This program was reviewed and rated by our editors in October 2009. Changes in the program past this date are possible, especially program partner information. We recommend you subscribe to the #1 source of frequent flyer information, Inside Flyer Magazine, to get the most current information possible.

What do Mikhail Gorbachev, Liza Minelli, Bob Hope and Salvador Dali have in common? According to Iberia's Web site, they have all flown with Iberia Airlines. Founded in 1927 as Spain's first commercial airline, Iberia has flown millions of passengers, famous and not-so-famous. The airline began flying into Portugal in 1939 and added flights to London, Paris, Rome and Buenos Aires in the early 1940s. The first Madrid to New York flight occurred Aug. 3, 1954.

Iberia claims to be the first European airline to create an international frequent flyer program when Iberia Plus was launched in 1991. Iberia Airlines joined oneworld in 1999 and Iberia Plus members can earn and redeem miles on an international network of carriers to over 675 destinations. The program offers interesting features such as limousine services for Platinum members and free parking for Gold members.

On Iberia flights, members earn a minimum of 10 points on reduced economy fares on roundtrip domestic flights within Spain. Full-fare economy roundtrip flights earn between 20 and 60 points and business class flights earn between 40 and 160 points. When flying between Spain and Europe, members earn a minimum of 30 points on discounted roundtrip flights, 110 points in full-fare economy and 160 in business class. Between Europe and the U.S. or Canada, you can earn 160 points in discount economy roundtrip, 540 points in full-fare economy and 680 in business.

Although the amount of points awarded for flights seems relatively low compared to the amount of points required for flight award redemption, Iberia frequently offers bonus offers and promotions where members can earn double or triple points on select routes.

Earning partners are varied and overall quite extensive. Members can earn points with hotel stays, car rentals, financial services, shopping and health partners.

Roundtrip domestic flights in Blue Class (economy with restrictions) range between 600 and 1,000 points. Blue Class tickets are subject to capacity controls and changes or refunds are not permitted. Regular economy class tickets within Spain require 600 to 1,500 points and business class award tickets run 1,800 to 3,000 points. Members can redeem 3,150 points for a roundtrip Blue Class flight between Spain and the U.S. or Canada. One-way awards are available but they require roughly 75 percent of the points needed for a roundtrip award ticket.

Spanish domestic upgrades begin at 300 points one way and are only valid on full-fare economy flights on Iberia.

Basic Iberia Plus members are required to pay a service fee to redeem award tickets, even if awards are booked online. Online bookings have a 13 euros fee, call center bookings will cost 18 euros and if you book through an Iberia office, it will cost 22 euros. Only the online booking fee is waived for Gold and Platinum members.

Many, but not all, of Iberia's partner hotels allow members to redeem points for stays. Rates vary (depending on the room and hotel) from 1,000 to 5,000 points per night.

Car rental awards are available with Avis, National Atesa and Europcar. They begin at 250 points per day with Avis, 350 points with National Atesa and Europcar.

Airline partners include Iberia Regional Air Nostrum, Vueling, Binter Canarias, Avianca, Mexicana, TACA, Royal Air Maroc and oneworld airlines (American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, JAL, LAN, Malev Hungarian, Qantas and Royal Jordanian). Earning with oneworld airlines is based on the flight distance and fare class. For example, on a flight 601 to 1,200 miles long, members will earn 15 points in discount economy, 55 points in full-fare economy, 75 points in business and 90 points in first class.

When staying at hotels, members earn either a set number of points per stay or a variable number based on the amount of money spent. Earnings range from 10 to 180 points per stay (varies by hotel and room type) at Accor, Sol Melia, Occidental, Hilton, InterContinental, Concorde, Starwood and Barcelo, to name a few. Several hotels allow you to earn points per night (vs. per stay or by how much you spend).

Earn 10 to 36 points per car rental with Avis, National Atesa, Europcar and Hertz. Members can also earn points for buying tires or paying for car repairs from Euromaster, car insurance with Mutua Madrilena, using Aparcamiento VIP valet parking service, using the stolen vehicle recovery services of Detector or filling up at Repsol gas stations.

