Review of Iberia flight Madrid → Rome in Economy

Introduction

Hello amigos, 

This FR is on an IB flight between Madrid and Rome. While it was during the pandemic, service differences to post-pandemic levels are basically none. This will help to compare IB's service to other competitors. 

Without further ado…

reaching madrid-barajas adolfo suarez intl airport

This may not be news for usual FRists, but in case you didn't know, Madrid probably boasts the best connections from city centre to its airport in Europe, you may choose between bus service from Av. América for €1.50, to Metro for about €5, Cercanías for around €2.60, and Taxi/Uber/Cabify that will range depending on your departure place in Madrid (for Taxis there is a fix rate of €33 from anywhere within the M30 motorway).

This once, I chose the Cercanías. I walked from my flat to Recoletos, and took the train straight to the airport from there. Piece of cake. The only downside is the frequency of services. 

In about 30 minutes I was dropped at the Aeropuerto T4 station

at barajas

As my previous experiences during covid told me I should plan ahead and expect long queues, I made it to MAD 2h30 mins before departure. Just in case.

But since I had IB Plus gold status, queues weren't much of a trouble.

I also had fast track in security…the whole check-in+security deal took less than 10 minutes.

And so I was in the IB Dali lounge for a nice breakfast.

I spent the time as I waited for boarding catching up with work. The lounge wasn't too full so it was quite pleasureable.

Overall, the advantage over the other lounge at T4, is that the Dali Lounge is spacious and airy, and shouldn't be so crowded. But it wasn't anything fantastic, considering it is IB's lounge at its hub.

Then it was time to head to my gate.

boarding

Because of my IB+ status, I was one of the first to board in group 1.  Since I checked my bag, I didn't bother with anything other than getting to my seat.

Our A321 was fitted with the fleet-standard iron boards. Nothing bothersome for flights under 3 hours, but a misery all-in-all. 
While the cabin is clean and does not reveal the plane's age (22 years back then) the overhead bins do show how battered they have been.

enroute to rome

The cabin slowly filled up, and we were on our way to Rome. The window-scratch level was miserable.

We taxied to RWY 36R for a north-then southeast heading towards VLC.

The only good thing about the ironboard seats is that the seat pitch doesn't feel too tight (otherwise it would be a full torture)

And we crossed Spain towards the Mediterranean, and flew over Valencia

We then hop the Balearics and Sardinia

The service was non existent. We were handed some COVID forms for Italy.

The flight felt long and uneventful. And fortunately came to its end…

It's always nice to be in Italy

But it was a sad to see Alitalia's corpse all around

The new gates weren't still ready. But we managed to secure a gate (FCO is where I've been bussed the most. A silly story about it will come in a future FR). It was a long walk to the baggage delivery hall.

Fun story: the kids ahead of me were horsing around the whole time on the way to the bag hall, they were a bit of a nuisance. They were so invested into it, that one of them just ran into a wall (it was too late for him to notice or take corrective action). I smirked beneath my face mask as I passed and their mum was telling them off.

The bag took its time to come out. Once I got it I was "randomly" selected for interview by the Police. After some 5 minutes of interview about my life and work and plans in Rome I was allowed into Italy.

This time, I took the Leonardo Express to Centrale. The priciest public transport alternative…but conveninent.