Iberia A321 economy class

Originally published on businesstraveller.com 10/09/2009   RSS

Check-in: Iberia operates 12 daily flights between London Heathrow and Madrid and code shares with BA. I was on the 17.35 flight, which operates on an A321.I logged onto Iberia's website to check in online in the morning, for my IB317, 17.35 flight to Madrid. You have to fill out your name, DOB, passport number and its expiry date before going through to choose your seat. When I checked in there was still an emergency exit seat left (23F) which I was pleased to take. However, on pressing 'confirm' to go through to the boarding pass page, the screen went blank. I thought it might be a Mac problem or a internet browser requirement (I was using Firefox, but after trying Safari and then Internet Explorer on a PC the problem was not resolved and the starter page said I was checked in). I called the Iberia help desk and explained the problem but they said it would not be an issue if I just came to the check-in desk and they would print out the boarding pass.

I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3 at 15.40 and went to the Iberia Check In Zone F at the far end of the terminal building. There was no queue and I explained that I had checked in online but had not been able to print off the boarding pass. I was told boarding would be at 1705 and that the gate had not been allocated yet. I was through security and air side by 16.15 some people had to take off their shoes but I was not asked to. Looking at my ticket I noticed that I had been allocated seat 24C despite checking in online with for the emergency exit seat of 23F.

Boarding: The terminal was busy on this Monday afternoon and I found a place to sit opposite the information screens. We were called to board at 1655 and I walked to Gate 5 in a few minutes. I waited at the gate and we started boarding in an orderly fashion at about 1725.

The seat: This A321 had business class section rows 1- 7 in a 3-3 configuration with the middle seat left empty. Economy is configured 3-3 and row nine is an emergency exit with extra leg room for all those on that row. Row 23 is also an emergency exit area and window seats on this row have no seats in front of them. The middle and aisle seats have seats in front of them but because it is an emergency exit there is more of a gap. However there was a long metal box here instead so although there was still more leg room than a normal seat, it is not the best seat. The best economy class seat is seat 23A. This is an emergency exit seat with no seat in front. Seat 23F on the other side is also emergency exit with no seat in front but the flight attendant sits opposite you for take off and landing which is a bit daunting. Iberia's economy class seats, on European flights, have a seat pitch of 79cm/31?, a width 43cm/17?, and a recline of 10cm/4?. Intercontinental economy seats have 81cm/32? seat pitch, a width of 43cm/17? and a recline of 15cm/6?. I was seated in 24C, an aisle seat. For a seat plan of this aircraft, click here.

The flight: There was no IFE available on the flight, so I was relieved to be offered a few newspapers to read. The seat was very comfortable and I had ample leg room. A paid food and drink service was served shortly after take off. We landed five minutes ahead of schedule and I headed for the baggage collection immediately. Madrid airport has an enormous baggage collection and a similar ceiling to that of T5, with the large circular lamps overhead. My bag was on carousel 16 at around 2115.

Verdict: A good service, efficient and on time. The online check in was a disappointment. It's worth buying a big bottle of water before boarding so you don't have to buy it on board. The seats were very spacious and the service cheerful.

Felicity Cousins