Are Aer Europa and Iberia reputable airlines?

Iberia is part of IAG which was created with the merger with British Airways.

Iberia is a huge, established airline. It's the national flag carrier of Spain, has been around since the 1920s, and flies all over the world.

Air Europa is a smaller, but still well-established airline, more of a regional/local partner of Iberia.

Can't comment on one over the other; I suspect on the route in question, it might be the same Air Europa plane just sold by both airlines as a codeshare. If it's actually two different flights, I'd compare things that matter to me (convenience, price, seat comfort).

Respected? Nobody respects any airlines. Personally, I'd fly either one without any hesitation.

If you just want to go to Madrid, take the train.

Respected? Nobody respects any airlines. Personally, I'd fly either one without any hesitation.

Ha! And agreed!

But the two don't actually partner. One is OneWorld and the other is Star Alliance. (AIG was trying to buy AirEuropa, but the deal fell apart in the pandemic)

And I agree with Badger. The train is nearly 5 hours, but, at the end, that's not too much longer than the total travel time for flying. Way more comfortable and pretty.

I think some have averred that they consort with unsavory characters and have been occasionally spotted cavorting in establishments on the wrong side of the tracks, which one might weigh when deciding upon their proper esteem. I'm not openly accusing them of disreputable behavior, mind you - nothing that would open one to accusations of slander, but word gets around of a certain sympathy with lower class mores and unchurched practices. Tut tut, my dear inquirer.

Weigh what loss your honour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list their ads,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To their unmaster'd importunity.
Fear it, rswisley, fear it, my dear traveler,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.

I flew Iberia from Madrid to Los Angeles in November 2022. Seated in Economy and the experience was very good. Better than similar length flights on British Air.

Last summer I flew from the US to Santorini with a connection in Madrid and returned home from Tel Aviv with another connection in Madrid on Iberia. Many airlines had dropped the COVID face covering mask but not Iberia which I was grateful for. Do allow enough time to get to your terminal if a connection is involved. Madrid’s airport is huge.

We just flew Iberia from London to Madrid last week. On time, nice food and our checked luggage arrived in our destination. Madrid airport was terrible - it took 2 hours to get through passport control as they had only one official working and he was asking everyone questions.

Many airlines had dropped the COVID face covering mask but not Iberia

This was Spanish national policy, not Iberia's. It was recorded just a week or so ago.

it took 2 hours to get through passport control

That's really unusual. I've gone through passport control in Madrid 6 times in the past 16 months, and 40 minutes was the longest it's taken me to get through—longest by far. I suppose I always arrive on a transatlantic flight, and they're staffed up for the influx of morning arrivals. Not that it matters to the OP, as they'll be coming from within Schengen.

All SO HELPFUL!! I will definitely look into the train. I love train travel and Europe makes that so much easier than the US!
Thank you all so much