Air Europa Business Class Review from Amsterdam to Madrid on the 787-9
Flying within Europe on a long-haul aircraft always feels like a special treat, and Air Europa is one of the few airlines that regularly deploys its Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the busy Amsterdam–Madrid route. On this short hop, I had the chance to experience what Air Europa’s Business Class is like on their flagship aircraft — usually used for flights to Latin America.
In this trip report, I’ll take you through the full experience from Amsterdam to Madrid, including:
- Schiphol Airport & lounge access
- Boarding the 787 Dreamliner at AMS
- A look at the Business Class seat & cabin layout
- In-flight service and dining on a short European sector
- Flight experience and arrival in Madrid
If you’re curious about Air Europa Business Class, or want to see what flying a Dreamliner within Europe is like, this review will give you the full picture.
Flight details:
- Flight number: UX1094
- Date: January 8, 2025
- Route: Amsterdam (AMS) – Madrid (MAD)
- Departure: 11:00 local time
- Arrival: 13:40 local time
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
- Class: Business Class
- Seat: 5K
- Frequent flyer program: SkyTeam / Air Europa SUMA
Amsterdam Airport (AMS)
I arrived early morning at Amsterdam Schiphol on a connecting flight from Kristiansand, Norway, which meant I didn’t have to go through security again. This saved a lot of time, as Schiphol can be notorious for long queues at security and passport control during busy hours.
Instead, I went straight from B gates towards D and E gates, where Air Europa flies from. The airport offers plenty of shopping and dining options, but it’s not the most relaxing hub in Europe. With constant announcements and large crowds, Schiphol can feel hectic — though it remains one of the most efficient airports when everything runs smoothly. Depending on where your aircraft departs from, you can easily spend 20–30 minutes walking through the terminal.
As I had a couple of hourse to kill, I went to relax at KLM’s Crown Lounge!
KLM Crown Lounge
With my Business Class ticket on Air Europa, I had access to the KLM Crown Lounge 25 in the Schengen area at Amsterdam Schiphol. While this is one of the largest lounges at AMS, it was ultimately a bit of a let-down.
The lounge has no natural light and no outside views, which makes it feel more enclosed compared to other lounges at Schiphol. On the positive side, it does feature quiet zones for working, shower facilities, and a variety of seating areas where you can relax before your flight.
The food and drinks selection was decent: cold cuts, salads, soups, bread, a few hot dishes, and a full bar with beer, wine, and spirits. Coffee machines and soft drinks were widely available, but the overall catering felt fairly standard and not particularly memorable.
While functional and spacious, this lounge is more about convenience than atmosphere. It’s a comfortable enough stop before boarding, but definitely not a highlight of the journey.
Boarding Air Europa’s 787
Leaving the KLM Crown Lounge meant a long 15–20 minute walk through Schiphol’s never-ending corridors. Even with moving walkways, AMS feels like a maze, and it’s smart to leave the lounge well before boarding time. By the time I reached the gate, the Air Europa 787-9 Dreamliner stood out among the sea of KLM narrowbodies — a real treat for a short hop to Madrid.
Boarding was well-organized, with priority lanes for Business Class and SkyTeam Elite passengers. Once onboard, I stepped into the Business Class cabin, which on today’s aircraft featured the older 2–2–2 configuration. While this setup doesn’t provide direct aisle access for every passenger, the cabin still felt spacious and modern, thanks to the Dreamliner’s signature large dimmable windows and mood lighting. Several of Air Europa’s 787-9s have the new business class cabin with 1-2-1 configuration, but not all.
The crew offered a warm welcome along with a choice of water or juice as a pre-departure drink, setting a pleasant tone for the flight. Settling into seat 5K, I could immediately appreciate the generous legroom and comfort — a huge step up from typical European Business Class seating.
