Review of Iberia flight Bogota → Madrid in Business

introduction

Hello amigos!
This FR is for the return trip between Madrid and Bogotá back in 2021. 
The previous flight is here: 

I had already had tried IB biz during the pandemic. You may compare to their service during 2020 here.

Without further ado…let's get it on. 

Before check-in, pcr

While 2021 meant an easing of restrictions, one needed a negative PCR test to visit several countries. In my case, Spain required a negative PCR test taken a day before departure…I went to the test centre @BOG to get my test. It was a fairly easy thing. 

check in

With my negative test result. I was good to go. My brother took me to the airport. There were four checks you had to pass before reaching the check-in area: (i) QR for the Eldorado Airpor App (pointless); (ii) Colombian Covid tracing app QR (again pointless) and (iii) Colombian Check-Mig (a little less pointless) and (iv) boarding pass /booking. 

So, as expected there were queues before entering the terminal, and families were having their farewell hugs and whatnot on the curb.  

Check in was a piece of cake. No queue for Biz passengers. The agent was nice and efficient. 

Check in done it was time to head to emigration, security and the lounge.

The first part was again easy. Security too. But then, I got stopped by a policeman (context: this was early May 2021, on 1 May a series of protests against some government policies begun, they carried out that thay too, and for the following couple of months), I was a bit weary they would get me into some sort of trouble because of the political situation but the policeman was very courteous.  Once my interview and search was done, I went to Eldorado lounge.

I felt tension was less than back in October 2020, service was okay. Food offerings weren't too tempting so I just had a soup and a bottle of water 

Then, it was time for some plane spotting.

First, Air France's 787 to CDG (this route is now operated by A350, I reckon it may revert to 787 during Winter)

Lufty's A343 to FRA

Then, my ride the Racoonjet.

In the distance, DL's 763. Don't remember if it was flying to JFK later that night or to ATL next morning.

boarding

Boarding was in pandemic style: back to front. So I was basically one of the last to board. The aerobridge was docked to door 1L, afffording a nice fuselage view.

I was warmly greeted by the crew and led to my seat. IB's biz cabin is a bit drab, but otherwise, well appointed

In front, a huge PTV

Nice duvet and pillow were offered

Noise cancelling headphones and vanity kit

No literature on the seat pocket though

Now a proper look to the 767 (one of my favourite planes BTW)

enroute to Bogotá

Being one of the last to board, we were on our way  in short time.

A "fun" <font _mstmutation="1" _msttexthash="114556" _msthash="0">anecdote, one fellow passenger had a last minute upgrade, but there weren't enough meals for her. So she would get the seat but no Biz meals. That's one lousy move by IB, I hope she didn't pay too much for the upgrade.[/font]

We taxied to RWY 14L and turned right towards the south. So we had nice views of BOG while climbing out:

The cabin was kept mostly dark during this phase, PTV's acting as mood lighting.

The flight was to be a short 9h hop over the pond

I got free wifi for messaging 

Dinner was served. Options were chicken or pasta, I went for the chicken and it was quite good!

I washed it down with a glass of Rioja and a Coca Cola

The actual mood lighting was turned on and then we were free to relax and sleep during the rest of the night

Once the lighting was shut off, I found the cabin to be quite bright nonetheless (specially from the galley), waking me up every now and then.

I woke up as we neared Portugal, with the bright day outside

We were offered a full breakfast with OJ, fruit, croissant and eggs

While the breakfast was fine, I cannot stop but remembering that this would have been a regular breakfast in AF or LH in Y a few years ago.

Meanwhile, I could spot a ship sailing on the Atlantic 

Land ahoy!

We entered Europe north of Porto

We then flew over Salamanca (?) and its Air Force base

As this was May, Castille was green and not yellow, as usual

Our route as recorded by the map feature

Our flight was coming to a close as we made a "J" movement to line up with MAD's southern approach

I always wonder why they chose to leave this highway abandoned 

We crossed the A2 and Torrejón AFB, which meant landing was imminent 

Passing by La Muñoza IB's maintenance facility

touchdown!

Our huge Briton visitors welcomed us

IB and UX, soon to be part of the same happy IAG family

The old terminal complex was basically unused back then

We parked on a hard stand…this didn't make much sense as most of the other planes were basically basking in the sun. But well, AENA must had have its reasons…
 

But this gave me the chance to have GREAT views of the A350 and its RR engines

Our plane was dedicated to the Spanish Basketball Team

I made it through immigration without hassle. I then picked my bag and was given a mandatory antigen test.

I couldn't leave until I got my results. And once I was cleared I grabbed a Cabify back home.