Residents of Spain earn three points per 25 euros spent with the MasterCard Iberia Max credit card. Iberia Sendo American Express cardholders can earn two points per 30 euros spent and Iberia Sendo Visa cardholders earn one point per 30 euros spent. Members may transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Iberia Plus points at a one to one ratio. Other financial services partners that award points include Aegon Seguros, The Economist magazine, Inversis Bank, elEconomista and Banco Popular.

Shopping partners include Pedro del Hierro (one point per euro spent), Cortefiel (one point per 12 euros spent), Piu Style (one point per three euros spent), Alvarez sports gear (one point per 15 euros spent) and Samsung (one point per two euros spent), to name a few. Members also earn one point per 12 euros spent for in-flight purchases aboard Iberia-operated intercontinental flights.

Iberia Plus partners with many other companies where members can earn points. The comprehensive list is long and includes travel packages, tours, entertainment, golf, concerts, health clinics, health insurance providers, eye clinics and language courses. If you live in Spain, you can probably find a way to earn points with your purchases.

Iberia Plus has three elite levels: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Members attain Silver status upon accumulating 1,250 Air Points or 40 flights (a minimum of 20 must be with the Iberia group). Air Points are defined as the standard number of points earned with Iberia or oneworld partner airlines, not including points earned through promotions or bonus offers. Silver benefits include priority waitlisting, business class check-in, an extra 10 kg luggage allowance, foreign travel insurance and Ruby membership in the oneworld alliance.

Gold status is attained after accumulating 2,500 Air Points. In addition to Silver benefits, Gold members receive a guaranteed seat in Full Tourist class up to 24 hours prior to departure, extra 15 kg baggage allowance, access to Iberia's business class VIP lounges, free delivery of tickets and vouchers within Spain, free parking at Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia airports and Sapphire membership in oneworld.

Members achieve Platinum status after accumulating 6,500 Air Points. Platinum members receive all of the above benefits, plus two free upgrades on Iberia, 20 percent bonus points on Iberia or Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum, an extra 20 kg baggage allowance, limousine service when flying into or out of Barcelona or Madrid, Spain or Santiago, Chile and Emerald membership in oneworld. Platinum members are also eligible for a point credit (up to 1,500) when short on award points.

Award tickets and vouchers are valid for one year. Points expire on Dec. 31 of the fourth year from when they were originally earned. Missing points can be requested within six months. Point pooling is not available. Members may request awards for their designated beneficiaries or one travel companion but awards cannot be transferred after issuance. Flight awards are subject to capacity controls but not blackout dates. Points cannot be purchased.

Iberia Plus does not have a call center in the U.S. and you will need to call the service center in Spain. You can also email, fax or send correspondence through the mail.

Members can view their account balance and transactions online. Flight awards on Iberia or oneworld airlines can be redeemed online but upgrade awards and all other partner awards need to be booked over the phone. Online promotions and bonuses are numerous and up-to-date and you can sign up to receive a monthly Iberia Plus newsletter to stay informed about the program. Requests for missing points earned from flying on Iberia may be requested online but all other requests for partner credit will need to be sent via snail mail.

Iberia Plus has a wide variety of airline, hotel, car and miscellaneous partnerships. As one member put it, "their promotions, bonuses, and point-accumulating relationships with so many other companies within Spain make it the best frequent flyer program to have in Spain, as you can quite literally earn points and very generous bonuses for just about everything you do." Elite-level benefits like VIP parking for Gold members and limousine services for Platinum members add that special touch.

If you primarily earn points by flying in coach, it will take you a very long time to earn an award ticket. The amount of points awarded for flights is low, especially compared to the amount of points required for flight award redemption. Blue Class award tickets require fewer points but cannot be changed or cancelled.

The address for the Iberia Plus Service Center in Spain is: Apdo. de Correos, 62033, 28080 Madrid, Spain and the phone number is: 34 91 374 27 00. Contact information for the United States is as follows: 6100 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 200, Miami, Florida 33126. The telephone number for U.S. residents is (800) 721-4122.