• Iberia Airbus A350-941 EC-NDR
    Iberia
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    IB/IBE
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Madrid Barajas Airport
    Year Founded:
    1927
    Alliance:
    oneworld
    Airline Group:
    IAG
    CEO:
    Javier Sánchez-Prieto
    Country:
    Spain

Today we will look at Spanish national flag carrier Iberia and decide whether it is worth upgrading from the lowest fare to premium economy. The decision to purchase a premium economy ticket over a standard economy ticket is tough. Yet, there are advantages to opting for the higher-priced fare.

These days most full-service airlines operate three classes of service, business class, premium economy, and economy. The business class seats are always located at the front of the plane, and the economy is in the back. Premium economy is usually a smaller cabin fit in the middle between the two, and while paying for it may seem a little expensive, it is generally 65% less than a business class fare.

Iberia check in counter.
Sorbis / Shutterstock.com

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What you get with premium economy

Premium economy offers passengers the following upgrades over a standard economy fare, but can vary from airline to airline:

  • A dedicated separate check-in desk
  • Priority boarding
  • Wider seats
  • Seats with a greater recline
  • Typically, around five to seven more inches of legroom
  • A larger in-flight entertainment screen
  • An upgraded choice of meals
iberia premium economy seats
Photo: Iberia

While you may look at the above perks and say, yes, that's nice, is it worth paying so much more? Upgrading to the premium economy fare makes sense when you have more than one piece of luggage to check-in. For example, Iberia lets you check in two bags with a maximum weight of 50 pounds (23 kilos) when flying premium economy. With a regular economy fare, you are only allowed one piece of checked baggage, which means that if you have a second suitcase, you will have to pay extra. Depending on the second suitcase's weight, this can be more or equal to what it costs you to upgrade to a premium economy fare.

Iberia only offers premium economy on long-haul flights

On Iberia, premium economy is only available on the airline's long-haul flights and can be found on its Airbus A350 and Airbus A330 aircraft.

Benefits of flying premium economy with Iberia on the ground include:

  • Dedicated premium check-in desks at the airport
  • Two pieces of checked luggage no heavier than 50lbs (23 kilos)
  • Enhanced priority boarding
  • Extra air miles that take you a step closer to unlocking flight upgrades and free tickets

The benefits of flying Iberia premium economy when onboard the aircraft are:

Seats

  • A wide 19-inch seat that has a 37-inch recline
  • Five to seven inches of more legroom
  • Adjustable headrests and footrests
  • USB port for charging all your electronic devices
  • Noise-canceling headphones

Entertainment

  • An individual 12-inch touchscreen monitor
  • Access to up to 600 movies and tv shows and more
  • A wide variety of games for both children and adults
  • Access to thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the world

Food & Drinks

All the food on Iberia is provided by Vienna, Austria-headquartered DO&CO. Inspired by the Mediterranean diet, all the meals on Iberia showcase Spain. They are prepared using the freshest locally sourced seasonal produce. Iberia offers its premium economy passengers a non-alcoholic pre-departure beverage service with water and orange juice. Once in the air, you can select a pre-meal drink, such as a small bottle of Spanish wine to pair with your meal. Special dietary meals are available for pre-order with Iberia.

Is it worth the extra money to fly premium economy?

There is no denying that flying premium economy is better than regular economy. However, the question is, are you willing to pay extra for the privilege? Consider how much luggage you will have when looking at the price difference. Also, if you are a tall or large person, the wider seats and extra legroom can make a very noticeable difference.