Iberia’s frequent flyer program has undergone a major revamp, now rebranded as Club Iberia Plus. While still using Avios as its currency, the program has shifted to a revenue-based model for earning status. With a mix of Oneworld partner redemptions, solid short-haul sweet spots, and lifetime status options, it remains a compelling choice for those flying regularly with Iberia and its partners. This Club Iberia Plus review explores how the program stacks up for frequent flyers.
Points Earning Rates On Short, Mid, And Long-Haul Flights
Avios are earned based on the fare paid rather than distance flown. Members receive one Avios per euro spent on Iberia flights (excluding taxes and fees). Additional Avios are granted for flights with Oneworld carriers, based on fare class and distance. The system rewards premium cabin passengers significantly more, making business class a faster route to Avios accumulation.
How Easy Is It To Redeem Points For Flights?
Redemptions within Club Iberia Plus follow a distance-based chart, with off-peak pricing offering excellent value. Short-haul flights in Europe start from just 4,500 Avios, while transatlantic business class tickets can be booked for fewer Avios than with some rival programs. Avios can also be transferred between British Airways’ The Club, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, adding flexibility.
Introduction To The Status Tiers
Continuing our review, Club Iberia Plus offers six elite status tiers: Plata (Silver), Oro (Gold), Platino (Platinum), Platino Prime, Infinita, and Infinita Prime. Each tier unlocks increasing benefits, from priority check-in to complimentary lounge access and additional baggage allowances. Higher tiers also grant bonus Avios on flights, improving the overall earning rate.
Tier Point Accrual Rates On Short, Mid, And Long-Haul Flights
Elite Points are earned on a revenue basis, with one point per euro spent on Iberia flights. However, Iberia still awards bonus Elite Points for specific flight segments, meaning long-haul premium cabin travel is the fastest way to status. For partner airline flights, Elite Points are calculated based on fare class and distance.
| Cabin Class | Short-Haul (Europe) | Long-Haul |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 75 points | 200 points |
| Premium Economy | 100 points | 300 points |
| Business | 150 points | 600 points |
Approximate Cost And Travel Required To Reach Equivalent Star Alliance Gold Status
Achieving Oro (Gold), which grants oneworld Sapphire status, requires 7,500 Elite Points or 40 flight segments annually. Given that Elite Points are earned at a rate of one per euro spent, a traveler would need to spend approximately €7,500 on Iberia flights annually to reach Gold status.
For comparison, Star Alliance Gold via Lufthansa’s Miles & More requires 480 status points, which typically involves a mix of long-haul business and multiple short-haul flights. The revenue-based model makes status attainable for those booking premium fares rather than frequent low-cost economy tickets.
Sweet-spot For Earning Status
The best routes for earning status efficiently in Club Iberia Plus involve transatlantic business class flights, especially on Iberia metal. Iberia’s New York, Chicago, and Miami routes offer strong Elite Point accrual while also being among the best-value Avios redemptions. Flights within Europe in business class also provide a decent Elite Point return, especially for frequent regional flyers.
Some members have also identified a status hack using Iberia’s short-haul network. Since Elite Points can be earned via flight segments, it’s possible to rack up status quickly with multi-sector flights. For example, a Valencia to Santander route via Madrid counts as four segments per round trip and can be booked for around €107.
This means that reaching Emerald (Platino) status – requiring 90 segments – could be done in 23 round trips, costing approximately €2,460. This strategy also unlocks four upgrade vouchers, adding extra value. However, the trade-off is time – completing 23 round trips would take over a month, making it impractical for many passengers.
Overall Quality Of The Lounges And Cabin Products
Iberia’s flagship lounges in Madrid are well-appointed, offering full dining, premium drinks, and ample seating. While they provide a comfortable space to relax before flights, they can become crowded during peak hours. Gold and Platinum members enjoy access, as do oneworld Sapphire and Emerald status holders across the alliance.
Iberia’s business class product features lie-flat seating on long-haul routes, delivering a solid experience despite occasional inconsistencies in service. The hard product remains competitive, with the airline’s newer A350s offering an improved cabin layout.
BG1 Verdict
This Club Iberia Plus review confirms that the program remains a valuable option for frequent Iberia flyers, especially those willing to book premium cabins. The shift to a revenue-based model means budget-conscious passengers will find status harder to reach, but the strong Avios redemption opportunities, lifetime status options, and Oneworld perks make it a competitive offering. The ability to transfer Avios between partner programs further enhances its flexibility.
Where Can I Sign-Up?
You can enrol in Club Iberia Plus on Iberia’s official website here.
The ultimate hack is if you are a canary island resident, and EU citizen. Your flights, if booked direct get a 75% subsidy to domestic locations. Tenerife to Madrid can easily hit 700 euro plus for last minute summer. You pay 25%. Elite points and Avios are now based mostly on revenue. The revenue is calculated on the unsubsidised price (less tax). This means a one way Tenerife to Madrid can easily rack up 1000 elite points. This has to be the ultimate elite hack globally. Check it yourself. Pick a last minute trip, business flexible,, tick resident. Suddenly your 800 euro ticket is about 200. The ticket cant have an international leg. 1000 elite points for 3 hours at 200 euro.
Your residency is verified during the purchase process by iberia. If you have not formally become an island resident by registering at your townhall (empadronomento) and don;t have an EU passport this will not work. There’s no cheating that.
That is also why non residents see ridiculous prices… the subsidy grossly distorts the market for any flight to, from, or within the islands. You can find a cheaper flight from north Tenerife to Venezuela on PlusUltra, non stop, than Tenerife to Barcelona in July!
It’s why tourists looking for a flight from Tenerife to see Gran Canaria better have deep pockets for a family trip, residents pay 15-35 for that and drive up the price. You can SEE Gran Canaria from Tenerife North airport. So next time you hear the locals moaning about tourists driving up costs, it works both ways.