Long Time, no Biz!!!!
May 17, 2022, 7:43 am
#1
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Long Time, no Biz!!!!
Hi everyone - I'm back. Not had a total hiatus from flying, but certainly from business travel (for over 2 years). But now quite possibly off to MAD again next month.
Couple of quick Qs for the resident experts (mostly because I have forgotten how half this stuff works nowadays).
1) "Iberia Express for BA" vs "Iberia Express for Iberia". In both cases would book on BA website. Is there much practical difference? I am guessing I still get TPs and Avios both times, still get lounge access, seat selection via MMB etc??? Anything that might catch me out?
2) Open jaw LHR >> MAD >> LGW - any huge downsides in doing this if the flights etc suit? I can't remember as it's been a while but for some reason I thought that this wasn't usually an option once you had selected your outbound flight from either of the London options, when I was regularly doing this before (but it's all lost in a pandemic haze frankly)
3) IB A330 - vaguely worth it? Or meh? (there doesn't seem to be a BA widebody on that route any more - naturally gutted there wouldn't be an A380 option but hey ho.... I used to quite like the A340 when I could bag a PE seat on an economy booking, but didn't usually change my flight times just for that.
4) Airport / lounge experience - has much changed? Or are things gradually back to normal(ish). I know there's a long thread discussing LGW and BAEF so I could see some of the LGW centric answers there. But it's been a long time since I've done anything other than holiday travel from LGW, avec nippers, with no lounge access / just getting from taxi to boarding as quickly as we could etc.
Will be nice to actually enjoy a different 'pace' of travel again ;-) - may even bump into one or two of you, who knows....
P
Couple of quick Qs for the resident experts (mostly because I have forgotten how half this stuff works nowadays).
1) "Iberia Express for BA" vs "Iberia Express for Iberia". In both cases would book on BA website. Is there much practical difference? I am guessing I still get TPs and Avios both times, still get lounge access, seat selection via MMB etc??? Anything that might catch me out?
2) Open jaw LHR >> MAD >> LGW - any huge downsides in doing this if the flights etc suit? I can't remember as it's been a while but for some reason I thought that this wasn't usually an option once you had selected your outbound flight from either of the London options, when I was regularly doing this before (but it's all lost in a pandemic haze frankly)
3) IB A330 - vaguely worth it? Or meh? (there doesn't seem to be a BA widebody on that route any more - naturally gutted there wouldn't be an A380 option but hey ho.... I used to quite like the A340 when I could bag a PE seat on an economy booking, but didn't usually change my flight times just for that.
4) Airport / lounge experience - has much changed? Or are things gradually back to normal(ish). I know there's a long thread discussing LGW and BAEF so I could see some of the LGW centric answers there. But it's been a long time since I've done anything other than holiday travel from LGW, avec nippers, with no lounge access / just getting from taxi to boarding as quickly as we could etc.
Will be nice to actually enjoy a different 'pace' of travel again ;-) - may even bump into one or two of you, who knows....
P
May 17, 2022, 7:50 am
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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That's not an open jaw, since both LGW and LHR are in London, or airport coding LON. There isn't much choose between prime and codeshare flight numbers, however because IB Express are on a different system from Iberia and BA are on a third system, there's very little chance that the TPs and Avios will post automatically, so keep the paper boarding pass just in case. Personally on such a short flight longhaul aircraft isn't for me a big deal, though others feel differently, but be aware it may get A320'd when the time comes. Lounges - best see the dedicated threads, a few changes, usual litany of complaints but they still draw the crowds.
May 17, 2022, 8:08 am
#3
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There isn't much choose between prime and codeshare flight numbers, however because IB Express are on a different system from Iberia and BA are on a third system, there's very little chance that the TPs and Avios will post automatically, so keep the paper boarding pass just in case. Personally on such a short flight longhaul aircraft isn't for me a big deal, though others feel differently, but be aware it may get A320'd when the time comes. Lounges - best see the dedicated threads, a few changes, usual litany of complaints but they still draw the crowds.
May 17, 2022, 8:24 am
#4
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Hi
also the ib a330 has sometimes been replaced by a level a330 ( so the ce seat would be a level premium economy seat rather than an ib business seat iirc)
Regards
Tbs
also the ib a330 has sometimes been replaced by a level a330 ( so the ce seat would be a level premium economy seat rather than an ib business seat iirc)
Regards
Tbs
May 17, 2022, 9:46 am
#5
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On a simple nosiness / curiosity basis I'd almost be tempted to say that's a plus......... almost
May 17, 2022, 11:27 am
#6
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trust me its not when you are sat 2-3-2 in a PE seat that is in a full cabin. i've been duped by this twice and i'd take a BA a320 in standard CE than try the IB a330 anytime soon because of those level planes. (i really do not like sitting directly next to someone)
May 17, 2022, 2:16 pm
#7
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1) "Iberia Express for BA" vs "Iberia Express for Iberia". In both cases would book on BA website. Is there much practical difference? I am guessing I still get TPs and Avios both times, still get lounge access, seat selection via MMB etc??? Anything that might catch me out?
I2 for BA = it's really a BA flight, but with an I2 aircraft / crew. I suppose it could swap back to BA. This is due to BAEF crew shortage. This is the new BA LGW-MAD route.
I2 for IB = it's the standard I2 LGW-MAD flight, just booked via a (double) codeshare.
TP and Avios on both, lounge on both (though LGW lounge closes I believe at 20:00, and the late IB/I2 flight is around 20:40), seat selection on both in theory but you may struggle on the IB/I2 one.
2) Open jaw LHR >> MAD >> LGW - any huge downsides in doing this if the flights etc suit? I can't remember as it's been a while but for some reason I thought that this wasn't usually an option once you had selected your outbound flight from either of the London options, when I was regularly doing this before (but it's all lost in a pandemic haze frankly)
No problem doing that, but remember that same day flight change needs the same airports. LGW doesn't have many options - 2-3 per day.
3) IB A330 - vaguely worth it? Or meh? (there doesn't seem to be a BA widebody on that route any more - naturally gutted there wouldn't be an A380 option but hey ho.... I used to quite like the A340 when I could bag a PE seat on an economy booking, but didn't usually change my flight times just for that.
I try to take that flight if timings suit. The Level A330 has been making an appearance earlier in the year quite regularly, but that doesn't seem to happen as much now. A330-300 and A350 have PE which you can bag if flying Y (status or payment), A330-200 doesn't have PE.
4) Airport / lounge experience - has much changed? Or are things gradually back to normal(ish). I know there's a long thread discussing LGW and BAEF so I could see some of the LGW centric answers there. But it's been a long time since I've done anything other than holiday travel from LGW, avec nippers, with no lounge access / just getting from taxi to boarding as quickly as we could etc.
Not much, other than all London flights now depart T4S in Madrid rather than narrowbody IB/I2 using a specific part of T4. Better lounge (although the differences have narrowed significantly since the new catering rolled out post-covid), but a trek.
I2 for BA = it's really a BA flight, but with an I2 aircraft / crew. I suppose it could swap back to BA. This is due to BAEF crew shortage. This is the new BA LGW-MAD route.
I2 for IB = it's the standard I2 LGW-MAD flight, just booked via a (double) codeshare.
TP and Avios on both, lounge on both (though LGW lounge closes I believe at 20:00, and the late IB/I2 flight is around 20:40), seat selection on both in theory but you may struggle on the IB/I2 one.
2) Open jaw LHR >> MAD >> LGW - any huge downsides in doing this if the flights etc suit? I can't remember as it's been a while but for some reason I thought that this wasn't usually an option once you had selected your outbound flight from either of the London options, when I was regularly doing this before (but it's all lost in a pandemic haze frankly)
No problem doing that, but remember that same day flight change needs the same airports. LGW doesn't have many options - 2-3 per day.
3) IB A330 - vaguely worth it? Or meh? (there doesn't seem to be a BA widebody on that route any more - naturally gutted there wouldn't be an A380 option but hey ho.... I used to quite like the A340 when I could bag a PE seat on an economy booking, but didn't usually change my flight times just for that.
