Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez Review: A Surprisingly Great Spot in Madrid’s Airport

Before a recent Iberia flight to the U.S., I visited the airline’s lounge and was much more impressed with it than the flight itself.

Iberia elites and business class passengers flying from Madrid to the U.S. can visit the Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez in Terminal 4S, and the “premium” in the name is very fitting. From numerous food and beverage options to a solid list of amenities, the lounge provided an elevated preflight experience, plus tons of planespotting opportunities.

Let me show you what a visit to the lounge is like.

Location of the Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez

Iberia has several lounges in the Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD). The Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez is located in Terminal 4S, where many of Iberia’s intercontinental flights (such as those heading to the U.S.) depart.

The lounge is open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily and is located on the ground floor.

Finding the lounge is easy, as you’ll see signs for it starting in the duty-free shopping area. Follow those to the red wall with an Iberia logo, indicating the lounge’s entrance.

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Entrance to the lounge.

How To Access the Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez

Access to the Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez is available for those flying in Iberia business class. Those with elite status in the Club Iberia Plus program also have access, although the rules for bringing guests vary depending on their status and the destination of their flight.

Moreover, those with elite status on other Oneworld airlines can access the lounge when flying on a Oneworld carrier, assuming they hold Sapphire or Emerald status.

The Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez also serves as the predeparture lounge for business class passengers on LATAM and Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) flights.

Seating

Seating is spread across the lounge, offering multiple choices not only for location but also for the type of seat. The lounge features a long and narrow setup, with most seating positioned close to the abundant floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll find privacy booths and high-back chairs throughout the lounge.

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Seating in the central part of the lounge.

However, you’ll also find some more standard seats on the opposite side of the main walkway through the lounge, as well as seats at tables, armchairs in a rear section leading to the dining room, and more relaxed seating in the 2 TV areas of the lounge.

Amenities

The Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez has a wide variety of amenities. Signage throughout the lounge indicates which amenities are available and where to find them, including a digital display near the reception desk.

Immediately next to the sign is a complimentary luggage storage room for guests.

Turning right from the lounge’s entrance, you can visit this dual-entry area that leads to showers and individual sleeping areas. Whether you want a shower or a nap, you’ll need to get a code from reception to use either facility. I caught an open door as someone was exiting a nap room, and these were simple but looked comfortable.

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Entrance to the shower and rest areas.

The lounge also had several bathrooms available, and these were cleaned frequently.

The lounge also featured a pair of TV rooms, equipped with not just a TV but also various types of seating and a nearby coffee machine.

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One of the TV rooms.

The lounge also offered complimentary Wi-Fi. I found the internet connection here strong and reliable, and I was able to work efficiently on the network.

Food and Beverages

Food and drinks were spread throughout the Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez, ensuring guests were never far from a beverage or a bite to eat. Matching buffets were available at each end of the lounge. Here, guests could sample Spanish fare, pastries, cold cuts, fruits, and more. Items were clearly labeled for their purpose and any allergens they contained.

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Pastries on the buffets.

Along with soda and coffee machines, fresh juices were also available near each buffet.

There was also a dining room available in the lounge, found by turning left from reception, following the main hallway to the end, and then turning left at the windows. This intimate area offered a seated dining experience, rather than a buffet-style service. Menus were available from QR codes. This area isn’t open during breakfast hours.

Turning right from the reception and following the main hallway to its end at the windows led to a bar. While a bartender appeared every so often, many customers helped themselves to bottles of wine or beer that were available. The bar area had plenty of natural light and was furnished with chairs grouped around tables.

There were also drink stations available throughout the lounge. Soda and coffee machines were located near each buffet, but there were also self-serve coffee machines available in the TV rooms; Staff could provide nondairy milk upon request. There was also a drink cooler near the entrance to the dining room, holding sodas, beers, and bottled water.

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Coffee station near one of the TV areas.

Final Thoughts

I truly enjoyed my time in the Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez in Madrid’s Terminal 4S. I found the lounge experience better than my experience flying Iberia business class, to be honest. While the in-air experience was mediocre, the lounge was great.

Along with abundant natural light and numerous planespotting opportunities, the lounge also offered a significant number of amenities, a variety of food and drink options, and a choice of activities to suit your preferences: working, relaxing, sleeping, or taking a break.

Personally, if I had access to this lounge again in the future, I would head straight here without considering other options in the terminal.