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, and right now they have amazing business class award availability from several U.S. cities for four passengers for next fall.
Fall 2021 is likely to look a lot different, a lot more normal, than the world looks today. It’s as far out as you can book a ticket on most airlines. And the great thing about using miles in most programs is how flexible they are. Worst case scenario a usually modest fee. I haven’t made any international trips since the beginning of the year, but I’m booking plenty of them to lock in my options using miles.
This availability was flagged by Spencer Howard who has done a great job keeping up on frequent flyer award space as it becomes available while many people aren’t searching awards as much as we once were. Spencer runs a free email newsletter where he sends out award availability alerts, and this is a find he’s just flagged.
- Available between Chicago, Boston, New York JFK and Madrid
- Between September 13 and October 20, 2021
- Two business class seats available most dates, several dates have four
For these routes Iberia charges just 34,000 miles each way in business class.
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.
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 of course you can spend 57,500 American AAdvantage miles each way and connecting flights to the U.S. international gateway city, and connecting flights beyond Madrid to elsewhere in Europe, are included without additional miles.
This is a great opportunity to use American or Iberia miles (the latter transferred in from British Airways, from Amex or from Chase) to Europe next year with very good availability and low cost.
Not actually bookable, as I understand it…
Seems like Iberia permanently cut its planned IAD route
Same with SWISS
AA has had better web specials on routes to Europe under the standard 57,500 but it’s hit and miss. This is a great deal using Avios “if” it’s bookable and you can avoid the UK AP taxes.
I believe SWISS has temporarily grounded its long haul aircraft which is why no IAD flights. Same with Austrian I hear.
And I would not assume that next fall things will “look a lot more normal” – that will take years.
is there a way to check availability before depositing points into my Avios account?
The world will look different in the fall of 2021? I’d stick to taking pictures of your meals and business class seats. Leave pandemic predictions to the experts who have a hard enough time themselves.
Couple days ago I used AA miles to book 4 Bus Class tickets from LAX-LHR to travel September 2021. It was only 100,000 miles and $327 pp. This was a no-brainer and did not want to lose the opportunity. Pre-covid it was around 350,000 miles for ONE ticket in Biz.