Review of Iberia flight from New York to Madrid in Economy

introduction

Hello amigos!

This is the last part of a 4-part series on a trip between Madrid and Washington DC back in 2022. The previous flights are:

Without further ado…let's get it on!

From JFK T8 -> T7

I pick up where we left in our previous episode, just of the very delayed flight from DCA to JFK.

Now the task was to get to T7, and I didn't have much time for that task (about 90 mins before boarding time). This involved, walking al the way from the extreme of the concourse, going through the tunnnel…which I didn't notice it was so deep until I had to endure the escalators on the way up…

Then cross the main T8

Then head down again, cross the baggage delivery area. Catch an elevator up to the AirTrain level….walk to the AirTrain Station

Ride the AirTrain (happily only one station away)

Down one level

Cross the street 

And…I made it 

I saw on the maps there was an "express security lane" but it was shut. When I finally made it to the main TSA Check area, the TSA agent told me I had to get a new boarding pass from IB. Bloody hell… back to the IB counter. I got my BP in a couple of minutes, the agent told me to rush as boarding was about to begin.

Back through the TSA

A few flights were leaving at the time, so it was a basically dead building….and a mass of people waiting for their flights to Warsaw and Madrid.

A view to our ride in the distance

At this point I just wanted to board the plane and sit in peace till I got to Madrid. But no, now they were announcing a slight delay (come on! at least this should mean my bags could make it home, right?)

boarding ib's a330-300

IB operates an all Airbus fleet. Their long haul fleet is composed of A330-200s, A330-300s and A350-900s. 

Since the route I travel the most is MAD-BOG, I have mainly used the A350. So now it was time to check how the "older" A330 checked against its newer sibling. 

First…I got a glimpse of Business Class. Almost the same seats as the older A350s

Premium Economy (I couldn't book PE, as this flight was supposed to be operated by an A332…) 

And my cabin, good old "Turista". Check the faulty lighting.

On my seat, a pillow and blanket were waiting for me

Pitch was okay for the short hop to Madrid. It is way tighter on the A350s!

It's crazy how flying Business or Premium Economy distorts our sense of size. The PTV seemed miniscule 

enroute to madrid!

As I was one of the first to board, it feelt like quite a while until the A330 was filled and ready to go (full flight tonight). I hope my bags made it, but the AA app didn't say much

A view to the fellow aircraft on the tarmac. An Alaska 737-900 and the LOT 787 to Warsaw

The crew fired up the PTV safety video (filled with views of dear Madrid)

And we were good to go!

Views while taking off were gorgeous…I felt a bit of FOMO not to have visited NY during this stay, what a great city.

As this was a late departure, and a short flight, we had our dinner served quite fast.
Options were chicken curry or pasta. 

Overall, the meal was good. The portion a bit on the small side, but it did the job. I wonder if serving us curry and chickpeas would be a good idea for 200+ people canned in tube across the ocean for 6 hours (but well, here I am 2 years later after that chemical war went on).
Done with the food, it was time to "imagine, vuela, fly".

And so I did until we were iminently over Portugal

This is what we got for "breakfast"…mediocre doesn't even make it. BTW, what's the deal with giving us only sugary stuff?

After that, it was all clear skies on our way to the middle of Iberia.

And thus the best part of the flight, a scenic arrival into Madrid!

Starting with a view to Miraflores de la Sierra (?) and the Cruz de los Caídos (150m high cross)

Then, El Escorial and San Lorenzo del Escorial, and the Sierra de Guadarrama 

The northwestern suburbs of Majadahonda, Pozuelo and so on appear…the Cuatro Torres area is visible to the right

zoom in to the towers

Then, the Plaza de Castilla with its iconic towers. Tetuán District, and the Ciudad Universitaria to the bottom and you can spot Barajas' T4 complex on top

Now, AZCA

Then the city centre.  You can also make out Las Ventas Bullring, Plaza Colón, Gran Vía, the Teatro Real and the Royal Palace

Zoom into El Retiro

Zoom out to appreciate Madrid…All the green area to its west is a park called Casa de Campo

Now, Cuatro Vientos airport

Another zoom, now to AZCA and the Santiago Bernabeu stadium

Now, la Castellana ….almost all touristy landmarks are visible in these two shots:

Now the T1,T2,T3 complex at MAD

And Torrejón AFB

Now its time for a open U turn to intersect the runways

Last glimpses of the city before landing

Landing and tour over…it was so exciting!

The sierra and T4

Heading to what appears to be the A330 corner

It turns out our plane was named "El Salvador"…

One could tell air traffic was catching up (but governmental actions didn't) because of the long queues at the immigration control

Once I made it to the bag area, I waited more than usual for my bag. 
It didn't make it  to "El Salvador"'s belly. It would be sent to Madrid on "today"'s flight and be at my door next day.
OK I guess… I forgot to ask for compensation though.