jwotravelexpert
Active Member
Air Europa Business Class | Barcelona (BCN) to Madrid (MAD) (Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner)
Hi all,
I recently flew Air Europa Business Class on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Barcelona to Madrid — a short domestic hop, but on a widebody jet. A rare opportunity to try a long-haul aircraft on a sub-1-hour flight, and an interesting look into Air Europa’s premium product.
Booking the Ticket
This was a revenue ticket booked as part of a wider itinerary, but I was particularly excited for this leg as it was operated by the 787-9 Dreamliner — one of Air Europa’s flagship aircraft usually seen on long-haul routes like Miami, Buenos Aires or Lima.
Route: Barcelona El Prat (BCN) → Madrid Barajas (MAD)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (EC-MBX)
Cabin: Business Class
Flight time: 49 minutes
Seat: 1K – window seat
Cost: €143.00 (£122.09 estimated)
Check-in & Lounge Access at BCN
Check-in at Barcelona Terminal 1 was smooth, with a dedicated counter for Business passengers. I received a fast-track pass for security and was directed to the VIP Sala Pau Casals lounge, which is the shared contract lounge for most non-Schengen premium passengers.
The lounge was well-equipped:
• Decent hot food selection
• Wines, cava, and self-pour spirits
• Comfortable seating with partial-apron view.
It was quite busy when I arrived but then bottomed out as several long-haul flights were called in rapid succession. It was a nice lounge, nothing groundbreaking, but absolutely fine for a domestic short-haul wait.
Boarding & First Impressions
Boarding was called and it was one hell of a walk to the gates, but priority lanes were respected, and I was one of the first onboard. Before boarding, my pass beeped and seating issue was the apparent cause. I’d been downgraded due to an aircraft swap from Air Europa’s newer business class (1-2-1 format) to the old business class (2-2-2 format).
Walking down the Dreamliner jetbridge for a one-hour flight still feels like a treat. Air Europa’s Business Class is arranged in a 2-2-2 — fully lie-flat. The cabin was filthy however, see my review which really highlights this!
The Seat – Long-Haul Comfort for a Short Hop
I was seated in 1K, a window seat on the right side of the cabin.
Not great for privacy but plenty of personal space, a large touchscreen IFE system (not activated for the short sector), USB and universal power outlets and fully flat bed capability (not needed here but I do give it a test!)
For a flight under 60 minutes, this felt almost excessive — but I wasn’t complaining.
In-Flight Service – Simple, Direct But Friendly
Once airborne, the crew began service quickly. For this short domestic hop, catering was limited but still a notch above Economy.
A selection of snacks were on offer, I opted for a bag of ready salted Lays and an orange juice.
Descent & Arrival into Madrid
Our descent began about 30 minutes after takeoff, with the classic views of central Spain’s patchwork fields outside the Dreamliner’s large, dimmable windows.
We touched down ahead of schedule and were quickly at the gate in Terminal 2 at Madrid-Barajas, and priority disembarkation was shown to Business Class passengers.
Full video trip report on YouTube:
Watch the full flight here:
Includes: Pau Casals lounge tour, seat walkthrough, full snack service, and landing into MAD.
Happy to answer any questions from fellow Forum4Airports members — have you flown Air Europa?
Hi all,
I recently flew Air Europa Business Class on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Barcelona to Madrid — a short domestic hop, but on a widebody jet. A rare opportunity to try a long-haul aircraft on a sub-1-hour flight, and an interesting look into Air Europa’s premium product.
Booking the Ticket
This was a revenue ticket booked as part of a wider itinerary, but I was particularly excited for this leg as it was operated by the 787-9 Dreamliner — one of Air Europa’s flagship aircraft usually seen on long-haul routes like Miami, Buenos Aires or Lima.
Route: Barcelona El Prat (BCN) → Madrid Barajas (MAD)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (EC-MBX)
Cabin: Business Class
Flight time: 49 minutes
Seat: 1K – window seat
Cost: €143.00 (£122.09 estimated)
Check-in & Lounge Access at BCN
Check-in at Barcelona Terminal 1 was smooth, with a dedicated counter for Business passengers. I received a fast-track pass for security and was directed to the VIP Sala Pau Casals lounge, which is the shared contract lounge for most non-Schengen premium passengers.
The lounge was well-equipped:
• Decent hot food selection
• Wines, cava, and self-pour spirits
• Comfortable seating with partial-apron view.
It was quite busy when I arrived but then bottomed out as several long-haul flights were called in rapid succession. It was a nice lounge, nothing groundbreaking, but absolutely fine for a domestic short-haul wait.
Boarding & First Impressions
Boarding was called and it was one hell of a walk to the gates, but priority lanes were respected, and I was one of the first onboard. Before boarding, my pass beeped and seating issue was the apparent cause. I’d been downgraded due to an aircraft swap from Air Europa’s newer business class (1-2-1 format) to the old business class (2-2-2 format).
Walking down the Dreamliner jetbridge for a one-hour flight still feels like a treat. Air Europa’s Business Class is arranged in a 2-2-2 — fully lie-flat. The cabin was filthy however, see my review which really highlights this!
The Seat – Long-Haul Comfort for a Short Hop
I was seated in 1K, a window seat on the right side of the cabin.
Not great for privacy but plenty of personal space, a large touchscreen IFE system (not activated for the short sector), USB and universal power outlets and fully flat bed capability (not needed here but I do give it a test!)
For a flight under 60 minutes, this felt almost excessive — but I wasn’t complaining.
In-Flight Service – Simple, Direct But Friendly
Once airborne, the crew began service quickly. For this short domestic hop, catering was limited but still a notch above Economy.
A selection of snacks were on offer, I opted for a bag of ready salted Lays and an orange juice.
Descent & Arrival into Madrid
Our descent began about 30 minutes after takeoff, with the classic views of central Spain’s patchwork fields outside the Dreamliner’s large, dimmable windows.
We touched down ahead of schedule and were quickly at the gate in Terminal 2 at Madrid-Barajas, and priority disembarkation was shown to Business Class passengers.
Full video trip report on YouTube:
Watch the full flight here:
Includes: Pau Casals lounge tour, seat walkthrough, full snack service, and landing into MAD.
Happy to answer any questions from fellow Forum4Airports members — have you flown Air Europa?
