Flying Iberia's New A321XLR from Washington to Madrid
Trip report: Flying Iberia's brand-new A321XLR business class from IAD to MAD for just 57,500 AAdvantage miles. Inside the first A321XLR ever delivered (EC-OIL).
On April 30th I flew Iberia's new A321XLR from Washington Dulles to Madrid. This was one of those bookings that makes you quietly proud of your spreadsheet habits: 57,500 AAdvantage® miles and $118.30 in taxes for business class. Iberia usually releases just one seat per flight into the American Airlines® program, so if you see it, grab it.
Want to calculate how many miles you'd earn on a similar flight? Check out our American Airlines AAdvantage Calculator.
Lounge and Boarding
I stopped by the British Airways Galleries Lounge before boarding. It was nearly empty, which was nice, but the service was limited since the full setup doesn't start until closer to BA's evening departures.
While it was a quiet enough space, it wasn't enough to keep me from departing to catch a good view of the brand-new jet outside: EC-OIL, the first A321XLR ever!
The Cabin and Seat
I was in the first row, and it's the one to pick. 1A and 1F have a bit more counter space than the other rows, which makes a big difference on a narrowbody like this. The new cabin looks clean and well thought-out. The seat has a swing-out TV and bedding that, thankfully, wasn't wrapped in plastic (hint hint American Airlines.)
Some have complained about the amount of space to enter the seat, but I found no issues maneuvering into the reverse herringbone seat. There was no pre-departure drink, probably due to the size of the aircraft, but once airborne the crew settled into a nice rhythm.
The Flight
Dinner started with a Gin and Tonic with a cheese pairing, which is about as good a start as you can hope for. It was followed by a German potato salad starter and perfectly fine three cheese ravioli. The benefit of seat 1A was not only being served first, but being able to maximize sleep on this short transatlantic hop.
I will say you do notice the single aisle. Every trip to the lav or crew pass-by catches your attention a little more than on a widebody. I'm curious how much of a difference a suite door, like those on the upcoming American Airlines A321XLR, would make. Still, it felt modern, quiet, and more comfortable than I expected for a narrowbody doing an Atlantic crossing.
Arrival in Madrid
We landed early into Madrid, which was appreciated. The 4:50 p.m. departure out of Dulles makes it a short night, but I was pleased to catch around 3.5 hours of sleep. Still, for a shorter overnight flight like this, the A321XLR setup works.
Overall Impression
The new A321XLR feels like a middle ground between long-haul comfort and short-haul practicality. It's not a flagship experience, but it's absolutely fine for eastbound hops to Europe. For 57.5K AAdvantage® miles and $118, it's hard to beat.
Seat 1A is the best seat in the cabin and the added counter space really helps. The crew on this flight seemed genuinely proud of the new aircraft despite some of the new business class seats having stubborn tray table releases.
If you see points availability for the Iberia XLR on IAD to MAD or BOS to MAD, take it. You'll get a solid product, a smooth flight, and a good story about crossing the Atlantic on a single aisle plane that somehow doesn't feel cramped (at least up front!)
For more on choosing the best seats on any aircraft, check out our guide: Not All Airplane Seats Are Created Equal. This was also one of several great redemptions from the year—see more in my 2025 year in points redemptions.
Quick Takeaways
- Route: IAD–MAD
- Aircraft: A321XLR (EC-OIL)
- Seat: 1A (best in cabin)
- Price: 57,500 AAdvantage® miles + $118.30
- Best for: Short overnight flights to Europe
- Worth it: Definitely, if you can find availability