Pictorial Lounge Review: MAD Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez
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Pictorial Lounge Review: MAD Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez
Pictorial Lounge Review: MAD Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez
Index to Genius1 Trip Reports
Earlier this month I visited the newly refurbished Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez at Madrid Terminal 4S. This is one of two Iberia departure lounges at MAD, the other (the Dali VIP Lounge) being located in the T4 main building serving mainly Schengen destination flights. If you’re departing MAD on a BA operated flight, you’ll fly from T4S and can use the lounge that is the subject of this review.
I’ve visited this lounge several times before and have always appreciated the oodles of natural light flooding the long space from the floor to ceiling windows on three sides. This, and the accompanying apron and runway view, hasn’t changed in the recent (November 2017) refurbishment, but pretty much everything else has – and not all for the better. For some images of the lounge in its previous guise, see my 2016 report here.
The lounge is located at departure gate level, with the entrance partially hidden in the middle of the duty free store. The dual entrance has been reduced to a single set of automatic sliding doors in the refurbishment, with a new reception desk beyond. The reception is situated almost directly in the middle of the lounge and houses a magazine/newspaper stand within its back; the selection is extremely limited with no mainstream magazines to speak of. According to the Iberia website, digital newspapers and magazines are available via the lounge wifi, but I didn’t realise this at the time and there is no obvious signage to indicate this in the lounge.
Seating areas throughout the lounge, principally along the windows, are arranged in groups of two or four armchairs, all in shades of grey and red, the lounge’s signature colour scheme. Despite their less than attractive looks, these chairs are comfortable; it’s nice to be able to rotate them to a customisable position to gain more privacy (or open up to your neighbour) if required. Almost all seating areas feature both power and USB ports and individual reading lamps, although the console tables between the seats feel a bit plasticy.
Turning right from reception is a play area (with its own coffee station, a useful feature for parents), followed by shower suites and a small number of curtained rest areas.
Beyond is one of the two buffet areas, with both hot and cold counters and a large coffee station. A reasonable selection of salad, sandwiches and cold cuts on one side was mirrored with a decent selection of hot dishes including paella. Because only limited quantities were on display at any one time, the buffets often seemed depleted and were less than well tended to. Happily, both the quality and taste of the hot dishes was more than acceptable, and certainly a cut above BA’s LHR offering. The previous hard floors of the lounge have been replaced (probably simply overlaid) with carpet tiles – including the buffet areas. This is a very odd choice for such a highly trafficked and accident-prone area; time will tell whether this was a wise design concept by Iberia. Incidentally, the original tiled floor can still be seen in the upstands below the windows.
The coffee station included pastries, bread, fruit, biscuits and just one type of cake which I considered a little stingy.
At the far end of this side of the lounge, a tended wine bar occupies the space of the former waiter service dining area (which has relocated to the opposite end of the lounge). This is one of the more attractive spaces in a lounge that is otherwise rather bland in terms of décor. Cava is available in mini bottles here.
Moving over to the opposite side of the lounge, to the left of reception is a TV area (with its own coffee station), followed by a small work space for those with their own laptops. The washrooms are here too.
Beyond is an identical dual buffet set-up to the opposite end of the lounge, with matching coffee station. One of my favourite features of the Iberia catering is the inclusion of chocolate milk drinks, plus mineral water available in takeaway size bottles (useful for those forays into Euro Traveller where buy on board service now sadly reigns).
The far end of the lounge is set up with ugly black armchairs in rows down to a small coffee and drinks station adjacent to the entrance to the waiter service dining area/restaurant. The restaurant is open only for the late night longhaul Iberia departures; I believe access is limited to those travelling in J on these flights.
The Velázquez lounge remains one of my favourites in Europe. It’s bright and spacious, with good views and decent catering (when the staff can be bothered to keep the buffets replenished and tables cleared). I remain to be convinced on the recent refurbishment; carpet tiles never appeal to me in dining areas, and some of the finishes are distinctly low in quality. The overall effect is pleasing enough on the eye, however, in what is an ultimately practical space to pass a few hours before your flight.
Index to Genius1 Trip Reports
Earlier this month I visited the newly refurbished Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez at Madrid Terminal 4S. This is one of two Iberia departure lounges at MAD, the other (the Dali VIP Lounge) being located in the T4 main building serving mainly Schengen destination flights. If you’re departing MAD on a BA operated flight, you’ll fly from T4S and can use the lounge that is the subject of this review.
I’ve visited this lounge several times before and have always appreciated the oodles of natural light flooding the long space from the floor to ceiling windows on three sides. This, and the accompanying apron and runway view, hasn’t changed in the recent (November 2017) refurbishment, but pretty much everything else has – and not all for the better. For some images of the lounge in its previous guise, see my 2016 report here.
