On the Ground: My husband and I arrived in Madrid for our connecting flight to Boston hoping we had been cleared for a space-available upgrade. Anticipating a 7.5-hour flight, we grabbed a quick snack, just in case we didn’t make it into business class, and approached the gate agent with our fingers crossed. A cursory glance at the flight list showed that we had not been cleared. Disappointed, I asked her to check one more time. The double-check did the trick: We made it. (27/30)

Pre-flight: I made myself comfortable in my spacious seat and, before I even had my seat belt buckled, a pleasant flight attendant was at my side offering a choice of water, orange juice or Champagne. I selected a newspaper, checked out the amenity kit (hairbrush, socks, eye mask, moisturizer — everything I would need to ensure a comfortable trans-Atlantic flight — and proceeded to peruse the in-flight menu. (30/30)

In-flight: Once airborne, flight attendants circulated about the business-class cabin offering warm towels and beverage service. I accepted a glass of Merlot and placed my order for honey-stung chicken with rice and assorted vegetables, accompanied by warm rolls. Following dinner service, I switched on the overhead light, reclined my seat into a comfortable position and opened my book. The flight attendant assigned to my section of the cabin offered me a cup of tea and a blanket; throughout the flight she acted as if I was her only passenger. I read for a while then decided to watch a movie. The service was great, but the comfortable seat was the icing on the cake. (40/40)

The Experience: Our Iberia flight was more of an extension of our vacation than simply transportation. We landed in Boston, and my husband joked that he’d like to bring the seat home with him.

Total Score: 97/100