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Hello everyone, and welcome to Smart With Points! I'm Jack, and I'll be your guide through the wonderful world of miles, points, and airline shenanigans. Today we've got some genuinely exciting news – Iberia, that's the Spanish flag carrier for those keeping track at home, has just announced they're joining the Starlink revolution. Yes, free high-speed WiFi is coming to all their flights, and I do mean properly fast internet, not the sort that makes you question whether carrier pigeons might actually be quicker.
So let's dive into the details. On the sixth of November, two thousand and twenty-five, Iberia confirmed they'll be offering free Starlink WiFi to all passengers across their entire fleet. This comes hot on the heels of British Airways making a similar announcement, and it's all part of a strategic partnership between IAG – that's International Airlines Group, Iberia's parent company – and SpaceX's Starlink service.
Now, when I say high-speed, I'm not exaggerating here. We're talking download speeds of up to four hundred and fifty megabits per second, and upload speeds of up to seventy megabits per second. To put that in perspective, that's faster than many home broadband connections in the UK. I know mine certainly doesn't reach those speeds! This is genuinely transformative for inflight connectivity.
Here's the really brilliant bit – this service will be completely free for all passengers, regardless of cabin class. Whether you're sat back in economy, enjoying premium economy, or living your best life in business class, you'll get the same lightning-fast WiFi at no extra cost. This marks a dramatic shift from Iberia's current offering, where passengers currently pay around seventeen euros for just twenty-two megabytes of data. Yes, you heard that right – twenty-two megabytes! That's barely enough to load your email inbox these days. So moving from one of the more expensive WiFi options amongst European carriers to completely free unlimited high-speed connectivity is absolutely massive.
And unlike some carriers that limit their best connectivity to long-haul routes only, Iberia's commitment extends to their entire network once installation is complete. That means short-haul European flights too. Flying from Madrid to London? You'll have the same brilliant WiFi as someone heading to Buenos Aires.
So when can we expect this technological marvel to arrive? Implementation begins in two thousand and twenty-six, with the rollout being installed gradually across Iberia's fleet. Now, as with most fleet-wide technology upgrades, these modifications are typically carried out during scheduled aircraft maintenance checks. This means the full installation will likely take several years to complete. Based on similar rollouts at other airlines, we can probably expect the full fleet to be equipped by two thousand and twenty-seven or two thousand and twenty-eight.
If you're booking Iberia flights in late two thousand and twenty-six, it's definitely worth checking whether your specific aircraft has been upgraded yet. Though I'll admit, that's not always easy information to find in advance!
Now, let me explain why Starlink is such a game-changer compared to traditional inflight WiFi. Traditional systems rely on satellites in geostationary orbit, which sit around thirty-five thousand kilometers above Earth. Starlink, on the other hand, uses thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit. This significantly reduces latency – that's the delay in data transmission – and dramatically increases speeds.
According to Iberia's announcement, passengers will be able to access streaming entertainment platforms, work in the cloud, and even play online games at thirty-five thousand feet. For business travelers and digital nomads, this genuinely transforms flight time into productive time rather than a digital blackout. No more downloading everything you might possibly need before takeoff!
And here's something particularly clever – Starlink provides coverage anywhere on the planet, including polar regions where traditional systems struggle. This is especially relevant for Iberia's South American routes, which often traverse areas with limited satellite coverage. The press release specifically highlights that connectivity will be available even in areas without coverage such as the poles. So no more WiFi dropping out mid-flight just when you're in the middle of something important.
This Starlink agreement is part of Iberia's broader Flight Plan two thousand and thirty strategy, which includes six billion pounds in investment focused on digitization, artificial intelligence, and innovation. The airline is clearly positioning itself as a technology leader in European aviation, with the Starlink rollout being a key component of that vision.
Iberia is also developing something called Ciudad Iberia, which they're describing as a cutting-edge aeronautical innovation hub. This suggests the airline is serious about long-term investment in passenger experience and operational technology, not just making announcements for the sake of good PR.
Now, what about the other IAG airlines? British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL have all confirmed they'll receive Starlink. While Aer Lingus and Vueling haven't issued separate press releases yet, it's highly likely they'll also benefit from this IAG-wide agreement. The group operates on economies of scale, so it would be quite surprising if any carrier was left out of this deal.
So what does this mean for us as Avios collectors? Well, for those of us who frequently redeem Avios on Iberia flights – particularly to Latin America where they often offer better availability than British Airways – this is genuinely excellent news. Iberia's competitive award pricing to destinations like Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and São Paulo just became significantly more attractive.
If you're booking long-haul business class awards, having reliable, fast WiFi genuinely transforms the experience. I've personally found myself avoiding certain airlines specifically because of poor connectivity, so this really does level the playing field. Being able to stream content, work effectively, or stay in touch with family during a twelve-hour flight to South America makes a tangible difference to the travel experience.
With tools like Award Travel Finder and Roame dot Travel, finding Iberia award availability is easier than ever. Now with the added benefit of Starlink WiFi, there's even more reason to consider Iberia for your Avios redemptions.
So here's my take on all of this. This is a welcome development that addresses one of Iberia's genuine weak points. Their current WiFi system has been a consistent source of frustration, with slow speeds, confusing pricing, and limited functionality. The move to free Starlink connectivity puts them ahead of many European competitors and demonstrates IAG's commitment to passenger experience.
That said, I'm keeping my expectations realistic about the timeline. Fleet-wide modifications take time, and we've seen from other carriers that these rollouts rarely happen as quickly as initially hoped. Don't expect every Iberia flight to have Starlink by late two thousand and twenty-six – but by two thousand and twenty-seven or two thousand and twenty-eight, it should be standard across the board.
For frequent flyers who value connectivity, this is genuinely transformative. Being able to work effectively at thirty-five thousand feet – or simply stay entertained on a long-haul flight – makes travel far more pleasant. Combined with Iberia's solid business class product and competitive award pricing, Iberia is becoming an increasingly compelling option for Avios redemptions.
I'll be watching closely to see which aircraft receive the upgrade first and whether certain routes are prioritized. If you're planning Iberia flights in two thousand and twenty-six, it might be worth checking closer to departure whether your specific aircraft has been upgraded – though of course, that's not something you can typically select in advance.
All in all, this is excellent news for the European travel rewards community. Free, high-speed WiFi on both British Airways and Iberia by two thousand and twenty-six to two thousand and twenty-seven will fundamentally improve the Avios redemption experience.
That's all from me today! Thanks so much for listening to Smart With Points. If you enjoyed this episode, please do subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms, or head over to our website at smartwithpoints dot co dot uk. We've got loads of great content there to help you make the most of your miles and points.
And before you go, a quick message about Award Travel Finder. Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder dot com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.
Until next time, keep earning those points and happy travels!