The lounge is located at departure gate level, with the entrance partially hidden in the middle of the duty free store. The dual entrance has been reduced to a single set of automatic sliding doors in the refurbishment, with a new reception desk beyond. The reception is situated almost directly in the middle of the lounge and houses a magazine/newspaper stand within its back; the selection is extremely limited with no mainstream magazines to speak of. According to the Iberia website, digital newspapers and magazines are available via the lounge wifi, but I didn’t realise this at the time and there is no obvious signage to indicate this in the lounge.
Seating areas throughout the lounge, principally along the windows, are arranged in groups of two or four armchairs, all in shades of grey and red, the lounge’s signature colour scheme. Despite their less than attractive looks, these chairs are comfortable; it’s nice to be able to rotate them to a customisable position to gain more privacy (or open up to your neighbour) if required. Almost all seating areas feature both power and USB ports and individual reading lamps, although the console tables between the seats feel a bit plasticy.
Turning right from reception is a play area (with its own coffee station, a useful feature for parents), followed by shower suites and a small number of curtained rest areas.
Beyond is one of the two buffet areas, with both hot and cold counters and a large coffee station. A reasonable selection of salad, sandwiches and cold cuts on one side was mirrored with a decent selection of hot dishes including paella. Because only limited quantities were on display at any one time, the buffets often seemed depleted and were less than well tended to. Happily, both the quality and taste of the hot dishes was more than acceptable, and certainly a cut above BA’s LHR offering. The previous hard floors of the lounge have been replaced (probably simply overlaid) with carpet tiles – including the buffet areas. This is a very odd choice for such a highly trafficked and accident-prone area; time will tell whether this was a wise design concept by Iberia. Incidentally, the original tiled floor can still be seen in the upstands below the windows.
The coffee station included pastries, bread, fruit, biscuits and just one type of cake which I considered a little stingy.
At the far end of this side of the lounge, a tended wine bar occupies the space of the former waiter service dining area (which has relocated to the opposite end of the lounge). This is one of the more attractive spaces in a lounge that is otherwise rather bland in terms of décor. Cava is available in mini bottles here.
Moving over to the opposite side of the lounge, to the left of reception is a TV area (with its own coffee station), followed by a small work space for those with their own laptops. The washrooms are here too.
Beyond is an identical dual buffet set-up to the opposite end of the lounge, with matching coffee station. One of my favourite features of the Iberia catering is the inclusion of chocolate milk drinks, plus mineral water available in takeaway size bottles (useful for those forays into Euro Traveller where buy on board service now sadly reigns).
The far end of the lounge is set up with ugly black armchairs in rows down to a small coffee and drinks station adjacent to the entrance to the waiter service dining area/restaurant. The restaurant is open only for the late night longhaul Iberia departures; I believe access is limited to those travelling in J on these flights.
The Velázquez lounge remains one of my favourites in Europe. It’s bright and spacious, with good views and decent catering (when the staff can be bothered to keep the buffets replenished and tables cleared). I remain to be convinced on the recent refurbishment; carpet tiles never appeal to me in dining areas, and some of the finishes are distinctly low in quality. The overall effect is pleasing enough on the eye, however, in what is an ultimately practical space to pass a few hours before your flight.
Last edited by Genius1; Jul 14, 2018 at 9:52 am
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Thanks for the comments!
I didn't notice it! Where is it located?
Thanks, I didn't pop into the showers, so those photos are very useful. The showers look great.
I walked into the quiet area, but all of the rooms (c.5 from memory) were occupied so no photos. There's a day bed and table in each one, with a curtain for privacy from the corridor. The lights turn on with movement and off automatically after a short period.
I didn't notice it! Where is it located?
I walked into the quiet area, but all of the rooms (c.5 from memory) were occupied so no photos. There's a day bed and table in each one, with a curtain for privacy from the corridor. The lights turn on with movement and off automatically after a short period.
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We were in the lounge recently and definitely had ice cream - from the smaller buffet area which is to the right when entering.
The shower was fine - you book at reception and get a code to access a specific shower suite - except that there was no body wash in the dispenser inside the cubicle. Unfortunately I only noticed once I was wet and had to go and get the bottles from the basin.
The signage is a bit poor as we followed the rather tempting sign near the entrance for the dining area but it is only when you get tp the far end that you find it is closed until late evening (as mentioned above).
There are coded luggage lockers, with integral power sockets, near the reception area.
The shower was fine - you book at reception and get a code to access a specific shower suite - except that there was no body wash in the dispenser inside the cubicle. Unfortunately I only noticed once I was wet and had to go and get the bottles from the basin.
The signage is a bit poor as we followed the rather tempting sign near the entrance for the dining area but it is only when you get tp the far end that you find it is closed until late evening (as mentioned above).
There are coded luggage lockers, with integral power sockets, near the reception area.
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I think the bit about the dining room not being open till late evening is just poorly translated - well, I can't think of a better translation but it doesn't get the message across. Cenar in Spanish is to have dinner, whereas dine is used for all meals of the day.
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I've added some images of and thoughts on the shower suites in my report here: The End of the A340-600: Iberia Business to the Holy Land