Flying from London to Madrid, I found myself on an Iberia-operated flight that turned out to be more confusing than luxurious. The ticket was originally sold by Finnair as part of a longer itinerary, and when I decided to upgrade the Iberia segment, things got messy. Finnair’s reservation system completely lost track of my London–Madrid flight. It took a small army of Finnair staff in Helsinki to piece together what happened, just to ensure my checked bag could make the journey. Ironically, the only airline that could see the full itinerary was Iberia itself—a curious glitch for two oneworld partners supposedly sharing data seamlessly.
Cabin and Seat
Once onboard the Airbus A350, my first impression of Iberia’s business class cabin was… dim. The overall color palette was a deep, almost oppressive navy blue, giving the cabin a moody and slightly depressing feel. The seats, while modern, lacked privacy. When reclined into bed mode, my legs had a direct access to the aisle — not ideal if you value uninterrupted rest. I could easily imagine people’s blankets and feet spilling into the walkway during the night on longer flights.
Storage space was another letdown. There wasn’t much room to stow personal items, which made the space feel cramped despite being in business class. The cabin crew, too, seemed only half-engaged — polite enough but more interested in chatting among themselves than offering proactive service.
Entertainment
On the brighter side, Iberia’s entertainment system was great. The large screen was crisp and responsive, offering a solid selection of movies and shows. The provided noise-cancelling headset worked well, effectively blocking out the hum of the A350’s engines and the occasional chatter from the galley.
Food and Drink
Meal service offered two options, both of which were top-notch by European standards. Iberia’s catering continues to impress, even on shorter routes. The highlight, though, was the drinks list — they serve a wide range of alcoholic beverages, including my personal favorite: Crema de Alba, a Spanish cream liqueur that outshines Bailey’s by far. Smooth, sweet and dangerously drinkable.
Final Thoughts
While Iberia’s business class on the A350 gets points for solid food and a strong entertainment system, the overall experience was marred by a dreary cabin, lack of privacy and indifferent crew. Add in the frustrating pre-flight chaos caused by Iberia’s upgrade system, and it’s safe to say the trip didn’t quite live up to “business class” expectations.
And as if that weren’t enough — they lost my bag. But that’s a story for another post…
