Iberia Business Plus longhaul - definitive thread
Jul 27, 2011, 4:05 pm
#16
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Probably LAN has a slight edge. But for the convenience of LAX-MAD nonstop, IB serves me well. I am very happy to see the restoration of this flight, and especially with the A340 with Business Plus. Comparing with AA LAX-LHR, another flight I have taken a number of times, I prefer IB without reservations. Hmm. Poor choice of words... 
Is it comparable to say LAN's BusinessFirst hybrid product? Looks inferior just from the photos, but of course cant really tell that well.
Considering an a trip to Spain from LAX next year, and of course IB would likely be my first choice since I have OW miles galore right now.
Considering an a trip to Spain from LAX next year, and of course IB would likely be my first choice since I have OW miles galore right now.
Jul 29, 2011, 8:36 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
Hello,
I have booked an award from MAD to MEX in Biz for next month.
It is posible to book the seats in advance by phone or I will be only to select at OLCI?
I have no status with IB and I would like to avoid row 6 that is apparently no fully flat.
Thanks,
I have booked an award from MAD to MEX in Biz for next month.
It is posible to book the seats in advance by phone or I will be only to select at OLCI?
I have no status with IB and I would like to avoid row 6 that is apparently no fully flat.
Thanks,
Aug 10, 2011, 12:33 pm
#18
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Whoops, never saw this. I've been able to call and select seats that way. I've not tried the booking management page.
Aug 11, 2011, 6:07 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 16
However, for your own peace of mind, all business plus seats are now fully flat.
Have a nice flight and enjoy business plus!
Aug 11, 2011, 11:27 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
Thanks for your replies JDiver and Ashore.
If all seats are fully flat, I will wait until I can do OLCI and pick up whatever is available.
I fly very little in IB so I do not know what Biz seats are considered better.
Also I do not know if it will be an Airbus 343 or 346 so seatguru does not help.
If all seats are fully flat, I will wait until I can do OLCI and pick up whatever is available.
I fly very little in IB so I do not know what Biz seats are considered better.
Also I do not know if it will be an Airbus 343 or 346 so seatguru does not help.
Sep 5, 2011, 7:36 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Programs: BA Gold, FB Petroleum Club, HH Gold, A-Club Platinum
Posts: 1,760
Hi all,
I am doing with my girlfriend IB6051 (MAD-JNB). We prefer window seats so the first one (middle or window seats) is solved. It seems that the aircraft that does those flights is an A343 at least on September.
I think that we should stick on the front cabin (Rows 1-5). Is anything specific that we should be aware of?
I am doing with my girlfriend IB6051 (MAD-JNB). We prefer window seats so the first one (middle or window seats) is solved. It seems that the aircraft that does those flights is an A343 at least on September.
I think that we should stick on the front cabin (Rows 1-5). Is anything specific that we should be aware of?
Sep 5, 2011, 10:56 am
#22
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Other than the caveat SeatGuru has posted about the first row being close to galleys etc., I can't think of anything. We prefer the forward cabin (and then, rows 2-4) - less noise, off earlier. Be aware cabin crew often choose to not allow pax to use the forward of the three lavatories because of presumed interference with their galley duties.
Hi all,
I am doing with my girlfriend IB6051 (MAD-JNB). We prefer window seats so the first one (middle or window seats) is solved. It seems that the aircraft that does those flights is an A343 at least on September.
I think that we should stick on the front cabin (Rows 1-5). Is anything specific that we should be aware of?
I am doing with my girlfriend IB6051 (MAD-JNB). We prefer window seats so the first one (middle or window seats) is solved. It seems that the aircraft that does those flights is an A343 at least on September.
I think that we should stick on the front cabin (Rows 1-5). Is anything specific that we should be aware of?
Sep 5, 2011, 11:21 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Programs: BA Gold, FB Petroleum Club, HH Gold, A-Club Platinum
Posts: 1,760
Thanks, we are on 2J, 2L.
Apparently Seatguru has old/wrong seat maps for the A343, row 5 does not exist.
Side note, I am amazed by the fact that there are so many seats reserved already. Also it seems that everyone is aware that row 6 is the bad row.
Sep 6, 2011, 3:44 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: FL350, seat 0k
Programs: SK*G, BA Silver, Flying Blue, VLM, VT Traveller, PC Platinum, BW Diamond
Posts: 3,545
I've not flown Iberia longhaul, however I used to fly SAS/LH longhaul an awful lot on their A340s.
What I can say is that it is easily one of the quietest planes I have flown on and that includes CW UD of the 747.
I don't really think there will be any problem with Row 1, in fact sometimes it can be better because you get a bit more room (this is the case with SAS and LH) and don't have anyone walking past you (toilets are back towards the 2nd doors).
How come you didn't choose LHR-JNB with BA Potakas?
Apparently the "bad row 6" no longer exists. Hope you can confirm on your flight?
What I can say is that it is easily one of the quietest planes I have flown on and that includes CW UD of the 747.
I don't really think there will be any problem with Row 1, in fact sometimes it can be better because you get a bit more room (this is the case with SAS and LH) and don't have anyone walking past you (toilets are back towards the 2nd doors).
How come you didn't choose LHR-JNB with BA Potakas?
Apparently the "bad row 6" no longer exists. Hope you can confirm on your flight?
Sep 6, 2011, 3:55 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Programs: BA Gold, FB Petroleum Club, HH Gold, A-Club Platinum
Posts: 1,760
I've not flown Iberia longhaul, however I used to fly SAS/LH longhaul an awful lot on their A340s.
