Information on LEVEL Europe Flights

Level is a long-haul low-cost airline based in Barcelona and offering cheap flights to and from North and South America. As part of the IAG group of airlines that includes Iberia, the seats onboard are surprisingly similar to what you’ll find elsewhere, but service and amenities are reduced to keep costs low in both economy and premium economy.

The Level model

Level is a long-haul low-cost airline that sits alongside Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling within the IAG group. In terms of experience, it offers premium economy and economy seats that are very similar to the other long-haul airlines, but with all the rest of the ticket fare unbundled. Think Iberia, but without Iberia service. The cheapest tickets come with nothing more than a single piece of hand luggage, although you do get free in-flight entertainment, unlike some other long-haul low-cost airlines. My strategy when booking Level flights is to buy the cheapest ticket available and add whatever I need, looking out for bundles that cut the price of add-ons. You may be able to book Level flights through Iberia, with but a slightly different set of bundled options. My advice is always to book directly with Level rather than through Iberia to get the cheapest flights and the most options.

Level classes of travel and fares

Level offers economy and premium economy seats on board Airbus A330 airplanes. Overall, the economy seats are a little above the long-haul low-cost average, and are similar to what you’d find on Iberia, British Airways or Aer Lingus. Premium economy, too, features the same kind of larger recliner seats as pretty much every other airline’s premium economy. The most basic Level economy fare is Light, which includes just a 10-kilogram (22-pound) cabin bag and the in-flight entertainment (bring your own headphones). Comfort economy fares add a 23-kilogram (50.7-pound) checked bag, as well as an included meal, although I don’t find the meals to be anything special. Depending on the current price for the checked bag alone, I’ll often buy the Light fare instead and just add a bag. The Extra economy fare adds ticket flexibility and your choice of a standard seat – any of the extra-legroom seats or the ones towards the front of the plane will still cost extra at no discount. The cheapest fare in premium economy is Premium Comfort, and it includes the 10-kilogram (22-pound) carry-on bag and 23-kilogram (50.7-pound) checked bag, food and drink, access to premium check-in counters and a comfort kit with headphones. Still, bring your own – the quality of these is quite poor. The Premium Extra fare adds one extra checked bag and your choice of a premium economy seat in rows behind the front row – the more spacious seats at the very front are an additional upcharge. My strategy with Level is usually to get the cheapest fare possible and only add the benefit I want, like a checked bag and the seat of my choice. I’ve never added the meal separately unless the difference is pocket change – it’s really expensive and the quality is lower than packing a sandwich from home or even buying one at the airport. Always bring a sweater or hoodie on board – blankets and pillows are a considerable upcharge unless you’re in premium.

Level economy seats

Level economy class seats are identical to Iberia in every way that matters. They’re modern Recaro seats in the standard 2 by 4 by 2 layout, with an adjustable headrest, recline, in-flight entertainment screen, power outlet and USB-A port. I find it very comfortable. Legroom is average at 30 inches of pitch. Level offers three kinds of economy class seats if you want to pre-reserve, each with a different upcharge. Within each kind of seat, the price differs by token amounts depending on whether you pick an aisle or window versus a middle seat, or how far back in the plane you go. The most expensive are XL seats, which are emergency exit rows at the front of each cabin. These offer a lot of legroom since there’s no seat in front of you, but the seats are an inch or so narrower because the tray table is hidden away in the armrest of your seat, taking up some space. You also can’t lift those armrests. Be aware that some passengers may use the space in front of the center section XL seats to squeeze between the aisles, and note that all of the economy class lavatories are between rows 27 and 28, so this area can get really busy. Unsurprisingly, seats marked as Front are towards the front of the economy cabin. There’s no extra legroom here – you just don’t have to walk further back on the plane. I rarely think these are worth it, although one reason to pick them is that other people are less likely to pay extra for them so you’re more likely to have no neighbor. The cheapest seats are the Standard seats throughout the rest of the plane. I avoid anything from around row 25 to 30 (where all the lavatories are) and I don’t recommend picking anything towards the back of the plane because you’ll likely have noise and light from the galley kitchens.

Premium seats on Level

Level premium economy seats are just the same as most other airlines and are laid out in a 2 by 3 by 2 configuration with 37 inches of pitch. Unless you spring for a Premium Extra fare, you’ll still have to pay to choose any seat or be allocated the last choice at random. Just like economy, middle seats are cheaper to select than aisle or window seats. The Premium seats in the front row are marked as XL seats and come at a higher price than the seats in the subsequent rows, marked Standard. For the price, I usually find that the extra space (and not having anyone reclining back into my space) in the XL seats is a good deal. If you’re traveling alone and like an aisle seat, I recommend picking one of the ones in the center section, (seats D or H). There’s only one middle seat, so only 50% chance that a person will need to hop over you instead of the other aisle seat to get out in the middle of the night. Upgrades to Premium are also available at the airport or onboard for a reduced rate.

Check-in and airport experience

You can check in at the airport or online, and Level doesn’t charge you extra to do it at the airport, as many other low-cost carriers do. Note that while Level flights may say that they are operated by Iberia for Level, the check-in desks are still usually separate to Iberia’s. Level’s airport check-in experience is very similar to other airlines, with both an economy and a premium line for check-in and bag drop. Since it’s a low-cost airline, though, it doesn’t have a lot of check-in staff, so you might find you’re waiting a while in line. It also doesn’t offer lounges.

In-flight food and drinks aboard Level

Level provides you with a cup of water for free but everything else is an upcharge, whether you book it in advance as part of your ticket or later on the plane. The pre-booked meal isn’t the best, and the onboard food is comparatively pretty expensive. I suggest buying a sandwich and snacks in the terminal, making yourself a packed lunch before leaving home, or picking up something on your way to the airport. It’ll be cheaper and probably better. Bring an empty water bottle and fill it just before boarding.

In-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi

Entertainment on Level is surprisingly good, with a range of movies and TV shows including some recent options. You’ll have your own screen, an AC power outlet and a USB port. Satellite Wi-Fi is usually available onboard, but it’s pretty expensive. You can get free messaging for 1 device by subscribing to Level’s newsletter, though, which is enough to keep your family and friends updated. Don’t be surprised if images and videos don’t go through, though.