew MAD-FCO with Iberia in 1A and 1C, and the cabin crew explained that no infants are allowed in row 1, and that we would have to relocate to row 5. As I’m 193cm, this was not an inconsequential change.

Couldn’t find anything about this online; so what is the exact policy? Feels like this would be something unique to Iberia because it seems unlikely that we got away with something against policy on every single flight on 4 different carriers before now, particularly as CC will bring a baby lifevest and belt each time.