How to claim from Iberia: a guide by type of disruption
Reviewed by José Romero Lara
EU261 aviation lawyer — 5+ years as in-house legal counsel at international airlines
Iberia sells flights operated by three different airlines in the same group, and each type of disruption has its own rules and amounts. This guide tells you who to claim from, what you’re owed for what happened and what to do if the reply never comes or doesn’t convince you.
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Check my flight1First: who operated your flight
A ticket bought from Iberia may have been operated by another airline. Compensation is always paid by the operating carrier (Art. 3(5) of the Regulation), and that’s who you claim from. Check your boarding pass or booking confirmation.
How to identify the operating airline
Iberia
Flight number IB
Iberia Express
Flight number I2
Iberia Regional Air Nostrum
Flight number YW
Another airline (codeshare)
An IB flight operated by, say, American Airlines or British Airways
All three are Spanish
Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum hold Spanish licences, so the Regulation applies the same way to their flights leaving the EU and those arriving in the EU from outside.
2What you’re owed for what happened
| Disruption | Rules | What you’re owed |
|---|---|---|
| Delay of 3 hours or more | Regulation (EC) 261/2004 | €250, €400 or €600 (€300 for 3–4 h on flights over 3,500 km) plus assistance |
| Cancellation | Regulation (EC) 261/2004 | Refund within 7 days or rebooking, assistance, and €250–600 if told less than 14 days ahead |
| Denied boarding | Regulation (EC) 261/2004 | €250–600, refund or rebooking and assistance |
| Lost, damaged or delayed baggage | Montreal Convention | Up to 1,519 SDR (≈€1,800) per passenger, with 7- and 21-day deadlines |
3How to file the claim
- 1
Gather your documents
Booking reference, boarding pass, the airline’s notices and receipts for your costs. For baggage, the PIR you filed at the airport.
- 2
Check the flight details
For a delay, count when the aircraft door opened at your destination. For a cancellation, the date you were told.
- 3
Claim on the operating airline’s website
With Iberia, under “Reclamaciones y justificantes”, where you can also request a delay certificate. Cite Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and the amount you’re claiming.
- 4
Wait one month
If it doesn’t reply or rejects the claim, you can escalate.
- 5
Escalate: AESA, court or AviFly
AESA is free for delays, cancellations and denied boarding, but doesn’t handle baggage. You can also sue (no lawyer up to €2,000) or hand it to us: 15% + VAT out of court, 30% + VAT in court, only if you get paid.
4Iberia’s usual replies
"Operational reasons"
That’s the airline’s normal business. Ask in writing for the specific cause and the evidence.
"Technical fault"
Faults from maintenance or normal use of the aircraft don’t exempt the airline (CJEU, Wallentin-Hermann C-549/07).
"Strike"
Its own staff striking doesn’t exempt it (CJEU, C-28/20); controllers or airport staff can, if it proves your flight was affected.
"Weather or air traffic control"
If it prevented your flight from operating safely and the airline documents it. Assistance is still owed.
AviFly claims from Iberia for you
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Claim from IberiaFrequently asked questions
Is claiming from Iberia the same as from Iberia Express?
No. They are separate airlines in the same group and each handles its own claims. Check the flight number: IB is Iberia, I2 Iberia Express and YW Iberia Regional Air Nostrum.
Does EU261 cover Iberia flights to the Americas?
Yes, both ways: outbound because they leave the EU, and inbound because Iberia is an EU airline.
What if I missed my connection in Madrid?
If the flights were on a single booking, what counts is the delay on arrival at your final destination. With 3 hours or more you’re owed compensation (CJEU, Folkerts, C-11/11).
How long does Iberia take to reply?
There’s no fixed legal deadline. If it hasn’t replied within a month, you can go to AESA (except for baggage) or to court.
Will AESA handle my Iberia baggage claim?
No. Baggage is governed by the Montreal Convention and falls outside AESA’s procedure. Claim from the airline and, if it won’t pay, use consumer arbitration (if it has joined) or go to court.
How long do I have to claim?
For Regulation claims, Spain generally accepts a 5-year limit (Art. 1964 of the Spanish Civil Code). For baggage, the Montreal Convention gives 2 years to sue.