Iberia Plus - Iberia
Every time you fly with an Iberia Plus Card, you will get Elite points to upgrade to the next card level. There are lots of perks and benefits associated with each elite card level within this program. Avios is a common currency for Iberia Airlines, British Airways, AerLingus, and the Avios program in the United Kingdom. You will be able to earn this currency on flights, using services of partners, with promotions and products in the program. When you have accumulated enough Avios, you will be able to use them to book award flights, nights at a hotel, car hire, and entertainment in certain areas. There are over 90 different partner airlines associated with the Iberia Plus Program, making it very easy to earn points.
- Pros
- Discounted off-peak awards
- Economy awards free changes ❺
- Less expensive fuel surcharges ❼
- Great rates on short-haul flights
- Good number of partner airlines
- Avios transfers to Executive Club ❷
- Most airlines can be booked online
- Cons
- Website is glitchy
- Booking tool is glitchy
- Stopovers are not allowed
- City can not be set as origin ❸
- One way on oneworld partners ❹
- Most airlines impose fuel surcharge
- Fees & Charges
- Change award fee ❶$68
- Cancellation fee ❶$95
- Phone booking fee ❻$25
- Expiration: Avios expire 36 months since last activity.
- For some programs, an activity is any accrual of miles, crediting a flight, transfering or purchasing miles. For others, spending activities such as redeeming or donating points counts as an activity.
- ❶ There are some booking fees you might encounter when flying with Iberia, such as a $68 charge for changing a flight. There is also a $63 fee for refunding Flex tickets, and a $95 fee for Business Classic tickets.
- ❶ Awards must be cancelled more than 24 hours before departure.
- ❶ No changes can be done to tickets with a leg on an oneworld partner
- ❷ Executive Club, AerClub and Iberia Plus programs are the only ones that has ability to transfer their points between airline programs with 1 : 1 transfer rate.
- ❸ City can not be set as origin or destination point - only airport
- ❹ Oneworld partners can be booked on round trip flights only
- ❺ You have unlimited free changes on Economy awards operated by Iberia
- ❻ Partner flights that cannot be booked online do not carry a fee.
- ❼ While most airlines impose fuel surcharges - they are often less expensive than in other airline programs.
Transfer Partners
Transfer time is what is reported by the transfer programs, supplemented by our own research. However, actual time to transfer is often highly variable.
Airlines and Fuel Surcharge
This table will show you the partner airlines can be booked online and those which impose fuel surcharge.
Airline |
Online Booking |
Fuel Surcharge |
Alliance |
---|---|---|---|
Iberia
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Iberia Express
|
|
|
No alliance
|
Vueling
|
|
|
No alliance
|
airberlin
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Air Nostrum
|
|
|
No alliance
|
American Airlines
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
British Airways
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Cathay Pacific
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Finnair
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
LATAM Brasil
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
LATAM Chile
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Qantas
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Airline |
Online Booking |
Fuel Surcharge |
Alliance |
---|---|---|---|
Qatar Airways
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Royal Jordanian
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
S7 Airlines
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
SriLankan Airlines
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Avianca
|
|
|
Star Alliance™
|
Binter Canarias
|
|
|
No alliance
|
Japan Airlines
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Malaysia Airlines
|
|
|
oneworld®
|
Meridiana
|
|
|
No alliance
|
Royal Air Maroc
|
|
|
No alliance
|
TACA Airlines
|
|
|
No alliance
|
Program Review
The award tickets and vouchers validity expires in a year after receiving it. Avios usually expire if you don't use your account within 36 months. You can request missing Avios within half a year. However, it's not permitted to pool Avios.
In addition, the program members are welcome to request awards for a travel companion or beneficiaries. Note that the awards can't be transferred after their issuance. It's important to mention that the awards are subject to capacity controls, although, it's not related to blackout dates. The program members have the opportunity to acquire up to 35,000 Avios or transfer about 144,000 per year.
Iberia Plus Program
You will quickly discover that the Iberia Plus program offers lots of different perks and benefits that all members enjoy. One of the great many things about this program is that it makes earning points/miles very easy. Iberia has lots of partner airlines that you can fly with to earn points as well, making it even more likely for you to accrue points fast. If you want the ability to redeem award flights, cabin upgrades, car rentals, and hotel bookings, this program is certainly worth looking into. The more time you spend researching this program, the more you will want to sign up for it.
Earning Iberia Plus Points
A member enrolled in the Iberia Plus program can maximize the benefits afforded by the program through earning Avios out of paid Iberia or oneworld alliance flights, Iberia Plus online store and partner store purchases, car rentals, credit card spending, hotel stays, health and care services, leisure activities, and more.
