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.
Here’s availability for not just two award seats – far more widespread – but for four passengers flying Boston – Madrid in business class in fall 2021.
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.
There’s also nice availability for four passengers or more in business class for fewer AAdvantage miles (50,000) connecting onto American’s New York JFK – Madrid flight,
And of course you can spend 57,500 American AAdvantage miles each way for the Iberia flights and then 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.
(HT: robb)
Love to fly Iberia (except for terminal 4C), have done IB J class NYC – MAD two times for a total of 49K, cashed in on their half price sale for this coming March for 34K RT in J which I hope will happen (covid). It is a great way to fly J class for the the same price as other airlines charge for Y, especially if Amex has a 40% transfer bonus. Granted their website is a mess, but as long as you can book a flight it’s a great way to go to Spain or Portugal, or just get into Europe cheap!!
West Coast – MAD direct or gtfo. Biz class to Europe is a waste if connecting on the East Coast
Good to know, but honestly for the same types of routes and product, I’d be more inclined to buy paid TAP J (and earn more valuable *A miles) than to redeem for IB. TP’s prices for J are just so low, and their new products are quite nice in my experience.
So if I don’t want to do the New York City to Boston positioning flight two step, can I use the Iberia site to book an American airlines flight New York City to Madrid for 34,000 miles? Alternatively, can I use the Iberia site to book American airlines business to Madrid for $50,000 Iberia miles (I’ve only got Iberia and British airways miles, not an AA member)
So if I don’t want to do the New York City to Boston positioning flight two step, can I use the Iberia site to book an American airlines flight New York City to Madrid for 34,000 miles? Alternatively, can I use the Iberia site to book American airlines business to Madrid for $50,000 Iberia miles (I’ve only got Iberia and British airways miles, not an AA member)
Also, if it’s only 34,000 miles each way, why does your screenshot of October 2021 show everything at 57.5k miles