Iberia is adding new A350-900 aircraft, 16 of them, to replace its aging A330 and A340 longhaul fleet. Before these new A350s are added to the Madrid-NYC route, they'll fly some short London-Madrid and London-Paris Orly flights, so crews can familiarize themselves with the new aircraft.
What's different with the new A350s, specifically, new Iberia Business Class?
Iberia A350 New Business Class
Unlike the current A340-600, which have either 46 or 36 business class seats, the new Iberia A350s will have just 31 business class seats, although still in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration that provides direct aisle access for each seat.
The most coveted solo window seats will be those right by the window, with the armrest by the aisle, but not in the last row: 2A, 4A, 6A, 3L, 5L and 7L.
Couples traveling together will want to select 3E/3G, 5E/5G or 7E/7G, since those are right next to each other, with the armrest by the aisle.
The worst seats will be those that are right on the aisle, with the armrest by the window or in the center, for paired center seats, since they'll have less privacy from the aisle.
In terms of the seat itself, there aren't any revolutionary changes, although the design firm ostensibly focused on more privacy, greater personal storage, and being able to position a bottle on the cocktail table.
Iberia A350 New Business Class First Routes
The initial familiarization routes are:
July 20-August 3, 2018 Madrid – London
- IB3166 Departs MAD 3:55pm, Arrives LHR 5:20pm
July 27-August 3, 2018Madrid – Paris Orly and Paris Orly – Madrid
- IB3436 Departs MAD 8:50am, Arrives ORY 10:50am
- IB3435 Departs ORY 12:20pm, Arrives MAD 2:25pm
Starting August 4, 2018: Madrid – New York JFK
- IB6255 Departs MAD 10am, Arrives JFK 12:20pm
- IB6244 Departs JFK 9:30am, Arrives MAD 10:45pm
Booking Iberia: Book with Iberia Plus Avios
While both British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus charge 34,000 Avios one way for a business class award between Madrid and New York JFK, taxes are lower with Iberia Plus.
With British Airways, the Madrid MAD to New York JFK business class award would cost 34,000 Avios + $261.07:
While with Iberia Plus Avios, the same flight would be 34,000 Avios + $123.18, saving you over $137 per ticket:
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards earned from the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, Ink Cash (if you have the CSR or other Ultimate Rewards linked card) etc. to Iberia Plus, or you can transfer British Airways Avios to Iberia Plus using the British Airways Combine Avios page. Your account details, including address, must match in both account. Also note that you can only transfer Avios from Iberia if your Iberia account is at least 90 days old, and you've earned at least 1 Avios in your Iberia Plus account (a transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards or AMEX Membership Rewards will suffice).
Do you plan to fly Iberia's new A350 Business Class?
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