BA v IB in business
Sep 14, 2017, 5:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 256
BA v IB in business
Hi All,
With a choice between these two on a business class flight LHR to MAD is there much in it? Maximising time is a consideration so any tips on delay patterns etc would be useful, does IB mean you avoid the train transfers in the airport in Madrid? Thanks.
With a choice between these two on a business class flight LHR to MAD is there much in it? Maximising time is a consideration so any tips on delay patterns etc would be useful, does IB mean you avoid the train transfers in the airport in Madrid? Thanks.
Sep 14, 2017, 5:41 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,237
Arriving in Terminal 4S on BA with checked luggage is a pretty dire experience. HBO just the train and a fairly long walk.
If price the same and HBO I'd take the longhaul BA flight any day (BA458)
If price the same and HBO I'd take the longhaul BA flight any day (BA458)
Sep 14, 2017, 5:48 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: TLV/ATH/LON/EZE/NYC/UIP
Programs: BA*GGL, A3*G, AF*P, VS*S
Posts: 1,011
IB also run a widebody once a day - the 18.30 departure IB3167 is an A340. Given the choice between that and BA's 777, I'd rather that. And BA substitute theirs a lot these days for the dreadful Titan 757.
Sep 14, 2017, 6:01 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, EK Gold, GF Silver, IC Royal Ambass, Marriott Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 902
Food (other than breakfast) and drink much better on IB in business class in my opinion including post lunch/dinner liqueurs. All IB flights other than the daily A340/330 arrive in the main T4 allowing a much quicker exit from Madrid airport.
Sep 14, 2017, 6:23 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Iberia every time.
Food offering is far superior to BAs.
See my TR for some pics - 2 studs do Granada with Iberia: 6 flights and 4 cities and, more recently, Escaping the cold Scottish summer - Iberia (and some BA) to Valencia and Madrid
Enjoy your flight!
Food offering is far superior to BAs.
See my TR for some pics - 2 studs do Granada with Iberia: 6 flights and 4 cities and, more recently, Escaping the cold Scottish summer - Iberia (and some BA) to Valencia and Madrid
Enjoy your flight!
Sep 14, 2017, 6:29 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Programs: BA Silver - hard drop from GGL :( SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, AC E50k
Posts: 567
Having done it, hard choice, but I am probably slightly leaning towards the IB A340. Good seats, good food and drink.
Having said that, on the return I was in the 4 class 777, and the sole person upgraded to First cabin. Just me and my 1 year old infant had the entire cabin and one dedicated cabin crew... However, that is not a guaranteed experience, hence probably go for the A340
Having said that, on the return I was in the 4 class 777, and the sole person upgraded to First cabin. Just me and my 1 year old infant had the entire cabin and one dedicated cabin crew... However, that is not a guaranteed experience, hence probably go for the A340
Sep 14, 2017, 9:10 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,125
IB 330/340 > BA 777/787 > IB 32S > BA 32S
The last two are depending upon your meal preference I guess, IB's breakfast is pretty basic (Spanish style) and there is no choice. But I'd still take IB, if only to arrive into T4 rather than T4S.
The last two are depending upon your meal preference I guess, IB's breakfast is pretty basic (Spanish style) and there is no choice. But I'd still take IB, if only to arrive into T4 rather than T4S.
Sep 14, 2017, 1:14 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
Basically they loaded the cargo pallets all wrong and unbalanced the plane. Offending pallet was, naturally, the last one to be taken back off. SO I arrived at MAD at stupid O'Clock.
Echo the baggage comment above also - HBO at MAD is the way forward.
The lounge in T4S is nicer than that in the main terminal though (if you're outbound from MAD)