Just got back from Italy and have some new hotel reports. But first: Iberia. Avoid at all costs.

Just to give you some background info, I'm a young, independent traveler who doesn't mind inconvenience. I pride myself on being able to roll with whatever comes along. So if I'm complaining, it's for good reason. Take it from me, Iberia stinks.

I booked two tickets on their web site from NYC to Rome, going through Madrid. When my boyf and I got to the airport, we were told the plane was 3 hours delayed. The Iberia assistant manning the lines just said the flight was late, nothing we can do, get in line.

At the ticket counter an hour later, the agent scolded us for not jumping the line because she could've put us on a direct flight. I told her there was no way to know that since the aforementioned Iberia employee made no announcements. Thankfully she got us on an Alitalia flight, which was wonderful. No big deal, I thought.

At the Rome airport heading home, however, we find out that my boyf's ticket has been cancelled (mine was not). First, the agent shrugs that there's no ticket number in the computer, oh well, nothing she can do. When we ask how this happened, she repeatedly tells us that we MUST have bought the tix at a travel agency even though I'm waving the e-ticket confirmation from Iberia.com in front of her. When we explain what happened in NY, she frowns some more and says that our fare rules dictate that no changes can be made, and because the Iberia agent in NY changed our first leg, their system automatically cancelled my boyf's return trip. "You'll just have to buy another ticket," she said. " Obviously not an option.

After an hour of waiting for her to talk to someone in Madrid about the whole thing, the agent finally tosses us a ticket and dismissively sends us on our way, no apologies, no acknowlegment that they screwed up, treating us like we were putting THEM out the whole time.

The plane was no fun either. Although I had prebooked seats on their web site, we ended up all the way in the back of the plane, in the middle section, can't recline.

The cabin lights blinked in that I'm-about-to-lose-power way the entire trip.

The reports of no drinks on flights is true. On my 2 hour flight from Rome to Madrid, I asked for a glass of water and was told I'd have to buy it unless "it was a medical emergency." On the 7-hour flight from Madrid to NYC, the beverage cart came around only twice.

At baggage claim, the flight attendants (5 of them) were so eager to get their suitcases, they literally knocked children out of the way to get their luggage off the belt, once again never saying sorry.

Long story short(er): every single Iberia staff person I dealt with, from the ticket agents to the flight attendants, was rude, arrogant, unhelpful and consistently made us feel like we were putting them out even though they screwed us at every turn. It's wasn't simply a matter of being aloof--they treated us like we were jerks for simply wanting to go to Italy and come back on their airline.

Lesson learned: Spend the extra $100 and go with another airline.

Wow, sorry to hear about that. That does sound like the flight was a bummer.

I hate it when people get, ahh, well, let?s just say that I hate it when people get nasty about stuff. I mean you ask for some water and then they charge you for it?

On every international flight I've on, and I've been on a few, the water was a freebie.

As for the delays, well I'm sure that could not be helped. Delays do happen!

I have been on some international flights where they NEVER announced my section. It was not until they were closing the door that leads to the airplane that a few of us finally said: HEY WAIT FOR ME!!!

We all said: You guys never announced anything.

As for your boyfriends ticket number not being in the computer, I had the same thing happen to me on a Zurich to Atlanta flight. It just happened that I called Delta the night before I was to leave Zurich for the states and corrected this.

As for people bumping you and knocking you around, I had that happen to me once in, not Europe, but here in the USA. Some jerks were busting line and shoving people out of the way. After being rousted about for awhile, I finally told the guy who did it to me that he was one shove away from my opening up a major can of whup A...on his sorry?. :-"

Look, these things can happen. I'm sure that some of these things have happened to many of the veteran travelers to Europe. You just try and forget it, but you're also right about not wanting to travel with that airline again.

I am flying Iberia in September from SFO to Rome. I will make sure to bring snacks and water with me.

I'm flying Iberia this summer on my Spanish trip, although it's BA operated by Iberia - am I worried? Not in the slightest, people place such emphasis on flights, if they get you there in one piece it's fine! (if they don't - not exactly a lot that you can do about it). Mishaps are bound to happen (we're talking minor ones not serious, e.g. delays) and are often out of the airlines control. Of course you are right to feel frustrated, but telling people to avoid Iberia - you have to look at the wider picture - millions travel with them every year!

Hotels are easier to condemn - there's only one property, but again lots of different experiences. Have a broad view on things!

We are flying Iberia to Spain this coming Friday. We have heard very mixed reviews, but have decided we will try to approach it with open minds. (but it sounds like the original poster did the same thing!) I'll let everyone know how it goes when we return.

Wren, Have a great trip, in case I miss you before you leave.

Thanks, Cigalechanta for your sweet thoughts!

I have never had an Iberia employee be rude to me. However, their food is worse than British Airways, which is one step above eating out of a dustbin. And those ugly brown uniform the flight attendants wear!! Horrid!! Really, these people need to channel Christobal Balenciaga from the grave and have him design a new uniform for them.

Their loos are also filthy. Honestly, I thought I was flying Air Diarrhea, sweetie. Iberia makes Air India look like the (defunct) Concorde.

OK...so we take our own food, drinks, and now Lysol and TP so we can make it through 11 hours of hell. I have to admit you guys have me worried!

wren - I've also read on this board and elsewhere that Iberia (and Aer Lingus) do not allow electronics like CD player to be used throughout their flights. So, if you're not interested in their movies projected on the front, you may want to take a book too!

I thought you meant the Iberian Peninsula stinks. Thankfully you were just referring to an airline.

I have not flown with Iberia for the last three years (pre 9/11) but they were OK when I did.

I never have expections about flights. Theyre just glorified buses. That way I can be pleasantly surprised when a nice flight does occur.

BYW, I will not allow myself to board a plane without water/snacks/energy bars anymore. I have had several bad experiences in the US with having to wait a loooong time inside an airplane without food or water. I guess it would be applicable to international flights as well.