#23 Among Airlines
Point Value
1.20 ¢
Hobby Score
4.0
Iberia Plus offers the best option when using Avios for business class between the U.S. and Europe.
Iberia Plus associated alliance is oneworld Alliance
Visit oneworld Alliance
You can earn Iberia Avios in several ways. The most efficient methods are flying on Iberia or partner airlines, opening a co-branded credit card, and transferring points from credit card partners.
When you fly on Iberia, you earn Avios based on how much you spend. By joining Club Iberia Plus, you start as a Clasica member and earn 5 Avios for every euro spent on your fare.
Higher status tiers earn more:
Iberia offers one co-branded credit card to U.S. customers. Avios earned from this card can be redeemed for airfare on Iberia. The signup bonus is strong, but the ongoing value is limited. The $95 annual fee probably isn't worth it after the first year.
Iberia has strong credit card transfer partners, making it easy to top up your Avios. You can transfer from American Express, Bilt, Chase, and Wells Fargo all at 1:1 ratios.
Since Avios can be transferred freely between all seven airlines that use Avios as their currency, you can move points from nearly every major rewards program (sometimes indirectly) to Iberia.
You can also earn Avios when flying with Iberia’s partner airlines, including both oneworld and non-oneworld carriers. Earnings are based on the distance flown and the class of service booked. To view the earning tables for each partner airline, visit Iberia’s partner page and select the carrier you’ll be flying.
The best way to redeem your Iberia Avios is for airfare on Iberia or one of its many partners. Iberia is part of the oneworld Alliance, so you can use Avios to book flights on any partner airline. Because Avios can be transferred freely between all seven airlines who use them, you have a lot of flexibility when planning award travel.
To search for award flights on Iberia:
Iberia uses a published award chart for all its flights, with pricing based on peak and off-peak dates. This makes it easy to estimate how many Avios you’ll need before searching. Go to this link, then click on "See Usage Table" to view the award chart for flights on Iberia metal.
Iberia publishes award charts for all its partner airlines, and redemption rates vary by partner. To view them, go to the partner page, select the airline you want to book, and click “See usage table” to open the chart.
One important caveat is that all Iberia partner bookings are nonrefundable. Other Avios-earning airlines do not always impose the same restriction, so it’s worth comparing options across all Avios programs before transferring points or booking.
You can redeem Avios for hotel stays, car rentals, and other partner travel services, but these options provide far less value than using Avios for airfare. Because the redemption rates are weak, we don’t recommend using your Avios this way unless you’re clearing out a small balance.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
another reason to check all Avios options is because change and cancellation policies also vary. Iberia has a strict no refund policy on all partner bookings, so if you book an American flight with Avios, it’s better to do it with British or Qatar since they have more favorable cancellation policies
Iberia uses a (cumulative) distance based chart, whereas British and Aer Lingus charge for each segment separately. So if you have a connection, chances are it will be less expensive on Iberia vs. the other two airlines since you’ll get charged for two flights
Club Iberia Plus is best for advanced points-and-miles users who travel to Europe and value premium seating. Iberia uses award charts for all flights, so knowing how to navigate them is key to getting the most value. The best redemptions are on Iberia itself, especially in business class between the U.S. and Spain. These often beat other Avios airlines in both pricing and surcharges, particularly compared to British Airways. Partner sweet spots exist, but Iberia’s no-refund policy on partner redemptions makes those bookings risky.
Club Iberia Plus uses Avios as its currency, which opens up many possibilities through transfers between all seven Avios-earning airlines. Iberia also has strong credit card transfer partners for top ups. The program has only one co-branded credit card, which limits your ability to earn Avios without flying Iberia or its partners. Club Iberia Plus is a good program to explore if you regularly fly to Europe or plan a trip to Spain and value premium cabin travel.
Iberia has seven elite status tiers, starting with Clasica. You receive Clasica when you sign up for a free account. It earns 5 Avios per Euro spent on eligible airfare and lets you redeem Avios.
Clasica members also get:
To move up a tier, you must earn Elite Points or take a required number of flights between April 1 and March 31. You earn one tier point per Euro spent on airfare (excluding taxes and fees). You’ll also earn bonus tier points on Iberia flights based on fare class and distance flown.
You can also earn tier points by flying on Iberia’s partner airlines. The amount varies by partner, so check the earning charts for each carrier. Iberia also allows you to earn tier points through a variety of other partners, both travel and non-travel. You can view all additional earning options on their partner page.
Here are the other levels of elite status, requirements you’ll need to get to each level, and the benefits of each
If you cancel the Iberia Visa Signature credit card, your Avios will remain valid for 36 months from when they were earned. Since you can transfer Avios freely to any of the six other airlines that use Avios as their currency, you should have plenty of options for keeping them active. Just note that the card follows the 24 From Bonus rule, so if you cancel it, you won’t be eligible to earn the welcome offer again until 24 months have passed since you last received it.
