The Airline: IB ticketed by QR
The Segment: MAD-DOH
The Aircraft: EC-MLB, Airbus A330-202
​​​​The Date: Saturday June 29, 2024

The J/F Premium Check In counters opened at 5.30am, and while I sat on the bench waiting, a member of the ground staff tried to move me on, although successfully moved on another couple who were sleeping on the bench and were not travelling in the premium cabins.

The staff member was still a bit huffy and carried on for a bit, until I sat up, almost without slouching. Very odd indeed.

As people started ot line up, I took this as my cue to join the line as well.



I fully expected security to be very tough, but it wasn't to the level of SIN or LHR, and I was through quite quickly. That said, their seucity staff have truncheons and I would likely be called to heel by a firey Iberian lady wielding such a device.

Spot of brunch in the IB Velazquez Lounge to align myself better with Sydney time, before lighting the tyres and kicking the fires for the flight to Doha.



The highlight for me was the tomato and olive oil and the lovely bread they have on offer.


The lounge is also great for some aviation photography. Don't mind the boots - they were handy for the hiking and extremely comfortable.





Feeling more human after a shower and less like the wild rottweiler roaming the mean streets of Madrid


Feeling back on track and hopefully the flight departs Madrid on time as I walk to the gate.

The aircraft is parked quite some distance from the building, owing to all sorts of ramp and airport infrastructure which occupies the space. The upward ramp for arriving passengers frames the aircraft nicely.

Being Group 1, I was able to queue jump, which upset one lady who didn't like this very much. "Some of us can't buy such privilege" she said. "Well, that's the perks of flying as much as I do, and yes, it's a perk I do enjoy. It's okay, the front of the plane doesn't arrive before the rest, so just calm down." I was suitably satisfied by the "AI!" that followed. The Spanish equivalent of a "harrumph" and I was buoyed by the fact she was stirred up by this.


#BoardingNotBoarding


Somewhat annoyingly, there was no Door 1L boarding, but a cheeky wave to the angsty Spanish lass for one final rub of salt into the wound was too delicious to resist. It also allowed for a nose shot of the aircraft from the aerobridge during our #BoardingNotBoarding moment.


Seat 2H was the only one available for me to select, so this was the first and only windowless J flight for me this trip.





A glass of Villa Conchi Cava, a sparkling chardonnay for the PDB.


The crew on board this flight differed markedly from the domestic legs I took. Obviously J levels of service are much higher, but up the back of the bus on the short hops it was decidedly more budget airline than full-service carrier. As I stated before, this is why I do trains intra-Europe and within the UK.

This was a high seniority flight and the Chief Purser said that she had been with Iberia for 42 years! Being sectors of day flights, these are the cream of the rosters. You could definitely tell that the FAs loved their jobs by how they carried themselves and the general vibe and teamwork.

My meal order was taken before departure - I requested that I will skip breakfast in favour of sleep, but put in my order for the pre-landing meal. I put the mattress pad on the seat and was prepared for sleep after what was a long and roller coaster 9 hour jaunt into downtown Madrid.

The taxi time was actually quite short - to the point that the safety demonstration video was still rolling when we took off! Definitely the first time I have ever experienced this.

As soon as the seatnelt light went off, the seat went flat, the boots off, and I did my best impression of a bulldozer.

I did wake up naturally after 4 hours and went for a quick walk up and down the aircraft. I returned to my seat and watched a movie and the 2nd meal service commenced. I opted for the 2 fish dishes, starting with the salmon tartare with avocado, gherkins and capers on a bed of horseradish cream.


Lovely warm bread roll and EVO.




Grilled cod in a red pepper oil, accompanied with turned baby potatoes and grilled aubergine caviar.




The cod was amazingly moist and tasty. I don't normally order fish on flights, so this was impressive.


I have had Laphroiag matured in PX Sherry casks, so the opportunity to consume a PX Sherry on board was not passed up. It was enjoyable, if a bit sweet. To contrast, had a dry white in the form of a Blas Muņoz Chardonnay. It wasn't like an expensive cognac, but I was definitely enthused to try it.




Dessert was a lemon sorbet which was nicely tart.


Being DOH, we arrived at a remote stand. Good for plane photography and an introduction to the searing heat.





It was a short 1 hour connection, so unfortunately I didn't have any chance to experience any Flounge action. However the next flight, while short, was going to be awesome.