Iberia Plus, the frequent flyer program of Spain’s Iberia Airlines, has 3,350,500 members in four membership categories: Classic, Silver, Gold and Platinum. We recently had an email exchange with Javier Deleito Lecuona, Vice President Loyalty Programs, Iberia Plus and this is what he had to say.

InsideFlyer
You welcomed some new partners recently, including American Express and Hilton. Can you tell us about your partnerships?
Javier Deleito Lecuona
Our objective for the coming years is to incorporate 200 partners into the Iberia Plus program to widen the possibilities for our cardholders to earn and burn more Iberia Plus points.

IF
Do you have any other new partners our readers should know about?
Lecuona
We have added partnerships with hotel chains, insurance companies, wellness centers, eye glass shops, language learning centers, private banking…

IF
Your Web site has some new features. Can you tell us about one or two of the new features?
Lecuona
We now offer direct access to the Iberia Plus private area through the iberia.com homepage. It is now clearer and easier to access your personal account. Moreover, “Partners” have their own portal in this new feature.
Also, in aiming to respect the environment, members will no longer receive their account balance statement in the mail. Now, you can access all transactions on our Web page, www.iberia.com.

IF
Are there new Web features your members can look forward to in 2008?
Lecuona
Yes, with their mobile phones registered online, our members will be able to receive their Iberia Plus account balance by SMS. Furthermore, they will be able to claim reward tickets and missing points with some oneworld airline partners.

IF
Any other changes to your program planned for 2008?
Lecuona
The principal aim is to increase the number of partners associated with Iberia Plus in order to enable our clients to earn and burn the most points possible. Other goals are to improve our Iberia Plus account statement page on our Web site and enable our clients to get upgrades with Iberia Plus points through the Web site.

IF
What do you feel is the most popular benefit your elite members receive with their higher membership status?
Lecuona
Our elite members, Gold and Platinum, just by presenting their Iberia Plus Platinum card, have free access with a guest to the VIP lounges by Iberia or the other companies of oneworld. Moreover, they enjoy the maximum baggage allowance, a limousine transfer, a Parking VIP service, travel assistance insurance, business class check-in and more. Additionally, Platinum members can also request two free upgrades a year; they receive 20 percent more points every time they fly with Iberia or Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum. And as a matter of course, Iberia Plus Gold and Platinum members have all the advantages of the other levels too.