AA vs. IB / Iberia comparison: which is better, etc. (consolidated)
Nov 7, 2016, 10:03 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 210
Iberia has fantastic availability for next summer on MIA MAD route.I use Avios and book directly with Iberia so the AA system problems do not affect me.Also their 1-2-1 ,J seats are great.They also offer off peak awards into mid June 2017 at only 42,500 avios plus around $100 fees.Brand new A330 to boot.This is a much better product than AA tired 777-200.
Nov 7, 2016, 10:04 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 210
Flew business class this summer vce-mad-ord on IB -- was very impressed with TATL segment; great service and great equipment. Obviously the service varies by crew - but my wife thought the biz IB product on MAD-ORD was better than F on AA ORD-FCO on the old 777.
We found our availability about 300 days out by searching on ba.com -- called AA and booked on the first try.
We found our availability about 300 days out by searching on ba.com -- called AA and booked on the first try.
Nov 7, 2016, 10:07 am
#33
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 210
AA and IB MileSAAver awards can be challenging to find, but they are certainly there for those who are patient and assiduous in their search. (I've taken many SAAver award flights in Business on AA and a number of one world airlines, including IB and QF - in fact had awards SFO-LIS for two on AA SAAver tickets last month.)
IB Business Plus on long hauls is IMO quite comparable to the newer AA long haul Business product with solo, all aisle access horizontally flat seats, reasonably good food and a nice selection of Spanish wines. But IB eliminated First class years ago.
IB Business Plus on long hauls is IMO quite comparable to the newer AA long haul Business product with solo, all aisle access horizontally flat seats, reasonably good food and a nice selection of Spanish wines. But IB eliminated First class years ago.
Nov 7, 2016, 10:33 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
I'm considering going to BCN in Sept-2017 out of SFO.
I searched AA.com and no IB flights show up at all. Most are with BA to LHR or AA out of JFK if I use miles.
But if I want to purchase a seat and use miles to upgrade, it seems that when the IB flights show up out of ORD and MIA. Any reason why the IB flights are "hidden" and we must call AA and deal with their agents not being able to reliably complete the transaction at hand.?
I searched AA.com and no IB flights show up at all. Most are with BA to LHR or AA out of JFK if I use miles.
But if I want to purchase a seat and use miles to upgrade, it seems that when the IB flights show up out of ORD and MIA. Any reason why the IB flights are "hidden" and we must call AA and deal with their agents not being able to reliably complete the transaction at hand.?
Nov 7, 2016, 11:00 am
#35
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
I've done several IB TATL Business Class award trips with AA miles.
I like IB! Pretty good flat seats, pretty good food, good wines.
My only complaint is that some of their FA's do the bev service only after the food arrives and some try and pull my wine glass while I'm still eating dinner! That would never happen in my house.....
I do like the MAD Business Class lounges.
To me IB is a geed choice TATL in Business.
I like IB! Pretty good flat seats, pretty good food, good wines.
My only complaint is that some of their FA's do the bev service only after the food arrives and some try and pull my wine glass while I'm still eating dinner! That would never happen in my house.....
I do like the MAD Business Class lounges.
To me IB is a geed choice TATL in Business.
Nov 7, 2016, 11:48 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO, MIA
Programs: AA 2MillionMiler, BA ExecutiveClub, UA MileagePlus, AS MileagePlan
Posts: 449
Nov 7, 2016, 11:54 am
#38
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO, MIA
Programs: AA 2MillionMiler, BA ExecutiveClub, UA MileagePlus, AS MileagePlan
Posts: 449
I'm considering going to BCN in Sept-2017 out of SFO.
I searched AA.com and no IB flights show up at all. Most are with BA to LHR or AA out of JFK if I use miles.
But if I want to purchase a seat and use miles to upgrade, it seems that when the IB flights show up out of ORD and MIA. Any reason why the IB flights are "hidden" and we must call AA and deal with their agents not being able to reliably complete the transaction at hand.?
I searched AA.com and no IB flights show up at all. Most are with BA to LHR or AA out of JFK if I use miles.
But if I want to purchase a seat and use miles to upgrade, it seems that when the IB flights show up out of ORD and MIA. Any reason why the IB flights are "hidden" and we must call AA and deal with their agents not being able to reliably complete the transaction at hand.?
Nov 20, 2016, 1:08 pm
#39
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
AA or IB to BCN in business award, which is better?
