In a complete shock to no one, International Airlines Group subsidiary Iberia is to switch to a revenue-based loyalty programme, whilst rebranding it.
The new changes are going into action on the 1st April 2025. The loyalty programme will be rebranded “Club Iberia Plus” (changing from the current loyalty naming scheme, Iberia Plus).
Please note: At this time, we are working through FAQ’s and trying to tease out as much useful information as possible. It’s changing pretty rapidly, so expect errors at this point.
The Basics
There is a site for this, launched at https://www.iberia.com/es/news-updates/iberia-plus-2025/
Iberia currently allows qualification on points on distance flown. This will change to 1 euro will earn 1 elite point.
You’ll also earn extra elite points per flight. Iberia has a lovely table explaining this. If you’ve seen this table before… you might had when a certain British Airline announced its mini-backpedal.
Iberia Plus continues to evolve to adapt to new ways of travelling, becoming Club Iberia Plus and incorporating important new features.
In addition, Elite Points will also be earned when making purchases of additional products and services, such as seat reservation or priority boarding, among others, as well as with purchases from brands associated with the program, making it even easier to move up a level. In addition, by purchasing Optimal, Comfort or Flexible fares, members will earn additional Elite Points per segment, depending on the route and cabin in which they fly.
Likewise, to access the Iberia Plus Silver and Gold levels, a lower number of flights per year will be needed and the possibility of accessing the Platinum level by number of flights will also be incorporated.
The new earning levels are:
- Club Iberia Plus Plata (oneworld Ruby) requires 3,500 Elite Points or 20 segments
- Club Iberia Plus Oro (oneworld Sapphire) requires 7,500 Elite Points or 40 segments
- Club Iberia Plus Platino (oneworld Emerald) requires 20,000 Elite Points or 90 segments
- Club Iberia Plus Platino Prime (oneworld Emerald) requires 30,000 Elite Points and offers status for two years
- Club Iberia Plus Infinita (oneworld Emerald) requires 400,000 Elite Points and offers lifetime status
- Club Iberia Plus Infinita Prime (oneworld Emerald) requires 640,000 Elite Points and offers lifetime status
Here’s a pretty graphic showing what is what.
If the Elite points qualification looks familiar… you’re not seeing double. Intrelestly you can earn status at a lower level than at BA if you are focusing on segment flying.
Partner earning
Interestingly, Iberia has chosen to mix how you earn points. For those flying British Airways or Amerian Airlines, you will earn per Euro spent, but also get a bonus on distance.
Other airlines will remain as earning points by distance and class flown (rather than each airline having its own earning percentage)
Be warned: The earning of Elite Points with partner brands is limited to 30% of the Elite Points you need to reach or renew each Iberia Plus tier.
Elite bonuses
Iberia offers Elite bonuses in its programme. You’ll need to earn points to get these prizes. The new levels are:
The new limits for the Bonus rewards are:
- 1,250 Elite Points: €20 voucher to spend on extras on Iberia.com
- 2,500 Elite Points: 1,500 extra Avios
- 5,500 Elite Points: 2,500 extra Avios
- 11,000 Elite Points: 4,000 extra Avios
- 15,000 Elite Points: 5,000 extra Avios
- 18,000 Elite Points: Double Elite Points on your next flights
- 25,000 Elite Points: 10,000 extra Avios
- 40,000 Elite Points: 1 Iberia Plus Oro card to give to anyone you want
The full FAQ
It’s at https://www.iberia.com/gb/news-updates/iberia-plus-2025-faq/. If you’re actively using Iberia Plus, I strongly recommend reading it, especially about partner-earning.
In Quotes
Beatriz Guillén, Director of Global Sales and Loyalty at Iberia said
“We believe it’s a fairer and more transparent way to reward our most loyal customers. In addition, including the possibility of accumulating Elite Points with our main air and non-air partners undoubtedly strengthens our network and offers our customers more and better benefits,” said
It might be better than the BA programme…
There are some interesting things in this programme – I’m still digesting them. One thing is clear, if you’re segment flying on Iberia, Silver is going to be much easier to achieve than BA Silver. You can even get Gold status segment flying with Iberia (although you might want to consider Royal Jordanian, which gets you Gold on 46 segments, rather than the 90 Iberia demand).
Certainly, it seems that lessons have been learned from the botched launch of the British Airways programme, with permanent bonus earnings being part of the core programme – rather than having to opt into it.
There’s a lot to chew through. Good thing I have a day off to go through it tomorrow.
I’ll have more over the next few days as the dust settles from the announcement.
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