We're trying to put together a trip to Italy next June using our FF miles on AA. Since we waited longer than our usual, they can get us to JFK on AA in Business, but then to FCO on Iberia as a codeshare. Never flown them, what can you tell me?

First, since this is an award ticket it really doesn't matter if it's a codeshare or not. After all, you won't be collecting any miles and that's when AA coded flight oped by IB makes a difference. It does not make any2wsx` difference on an award ticket.

That said, I'm assuming you are flying IB in business as well?

If that's the case, you will be fine. Great seats, good service in the air in business. Economy is just the opposite.

Don't expect very much from ground staff and you'll be fine.

Have a great trip!

One more thing.

You will be connecting in MAD. The buisness class on short European routes is basically an economy seat with the middle seat blocked. You still get priority, better food and lounge use.

Did 2 Iberia business long haul (Miami-Madrid and Madrid-Johannesburg) and 4 medium-haul (Madrid-Stockholm and Madrid-Tel Aviv RTs) last month and really can't complain about anything - ground service, in-flight service, cabin comfort...

We LOVE Barajas airport compared to Hellhole - er, Heathrow - for connections, lounges, decor...

Didn't sit in coach, but it certainly didn't look that bad, and I saw some economy meals that were certainly better than the stuff that passes for "food" on most comparable North America routings.

FWIW, I transcribed some menus (customary on some other sites) - here are a couple:

(Long haul MIA-MAD)

Saffron flavored nuts

Starters

Toast and virgin olive oil
Beef consommé
Shrimps with basil and prosciutto ham
Mesclun leaves fresh salad, virgin olive oil and sherry vinegar

Main courses

Oxtail stew with red wine sauce, new red potatoes, green beans and pine nuts,
or
Red snapper with herbs and saffron sauce, new red potatoes, fennel and leeks sauté
or
Gorgonzola cheese raviolis with pepper sauce and leeks sauté

Desserts

Assortment of cheeses with guava jam

Orange and dried apricot cake
or
Lemon, melon and blackberry ice creams

Colombian coffee, herbal teas and spirits

To Wake Up

Fresh orange juice
Seasonal fresh fruit
Yogurt
Croissant, butter and jam
Toasts and virgin olive oil

Colombian coffee and herbal teas

Long Haul Wines

(Red)
Matarromera Crianza 2004
Summa Reserva 2001
Vinas del Vero Gran Vos Reserva 2002

(White)
Pazo de Senorans 2006 (Albarino)
Palacio de Bornos Sauvignon Blanc 2006

(Sparkling)
Castillo Perelada, Brut Reserva Cava
Jaume Serra, Brut Nature Cava

(Sweet)
Tres Leones (Moscatel) Malaga

("Short haul" TLV-MAD - actually 5 hrs, so not all that short)

(Starter)
Ruccola and penne pasta salad, cherry tomatoes and anchovies courgette

(Mains)
Marinated chicken with pesto crust
or
Salmon fillet with coriander

Selection of cheeses

(Dessert)
Berry cake

Coffee and herbal teas

Virgin olive oil and a basket with a selection of breads
Selection of wines, soft drinks and spirits

All good and nicely presented.

Oh, and Iberia's in-flight entertainment system (AVOD) on the longhauls is one of the better systems flying.

Free wine in economy. That beats the U.S. airlines.

But if you are new to flying, you won't see as many ground people assisting customers as with a U.S. airline. When I walked by the Barcelona airport, I saw five Continental employees assisting customers out in the line. I didn't see that at any other airport line.

Don't know about business, but dtr flew BOS-MAD plus internal Spain flights and then returned to Boston this summer. She reports it was just like any other airline.

However, she was a little confused in Madrid (someone else here said you have to change planes there). Her Spanish is very good, so language was not the deal. What confused her a little was that flights/gates were posted with less notice than we are accustomed to in US - and passengers seemed in much less hurry to get to gate than they do here - so that she actually thought she was in the wrong place on her connecting flight.