Happy Birthday Iberia

Back to Forum
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

  • Anonymous
    Guest

    75 years ago today, Iberia first took to the skies from Madrid to Valencia.

    Many Happy Returns!

    Notwithstanding stiff competition from the AVE.


    MrMichael
    Participant

    Indeed, but should it make 80?

    Good afternoon MrMichael

    Iberia stands a better chance of reaching 80 than I do!!


    MrMichael
    Participant

    Probably more so than me too Alexpo, I guess to be honest I am just Iberia bashing, fed up with the BA bashing on this forum. I honestly thought the whole IAG thing would have improved Iberia, get it up to BA standards, but seen no evidence of that thus far.

    I use Iberia a lot, have to, but my view is they are a struggling airline with poorly motivated staff and with passengers even less motivated.

    I guess given you wished them a Happy Birthday you use Iberia, how do you find them?


    ExecPlatAA
    Participant

    I flew Iberia Business from Venice to Madrid and then to ORD a couple weeks back and found them to be awesome!. The A330 business class is very good – the wine selection was simply superb. The flat bed is good – not as good as the new American 777-ER but better than BA. Could not fault the excellent service – it was during the wold cup and the flight attendant would come over every few minutes to give me the play update. Also, senior purser came and introduced himself and acknowledged one world Emerald status and shook hands with all passengers – very personalized service. Even the short hop from Venice to Madrid was decent. Will definitely fly Iberia business again.

    All things considered MrMichael, it’s strange I haven’t flown more with IB. Imo, it’s an airline where it pays to speak the lingo and be familiar with local ways. I can well imagine that some find the CC abrupt.

    I remember very well my first Iberia flight from LHR T2 to Seville via Santiago as an 18-year-old student…I think it was on a 727.

    Seems like yesterday and now I am thinking of retiring there in 5 years if things here continue in the same mode lol

    Thanks EmeraldAA for review…I have only ever flown at the back on IB!


    MrMichael
    Participant

    I fly them maybe six to eight times a year, sometimes business sometimes econ. Never long haul, usually LHR-MAD-LPA. I just find the whole thing rather spartan and cold. Never been seriously delayed, never had any real problems, it just does not strike me as a pleasant experience. Where possible I book the LHR- MAD-LHR sector on BA metal.

    Had a small problem once, one of the CC spilt hot coffee on my head, not entirely her fault, hit unexpected CAT as she was going by with the coffee pot. On arrival at MAD they had a nice new pressed shirt waiting for me ( my shirt was covered, my head a wee bit suntanned!). They dealt with it well, I held no grudge, it was just unlucky.

    I guess part of my problem is the difference in service between IB and BA, when it is a code share as well as the same company, the gulf seems huge to me.


    rjhcambs
    Participant

    Alexpo

    Thinking of retiring to Seville. Go for it! – we rented an appartment there for six months and we found the city great – plenty of interesting places around, mountains not too far away and very good value eating out – cheaper than most other Spanish cities.
    On the IB thread – as with others i much prefer BA when there is an alternative. Have not flown IB long haul but previous family experiences were dire although I may try when the new business seat is more widespread.
    On Y between LHR and MAD the window over wing exit seat has no seat immediately in front giving plenty of space and so is the on to go for. Where they use CRJs on the mainly domestic services I have found BA’s LCY E175/190’s much more comfortable and spacious.


    HedgeFundFlyer
    Participant

    Apologies for going slightly off piste but does anyone know if BA still plan to take over the remaining Iberia slots at LHR? They currently run eight MAD flights a day into and out of T5, in addition to BA’s five. I had heard all 13 were to be consolidated around a single BA only timetable of about 10 per weekday.

    OMG not Seville! I would quickly expire in the heat. I was thinking more of the coast between Algeciras and the Portuguese border, or the Canarias..but as my Spanish partner from Galicia considers these regions as foreign countries it will be tough. Madrid or Barcelona no thanks!

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls