n77af

Hello,

I am wondering if any of you could answer a question I have about the Iberia Icon card I am considering getting. I note that it gives Silver / Plata status, but I am not sure if this means I will only need 1,150 Elite Points for Gold / Oro, or would I be starting from scratch?

The reason I am asking, is that I am about to restart some of my business travel, and as I will only being doing Madrid-London until US travel opens, I doubt I will get enough Tier Points to renew my BA Silver in the Summer, only Bronze. So it may be beneficial to Switch programs.

tobsw

ICON only gives you Plata. Nothing else, no flights segments or Puntos Elite.

You would need 2.250 PE or 50 flights to receive Oro.

flyinglan

In addition, your plata membership is only good for one year. If I remember correctly, you need to spend over 10k in order to renew your plata status from the second year.

alanw

Seriously the Icon has to be the worst airline card ever. Plata is pretty much meaningless, no lounge access, no upgrades, just a few extra Avios that you can earn. The worst part is that the card only earns one Avio per 2€ spent. If you want perks, get an Amex platinum card which gives you a lot more (a real Amex, not the fake Iberia Sendo Amex if those are still around), though it does have a cost associated.

tobsw

As an earning card, it's not great - although if you time your purchases with special ICON promotions... you will get 1 Avios per euro spent. Amex is the best earning card, as you get 1.2 Avios per euro spent, as long as you transfer your MR points whenever there's a 20% bonus. But not everyone accepts Amex in Spain.

On the other hand, although Plata does not give you lounge access, Plata does give you 1 free luggage piece, even on Basic Economy fares. If you travel with Ib and need checked-in luggage, it can be quite lucrative. Same if you travel to the US with AA - and in this case - even on Basic Economy tickets you receive a free upgrade to MCE during check-in (if available), as long as you book via BA/IB/AY (if you do via AA, your fare will be E which cannot be upgraded to MCE).

But the value of ICON are the recurrent offers, especially the 50% off on redemptions on IB, including business. Around 3 times per year (Feb, May & Oct/Nov). Another hidden promo, are the Paradores promo, which allows you to book Paradores from just 8.000 Avios points per night.

Plus 10% discount on fares (any class) booked and travel on Ib Group airlines.

Notwithstanding the fact the "flexibility" you have when renewing your card. Call and threat them you will leave: they will offer you something back.

craigthemif

A card in the US/UK/ etc. that offered a frequent 50% discount on J award tickets anywhere with reasonable award space (without being limited to spending miles earned only from the card) --> would rightly be the most popular credit card...

That said, some people care more about earning 50 points per $ or whatever because it sounds better, without realising that you need a million points for the flight / hotel stay.