Club Iberia Plus has increased redemption costs to cash in to Spain without warning, but they are still a wise way to redeem Avios. Loyaltylobby first reported the news.
Club Iberia Plus (and British Airways Club) has provided one of the best desserts in the points and mileage industry for years, flying to Spain’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), with only 34,000 Avios in each way.
Here’s what you need to know about the new Iberian reward rate.
Related: Reviews on the Iberian New Business Kit on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City
Iberia increases most reward rates
Iberia will continue to utilize award tables, peak and off-peak dates to price flights. Prices for all Iberia-operated flights have been adjusted (short-term and long-distance), the following fees for North American service, each method, per person, and reasonable fees, taxes and surcharges:
| Crazy uninterrupted route | Off-peak rate (Avios) | Peak (Avios) |
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While the cost of the cheapest base rate in Iberia has dropped slightly, the cost of all other awards has increased by 10-20%, depending on the route, fare and date.
Even after the increase, these rates are still attractive, especially if you can travel on off-peak dates. With other plans turning to dynamic pricing and redemption for business-grade flights to Europe, at 350,000 miles or more, the ability to book Lie-Flat Iberia flights to Spain at 40,500 Avios represents a huge value.
British Airways Club increases the cost of flight redemption in Iberia operated in the same way, so whether you redeem Avios through Iberia Plus Club or British Airways Club, you will pay the same price.
You may find the British Airways website easier to navigate than the Iberia booking platform.
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How to make money
Avios is one of the easiest currencies. There is at least one Avios plan to work with all major transferable currencies, and you can transfer Avios between any Avios plan at a rate of 1:1.
Bonus will also be transferred to the Avios program from time to time, which means you may need fewer credit card points.
Related: Iberia makes Orlando the 10th city on its U.S. roadmap
Bottom line
While no universal depreciation is an unpleasant reality of redemption points and mileage, this may be worse. Over the years, you can fly Business Class to Europe in every way, which is the value of clubs and loyalty programs in Iberia.
Given the ease of redemption of Avios, the new price (about 10% to 20% higher now) still represents a great way to fly to Spain, especially in business class.
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