What Is It Like to Fly in Iberia’s Next Business Class?

Iberia has introduced its new Next cabin across its fleet, with upgrades in all classes, including significant improvements in Business. The cabin now features new Recaro seats with doors, providing increased privacy. This new Iberia product primarily operates on North and Latin American routes. I recently flew from Mexico City to Madrid to experience these enhancements firsthand.

Check-In

While Terminal 1 of Mexico City may not be as grand as Terminal 2, it is easy to navigate. The check-in area was not too crowded in the early evening, making the process smooth. I headed to the security line and noticed that there was no fast track for Business. However, a helpful security staff member directed me to Gate G, which had an unmarked fast track line a few feet away.

In Mexico City, Iberia has a partnership with The Grand Lounge Elite—a small, two-floor lounge with limited seating and food options and a simple but staffed bar. While it offers hot à la carte dishes, the lounge has dim lighting and no windows. Although not as impressive as Iberia’s lounge in Madrid, this space served its purpose before boarding.

Iberia operates a fleet of 22 Airbus A350-900s / Photo: Courtesy of Iberia Airlines

Boarding

As we approached the gate, it seemed like organized chaos. This was partly because Terminal 1 is just a long corridor with limited space. However, the boarding zones were marked, with Zone 1 reserved for Business Class passengers directly before the boarding door. Since the flight was nearly full, the call for Business Class boarding was slightly delayed. The ground crew was working to rearrange seating to accommodate families, which was a thoughtful gesture given the numerous requests they were dealing with. We ended up boarding about 10 minutes behind schedule.

On entering Iberia’s Business cabin, the most noticeable element was a sea of red screens that gave the otherwise subdued space a vibrant touch.

The introduction of doors to the seats stood out amid the familiar 1-2-1 layout. The seats felt less open, while the aisles felt more cramped than the previous product, with all available space going to the seats. Wooden veneers and textured fabrics added depth and warmth, while removing center bins enhanced the spaciousness, albeit at the sacrifice of personal air vents.

Each seat has plenty of personal storage space / Photo: Courtesy of Iberia Airlines

The Seat

The seats—slightly narrower than the previous incarnation, yet spacious enough for comfort—transform into cozy, well-padded beds when reclined. In the center section, electronic seat dividers and doors provide privacy for solo travelers. However, minor ergonomic hiccups were noticed with the seat controls and armrest design.

Exploring the seat’s amenities revealed thoughtful details, from ample personal storage to decent noise-canceling headphones and versatile table configurations. The seats themselves, however, were just a little plain and ordinary, and it would have been lovely to see an injection of color as the layers of taupe and gray dulled down what is the flag carrier of an otherwise vibrant, modern and exciting culture.

Does the seat improve the overall experience? In short, yes. There are more ergonomics at play here, and the ability to customize your space with table and seat configurations makes nesting on long-haul flights a lot easier.

The quality of in-flight catering has been enhanced / Photo: Courtesy of Iberia Airlines

The Flight

In addition to welcome drinks including sparkling wine, an extensive wine selection was available, with a delightful nod to Spanish varietals. After takeoff, the dimmed mood lights were brought up again to offer an evening meal, which included an array of tasty dishes, including ceviche and beef tenderloin. The organic tableware design is great, and I liked the Las Meni-nas-shaped salt-and-pepper shakers, which added some humor to the passenger experience, paying homage to the famous Spanish painter Velázquez.

But more important was the faultless service on the flight. The crew was engaged and highly attentive, topping off glasses, suggesting wine pairings, and going above and beyond to make sure passengers were well fed and looked after before the lights were once again dimmed and the seats were prepared for a good night’s sleep across the Atlantic.

For those not wanting to sleep, the onboard entertainment system featured movies, a slightly limited selection of TV shows, and brilliant on-screen games. However, the Arc in-flight map was the perfect accompaniment to lull me into a blissful sleep.

Arrival

The restful sleep—aided by the airline’s innovative mattress topper—concluded approximately two hours before landing, when the cabin was slowly woken to a second meal service offering satisfying options such as an omelet with sausage or pancakes and decent Nespresso coffees.

Verdict

Iberia’s Next cabin marks a significant leap forward, offering seamless functionality and comfort. While the cabin exudes a residential vibe, it might benefit from infusions of Spain’s vibrancy and colors. Despite these minor flaws, the flight proved enjoyable, positioning this revamped experience as a contender for future travels.
iberia.com