Iberia Wins Best Airline Staff Service in Europe at the 2026 World Airline Awards

Iberia Beats Europe's Biggest Airlines for Staff Service

The World Airline Awards are one of the aviation industry's best-known accolades, and the winners are decided by the people who know the airlines best. Their passengers.

There's no shortage of opinions, either. According to Iberia, 24.8 million valid responses were collected between September 2025 and August 2026, with passengers from over 100 nationalities rating their experiences with different airlines.

Iberia came out on top in Europe, ahead of Austrian Airlines and Air France. Turkish Airlines took fourth place, while British Airways finished fifth. That's quite a line-up to beat, which is food for thought for Avios collectors who might normally book BA without giving Iberia a second thought.

The award recognises Iberia's cabin crews and airport customer service teams, including their professionalism, attentiveness and ability to help passengers throughout their trips.

Iberia President Marco Sansavini attended the ceremony alongside Customer Director Beatriz Guillén, Captain Marta Checa and Purser José Luis de la Riva.

Sansavini said, "This recognition is particularly important because it reflects the direct assessment of our customers and acknowledges the work of the thousands of professionals who make up Iberia. Every day, our teams, both on the ground and on board, put their experience, dedication and personal approach at the service of those who choose to travel with us. This award is for all of them. It highlights their daily work and the way they represent the hospitality that defines Iberia."

There's something reassuring about an airline winning an award for its people. Fancy cabins and enormous entertainment screens are all very nice, but a helpful crew can make a much bigger difference when things don't go according to plan.

What's Changing at Iberia?

Iberia isn't planning to rest on its laurels. The airline's Flight Plan 2030 includes a series of improvements to make the passenger experience better, both on board and at the airport. One of its biggest commitments is to refurbish all cabins across its long-haul fleet. That's one to watch if you're considering Iberia Business Class Avios redemptions, since the aircraft and cabin configuration can make a major difference to the experience.

Iberia is also tackling one of the great annoyances of short-haul flying. The airline plans to install XL overhead lockers across its narrow-body fleet, giving passengers extra space for their cabin bags. That should make the mad dash to board first a little less necessary, although old habits die hard.

The airline is spending money on its airport lounges too. Its recently opened Emerald Lounge Sorolla at Madrid-Barajas Terminal 4 caters to eligible Iberia Club (formerly Iberia Plus) members, including Platino, Platino Prime, Infinita, Infinita Prime and Singular members.

The investment is encouraging, but there's a little patience required. Until the work is complete, passengers could find themselves on an older aircraft while the shiny new interiors are still making their way through the fleet. Checking the aircraft and seat map before booking would be sensible.

Why Avios Collectors Should Take Notice

British Airways might be the obvious choice for UK travellers, but Iberia deserves some attention too. The Spanish airline has an extensive network of European and long-haul routes, so it's a great alternative to flying directly from London.

Its flights to North and South America are a good place to start. A connection in Madrid might add a few hours to the journey, but a decent saving on Avios could make that an easy compromise. So give Iberia Avios flights a look first before automatically booking British Airways reward flights from Heathrow.

Iberia can sometimes require fewer Avios and lower cash charges than British Airways on comparable routes, which makes its Iberia Business Class Avios redemptions tempting. Of course, a cheaper flight isn't much use if there are no reward seats available, so check both airlines before booking.

The 2026 Skytrax award is another reason to take a closer look at the airline. After all, there's little point in securing a great Avios redemption if the onboard experience leaves much to be desired. Good service can make all the difference, especially on an overnight flight when a comfortable, uninterrupted night's sleep is the priority.

Of course, an award doesn't guarantee that every Iberia flight will be flawless. Individual experiences vary, and a staff-service award says little about reward availability or redemption pricing. But it's encouraging to see passengers rating Iberia so highly.

What Are the Best Iberia Avios Routes?

New York and Miami are good places to start comparing prices. Iberia also has an extensive network across Latin America, with destinations such as Mexico City, Buenos Aires and Bogotá. The best Iberia Avios routes can sometimes surprise you, especially if you've spent years automatically searching for flights out of Heathrow.

That said, there's no point congratulating yourself on saving 20,000 Avios if you've added an awkward connection, a long layover and a hefty cash payment to the trip. Iberia routes aren't always the cheapest. Check the Avios required, cash charges and connection times before making a decision. A few extra Avios for a direct flight might be money well spent, especially if the alternative involves spending half your holiday in an airport.

How to Transfer Avios to Iberia

If you're a British Airways Club member, you can easily move your Avios to Iberia Club, so you don't necessarily need to build a separate balance before booking. Just use the British Airways Transfer Your Avios tool to transfer Avios to Iberia.

First, link the eligible loyalty accounts, then select the number of Avios to move and confirm the transfer. BA says these transfers are immediate and can be made as often as required. That's a great perk when you need a quick Iberia Avios redemption, but your Avios are sitting in a British Airways Club account.

Before deciding to transfer Avios to Iberia, also check reward seat availability and compare the final booking price. Reward Flight Finder now searches Iberia reward seats as well as British Airways, so you can search for reward seat availability on both airlines in one place, and set Availability Alerts if you're planning a trip around specific dates.

Is Iberia Worth Considering for Your Next Avios Redemption?

Iberia has plenty going for it. The airline has now been recognised for its staff service, it's planning major cabin improvements, and its Madrid hub gives Avios collectors a nice alternative when searching for long-haul reward flights.

The award alone probably won't persuade someone to choose Iberia over a better-priced or more convenient flight. And it certainly doesn't mean every Iberia Avios redemption will represent excellent value.

But it does give collectors another reason to look beyond British Airways when planning their next trip. The test will be how well Iberia maintains those service standards as it rolls out its promised upgrades. A good crew is always appreciated. A good crew, a comfortable Business Class seat and a decent Avios redemption would be an even better combination.