Seat Assignments on Iberia Airline

Unlike U.S. based airlines, most European carriers, on intra-European flights, don't assign seats until you check-in for your flight or not until you get to the gate.

On Iberia you get your seat when you check in. This can be done online beginning one day before your flight and up to 2 hours before it.

Even if you have your seat assignment selected months in advance, the airline may still change it without notice, perhaps more than once. I might recommend familiarizing yourself with the equipment's seat configuration for your flight using www.seatguru.com. That way, you'll have a good idea of the seats that are acceptable to you when you check in online. Not sure about Iberia, but you can typically change seat assignments right online as you're checking in if what you've been given doesn't work for you. Also, it wouldn't hurt to call Iberia now and ask if they can assign you now (but it could change). Good luck.

I hate to break it to you, but Iberia are among the worst airlines I have flown on, especially when it comes to customer service. I was traveling on my own with 2 babies, and got stuck in the back of the plane while a bunch of single and healthy travelers got the bulked and the bassinets were wasted. All the arguing in the world wouldn't make them budge. Good luck!

Regarding electronic seat requests....just be aware this doesn't mean you're going to get those seats. It's just a notation on your record that you'd prefer a certain type of seat. No seat is guaranteed until check in.

Some airlines do their best to honor your requests, others see them as a way to keep the customer happy but ignores them when assigning seats.

I'd suggest checking in early to get the seats you want.

This is what you do. Go to seatguru.com go get a general idea of the seating configuration (Out of Madrid into the US they probably fly an airbus 340). Then call American (as many times as needed to get a "nice" agent on the line) and ask them to send an electronic seat request to Iberia. It takes about 30 seconds. I just did it today for my March trip as I am also flying Iberia out Madrid. I didn't know this was possible until the airline representative herself offered to do it. And yes, I have also heard less than inspiring comments about Iberia but I am flying on an award ticket....cheap. I'll take a chance. Happy travels.

My wife and I got assigned seats on Iberia at check-in with no problems. BTW, don't be scared off by the impressions some may have of Iberia. We have flown Iberia for two recent trips to Europe after getting bargain airfares. We found that Iberia isn't any worse than most US airlines, so why not pay less for mediocre-but-ok service? We got to our destinations safely and on-time -- that's all we hope for. One thing I would suggest: be patient and allow plenty of time for check-in -- took us 45 minutes in line just to get to an Iberia agent. Have a great trip.

Frank II is spot on with his comments. An example: I just returned from Madrid last week, and, while seat assignments for the long-haul over and back remained as selected months in advance, the short-hauls changed twice without notice for each leg just a few days before the trip (actually three times each b/c I changed one leg online upon check-in prior to leaving home and the other at Barajas when checking in at the counter. Regardless of airline, it's just the way it is. My best advice in this area is to call and get the assignments now, call a couple of days before your flight to confirm, and call again the day of your flight or just review it and edit as necessary when you check in online. Good luck!

Also, I've never flown Iberia, but the reviews aren't that bad...mixed bag. Nothing like Alitalia.

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions. I've looked @ www.seatguru.com & checked out the airbus seating options. I'll try to contact American to get advanced seating assignments, but it was good to hear that we could still get decent seats w/check-in.
Any idea of how the food is on Iberia? Should we bring our own snacks or is the food decent?

Regarding the food on Iberia, we found it to be on par with other major American airlines. And that's to say if it were served at a family meal, we wouldn't be clamoring for seconds.