Iberia Club

Iberia Club (formerly known as Iberia Plus, renamed in June 2025) is one of the four Avios-based loyalty programs alongside British Airways, Finnair Plus, and Qatar Privilege Club. For Canadians looking to fly business class between North America and Europe, Iberia Club is arguably the single best Avios program to use – pricing Iberia business class at 19–26% less than British Airways on equivalent distances, with dramatically lower surcharges.

As a member of the oneworld alliance with its hub in Madrid, Iberia connects all of Europe and Latin America. The off-peak sweet spots on Iberia’s own metal are among the best-value premium cabin redemptions available to Canadians.

How to Earn Iberia Club Avios

Like Finnair Plus, there is no Iberia co-branded credit card in Canada. Earning Avios for Iberia Club follows similar paths:

Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards (via British Airways)

Amex MR transfers to British Airways Avios at 1:1, and from there you can combine into Iberia Club via Combine My Avios at 1:1. Note the 90-day transfer rule: Avios transferred into Iberia via Combine My Avios cannot be used for the first 90 days.

Transfer from RBC Avion (via British Airways)

RBC Avion transfers to BA Avios at 1:1, then combine to Iberia Club. Watch for RBC’s periodic 30% transfer bonuses to BA Avios.

The 90-Day Transfer Rule

This is the most important planning detail for Iberia Club: Avios transferred via Combine My Avios are frozen for 90 days before they can be used for bookings. You must plan ahead – transfer your Avios at least three months before your intended travel date. This rule is still active as of 2026.

How to Redeem Iberia Club Avios

Iberia Club’s award chart is where this program truly shines, especially for business class flights on Iberia’s own metal between Europe and the Americas.

Iberia’s Own Metal: The Star Attraction

Iberia uses a distance-based award chart with peak and off-peak pricing on its own metal. The June 2025 devaluation raised prices by approximately 19%, but Iberia business class remains significantly cheaper than booking through British Airways:

• Madrid–New York/Boston/Washington business class: 40,500 Avios off-peak – the headline sweet spot
• Madrid–Dakar business class: 22,000 Avios – extraordinary value for a medium-haul flight
• Intra-Europe economy: From just 3,500 Avios one way

Surcharges on Iberia metal are typically $100–200 CAD, compared to $500+ on British Airways for similar distances. This surcharge advantage alone can save hundreds of dollars per ticket.

Partner Awards

As of the June 2025 update, Iberia’s partner award chart is now aligned with British Airways’s – the same distance-based pricing, with no peak/off-peak on partners. For partner bookings, there is no pricing advantage to using Iberia over BA. The advantage of Iberia Club is exclusively on Iberia’s own metal.

LEVEL: Iberia’s Low-Cost Carrier

Iberia operates a separate low-cost carrier called LEVEL, with its own award chart offering even lower pricing on routes from Barcelona and Madrid to the Americas.

Sweet Spots

Iberia Club’s pricing advantages over British Airways are most pronounced on these routes.

Madrid–East Coast Business Class at 40,500 Avios

This is one of the best-value business class redemptions in the Avios family. Iberia’s A350 business class product offers a competitive hard product with direct aisle access, and the all-in cost is roughly 40,500 Avios + $150 (CAD) in fees. Compare this to British Airways, which would charge 50,000+ Avios plus $500+ in surcharges for a similar distance.

Off-Peak Calendar Arbitrage

Iberia publishes its peak/off-peak calendar in advance. UK school holiday dates (half-terms) are often peak on BA but off-peak on Iberia, creating arbitrage opportunities for travellers who can route through Madrid instead of London.

Iberia Club vs. British Airways: Which Avios Program?

For Canadian travellers, the choice between Iberia Club and British Airways depends on where you’re flying:

• Transatlantic business class: Iberia wins decisively (19–26% cheaper on own metal + much lower surcharges)
• Partner award flights: Tied (same pricing since June 2025 alignment)
• Short-haul from London: BA wins (more routes, Household Account)
• Cathay Pacific business class: Finnair Plus wins for both
• Qatar Qsuites: Qatar Privilege Club wins for both

Key Rules and Limitations

A few important details to keep in mind when using Iberia Club:

• Avios expiry: 36 months of inactivity
• Booking window: 360 days in advance (5 days earlier than BA)
• 90-day Combine My Avios rule: Transferred Avios frozen for 90 days
• Partner awards: Non-refundable once ticketed
• Cancellation: €25 per booking on Iberia metal

Conclusion

Iberia Club is the best Avios program for flying business class between North America and Europe. The combination of lower award pricing on Iberia metal (40,500 Avios off-peak to Madrid) and dramatically lower surcharges ($150 vs. $500+) makes this a no-brainer for transatlantic travel. The 90-day transfer rule requires advance planning, but the savings are well worth it. Pair it with Amex MR or RBC Avion earning and you have one of the strongest value propositions available to Canadian travellers.