YouTube Review Air Europa Business Class | Barcelona (BCN) to Madrid (MAD) (Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner)

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?

 

Thanks for sharing another fascinating review - flying a Dreamliner on a sub 1 hour hop sounds like a rare aviation treat! It’s great to get your perspective on Air Europa’s premium product, especially with that unexpected aircraft swap.

Glad check-in and the Sala Pau Casals lounge at BCN were smooth - your description of the food and self-pour drinks makes it sound like a solid spot to unwind pre-flight. (Though I’ve heard from others that finding it can be a trek in T1. Did you find the lounge well-signposted, or was it a challenge to locate?)

Shame about the cabin condition and last-minute downgrade to the 2-2-2 configuration, especially when you’d specifically booked for the newer seat! Still, scoring a window seat (1K) on a widebody for such a short flight must have felt indulgent, despite the tight timeline making the IFE/Cabin bed redundant.

Your note about the "one hell of a walk to the gates" after the lounge really stood out - did the priority lane help mitigate the distance, or was it still a rushed journey? And kudos to the crew for delivering friendly (if minimal) service so efficiently at 30,000 feet!

All in all, a cool novelty experience, would you recommend this solely for the widebody factor, or is the short duration too limiting to properly enjoy Business Class? Looking forward to watching the full video, especially the lounge tour! Safe travels on your next adventure and I look forward to reading your review on Forums4airports!
#Dreamliner#WidebodyShortHaul

 

Thank you so much for the kind words and for taking the time to leave such a detailed comment — I really appreciate it!

Flying a Dreamliner on such a short hop was definitely a novelty, and although the aircraft swap to the older 2-2-2 config was a bit of a letdown, it still felt special to have that big engine view. You’re absolutely right — no time for the IFE or flatbed, but for AvGeeks like us, just being on a widebody for a domestic hop is half the fun.

The Sala Pau Casals lounge was a solid pre-flight stop — good food, plenty of space, and the self-pour alcohol always helps! You’re spot-on though: it was a bit of a trek to find. Signposting was terrible, and if you don’t know it’s tucked away behind the escalators near B gates, you could easily miss it. Definitely a lounge where a few more signs wouldn’t hurt.

As for the walk to the gate — long is an understatement! The priority lane had the same queue length as the regular one so I decided to swerve it. I'd left enough time to get to the gate but, with BCN’s layout, I'd always recommend heading to your gate immediately. I just about made it in time for boarding, but wouldn’t recommend cutting it fine!

Would I recommend it? If you’re booking just for the long-haul aircraft — absolutely, but more for the experience than the cabin. It’s a fun aviation quirk rather than a true Business Class experience. The crew were relatively good though, and it’s one I’m glad I ticked off the list.

 

Flying AirEuropa in September from Amsterdam to Madrid on the 787!

 

Flying AirEuropa in September from Amsterdam to Madrid on the 787!

Awesome Jerry - enjoy. Fingers crossed you get the newer retrofitted cabin!

 

Awesome Jerry - enjoy. Fingers crossed you get the newer retrofitted cabin!

Fingers crossed. Last time I checked the seatplan was 2-2-2 in business. Whether it'll change idk.

 

Fingers crossed. Last time I checked the seatplan was 2-2-2 in business. Whether it'll change idk.

They have a lot of fluidity when it comes to aircraft changes, so fingers crossed. I was booked in the 1-2-1 new cabin and got downgraded. Let's hope you get the reverse luck! Enjoy and let us know your experience after the flight.

 

They have a lot of fluidity when it comes to aircraft changes, so fingers crossed. I was booked in the 1-2-1 new cabin and got downgraded. Let's hope you get the reverse luck! Enjoy and let us know your experience after the flight.

Fingers crossed though 2-2-2 is still better than economy!