I will shortly be looking for 2 saver business awards to BCN from MCI. looking at the award calendar now it looks like I can fly either on all AA flights with TATL J from JFK on AA 66 or PHL on AA 742 to BCN or AA 36 from DFW to MAD then to an IB flight MAD to BCN, or IB J from ORD via MAD. Either routing has me making 2 connections coming from Kansas City.
Which routing will have the lie flat seats? I know the IB aircraft does but what about AA? I have not been on a longhaul in biz on an AA plane in 4 years. Last time J was pathetic.
Which way would you go if you had a choice?
Which routing will have the lie flat seats? I know the IB aircraft does but what about AA? I have not been on a longhaul in biz on an AA plane in 4 years. Last time J was pathetic.
Which way would you go if you had a choice?
Last edited by susiesan; Nov 20, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Nov 20, 2016, 1:31 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
I believe all will have lie flat seats. I think niyte the TATL contract requires all OW to have lie flat over water. I could be so wrong though. But AA out of PHL has lie flat for all J A330.
Nov 20, 2016, 1:36 pm
#41
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
If all TATL route aircraft will have lie flat seats, has anyone who has experienced both IB J and AA J able to make a comparison? For food, service, comfort of seat which is preferable if there is a choice?
Nov 20, 2016, 1:44 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
I haven't experienced IB J, but I asked this same question for a trip from LAX-CDG that I booked a few months ago. The advice I received was that that AA J and IB J are about the same--nothing special. Decent hard product, variable soft product ranging from slightly below average to pretty decent. The advice was to go with the best price/sked.
Secondhand...take it for what it's worth, which may be nothing.
I ended up booking IB J just to experience it, but then a J seat opened on AA 108 from LAX-LHR and I jumped on it. Very glad I did...saved $100 fuel surcharge!
Here's a link to that conversation:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post26954259
Secondhand...take it for what it's worth, which may be nothing.
I ended up booking IB J just to experience it, but then a J seat opened on AA 108 from LAX-LHR and I jumped on it. Very glad I did...saved $100 fuel surcharge!Here's a link to that conversation:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post26954259
Nov 20, 2016, 1:49 pm
#43
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
I haven't experienced IB J, but I asked this same question for a trip from LAX-CDG that I booked a few months ago. The advice I received was that that AA J and IB J are about the same--nothing special. Decent hard product, variable soft product ranging from slightly below average to pretty decent. The advice was to go with the best price/sked.
Secondhand...take it for what it's worth, which may be nothing. I ended up booking IB J just to experience it, but then a J seat opened on AA 108 from LAX-LHR and I jumped on it. Very glad I did...saved $100 fuel surcharge!
Secondhand...take it for what it's worth, which may be nothing.
I ended up booking IB J just to experience it, but then a J seat opened on AA 108 from LAX-LHR and I jumped on it. Very glad I did...saved $100 fuel surcharge!I may just go with AA flights, but if I go the MCI-DFW-MAD on AA then MAD-BCN on IB I will have to call to get this award. I wonder if there is a fuel surcharge for the short MAD-BCN leg of the trip? And I may use AA going over to Europe as my return will be from Venice and I will have to fly IB as AA never releases J seats on their flights from VCE.
Nov 20, 2016, 1:59 pm
#45
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
I did not realize that IB awards had the fuel surcharge added. I know about the BA charges. because you cannot book IB online there is no way to know what the charge extra fuel surcharge on a given routing is.
I may just go with AA flights, but if I go the MCI-DFW-MAD on AA then MAD-BCN on IB I will have to call to get this award. I wonder if there is a fuel surcharge for the short MAD-BCN leg of the trip? And I may use AA going over to Europe as my return will be from Venice and I will have to fly IB as AA never releases J seats on their flights from VCE.
I may just go with AA flights, but if I go the MCI-DFW-MAD on AA then MAD-BCN on IB I will have to call to get this award. I wonder if there is a fuel surcharge for the short MAD-BCN leg of the trip? And I may use AA going over to Europe as my return will be from Venice and I will have to fly IB as AA never releases J seats on their flights from VCE.
AA does fly JFK-BCN. You could do what I did. Book the best flight you can get right now, which sounds like AA to MAD and then IB from MAD-BCN. Then, if a better flight opens, call AA and switch the routing to all AA metal. Then you'll get any fuel surcharges refunded.