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Iberia is offering 50% off redemptions booked by August 30 for travel September 1, 2020 through March 15, 2021. That’s a six and a half month period for travel, and creates an opportunity where we might just be able to travel again – and do so cheap, from just 17,000 miles each way between the U.S. and Europe.
Note that the promotion page says it’s available to accounts registered in Spain, but in fact the award discount seems to price out and book for anyone regardless of residence.
For Chicago and New York Iberia charges just 34,000 miles each way in business class. So 50% off is just 17,000 miles each way. And the great thing about Iberia is that when you use Iberia Avios to redeem for Iberia flights they charge fewer miles than British Airways or American does and they do not add the same substantial fuel surcharges as a BA redemption. Expect taxes from the U.S. to Europe to be about $70.
And I just posted about amazing Iberia business class award availability between Madrid and Chicago, Miami, and New York JFK. Often when Iberia discount awards availability is scarce, but that’s not the case here.
Spanish flag carrier Iberia is owned by British Airways parent company IAG. It’s a member of oneworld, and part of the same transatlantic joint venture as American Airlines. They have a nice business class product.
Chase and American Express points transfer directly to Iberia. British Airways points transfer to Iberia as well provided your Iberia account has been open 90 days or longer and has earned even one point. And the offer is a great illustration of just how far you can go with offers to earn 100,000 Avios after qualifying spend with the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, British Airways Visa Signature® Card, and Iberia Visa Signature® Card .
(HT: One Mile at a Time)
Promotion page has been updated to read “Exclusive promotion for Iberia Plus members residing in Spain and the USA.”
Hiya
Quick question – I just tried to look for availability but I do not have any points in my Avios account and I do not want to transfer them into Avios from Amex unless I know seats are available at the price I’m willing to pay.
Work around?
@Gary, I’m not questioning the great value this represents, but 9,000-pound gorilla in the room is Covid. Will travel be safe by March? Will the EU permit Americans to travel to Europe by then? And what happens to the Avios if one has to cancel due to Covid? (I have no doubt the ticket class is non-refundable, and I’ve already had to cancel two business class tickets for next month to MAD on IB. Their position is that it’s a non-refundable ticket and — unless my flight is canceled by the airline — I’m out the 34k Avios!)
We had award tickets on Iberia transiting Madrid in business class on Saturday. We were told at the airport that for non-Spain residents the ability to transit Madrid is decided on a day-to-day basis. And it was not allowed on Saturday’s flight. We were reaccommodated an AA/BA through LHR, but it nearly cost us our COVID test window. So, as ever, buyer beware in these COVID times.
Extremely unlikely that American tourists will be allowed into Spain at any point in the 6 month period of this promotion.
The amount of wishful thinking here (and on other travel blogs) is incredible.
Travel restrictions won’t ease until widespread vaccination has occurred – and there’s no way that’s done by the end of March.
@Bob – I disagree completely. While vaccination (or a positive antibody test) show some level of immunity the other option, which many countries are starting to adopt, is presentation of a negative COVID test within a specified period of time. Testing technology, like vaccine and treatment research, is advancing quickly. Just last week the FDA approved a cheek swab home test which shows a result in 10 minutes. It isn’t acceptable for places that require a negative test (typically nasal or blood test) but shows how quickly things are changing. Frankfurt airport has testing in the airport for inbound passengers and other airports do as well.
While you are correct that vaccinations would be widespread by March I guarantee (even Fauci says this) one or more will likely be approved by end of 2020 and the US has prepaid for 300 million doses. Yes it will take a while for people to get vaccinated but if you REALLY want to travel in March I fully believe you will be able to either by getting a vaccine, providing an antibody test (if you have been infected as over 50,000,000 Americans likely have based on the assumption the published number of 5.5-6 million positives is likely 10% of the total) or providing a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival (or getting it at the departure or arrival airport).
I have a trip to Germany in November that I admit is less than 50% (fully cancellation and award miles I can redeposit so no big deal) but my trip to Lisbon for late April is something I’m planning on.
IMHO you are being a little too pessimistic but we will all see I guess. BTW 30 years in Healthcare and have relatives who work at the CDC so feel I have a pretty good pipeline on how things are developing.
@Gary: Web site now says award valid on Spain or US.
What would happen if I got off the plane at LHR and just did not use the LHR->MAD flight? Would they cancel my return?
Thanks.
With COVID-19 resurging in Spain to March-April levels only those with a death wish would travel there.
Love the logic on this promo: fly from the worst Covid clusterf in the world to the other worst Covid clusterf in the world for half the points! This winter is going to be a total SHytshow with Covid and oh yeah, remember the travel ban on diseased American TRumptards? Lotsa luck. Pass.
It fascinates me the number of zombies on this site that have bought this scamdemic in full. It’s apparent they get all their information, i.e. marching orders, from the MSM. Of course, the “Thought Leader” is at the top of the heap.
I have a refundable cruise booked for late September 2021; if they extend the sale dates through October I would likely book it.