Following British Airways, Iberia Plus moves to spend-based elite status earning
With just 48 days' notice to members, Iberia Plus will move to spend-based earning to reach elite status on April 1, 2025.
The changes largely mirror those announced late last year by British Airways, a fellow Oneworld alliance member. Both airlines are owned by the International Airlines Group.
While Executive Club members widely condemned British Airways' changes given how much harder it will be for them to earn status under the new system, Iberia's are somewhat more reasonable.
Here's what you need to know about the new Club Iberia Plus.
Related: Is Iberia premium economy worth it on the Airbus A330 from Madrid to Dallas?
Introducing Club Iberia Plus
From April 1, 2025, Iberia Plus will be renamed Club Iberia Plus, and members must reach the following thresholds for elite status:
- Plata (Oneworld Ruby): 3,500 elite points or 20 flights
- Oro (Oneworld Sapphire): 7,500 elite points or 40 flights
- Platino (Oneworld Emerald): 20,000 elite points or 90 flights
- Platino Prime (Oneworld Emerald): 30,000 elite points
- Infinita (Lifetime Oneworld Emerald): 400,000 elite points
- Infinita Prime (Lifetime Oneworld Emerald): 640,000 elite points
Platino Prime is a new elite tier that provides two years of status, four upgrade vouchers and 40,000 bonus Avios.
A new way to earn elite points
Currently, status in Iberia Plus is earned via elite points based on distance flown and fare class. The new Club Iberia Plus will award elite points at one elite point per euro ($1.02) spent, excluding fees and taxes but including carrier-imposed surcharges.
Like British Airways, Iberia will offer cabin bonuses for crediting flights operated by Iberia, British Airways or American Airlines as follows:
However, unlike British Airways Executive Club, these bonus elite points will be permanently awarded rather than being offered only for the 2025 membership year.
Elite point bonuses are also available for British Airways- and American Airlines-operated flights credited to Club Iberia Plus:
- 75 points in economy (flights under 3,000 miles)
- 175 points in business class (flights under 3,000 miles)
- 150 points in economy (flights over 3,000 miles)
- 275 points in premium economy (flights over 3,000 miles)
- 350 points in business class (flights over 3,000 miles)
- 450 points in first class (flights over 3,000 miles)
While this system is complex, it is also potentially rewarding for those who regularly travel on full-fare tickets and in premium cabins.
Club Iberia Plus members will also earn elite points for qualifying activity with nonairline partners, including booking hotels, rental cars, online shopping and restaurants, at a rate of one elite point for every 10 Avios earned up to 30% of the elite points required for each status level.
Unfortunately, transferring credit card points to Club Iberia Plus will not earn elite points.
Members can also credit flights operated by other Oneworld airlines at the following rates:
How do the changes compare to British Airways Executive Club?
On the surface, there are many similarities between the new elite status models announced by British Airways and Iberia:
- Both commence April 1 and will feature the word "Club" in their name
- Both will provide 1 status point per "dollar" of local currency, whether that be British pound or euro
- Both have set 7,500-point thresholds for Oneworld Sapphire and 20,000-point thresholds for Oneworld Emerald
However, some initial differences between the two new schemes make Club Iberia Plus more attractive than the British Airways Club.
Given that 1 British pound is worth approximately $1.24 while one euro is worth around $1.02, the spending requirement for Club Iberia Plus is nearly 25% lower than British Airways Club's. And the elite point bonuses are generous and permanent in the new Iberia program.
There is also a new Iberia status level, Platino Prime, which offers two years of Oneworld Emerald. If you earn this close to the start of the membership year (i.e., in April or May), you will enjoy Oneworld Emerald for almost three years. No such status level exists in the current or forthcoming British Airways Club.
But the biggest difference between the two new schemes is how other Oneworld flights are credited. British Airways' new system awards tier points as a percentage of distance flown, and these rates are low. Iberia's elite points for flying Qatar Airways and Alaska Airlines are in a much simpler distance-based award chart — and are much more generous.
Bottom line
British Airways Executive Club changes were released between Christmas and New Year when many members (and loyalty experts like myself) were on holiday and were met with furor for the massive increase in the spending requirement for most members to earn Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald.
Due to the difference in value between the pound and the euro, Iberia's thresholds are lower — but there are also just many other ways to easily earn elite points in the new Club Iberia Plus that should make it easier to earn elite status than in the new British Airways system.
Earning status in either program will depend on your travel habits, but if you are considering earning Sapphire or Emerald status in either program (which comes with perks like American Airlines Flagship Lounge access even on domestic itineraries), you may find it easier in the new Iberia system than the new British Airways system.
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| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.