Travel broadens the mind – and I’ve been able to experience that firsthand over the past few years.
This trip took me from Zurich via Madrid to Lima, where a two-week vacation awaited.
Since entry and transit requirements at the time were far from straightforward, a simple route had to be chosen. Due to quarantine obligations in Peru, I couldn’t book my first choice – a Swiss flight to Sao Paulo and onward to Lima.
Booking
I booked the Zurich – Madrid – Lima combination through Iberia, with the long-haul segment operated by LATAM. The flight was scheduled to depart Zurich in the evening, with a roughly 2-hour layover in Madrid, arriving in Lima around 6 AM.
Rebooking
Since Iberia and LATAM were no longer best buddies following LATAM’s departure from the Oneworld alliance, my flight was cancelled. No alternatives were offered – unlike what I was used to from Lufthansa. Since I had no Oneworld status, I had to call the regular hotline – that might sound like an arrogant remark. But when you’re used to the service of a Senator hotline, you notice the difference in quality. After several phone calls, I had to take the Iberia flight the next afternoon. Luggage would not be checked through, and I’d have to pay for a hotel myself. So far, so bad.
Check-In
When the day of travel finally arrived, my mood lifted. Why? First, the online check-in worked smoothly, and I was able to upgrade my Economy flight to Business for around 200 Swiss Francs. I even managed to snag a window seat.
At the check-in and bag drop in Zurich, all documents were thoroughly checked and I was cleared for the flight to Madrid. In Madrid, I opted for the Hilton at the airport.
The next morning, I headed out fairly early in Madrid to drop off my luggage and pick up my final boarding pass. All documents were checked once again, and I received the coveted stamp on the boarding pass – meaning no further document checks would follow.
The visit to the lounge in Terminal 4S was a pleasant experience, as the lounge offers a nice view of the apron.
Shortly before boarding, I left the lounge and made my way to the gate. Boarding commenced in an orderly fashion, starting with Business Class passengers and status holders.
Cabin
The cabin and seat on the Iberia A330 have already been covered in various reviews. The amenities – blankets, pillows, and amenity kit – were available as usual pre-COVID. Not all seats in Business Class were occupied, which made for a relaxed atmosphere.
As a long-time Lufthansa / Swiss frequent flyer, the bright cabin was truly lovely. The relaxed 1-2-1 layout with aisle access for every passenger is contemporary.
The entertainment system on the A330 features a much larger screen compared to Swiss. Since no new films were being released at the time, the available selection was rather limited.
The headphones aren’t of outstanding quality, though I’ve had worse audio experiences in the air.
In Business Class, certain restrictions were noticeable on this flight. Unfortunately, no menu cards were distributed. The food is from Do&Co and genuinely of good quality. The options were beef, chicken, and vegetarian.
Catering
For the starter, I chose the beef filet with sweet potatoes – a choice I would not regret.
Before landing, another warm meal was served. The highlight was delicious ravioli with Serrano ham filling. An apple cake and a small fruit platter rounded off the meal.
The amenity kit is Iberia-branded and contains the standard extras found at almost every airline. There will of course be a separate review of the amenity kit.
After these impressions, I was truly happy to explore Peru not just from the air, but properly on the ground.
Verdict
As long as everything goes according to plan with Iberia, it’s genuinely enjoyable. Both the cabin product and the catering are at a good level. Depending on the route, I’ll likely choose Iberia again.
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