Use Iberia’s Avios for these fantastic sweetspots

Iberia’s Business Class (Source)

Avios collected in the British Airways Executive Club can be transferred to Iberia Plus, and vice versa. Although the programs are very similar, there are situations where it is more advantageous to redeem Avios with Iberia. Some of the best Iberia Plus sweet spots include Business Class flights to North and South America.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Business Class from Madrid to Boston, New York, Washington, or San Juan for 34,000 Avios (one-way)

The best way by far to redeem Iberia Plus Avios for award flights is Business Class flights to the US East Coast or San Juan, Puerto Rico. Boston, Washington, New York, and San Juan fall into price band 5—they are 3,001 to 4,000 miles from Madrid—and can be flown from Madrid for only 34,000 Avios in Business Class. This is for a one-way flight during off-peak times. Even during peak times, the flights are still attractive at 50,000 Avios one-way. No other Business Class flights across the Atlantic require fewer miles. For example, a one-way Iberia Business Class flight from Madrid to Boston requires only 34,000 Avios and 139 euros.

If you prefer, you can further reduce the required Avios with the Avios & Money option (booking reward flights for up to 70% fewer miles with the Avios and Money function). Instead of 34,000 Avios + 139 euros in surcharges, the flight can be booked for 6,800 Avios + 589 euros in surcharges. Various options are displayed during the booking process.

Essentially, this means you are buying 27,200 (34,000 - 6,800) Avios for 450 (589.10 - 139.10) euros, averaging 1.65 cents per Avios. For comparison, during special promotions (Buying Avios - All Options), Avios can be purchased for about 1.2 cents each.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Business Class from Madrid to Doha for 34,000 Avios (one-way)

Since Iberia began flying to Doha, another route falls into price band 5. A one-way Iberia Business Class flight from Madrid to Doha is available for 34,000 Avios and 106 euros. During peak times, it costs 50,000 Avios. Using the Avios pricing options, the price can be reduced to 6,800 Avios + 556 euros.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Business Class from Madrid to Central and South America for 42.500 Avios (one-way)

Iberia is well known for its numerous destinations in Central and South America. Most of these fall into price band 6. This means Bogota, Caracas, San Salvador, Guatemala, Havana, Panama, Quito, Guayaquil, Rio de Janeiro, San Jose, Santo Domingo, and Sao Paulo can be flown from Madrid for just 42,500 Avios in Business Class during off-peak times. In peak times, it costs 62,500 Avios one-way. For example, you could travel from Madrid to Bogota in Business Class for 42,500 Avios and 128 euros.

Iberia’s Airbus A350-900 (Source)

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Business Class from Madrid to South America for 51,000 Avios (one-way)

Further destinations in South America, such as Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Lima, and Mexico City, are in band 7. These destinations cost 51,000 Avios for a one-way Business Class flight during off-peak times. Despite being a bit more expensive, 51,000 Avios for a 12-hour Business Class flight is still a great deal. In peak times, the price increases to 75,000 Avios. For example, Madrid to Buenos Aires can be booked for 51,000 Avios and 114 euros in taxes and fees.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Business Class from Madrid to Santiago de Chile for 59,500 Avios (one-way)

Iberia's longest route is to Santiago de Chile. This 13+ hour flight falls into price band 8 and should cost 59,500 Avios (off-peak) or 87,500 Avios (peak) in Business Class. However, Iberia Plus only charges the price band 7 rate of 51,000/75,000 Avios. Additional surcharges are around 114 euros.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Economy Class from Madrid to Dakar (Senegal) for 10,000 Avios

Iberia's network also includes some exotic destinations, such as Dakar in Senegal (West Africa). Dakar, just a 4-hour flight from Madrid, falls into price band 3 (1,151 to 2,000 miles). Therefore, a flight requires only 10,000/11,000 Avios in Economy Class or 20,000/22,000 Avios in Business Class one-way. The surcharges are very low, at just over 45 euros.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Economy Class from Madrid to Tel Aviv for 11,000 Avios (one-way)

Tel Aviv also falls into price band 4 and can be reached for just 11,000 Avios in Economy Class (off-peak). During peak times, it costs 12,500 Avios. In Business Class, the price increases to 21,250/31,250 Avios.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Economy Class from Madrid to the Canary Islands for 5,650 Avios (one-way)

From Madrid, the Canary Islands are not far away. An Economy flight to the Canary Islands costs 7,500 or 8,250 Avios in off-peak or peak times (one-way). The surcharges are very low at 26 euros. With Avios and Money, the required miles can be reduced to 1,900 Avios and 71 euros.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – Reward Flights with LATAM

Fly LATAM’s new business class with your Avios (Source)

The South American LATAM left the Oneworld Alliance in May 2020. However, Iberia Plus continues to cooperate with LATAM, allowing you to book LATAM's direct flight from Frankfurt to Sao Paulo with Avios.

Iberia Plus Reward Flight LATAM Frankfurt Sao Paulo

Due to the long flight distance of 6,075 miles, the flight falls into the third-highest band of the award chart and costs 92,750 Avios and 105 euros in taxes and fees (Business Class one-way).

The partnership also extends to more unusual routes, such as flights between Santiago de Chile and Auckland. The approximately 11-hour Pacific crossing can be booked with Iberia Plus for 31,000 Avios and 23 euros in Economy Class (one-way).

Iberia Plus Reward Flight LATAM Economy Class Auckland Santiago De Chile

LATAM has a dense network in South America and also flies to destinations in North and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe. Therefore, there are numerous Avios redemption options.

Iberia Plus Sweet Spots – American Airlines Domestic Flights

Iberia Plus cooperates with all Oneworld airlines, including American Airlines. The prices follow a distance-based award chart, which has different price bands than the Iberia award chart. American Airlines Economy Class reward flights can be booked from 8,250 Avios one-way.

0 – 650 miles: 8,250 Avios
651 – 1,151 miles: 11,000 Avios
1,152 – 2,000 miles: 14,500 Avios
2,001 – 3,000 miles: 16,000 Avios
3,001 – 4,000 miles: 20,750 Avios
4,001 – 5,500 miles: 25,750 Avios
5,501 – 6,500 miles: 31,000 Avios
6,501 – 7,000 miles: 36,250 Avios
7,001 – 11,770 miles: 51,500 Avios

Fly American Airlines in Economy (Source)

These award flights are particularly appealing due to their very low fees. For flights within the USA, you typically only pay $5.60 in taxes and fees.

Award flights with American Airlines can be booked online through Iberia Plus. This applies to both one-way and round-trip flights.

Iberia Plus Sweetspots – Conclusion

Like the British Airways Executive Club, the Iberia Plus program offers several sweet spots. Iberia Plus excels in business class flights with Iberia between Madrid and Iberia destinations in North, Central, and South America. Not only do these routes require relatively few Avios, but the taxes and fees are also very low, which is especially beneficial for transatlantic flights where high fees are common.

This post was first published on meilenoptimieren.com (in German)