Air Europa 787-9 Business Class Seat & Entertainment
The Air Europa Business Class seat on this 787-9 is a mixed bag. For a short 2.5-hour flight from Amsterdam to Madrid, it felt like pure luxury — a full flatbed seat for such a short hop is far beyond what most European airlines offer on intra-Europe flights.
However, once you settle in, the drawbacks become clear. The seat is quite hard and relatively narrow, which makes it less than ideal for sleeping. On a long overnight flight, I imagine it would be difficult to get proper rest, especially compared to competitors like Iberia or Air France, which offer wider and softer 1-2-1 seating.
That said, the Dreamliner cabin does have its perks:
- Large dimmable windows create a bright, airy atmosphere during the day and a calm mood at night.
- Personal entertainment screens were available at each seat, with a selection of movies, series, and music in both Spanish and English. For a short hop, I only browsed, but the system seemed functional and easy to use.
- Power outlets and USB ports were provided at every seat, making it easy to stay charged.
In short: the seat is perfectly fine for short flights like this, but on a long-haul sector, it falls behind the competition and highlights why Air Europa’s newer 1-2-1 cabins will be a big improvement once fully rolled out.
Food onboard
Shortly after takeoff, the crew came around with menus — which at first looked promising. However, despite being presented with a menu, there was actually only one meal option on today’s flight: angulas (baby eel) served with salad, bread, and dessert.
While this dish might appeal to those familiar with Spanish delicacies, for most travelers it’s a very unusual and divisive choice. Personally, I found it unappetizing — not the kind of universally appealing meal you’d expect for Business Class, especially on a flagship aircraft like the 787.
On the positive side, the crew was warm, polite, and attentive throughout the flight. They came by multiple times to offer drinks and check if passengers needed anything. Their professionalism and friendliness helped soften the disappointment of the catering.
In short: while the service quality was excellent, the meal choice was extremely niche and felt out of place for an international route where a more neutral option would have been better.
Flying from Amsterdam to Madrid
After pushback, we faced a long taxi all the way to the Polderbaan (Runway 18R) — Schiphol’s most distant runway, often nicknamed the “runway in another postal code.” From there, we made a right turn after takeoff, offering fantastic views of Amsterdam and its surrounding canals as we climbed southward.
The flight path took us over Belgium and France, before crossing the Pyrenees mountains, where clouds covered the otherwise stunning scenery. Weather over the Iberian Peninsula was unstable and the approach was a bit bumpy.
We arrived in Madrid ahead of schedule, touching down on Runway 18L under bright Spanish skies. A short taxi brought us to Terminal 2, Air Europa’s base, and we were quickly on stand.
Final Verdict – Air Europa 787 Business Class (Amsterdam → Madrid)
This flight showed the unique perk of flying Air Europa: getting a Dreamliner widebody experience on a short European route. At just a couple of hours in the air, having a lie-flat Business Class seat felt like a real luxury compared to the usual narrow-body Eurobusiness setup.
That said, the older 2–2–2 configuration is showing its age. While perfectly fine for a short hop, the hard and narrow seat would make sleeping on a long-haul flight almost impossible. Catering was also a major letdown — being served angulas (baby eels) as the only option won’t suit most travelers and felt out of place for an international premium cabin.
On the plus side, the crew was attentive, the cabin clean, and the Dreamliner’s big windows and modern lighting always add to the experience. We landed ahead of schedule in Madrid despite the long taxi out at Schiphol, making for a smooth end to the journey.
At $300 for the ticket, this wasn’t the cheapest Business Class option within Europe, but it felt fair for the chance to enjoy a widebody Dreamliner with lie-flat seats on such a short sector.
Overall, Air Europa’s 787 Business Class on this route felt like a fun aviation experience more than a premium necessity. If you snag a cheap fare or upgrade, it’s worth it for the novelty of flying a Dreamliner on a short sector. But for long-haul, unless Air Europa rolls out its newer 1–2–1 cabins, there are better options in SkyTeam.
