Iberia Business Class Review from Madrid to Lima on the A350
Join me on an unforgettable journey aboard Iberia’s Airbus A350-900 Business Class from Madrid (MAD) to Lima (LIM). In this detailed trip report, I cover every step of the experience:
- Check-in at Madrid-Barajas Airport
- Relaxing in the Velázquez Premium Lounge (Terminal 4S)
- A full tour of the 1–2–1 flatbed Business Class seat
- Gourmet in-flight dining and drinks
- Onboard entertainment system
- Stunning landing over the Andes mountains
If you’re planning a trip to South America or are curious about Iberia Business Class, this review will give you a clear picture of what to expect on this 12-hour flight.
Flight details:
- Flight number: IB125
- Date: July 11, 2024
- Departure: Madrid (MAD) – 13:00 local time
- Arrival: Lima (LIM) – 18:00 local time
- Duration: Approx. 12 hours
- Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
- Class: Business Class
- Frequent flyer program: Oneworld / Iberia Plus
From smooth check-in to premium lounge service, from comfortable lie-flat seats to a scenic approach into Lima, this trip report showcases one of Iberia’s flagship long-haul routes in style.
Madrid Airport
I arrived at Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) from Toulouse at around 10:40 AM, under the blazing Spanish summer sun. All Iberia and Oneworld flights from the Schengen area arrive at Terminal 4, one of the most modern airport terminals in Europe.
Passengers flying Business Class or holding at least Iberia Plus Silver status can check in at dedicated counters with shorter queues. In addition, I had access to fast-track security. I have to say – Madrid is truly one of the most beautiful airports in the world!
The transfer from Schengen to Non-Schengen was relatively smooth, but you should still expect it to take anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes. There’s an airport train between the terminals, and security checks can take time, especially around midday when traffic peaks.
Once past passport control, the terminal opens up with impressive architecture, soaring ceilings, and clear signage leading the way to Iberia’s premium lounges.
Iberia Velázquez Premium Lounge
As a Business Class passenger on Iberia, I had access to the Velázquez Premium Lounge in the Non-Schengen area of Terminal 4S. Uniquely located right in the middle of the duty-free store, this spacious and airy lounge offers panoramic runway views, plenty of seating, quiet zones, showers, and—surprisingly—one of the best food selections I’ve seen in any European lounge. In my opinion, it’s right up there with British Airways’ Galleries First Lounge in Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
For breakfast, I could choose from fresh pastries, Spanish cured hams, hot scrambled eggs, and a variety of cold cuts. The bar was already stocked with Spanish wines and cava for those who wanted a pre-flight drink. The Wi-Fi was fast, power outlets were easy to find, and I even had time to get some work done before boarding.
Boarding Iberia’s A350
It was finally time to head to the aircraft. Terminal 4S is long and rectangular, so allow a good 10–15 minutes’ walk from the lounge to your gate. The aircraft taking me 9,570 km to Lima was a special Airbus A350. In 2020, Iberia took over an order for two aircraft originally intended for Hainan Airlines. The interior and seats are still the Hainan design, but with the same configuration Iberia uses on its other A350s. This applies to aircraft registered EC-OAV and EC-OAX.
Boarding began well ahead of departure, with priority boarding for Business Class passengers. The cabin on Iberia’s A350 is bright, modern, and minimalist in design. Seats are arranged in a 1–2–1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access — a major advantage on long-haul flights.
The crew welcomed passengers with genuine Spanish warmth. A welcome drink was served — I opted for a glass of fresh orange juice — along with the menu and an amenity kit before pushback. The amenity kit included creams, an eye mask, toothpaste, toothbrush, and socks.
IBERIA BUSINESS CLASS SEAT AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Iberia A350 Business Class seat is a fully lie-flat bed with plenty of storage space, USB charging ports and power outlets within easy reach. Waiting at the seat were a pillow, duvet, and mattress pad, all of excellent quality. The seat itself is extremely comfortable, and in bed mode it’s both wide and long enough to fully stretch out and change sleeping positions.
For solo travelers seeking more privacy, the even-numbered window seats are ideal. If you’re traveling as a pair, the odd-numbered middle seats are best, as they’re positioned right next to each other. For the best view out of the window, even-numbered window seats are again the way to go. My personal favorite is seat 6A!
The in-flight entertainment system features a large, crisp screen with a solid selection of movies in both Spanish and English. The headphones provided are fine, but I prefer to use my own for better sound quality.
Food onboard
Shortly after takeoff, drinks were served along with cheese, olives, and nuts. The lunch menu featured several dishes with a distinct Spanish influence. I opted for a fresh prawn salad as a starter, followed by handmade pasta with mushrooms and parmesan. Every course was accompanied by delicious fresh bread and an outstanding olive oil. For dessert, I enjoyed a creamy caramel pudding with coffee. The meal was simply outstanding!
The crew were attentive, and the service had a smooth flow — never feeling rushed or overly drawn out.
Throughout the flight, a variety of baguette sandwiches, chips, and biscuits were available, along with a wide selection of drinks. A light evening meal was served about one hour before landing. For me, the portion was perfect, though some passengers might have found it a bit on the lighter side.
FLYING FROM MADRID TO LIMA
After a one-hour delay due to technical issues, we took off from runway 14R. From there, we headed towards Lisbon and then out over the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was smooth all the way to South America, where we encountered heavy clouds and light to moderate turbulence for the remainder of the journey. The views were breathtaking — from the endless stretches of the Amazon rainforest to a stunning sunset over the majestic Andes Mountains. As usual, Lima was shrouded in low clouds and fog as we began our approach over the Pacific Ocean.
Despite the delayed departure, we landed only a few minutes late at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) and taxied quickly to the gate. As a Business Class passenger, I was among the first to disembark. Passport control was surprisingly quick, though, as is often the case in South America, the baggage claim took a bit longer.
All in all, it was a smooth conclusion to a solid long-haul flight.
Summary – Is Iberia A350 Business Class worth it?
My experience flying Iberia Business Class from Madrid to Lima was overwhelmingly positive. The Velázquez Premium Lounge in Madrid is among the best in Europe for Oneworld passengers, the cabin is modern, the seat is comfortable, and the service was consistently warm and friendly.
If you can find a good fare, this is without a doubt one of the better ways to travel from Europe to South America, offering a true taste of Spanish hospitality along the way.
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