I try to take that flight if timings suit. The Level A330 has been making an appearance earlier in the year quite regularly, but that doesn't seem to happen as much now. A330-300 and A350 have PE which you can bag if flying Y (status or payment), A330-200 doesn't have PE.
4) Airport / lounge experience - has much changed? Or are things gradually back to normal(ish). I know there's a long thread discussing LGW and BAEF so I could see some of the LGW centric answers there. But it's been a long time since I've done anything other than holiday travel from LGW, avec nippers, with no lounge access / just getting from taxi to boarding as quickly as we could etc.
Not much, other than all London flights now depart T4S in Madrid rather than narrowbody IB/I2 using a specific part of T4. Better lounge (although the differences have narrowed significantly since the new catering rolled out post-covid), but a trek.
May 26, 2022, 2:12 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
1) "Iberia Express for BA" vs "Iberia Express for Iberia". In both cases would book on BA website. Is there much practical difference? I am guessing I still get TPs and Avios both times, still get lounge access, seat selection via MMB etc??? Anything that might catch me out?
I2 for BA = it's really a BA flight, but with an I2 aircraft / crew. I suppose it could swap back to BA. This is due to BAEF crew shortage. This is the new BA LGW-MAD route.
I2 for IB = it's the standard I2 LGW-MAD flight, just booked via a (double) codeshare.
TP and Avios on both, lounge on both (though LGW lounge closes I believe at 20:00, and the late IB/I2 flight is around 20:40), seat selection on both in theory but you may struggle on the IB/I2 one.
I2 for BA = it's really a BA flight, but with an I2 aircraft / crew. I suppose it could swap back to BA. This is due to BAEF crew shortage. This is the new BA LGW-MAD route.
I2 for IB = it's the standard I2 LGW-MAD flight, just booked via a (double) codeshare.
TP and Avios on both, lounge on both (though LGW lounge closes I believe at 20:00, and the late IB/I2 flight is around 20:40), seat selection on both in theory but you may struggle on the IB/I2 one.
2) Open jaw LHR >> MAD >> LGW - any huge downsides in doing this if the flights etc suit? I can't remember as it's been a while but for some reason I thought that this wasn't usually an option once you had selected your outbound flight from either of the London options, when I was regularly doing this before (but it's all lost in a pandemic haze frankly)
No problem doing that, but remember that same day flight change needs the same airports. LGW doesn't have many options - 2-3 per day.
No problem doing that, but remember that same day flight change needs the same airports. LGW doesn't have many options - 2-3 per day.
3) IB A330 - vaguely worth it? Or meh? (there doesn't seem to be a BA widebody on that route any more - naturally gutted there wouldn't be an A380 option but hey ho.... I used to quite like the A340 when I could bag a PE seat on an economy booking, but didn't usually change my flight times just for that.
I try to take that flight if timings suit. The Level A330 has been making an appearance earlier in the year quite regularly, but that doesn't seem to happen as much now. A330-300 and A350 have PE which you can bag if flying Y (status or payment), A330-200 doesn't have PE.
I try to take that flight if timings suit. The Level A330 has been making an appearance earlier in the year quite regularly, but that doesn't seem to happen as much now. A330-300 and A350 have PE which you can bag if flying Y (status or payment), A330-200 doesn't have PE.
4) Airport / lounge experience - has much changed? Or are things gradually back to normal(ish). I know there's a long thread discussing LGW and BAEF so I could see some of the LGW centric answers there. But it's been a long time since I've done anything other than holiday travel from LGW, avec nippers, with no lounge access / just getting from taxi to boarding as quickly as we could etc.
Not much, other than all London flights now depart T4S in Madrid rather than narrowbody IB/I2 using a specific part of T4. Better lounge (although the differences have narrowed significantly since the new catering rolled out post-covid), but a trek.
Not much, other than all London flights now depart T4S in Madrid rather than narrowbody IB/I2 using a specific part of T4. Better lounge (although the differences have narrowed significantly since the new catering rolled out post-covid), but a trek.