Discovering Iberia

Hola, Iberia! I recently discovered an airline I never tried before: Iberia. The Spanish flag carrier, part of the oneworld® alliance, flew me from Brussels to Quito and back, via Madrid. I would usually choose British Airways or one of my other favorite carriers, but for my visit to Spanish-speaking Ecuador, a Spanish carrier seemed like a good choice. I was right!

Spanish Hospitality

I bought a full-fare business class ticket since it was a birthday trip, and it’s a LONG flight. It was a bit tough on the budget, but the service alone was worth it. (Next time, I think I’ll use Avios points!)

The Iberia cabin crew was friendly, accommodating and seriously multilingual! That’s one thing I really love about Europe! Nearly everyone I know is multilingual.

An Iberia business class ticket offers perks like upgraded meals and beverages, full-bed seats, priority check-in, boarding, and security/customs access, as well as business lounge access where you can enjoy beverages, snacks and comfortable seating areas.

Tasty Travel

I usually think of airline food as an oxymoron, but Iberia proved me wrong. Even the Brussels to Madrid sector had good food choices like asparagus with smoked salmon starters. Meals had a distinctive Spanish flair with high-quality, seasonal products. How does this sound: grilled chicken breast with Tudela lettuce hears in a Caesar sauce with crispy Serrano ham and Manchego cheese? Or try ratatouille tartar in a goat cheese cream with black olive tapenade, seasoned with parsley oil. And those are just the starters!

Main course choices included: Grilled beef tenderloin in a green pepper sauce, accompanied with roasted potatoes and sautéed green beans; grilled hake served with homemade mashed potatoes, piquillo pepper sauce, sautéed celeriac and green peas; or handmade cappellacci pasta filled with mushrooms in a panna sauce with sundried tomato and Parmesan cheese.

For dessert, there was homemade pavlova with seasonal fruit coulis; chocolate ice cream with raspberries and chocolate flakes; or a selection of Spanish cheese served with quince and grapes.

Speaking of Grapes

World-class wine choices abound on Iberia. On my flight, white wine offerings included Rolland Galarreta Rueda 2019 and Ultreia Godello 2022. There were also some lovely, like the organic Eldoze 2016 Syrah, Angeles de Amaren 2018 (85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano), and Tierras de Cair 2018, a Tempranillo from  one of the highest areas of Ribera del Duero: La Aguilera.

In addition to the Spanish wines, there are four types of coffee, sparkling wines and a nice selection of teas and high-end alcoholic beverages.

Please Be Seated

Let’s face it; for most people the biggest part of the airline experience is the seat. Being cramped in a middle seat for a 10- or 12-hour journey is not my idea of fun. The more comfortable the seat, the better.

Iberia’s gray-leather business class seats were certainly comfy. I enjoyed the 6.56-foot bed (200 cm) flat bed, cozy pillow, comforter and ample storage room. My overseas flight was especially cozy, and its 1-2-1 seat configuration provided a bit of privacy with my window seat. 

To pass the hours away, there is a large entertainment screen with a good selection of films and tv programs and noise-canceling headphones. The flight amenity kit included earplugs; a collapsible hairbrush; a toothbrush with cover; socks; a mask; fluoride toothpaste; luxurious Germaine de Capuccini lip balm, hand cream and water spritzer, all tucked into a zipped, canvas bag with a brightly colored interior.  

What Could Be Better?

I don’t really have complaints, but on my flight from Brussels to Madrid, where I connected to my overseas flight to Quito, the leather armrests were quite worn, and the area between my seat and the window needed some deep cleaning. Can you say dust? I’ll spare you the photo.

But the flight was fast, on time, and comfortable with a rocking cabin crew and great food and wines. Discovering Iberia was a positive experience. I’ll definitely be taking to the skies with the airline again.