Unfortunately our terrific stay in Madrid had to end at some point. Luckily it wasn’t the end of our trip! I was really excited to see how Barcelona would compare to the Spanish Capital. I would normally prefer the train between the two cities, but those fares were exorbitantly high, even when compared to paying the extra 4500 avios for business class.
Introduction: Spring break in Spain
British Airways Club World DFW-LHR
British Airways T5 Galleries South Lounge @ Heathrow
The Westin Palace Madrid
Renfe Preferred Class Madrid-Seville
Renfe Preferred Class Lounge – Seville St. Justa
Hotel Alfonso XII Seville
Strolling through Seville
Sights and Sounds of Majestic Madrid
Iberia Business Class Lounge Madrid Barajas
Iberia Business Class Madrid-Barcelona
The W Barcelona
Exploring Gaudi’s Barcelona
The Hilton London Heathrow Airport T5
American Airlines New Business Class LHR-DFW
Our 35 minute ride to Madrid Barajas airport was uneventful and we pretty much breezed through check in and security. Since we were traveling in Iberia business, we had access to the Iberia business class lounge. Iberia has two lounges in Madrid’s Terminal 4, they are coined as the “Salvador Dali”, and “Velázquez” lounges. The “Salvador Dali” lounge is located to the right of the walkway pictured below, after clearing security.
As I mentioned before, Madrid Barajas is architecturally speaking one of the most stunning airports in the world, and this lounge is no different. Call me crazy, but I really do like just sitting and enjoying the ambiance of the terminal.
We were promptly admitted after our boarding passes were scanned.
The lounge extends across much of the second floor of the terminal and has plenty of seating.
The UFO looking center of each area of seating was an interesting way to include bookshelves and what I presume to be the pillar extending into the lounge itself.
As you can see the lounge was fully packed that morning, though we really didn’t find it hard to find a seat at one of the tables around the dining area.
There were a few glass enclosed cubicle spaces with private televisions and seating areas, which were surprisingly vacant.
Food options were definitely a step up from similar airline lounges in the U.S (excluding Centurion lounges of course). It was breakfast time so they included pastries, donuts, toast, cereals, and granola bars. I hadn’t eaten breakfast at the hotel, so I had a bit of meusli before leaving the lounge. On a side note: the quality of the milk wasn’t as extraordinary as what you would find in lounges across Switzerland, Austria, or Germany though.
With regards to the setup of the food: there was a central dining area, and several outstations with coffee, muffins, and croissants. So crowding wasn’t an issue around food stations.
As for drink selection, there were the usual soft drinks (coke, sprite, club soda), and some alcoholic beverages as well. I have no idea how the quality of the cocktails or boos they have here compare to other places.
The lounge does feature free WIFI, and showers, but I didn’t have enough time to try either one. My tour of the lounge somehow ended with me looking at that UFO bookshelf arrangement in the center once again.
Bottom Line: The Iberia lounge is characterized by crowded seating spaces, somewhat above average food options, and a pleasant airiness. Should you rush over here even though you have no time and your gate is far away? Absolutely not! However if you have tons of time on your hand and nothing better to do go ahead and have a peek. Though I love the design and airiness of the lounge, admiring these can be done from the terminal itself, and probably a bit closer to your gate.
Before I leave you, a quick thought to keep in mind: BEWARE that gates at Madrid-Barajas can be extremely far from the lounge. So keep a good track of time!
Next up: Barcelona!
What’s your experience been like with Madrid Barajas? And how do you like the Iberia lounge?
Agreed with the stunning architecture of MAD. Great photos!
Thanks! I only wish the airport had way to reduce e the time to the gate in terms of walking. You can easily lose track of time and be too far from the gate.