Apparently, It’s Illegal to Film Out the Window? My Iberia MAD-LHR Experience (A350-900)
Just flew Iberia’s A350-900 in Business Class on the short hop from Madrid (MAD) to London Heathrow (LHR), and thought I’d share some thoughts — especially for anyone interested in catching a widebody on intra-European routes.
Originally, this flight was scheduled to be operated by an A330, but there was a last-minute aircraft swap to the A350-900. No complaints there — same cabin layout (1-2-1), lie-flat seat, 18” 4K IFE — and a more modern feel overall. Flight time was just under 1 hour and 45 minutes, which makes it one of the shorter routes you’ll find a long-haul product flying in Europe.
I connected in from another terminal and things on the ground were… predictably Iberia. While priority security was efficient and I got through in minutes, the experience at the gate was a mess. There was a delayed boarding announcement — or rather, there wasn’t one — and gate staff offered no updates or explanation around the aircraft swap or timing. A lot of standing around, a lot of shoulder shrugging, and very little information.
That said, I did have time to pop into Iberia’s Velázquez Lounge in T4S beforehand, which was actually a highlight. Despite a tight schedule, it was a great space to decompress before the flight. The food selection was limited, but the quality was quite good — think fresh, simple Spanish offerings rather than a buffet overload. The alcohol selection, on the other hand, was excellent. I didn’t indulge much due to time constraints, but it definitely stood out for a European lounge. Overall, a relaxing environment that exceeded expectations, especially after a hectic terminal transfer.
Once on board, things got off to a rocky start. I was all strapped in and ready to go so imagine my surprise when I'm approached by a member of cabin crew who tells me to stop filming as Iberia does not allow photographs or video at any point during the flight. I challenged back at this, stating I was not filming any staff members, fellow passengers or critical areas that would hamper the safety and security of the flight. He stated he would get the Purser. The Purser arrived and was very abrasive and rude. She told me it was illegal, as per Spanish law, to film on an aircraft, even out of the window. I let her lecture me for a good two to three minutes before stating I was previously a member of cabin crew for fellow oneworld airline, British Airways. She then smiled and the issue seemed to go away. I was the bearer of a few further frosty looks during the safety demonstration before the crew finally warmed up to me during the meal service. Perhaps they realised I wasn't the sinister individual they had long suspected me of during the boarding process!
Thankfully, once in the air, the tone changed completely. The same crew member later warmed up and became far friendlier throughout the service. Meal service was a pleasant surprise too — everything presented well and prepared by DO&CO. Then the meal service started. My thoughts? Absolutely fantastic - one of the nicest business class meals I've had in as long as I can remember. To start was smoked salmon (albeit a small portion) with black olive tapenade and avocado, a bread roll with Spanish olive oil, and the main event: a mezzaluna pasta stuffed with pumpkin and mozzarella in a sweet potato sauce - absolutely a stand-out dish! To finish, a chocolate and cherry cake, almost mousse like in texture and reminiscent to a black forest gateau. On the drinks front, I steered clear of alcohol and went for a still water and a glass of Spanish orange juice. The A350 seat, while obviously overkill for such a short flight, was a nice treat — lie-flat, quiet cabin, good privacy and a crisp IFE display that puts most European narrowbodies to shame.
Bottom line: If you’re into premium hard products or just want a quieter, more comfortable experience for a quick hop, the A350 is worth hunting down. That said, it’s Iberia — so from my experiences in the past, I’d say manage expectations on consistency and ground service. Aircraft swaps are frequent, so there’s always a risk you’ll end up on an A320 last-minute, and you won’t get a refund if you’ve been downgraded to a narrow body!
I booked using Avios — 11,750 points + £29.20 in taxes/fees — which I felt was good value for the product (especially on a widebody).
You can also check out my full video report here if you’re interested:
Happy to answer any questions for those looking to try this or route-plan for a widebody experience
Just flew Iberia’s A350-900 in Business Class on the short hop from Madrid (MAD) to London Heathrow (LHR), and thought I’d share some thoughts — especially for anyone interested in catching a widebody on intra-European routes.
Originally, this flight was scheduled to be operated by an A330, but there was a last-minute aircraft swap to the A350-900. No complaints there — same cabin layout (1-2-1), lie-flat seat, 18” 4K IFE — and a more modern feel overall. Flight time was just under 1 hour and 45 minutes, which makes it one of the shorter routes you’ll find a long-haul product flying in Europe.
I connected in from another terminal and things on the ground were… predictably Iberia. While priority security was efficient and I got through in minutes, the experience at the gate was a mess. There was a delayed boarding announcement — or rather, there wasn’t one — and gate staff offered no updates or explanation around the aircraft swap or timing. A lot of standing around, a lot of shoulder shrugging, and very little information.
That said, I did have time to pop into Iberia’s Velázquez Lounge in T4S beforehand, which was actually a highlight. Despite a tight schedule, it was a great space to decompress before the flight. The food selection was limited, but the quality was quite good — think fresh, simple Spanish offerings rather than a buffet overload. The alcohol selection, on the other hand, was excellent. I didn’t indulge much due to time constraints, but it definitely stood out for a European lounge. Overall, a relaxing environment that exceeded expectations, especially after a hectic terminal transfer.
Once on board, things got off to a rocky start. I was all strapped in and ready to go so imagine my surprise when I'm approached by a member of cabin crew who tells me to stop filming as Iberia does not allow photographs or video at any point during the flight. I challenged back at this, stating I was not filming any staff members, fellow passengers or critical areas that would hamper the safety and security of the flight. He stated he would get the Purser. The Purser arrived and was very abrasive and rude. She told me it was illegal, as per Spanish law, to film on an aircraft, even out of the window. I let her lecture me for a good two to three minutes before stating I was previously a member of cabin crew for fellow oneworld airline, British Airways. She then smiled and the issue seemed to go away. I was the bearer of a few further frosty looks during the safety demonstration before the crew finally warmed up to me during the meal service. Perhaps they realised I wasn't the sinister individual they had long suspected me of during the boarding process!
Thankfully, once in the air, the tone changed completely. The same crew member later warmed up and became far friendlier throughout the service. Meal service was a pleasant surprise too — everything presented well and prepared by DO&CO. Then the meal service started. My thoughts? Absolutely fantastic - one of the nicest business class meals I've had in as long as I can remember. To start was smoked salmon (albeit a small portion) with black olive tapenade and avocado, a bread roll with Spanish olive oil, and the main event: a mezzaluna pasta stuffed with pumpkin and mozzarella in a sweet potato sauce - absolutely a stand-out dish! To finish, a chocolate and cherry cake, almost mousse like in texture and reminiscent to a black forest gateau. On the drinks front, I steered clear of alcohol and went for a still water and a glass of Spanish orange juice. The A350 seat, while obviously overkill for such a short flight, was a nice treat — lie-flat, quiet cabin, good privacy and a crisp IFE display that puts most European narrowbodies to shame.
Bottom line: If you’re into premium hard products or just want a quieter, more comfortable experience for a quick hop, the A350 is worth hunting down. That said, it’s Iberia — so from my experiences in the past, I’d say manage expectations on consistency and ground service. Aircraft swaps are frequent, so there’s always a risk you’ll end up on an A320 last-minute, and you won’t get a refund if you’ve been downgraded to a narrow body!
I booked using Avios — 11,750 points + £29.20 in taxes/fees — which I felt was good value for the product (especially on a widebody).
You can also check out my full video report here if you’re interested:
Happy to answer any questions for those looking to try this or route-plan for a widebody experience