Paid Flights: Every time you fly on Iberia, you earn Avios and Elite Points depending on fare classes and distance as shown in this table. Avios are also earned as bonuses when you fly as a Gold or Platinum member.
Partner Flights: Iberia is a member of the oneworld alliance, which allows flyers the ability to earn Iberia Plus Avios for flights flown with alliance airlines. The number of miles you earn from each partner varies, so it’s best to reference Iberia Plus site to understand what mileage you stand to earn from your upcoming flight. To earn Avios or Elite Points on a partner flight, just enter in your Iberia Plus number on your boarding pass and then check your account post-flight to ensure the mileage credits were properly posted to your account.
Credit Card Spending: There are various banks in Spain and other countries that have partnered with Iberia. These are Iberia Sendo, American Express, Global Exchange, Santander, Inversis Banco, Aegon, and Diners Club. Their various credit card selections are offered to select country citizens, and allow these card holders to earn Avios for everyday spend. For the full list of financial partners, please refer to this page.
Travel Partners: Iberia has built relationships with various travel partners that can earn Iberia Plus members extra Avios. By staying in Starwood Hotels or by renting a car in Budget or by filling up gas from Repsol, you get to earn Avios for your Iberia Plus card. Please refer to this website for the different travel partners.
Promotions: Iberia occasionally offers promotions that provide members the ability to earn additional Iberia Plus Avios. For the latest list of promotions, refer to the Iberia website.
Redeeming Mileage Points
Free Flights: You can use your Avios in getting free flights with Iberia. To determine how many Avios you need to redeem a flight, simply check the award chart on the official Iberia website.
Upgrades: By using your Iberia Plus Avios, you can upgrade to a higher class in select Iberia flights. To do so, you can visit the official Iberia website.
Partner Awards: Iberia is a member of oneworld, which allows travelers to redeem Iberia Plus Avios for award flights on partner airlines, subject to availability.
Routing Rules
Award tickets and vouchers are valid for one year. Avios will expire within 36 months without at least one account activity. Missing Avios can be requested online within six months. Avios pooling is not available. Members may request awards for their designated beneficiaries or one travel companion but awards cannot be transferred after issuance. Flight awards are subject to capacity controls but not blackout dates. Members may purchase or gift up to 35,000 Avios or transfer up to 144,000 Avios per the calendar year.
Booking Fees & Charges
There are some booking fees you might encounter when flying with Iberia, such as a $68 charge for changing a flight. There is also a $63 fee for refunding Flex tickets and a $95 fee for Business Classic tickets.
Redeem on Upgrades
If you have a Tourist ticket (tariff Y, B o H) for a flight operated by Iberia Group (Iberia, Iberia Express and Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum) contact your Iberia Plus Service Centre or whichever Iberia Sales Office you prefer, and they will change your booking and charge it to your Avios automatically. This service is subject to the availability of certain classes in the Business cabin.
Elite Levels
Iberia Plus has three elite levels:
Silver Level: Passengers are able to obtain the status by accruing 25 routes flown or 1,100 points. You can earn elite points when flying with Vueling, Iberia Group, or other OneWorld partner airlines, specifically from April 1 to March 31 annually. The status possessors get such benefits as priority boarding and waitlisting, 25% bonus, foreign travel insurance, business class check-in, the OneWorld alliance Ruby membership, and additional luggage allowance.
Gold Level: Passengers are able to obtain the status by accruing 50 routes flown or 2,250 points. Besides the Silver status perks, the Gold level possessors automatically get access to Fast Track and Preferential Care Points, double Avios on flights, free parking at airports in Madrid and Barcelona, arrival VIP lounges at T4 airport in Madrid, and Iberia's business class VIP lounges. Also, they might book the most preferred seats and receive a guaranteed seat in full economy class and award seats within 24 hours prior to their departure, as well as the OneWorld alliance Sapphire membership.
Platinum Level: Passengers are able to obtain the status by accruing 6,250 points. Note that it's valid only for two years. Besides the listed benefits of Silver and Gold levels, the Platinum level possessors receive additional perks, including limousine service when traveling to or from Barcelona, Santiago de Chile, Madrid, São Paulo, Mexico City, or Buenos Aires. Plus, they get two free upgrades when flying with Iberia, a guaranteed Emerald membership in the OneWorld alliance. The members are also able to take advantage of Avios credit allowing you to request up to 22,500 points. Note that you might have a negative balance if you have fewer points than you're going to request.
Benefits of Iberia Plus Program
You will discover that there are a lot of great benefits associated with the Iberia Plus rewards program, including the fact that you will be able to earn points through a number of different methods. If you want to be a member of a frequent flyer program that makes it easy to earn points with lots of redeeming options, this one is certainly worth taking a close look at.