Find cheap Iberia flights

Iberia is Spain’s flagship airline and part of the IAG Group of airlines. That includes its regional carrier, Air Nostrum and its low-cost airline, Iberia Express. Iberia is also a oneworld alliance member, partnering with American Airlines, Qantas and others. The airline serves over 130 destinations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and Latin America.

Iberia serves long-haul international routes with Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft. It operates A320-family planes on medium- and short-haul routes, as does Iberia Express. Regional flights operated by Air Nostrum fly ATR 72-600 turboprops, CRJ-200 and CRJ-1000 jets.

I’ve always felt at home flying with Iberia, which indeed is because it’s my national airline, and they fly the flag in service, offering a taste of home. It was the airline on which I took my very first flight, and have since enjoyed many other happy journeys. Having flown on a number of airlines worldwide, I’ll acknowledge that some others offer far more pampering and luxury. Speaking objectively, Iberia is on par with the US majors and its European competition. The airline is reliable, one of the world’s most punctual, and offers a good flying experience.

Let’s explore what you’ll find onboard.

Classes & services

Iberia offers two classes of service on some of its widebody planes and three classes of service on others. You’ll find two different classes of service on the airline’s narrowbody jets.

Iberia Business class – long-haul flights

Iberia’s business class is ideal for those who need a restful flight on long journeys.

Iberia’s Business class offers roomy seating with all-aisle access, regardless of the aircraft type. The airline’s best business product is the new private suite on the latest A350-900 with a door, but the business seat on the airline’s other aircraft is also very comfortable.

With universal 110V AC and USB-A sockets, you’ll have no trouble keeping your devices powered in flight. That is especially useful as the airline offers Wi-Fi, and you may want to stay connected.

Iberia’s business class offers comfortable bedding and an amenity kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, hand cream, eye mask, socks, and earplugs.

Business Class in-flight dining on Iberia long-haul flights

One of the highlights of flying with Iberia is its quality in-flight dining, which showcases the full flavours of Spanish cuisine. The airline serves two meals during the flight: breakfast and lunch or dinner, along with a variety of beverages and snacks. You can even preview the dishes available on your flight online, adding a touch of excitement to your journey.

Long-haul Business class in-flight entertainment on Iberia

You can enjoy a wide range of in-flight entertainment options on Iberia. The airline offers a 15.4” touch screen on the airline’s A330-200s and A300s and an 18.5” screen on the A350-900s. The content catalogue is varied, including a wide selection of movies, new releases, programmes, music, and games. Iberia also offers noise-cancelling headphones. For those who prefer to use their own headphones, you can pair your Bluetooth headphones with the IFE system on the newest A350 cabins.

Iberia Business class in medium- and short-haul flights

Iberia’s narrowbody planes have a 3-3 cabin configuration with a Euro-business (centre seat blocked) cabin in the first six rows, offering more legroom. Other short- and medium-haul benefits include in-flight meals, lounge access, fast-track security lane access, priority check-in, boarding and baggage delivery.

Iberia Premium Economy

The airline has a separate Premium Economy cabin on Airbus A330-300 and A350-900 planes, though there is a two-class version of the A350 with no premium economy cabin.

I’ve found Premium Economy to be an excellent option for most long-haul routes where I don’t necessarily need to sleep on a lay-flat bed. With a wider seat, adjustable headrest, and footrest, it’s easy to doze on recline. Iberia’s Premium Economy cabin is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration, and the seats are set 94 cm apart. They are also a roomy 47 cm wide and have AC adapters and USB power outlets. As someone who works through many flights, I value this feature.

Iberia has a dedicated menu for Premium Economy in-flight dining, which you can preview before your flight online. You will also receive an amenity kit with socks, an eye mask, ear plugs and dental care essentials.

I do find one downside, though. Unlike other airlines, Iberia doesn’t offer many other perks with the Premium Economy ticket. If you want lounge access, dedicated check-in, fast-track security and priority baggage delivery, you must fly business class or be an elite tier Iberia Plus loyalty member. On the bright side, you do get group two boarding as a Premium Economy passenger.

Iberia Economy cabins on long-haul flights

On Iberia’s A330 planes, you’ll find economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, with the last four or five rows in a 2-3-2. Be aware that there are no windows on row 22. Seats are 46 cm wide and set 79 cm apart. The inflight-entertainment touchscreen is 9" across. The A350s feature a 3-3-3 cabin configuration, and the seats are a bit narrower at 43 cm. Rows 38 and 54 are 2-3-2, with the twins separated from the cabin wall. There are no window seats on these rows, but there is an exit door with a window nearby.

I’ve found that the A350 aircraft has the advantage of being more comfortable in economy, mainly due to its larger windows and environment. If you’ve flown on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the A350 will feel familiar. They have many cabin enhancements in common, with reduced altitude effects, better lighting and an improved cabin climate. After flying the A350 in economy on long flights, I’ve felt better after landing than other planes.

Iberia Economy cabins on short- and mid-haul flights

There are USB power outlets throughout the cabin, including in economy class and Wi-Fi connections onboard. Because of the category of aircraft they fly, Iberia’s Air Nostrum flights have seats in a 2-2 configuration and business class is at the back of the plane on the ATRs, close to the entrance.

Spain is very well connected by rail, including high-speed rail service between major cities, but sometimes the most efficient way to get where you’re going is to fly. Iberia and Iberia Express offer convenient flights to the country’s many airports and further to popular European, North African and Middle Eastern destinations.

Economy in-flight dining

One convenient service when flying economy on Iberia’s flights under four hours is that you can pre-order snacks, beverages, and meals ahead of your flight through the airline’s Gastrobar online or through the Iberia app, and they’ll be delivered to you in-flight. The airline serves a meal on flights over four and a half hours.

Iberia serves two meals on long-haul flights: breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.

Wi-Fi availability

The airline offers Wi-Fi on most of its network, with global coverage. However, the connection quality varies depending on which of the airline’s three service networks your flight connects to. For basic messaging and checking email, you shouldn’t have any trouble.

Some services may take longer to browse, download, and upload files, and streaming may be smoother on some flights than others. As the plane moves through zones where it switches satellites, you could experience a momentary lack of service or lower connection speed.

While it’s not all free, like some airlines offer, I find the Iberia’s connection fees are not outrageous. You can choose from different tiers depending on how much connectivity you need, anywhere from an hour to the entire duration of your flight.

I occasionally use full Wi-Fi for work, but mostly like being connected to family by messaging. In business class, Iberia offers free messaging service. It’s also free for the airline’s Iberia Plus loyalty programme members, no matter what class you fly. Any passenger can sign up for Iberia Plus for free before the flight and take advantage of that service.

Iberia lounges

Iberia only has three branded lounges, and two are in Madrid. The third is in Buenos Aires. The Iberia terminals are located in Terminals 4 and 4S at Madrid Barajas Airport, which are interconnected by an underground people mover. Domestic flights and flights within the EU Schengen-zone operate out of Terminal 4, which houses the Dalí Premium Lounge. International flights operate out of 4S, which has the Premium Lounge Velázquez.

Neither lounge is lavish, but extremely well-appointed with lots of light and comfort. I’d say it is more like hanging out at home than at the Ritz. It's easy to find a cosy spot to settle in. Shower facilities are available in both lounges, which is helpful if you've just arrived from an international flight and need to freshen up before your connecting flight. The Dalí lounge offers a buffet. At the Velázquez lounge you’ll find both a buffet and a sit-down restaurant with a la carte menu.

Besides its lounges, Iberia’s extensive oneworld partnership grants business passengers and elite loyalty programme members access to nearly 650 VIP lounges, including American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Qantas.