Flight 6827 from Madrid to Sao Paulo

At the airport

Because Iberia operates a large number of flights from Terminal 4 in MAD and there were rows and rows of check-in desks, it was difficult to get a check-in position for priority customers. Unlike most airports I fly to, the check-in desks do not face the terminal entrance, but are separated into rows that face inward. Upon meeting the first Iberia employee, I asked where the advance check-in was and was pointed in the right direction.

Photo: Lukas Souza Easy flight

Only 12 minutes passed between my arrival and the time I dropped off my bag and completed the check-in process. By 20:21, my bag was on the conveyor belt and on its way to be loaded onto the plane for the 10:30 flight back to Brazil. In addition, all necessary documents for the trip are verified.

Going through security at the airport was also a breeze and only took ten minutes. At 20:23 I got through the security check and at 20:33 I was on my way to the satellite terminal where the Iberia flight to Sao Paulo would take off. Since I am a member of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check Program in the United States and have CLEAR, going through security is always easy for me. I see no indication that similar programs are offered to European residents in Spain.

After exiting security, I followed the signs to T4s, the satellite terminal. Airport signage was clear and easy to follow. The signs indicated that the journey from the main T4 area to the satellite terminal would take 22 minutes, but it didn’t take that long. The train arrived at T4 at 20:45 although I did not check the exact time of arrival and when I boarded the train.

After getting off the train, all passengers went through Spanish passport control, which took me only two minutes. I received an exit stamp in my passport and at that point, I was more than ready to sit down and lounge and dine. Getting to the lounge took another six minutes, and at 20:53, I arrived at Iberia Premium Lounge Velazquez.

Photo: Lukas Souza Easy flight

The lounge was pretty empty when I arrived, but when I left, it was full just in time for closing time. The food options were great and I was able to eat a good meal before heading to my door.

My flight started boarding as scheduled but I was not at the gate. As soon as boarding started I left the lounge and made a quick pit stop at the duty free shop, a first for me. My flight to GRU took off from gate 45, which is farthest from the central terminal area, and it seemed to take forever to get to the gate.

At the gate, the boarding process was smooth as I was a priority passenger and could pass through a dedicated line. After boarding, even when I got to the gate, the jetbridge was full of passengers, and it took me a while to step off the plane.

on board

Just at the end of the jet bridge, the flight’s lead flight attendant, Martha, asked the passengers their seat numbers and directed them to find their seats. When I told Martha my seat number, she called me by name and said she would wait for me. She welcomed me on board, and at 20:53, two minutes before the scheduled departure time, I boarded the plane. A few minutes later, an announcement was made that the boarding area was closed and that we would soon be on our way.

Photo: Lukas Souza Easy flight

I quickly found my seat, placed my bag in the relatively small overhead bins, and was offered a drink. The choices were champagne, orange juice or water and I chose orange juice. Soon the plane backed out of the gate and at 00:11 our flight took off from Madrid.

Photo: Lukas Souza Easy flight

The crew passed the airline’s special Christmas menu before take off and asked us what we wanted as a main course at 00:37. I choose Canned and grilled seafood with lemon and dill (Baked Sea Creme with Lemon). Five minutes later we were given hot towels to clean our hands in preparation for the food service.

Photo: Lukas Souza

I didn’t mark the exact time the appetizer and main course was served, but the staff was prompt, and I was very pleased with my selections. For my food, I chose it Grilled vegetable salad on paprika yogurt cream (Roasted garden salad served on a bed of Spanish smoked paprika yogurt), and my main course of grilled seafood was served soon after.

When dessert was served at 01:35, I chose the lemon tart and was served passion fruit ice cream with fresh mango.

The flight was an overnight flight so I needed to get some sleep. After finishing the dessert, I hurried to the bathroom to get ready for “bed” in Iberia’s business class. Iberia provides blankets, pillows and mattress pads for all passengers in business class. By 02:00, my bed is made, and I’m ready to get as much sleep as possible before getting up for the next meal service.

At 09:23, I woke up, and the food service had started. The staff walked past my seat and disrespectfully woke me up. Because they didn’t ask me to wake up for breakfast. We were given a choice. French omelette with cherry tomato ragout and crispy bacon (Omelet with cherry tomato ragout and crispy bacon) or Choice of Spanish Sausage (Spanish cold selection); I chose the omelette served with a croissant and drink of choice.

Photo: Lukas Souza Easy flight

Just after breakfast, the captain told the crew to prepare for landing and we were on the ground in Sao Paulo at 06:48, 17 minutes ahead of schedule.

Overview

The trip to Madrid was my first time flying Iberia, and overall I had a great experience. The flight home from Spain was unsuccessful. Every team member I spoke to was friendly and very attentive to my questions; The food was very good for airplane food, and the seat was comfortable and provided everything I needed.

I only have a few points of criticism, the first of which I noticed the moment I boarded the first flight from GRU to MAD. Business Class customers on Iberia’s A330s are offered no privacy. In contrast, other airlines, although they don’t have doors on every seat, have some walls that provide some privacy. The new A350 cabin yesterday features doors on each seat and dividers in the center section of the plane for two business class seats.

Photo: Lukas Souza Easy flight

Also, there were no Portuguese speaking crew members. Few knew enough words in Portuguese, as the language is similar to Spanish, but when I was on a flight to Brazil, I expected at least one Portuguese-speaking cabin crew. Most of Iberia’s automated announcements were made in Spanish and English, and a couple were made in Portuguese.

After my experience, I would happily fly in Iberia’s business class again.