What I can say is that it is easily one of the quietest planes I have flown on and that includes CW UD of the 747.
I don't really think there will be any problem with Row 1, in fact sometimes it can be better because you get a bit more room (this is the case with SAS and LH) and don't have anyone walking past you (toilets are back towards the 2nd doors).
How come you didn't choose LHR-JNB with BA Potakas?
Apparently the "bad row 6" no longer exists. Hope you can confirm on your flight?
What I can say is that it is easily one of the quietest planes I have flown on and that includes CW UD of the 747.
I don't really think there will be any problem with Row 1, in fact sometimes it can be better because you get a bit more room (this is the case with SAS and LH) and don't have anyone walking past you (toilets are back towards the 2nd doors).
How come you didn't choose LHR-JNB with BA Potakas?
Apparently the "bad row 6" no longer exists. Hope you can confirm on your flight?
) So, I am currently booked EDI-LHR-MAD-JNB-PLZ , I will drive to Cape Town and then CPT-LHR-EDI. All those flights for 100K BA miles (+700E) in J.
I could have add the PLZ-CPT on J for no extra miles but they say that it is a beautiful ride. I'll keep looking like the hawk for BA availability.
I will check for row 6 as I am also curious and I will do a review for the restaurant for JDiver ^
Sep 6, 2011, 3:57 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 715
I flew on Iberia from MAD-SCL on an A340-300 (seperated business cabin) 2 days ago and was in row 7 and it wasn't lie flat! Row 6 however was lie flat.
I was also unimpressed w/ the food and the entertainment options.
I was also unimpressed w/ the food and the entertainment options.
Sep 6, 2011, 5:13 pm
#27
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Iberia's A340s have lavatories up front. A340-300 has galleys and one lav forward of row 1, which IB cabin crew often try to restrict from passenger use, requiring use of the two lavs between the forward Business cabin and the "mini" cabin. The A440-600 has a better-situated lav (and galleys) forward and two lavs aft in Business (all one large cabin).
And if one likes quiet, though off-topic for IB, the A380 forward upper deck is absolutely the quietest.
¡Buen viaje, potakas! to the land of bobotie, potjiekos, koeksisters, bilton and boerewors (and even skop, if you are up for it!) and takkies, bakkies, etc.
And if one likes quiet, though off-topic for IB, the A380 forward upper deck is absolutely the quietest.
¡Buen viaje, potakas! to the land of bobotie, potjiekos, koeksisters, bilton and boerewors (and even skop, if you are up for it!) and takkies, bakkies, etc.
I've not flown Iberia longhaul, however I used to fly SAS/LH longhaul an awful lot on their A340s.
What I can say is that it is easily one of the quietest planes I have flown on and that includes CW UD of the 747.
I don't really think there will be any problem with Row 1, in fact sometimes it can be better because you get a bit more room (this is the case with SAS and LH) and don't have anyone walking past you (toilets are back towards the 2nd doors).
How come you didn't choose LHR-JNB with BA Potakas?
Apparently the "bad row 6" no longer exists. Hope you can confirm on your flight?
What I can say is that it is easily one of the quietest planes I have flown on and that includes CW UD of the 747.
I don't really think there will be any problem with Row 1, in fact sometimes it can be better because you get a bit more room (this is the case with SAS and LH) and don't have anyone walking past you (toilets are back towards the 2nd doors).
How come you didn't choose LHR-JNB with BA Potakas?
Apparently the "bad row 6" no longer exists. Hope you can confirm on your flight?
Jan 7, 2012, 5:49 am
#28
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
I have now seen the comments stating that row 6 is indeed flat. Good - as I booked in a seat in that row!!
Any strong preferences to travelling in the small second cabin over the larger front J cabin?
Further edit.
Travelling back on the -600 and am in row 4 currently. Is row 1 likely to be better with no too much disturbance on this next sector?
Last edited by TravellerFrequently; Jan 7, 2012 at 6:10 am Reason: re A340-600
Jan 7, 2012, 8:22 am
#29
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MAD
Programs: AmEx Platinum, Hertz Gold, SPG Gold, Iberia Plus, Club Carlson Gold Elite, HHonors Gold
Posts: 18
I flew back to MAD from SDQ three weeks ago and the experience was not as fantastic as I would had wanted it to be. The crew was particularly unhelpful and they really seemed like they did not want to work at all. Not a single one of them had a smile on the face.
The selection of wines, on the other hand, I have to say that was sublime. As for the food, the starters were alright. They served smoked salmon if I remember correctly. However, I had fish - apologies for not giving more details on this but I do not remember exactly what I had, to be perfectly honest - as a main dish but it was not particularly good and neither was the presentation.
I can confirm, nonetheless that the seat reclines fully and transforms itself in a 180-degree bed. However, since it was hot in the cabin, I was unable to sleep properly alghough the fact of being a bit hungover did not contribute to get a good night's sleep either!
The selection of wines, on the other hand, I have to say that was sublime. As for the food, the starters were alright. They served smoked salmon if I remember correctly. However, I had fish - apologies for not giving more details on this but I do not remember exactly what I had, to be perfectly honest - as a main dish but it was not particularly good and neither was the presentation.
I can confirm, nonetheless that the seat reclines fully and transforms itself in a 180-degree bed. However, since it was hot in the cabin, I was unable to sleep properly alghough the fact of being a bit hungover did not contribute to get a good night's sleep either!