Airline Iberia
Iberia, officially known as Líneas Aéreas de España is the national airline of Spain. Founded in 1927, it was partially privatised from 1999. To date, its main shareholder remains the Spanish state.
Its main hub is at Madrid International Airport, where it operates both domestic and international flights. The airline also has low-cost and regional subsidiaries: Air Nostrum, Iberia Express, and Vueling.
As a Spanish airline, Iberia is subject to European law, including the well-known Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. We explain what this means for you.
How to get a refund for a flight with Iberia?
At the basic fare, an Iberia flight is not refundable. The online ticketing of the airline offers you different fare options. You can choose the lowest fare or the most flexible offer.
The latter offers you the best conditions to change your flight date or, if necessary, cancel with a refund.
In the event of the death of a first-degree relative of the ticket holder, you may also receive a refund for your plane ticket.
If your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, cancelled, or if Iberia denies you boarding due to overbooking, these are situations covered by law. You can obtain a refund, provided you forgo your journey and any other assistance from the airline.
Do you have any recourse in the event of a flight disruption with Iberia?
If you encounter an issue preventing you from taking your flight, it is generally your responsibility, except in certain cases. However, if your flight is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, the airline is typically responsible.
Cancellation with a refund, under certain conditions, is a right recognised by European regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
As a Spanish airline, Iberia is subject to this regulation. But this is not the only right it guarantees you.
This regulation also provides for:
- re-routing in the event of cancellation or overbooking
- coverage of expenses related to the delay (meals and drinks at the airport, accommodation, two phone calls)
It also provides, depending on the duration of your flight and the length of your delay, a compensation.
The amount of the flat-rate compensation
This compensation is flat-rate. It amounts to:
- €250 for a flight of less than 1500 km with a delay of 2 hours or more
- €400 for an extra-community flight of 1500 to 3500 km or a community flight of more than 1500 km with a delay of 3 hours or more
- €600 for an extra-community flight of more than 3500 km with a delay of 4 hours or more
Which flights are covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004?
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies to:
- any flight departing from an airport within the European Community area (including Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland)
- any flight to the European Community area operated by an airline based in this community area (including Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland)
As a Spanish airline, Iberia is covered by this second point. Except for the specific case of flights with stopovers, every plane is either departing from or arriving at a Spanish (thus European) airport.
What if Iberia goes on strike at the time of your flight?
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 lists strikes as extraordinary circumstances that do not entitle you to compensation.
However, this only applies to strikes by personnel external to the airlines, such as air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, etc.
If it is Iberia's staff who go on strike, the airline is indeed responsible. They must therefore compensate you in the event of disruption.
Iberia: compensation for a flight delay
If your flight is delayed, compensation is possible. The amount will depend on the length of your flight and the extent of the delay.
Reminder: if your flight is delayed by less than 2 hours, the airline does not owe you any compensation.
Iberia: claiming compensation for a cancelled flight
A cancelled flight means it is completely cancelled. Unlike a delay, compensation is due from the outset. However, if the delay does not exceed certain limits, there is a reduction. It goes from:
- €250 to €125 for a flight of less than 1500 km with less than 2 hours delay
- €400 to €200 for an extra-community flight of 1500 to 3500 km or a community flight of more than 1500 km with less than 3 hours delay
- €600 to €300 for an extra-community flight of more than 3500 km with less than 4 hours delay
Iberia: compensation for overbooking
To ensure a full flight, airlines sometimes sell more tickets than there are seats. This is overbooking. If all passengers show up, you may be denied boarding.
This practice is allowed but regulated. It requires an airline like Iberia to offer you an alternative flight and compensate you.
The compensation is calculated on the same basis as for flight cancellation.
What to do in case of a problem with your Iberia flight?
While travelling, you may encounter various types of disruptions. Your flight may be delayed or cancelled. In such cases, you will be informed by the displays in the terminal.
In the event of overbooking, unfortunately, you will only know if you are allowed to board in the boarding area.
In all cases, Iberia remains your point of contact. You can contact the airline:
- to find out the reason for the incident
- to request re-routing in case of cancellation or overbooking
- for coverage of any expenses (meals, accommodation, phone calls)
Iberia can also advise you on how to claim compensation. But do not start the process until you arrive. Keep all your documents (boarding pass, notifications, scheduled and actual times) and do not sign anything that waives your rights.
A flight disruption with Iberia? Delayed assists you with your claims
Have you experienced a delay or cancellation of your Iberia flight? Or were you denied boarding due to overbooking?
If your flight was departing from or arriving at a European airport, you are covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. This entitles you, under certain conditions, to a flat-rate compensation.
In France, you have up to two years to make a claim. Delayed, a specialist in air passenger rights, supports you in your claims.
Contact us and claim up to €600 on your flight ticket.