JDiver

You may want to read the thread just below, Iberia lounges and access general information thread, for lounge locations and access rules.

You can also visit www.oneworld.com for lounge locations here.

At O. R. Tambo / JNB, Iberia uses a third party lounge, Premier Club, but there is also a BA Galleries First and Galleries Club Lounge. Qantas uses the SAA Baobab lounge, and it's not likely you will be able to use that or the Shongololo lounge used by CX (as the last two are on contract).

Whether you will be allowed to use the BA lounge will most likely depend on whether IB and BA use the same terminal at JNB.

abcx

Do all IB long hauls have this Business Plus product?

Marcin83

Yes. Flights from MAD to Americas, JNB, Luanda and BCN-MIA, BCN-GRU routes.
Some MH flghts which are operated by A340 (TLV or LHR) have Business Class or Business Club product in the Business Plus cabin.

trekker

I posted this question on the sticky, but this is probably a better place.

I am headed to VCE with my husband, and have my choice of AA codeshares on BA or IB in J (same price). I don't know which configuration IB uses ex BOS, but I assume it's the less luxurious one. If that's the case (can anyone confirm?), would BA CW be a better choice? Seems the row 6 issue on IB is gone (true?), but there's a post above referring to row 7 being inclined. Also, will I be able to select seats? I don't know whether AA can do it for me; if I have to call IB, can AA give me the appropriate booking number?

Thanks,
Confused (aka trekker)

coiaflyer

I booked an IB ticket using AA miles yesterday and there were able to select seats. I think there are a lot of mixed feelings regarding BA and transiting through LHR, but I would pick BA because the crew is usuallly better, the seat is definitely lie flat, and I like the BA lounges in LHR better. You can also use the BA spa when traveling long haul with them which is quite nice.

JDiver

The Business Plus seat configuration on A340 long or short models is practically the same, only different seat rows numeration, etc. I would probably select which to take based on length of flight connections, and if I were flying soon, I might book away from IB due to the frequent strikes - at least until they are over and grievance issues resolved.

AA codeshares are easier to change with BA as long as you secure your BA PNR iirc - BA Manage My Booking is a very nice tool.

You may find fares even lower (sometimes) booking directly on BA or IB; by entering your AA FFN you will still get all applicable miles, etc. but if things go pear-shaped there is less opportunity for airlines to play "musical blame" with your trip.

kmandrew

If I join IB's program will I be able to look at award inventory without having to call? I'm trying to fly back to the states from PRG July 15 or 16, currently on an AA F saver award ticket through LHR, trying to our extend trip 2 days without using BA over the pond.

JDiver

If you are using AAdvantage miles, you must call AA in any case.

GetawaysRus

A question for you Iberia mavens:

Just today I grabbed 2 seats in Business for April 2013. Our flight is LAX to MAD on an Iberia A340, and then MAD to AMS on an Iberia A321. I've got this on a 5-day hold using my AA miles. Taxes are $74 per person, which is much more reasonable than the fuel surcharge if we were to fly BA, plus the $25 AA fee for booking over the phone. (It'll cost me 50K AA miles per seat, but I should get 10% of that mileage back because I've got a Citi AA MasterCard.)

My question is about the seats on the A340. I looked at the pictures here and on the Iberia website. Last year, my wife and I flew on a Royal Jordanian A340 from ORD to Amman, Jordan. She loved the seats and service on RJ. We both slept 8 hours on the ORD to AMM leg. The RJ seats were far superior to the Business seats on our El Al return flight from Tel Aviv to LAX.

Anyone here who has flown both IB and RJ in Business on an A340? Those IB seats sure do look the same as the seats we had on RJ. If that's right, my wife will be very pleased. (Yes, I know that the A321 will not be as nice, but that's only a short leg. It's the transatlantic flight that's most important to me.)

One more thing. I should know this, but I just don't. The connection time in MAD is 90 minutes. Where do we go through immigration (in MAD or
AMS)? I'm hoping that a 90 minute connection in MAD is sufficient.

drags87

You'll clear immigration in MAD. It's a breeze. I've done 50 minute connections from the US.

If you're running late, ask the Iberia gate agent for the orange tag that says you're in a hurry. They'll usually let you go through the EU line if you have that tag.

nycsfo

Were you able to determine whether you'll be on an A340-600 or -300? Wife just made JFK-MAD businessplus reservations for us and we're in row 6, which may be problematic if we're on a 300 (It's right by the self-service bar). I'm wondering if I should try to change or not.

Thanks.

LAX and JFK

Just got back from 20 day trip to Italy via MAD on Iberia A340-300.

A few notes:

1. AA.com erases Iberia reservations from viewing. Every month or so, the pnr would just disappear. Keep the record locator handy and re-enter it with all of the relevant details to avoid cardiac arrest a week before the flight you booked 7 months ago is no longer showing up on AA.

2. EXP's (OW emerald) can use the one world (BA) first lounge at LAX. Basically the same set up as the business side but with only about 25% of the people. Make sure your emerald card is current and that you're not carrying last years version like I did until I was putting new luggage tags on my bags before we went to the airport.

3. Check in at business counter was very easy. They even gave me a BA escort who walked the 4 of us right up to the front of security. Nice touch. BA escort told me that BA is taking over the contract for Iberia at LAX so it's likely that the quality of the counter staff will go up but our Iberia woman was great.

4. Two entries at the plane so boarding process was stress free.

5. We had 3 A/C and 4 A/C. Do not take row 4 on the 340-300. Not sure about the 600. The lights for the "snack bar" stay on the entire flight and the wc is right there so you not only get the door open/shut but also the flush! Charming. Not great for light sleepers like Mrs. LAX and JFK. Th seat is a true lay flat for up to about a 5-9. I'm 6-1 and I had dangling legs. Also, the steel foot rest folds in to the seat so you're resting your legs on the cold metal. Not great but with a sweatshirt cover, you're good.

6. Meal service goes from terrible to great, but it takes a while. We didn't even get any hint that they would serve food (or a drink!) for a full 90 minutes after take-off. On the way home, it was about 75 minutes so maybe that's their thing. The delay was the terrible part. We wanted to eat and crash. Actually, we wanted our 6 and 8 year olds to eat and crash while we ate. No dice. Our kids are troopers and long haul vets but for others with rookie travelers, you may want to think about bringing dinner on board. That was the terrible.

7. The great was the food and the drinks. Good selection, nice quality, and the right size. Not too big. Just right. It seemed like they were short staffed on both legs as it took a long time to get a refill. The FA's were very pleasant and accommodating, I just don't think that there were enough of them.

8. We hit the lounge (Velazquez) on the way home but our flight to Rome made us rush to the gate and with the 30-40 minut run/walk to the other terminal, didn't want to chance it. But, the lounge is great. Makes you wonder why US lounges are so bad. Do not miss the lounge. True Espana.

9. Our flight to Rome was easy and comfortable. FA's were so warm and friendly. Really made it fun.

10. I forgot to mention that the movie selection on the long haul is awful. Load up your iPad. Their movies are unwatchable.

All in all, for 100k miles per seat, I would do it all over again. In comparison to AA's long haul two cabin business, I would say Iberia wins the cup.

Charlie Kilo

Travelling as a solo passenger, what is the privacy like between the seat pairs in Business Plus? Photos show what appear to be a divider between the two seats that can be pulled out but this might only be seat trim!

Any comments on this?

Txolo

Hello,

There is a "small" divider between seats, on some seats I tried it did not pulled out, not too much privacy unless on "sleep" seat position.

Charlie Kilo

Thanks Txolo

CK