Austrian Airlines: An In-Depth Review

what is austrian airlines like

Austrian Airlines is an airline based in Vienna, Austria, with aircraft featuring a variety of configurations, including wide-body jets with Business and Economy Class cabins, as well as all-Economy Class narrow-body jets. The airline has a mixed bag of reviews, with some praising the attentive crew, comfortable seats, and good food, while others have criticised its customer service, with reports of delayed luggage and issues with refunds.

Characteristics Values
Destinations 6 within Austria, 80+ in 50+ countries across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America
Hub Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Focus Cities Graz Airport (GRZ), Innsbruck Airport (INN), Salzburg Airport (SZG)
Aircraft Configurations Wide-body jets with Business and Economy Class cabins, all-Economy Class narrow-body jets
Alliance Star Alliance
Customer Service Poor, unresponsive, unfriendly, scripted
Food Good quality, one of the best in business class
Seat Comfort Average, tight legroom
Entertainment Average, 109 movies and 158 TV shows
Amenities Unremarkable
Noise-Cancelling Headphones Average
Business Class Seat Layout Staggered, alternates between 1-2-1 and 2-2-2
Business Class Breakfast Service Good

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Destinations: Austrian Airlines flies to 6 domestic and 80+ international destinations

Austrian Airlines flies to 6 destinations within Austria and more than 80 destinations in about 50 countries across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. The airline's hub is at Vienna International Airport (VIE), with focus cities including Graz Airport (GRZ), Innsbruck Airport (INN), and Salzburg Airport (SZG).

Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier for Austria and a member of the Star Alliance. The airline offers a variety of aircraft configurations, including wide-body jets with Business and Economy Class cabins, as well as all-Economy Class narrow-body jets.

For travellers looking to fly to Eastern Europe or Singapore, Austrian Airlines is one of the few carriers servicing Croatia. The airline also offers a range of duty-free choices and is known for its attentive staff, who cater to passengers' special needs.

When it comes to business class, Austrian Airlines has been praised for its meal service, with one reviewer claiming it to be "one of the best business class meal services across the Atlantic". The airline's 777 Business Class has staggered seats, alternating between a 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 layout. While the seats are described as "perfectly okay", they are not considered industry-leading.

In terms of entertainment, Austrian Airlines offers a selection of movies and TV shows, although many options may not be the newest releases. The airline also has a partnership with Do&Co catering, which has been well-received by passengers.

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Customer service: Reviews suggest poor customer service, with scripted responses and long call waiting times

Reviews of Austrian Airlines are mixed, with some customers praising the airline's service and others criticising it. Several reviews suggest that the airline provides poor customer service, with long call waiting times and scripted responses.

One review on ProductReview.com.au states that the customer service is "a joke", with agents providing scripted answers and redirecting customers to fill out forms on the website. The reviewer also mentions that they held for an hour on the phone without success and were unable to speak to a supervisor. Another review on the same website complains about long call waiting times and a lack of support from the airline after their luggage was delayed and possibly lost.

Trustpilot reviews also suggest poor customer service, with one reviewer claiming that Austrian Airlines refused to let them board their flight, providing no explanation or accountability. Another reviewer on Trustpilot mentions that their flight was delayed by more than 12 hours, and the airline refused to compensate for the basic amount of a night at the airport's hotel.

However, some reviews suggest that Austrian Airlines provides attentive and friendly service. One reviewer on SKYTRAX mentions that the flight attendants were kind and attentive, and the food was excellent. Another reviewer on the same website states that the staff were attentive to their special needs, frequently bringing them water as they suffer from migraines.

Overall, while there are some positive reviews, the majority of feedback on customer service for Austrian Airlines suggests room for improvement, with complaints about scripted responses and long call waiting times being a common theme.

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Business class: The business class experience is generally well-rated, with good food and quiet, professional service

Austrian Airlines' Business Class offers a well-reviewed experience, with comfortable seats, good food, and quiet, professional service. Passengers can enjoy a wide range of amenities, including an amenity kit with eyeshades, earplugs, lotion, lip balm, socks, and dental kits. On selected flights, passengers also receive a limited-edition small rucksack in an Austrian design. The airline also provides hot towels before each meal service and additional amenities in the bathroom, such as combs and stain-removal wipes.

The onboard dining experience is a highlight of Austrian Airlines' Business Class. The airline offers exclusive meals from DO & CO, including well-executed multi-course meals and a unique onboard coffee experience. The onboard chef ensures that each dish is plated beautifully and meets high culinary standards, personally taking orders and explaining menu options. The meal service is complemented by a friendly and professional crew, who provide thoughtful and attentive service.

In addition to the dining experience, Austrian Airlines' Business Class offers a range of entertainment options. The airline provides high-resolution 15-inch touch screens with up to 400 hours of video and audio entertainment, including movies, sitcoms, cartoons, and music. Noise-reducing headphones are available for a more immersive experience. The airline also offers an inflight map, highlighting the cities they fly to and some they don't, which is a fun feature for aviation and travel enthusiasts.

When it comes to seating, Austrian Airlines' Business Class offers comfortable seats with ample legroom. The airline's 787 Dreamliners provide direct aisle access from all business-class seats, and the staggered seat layout provides a mix of privacy and accessibility. While the tray tables have been criticised as poorly designed, the crew has been praised for their patience and professionalism in assisting passengers. Overall, Austrian Airlines' Business Class offers a well-rated experience, with comfortable seats, excellent dining, and attentive service.

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Economy class: Economy class has comfortable seats and good food, but lacks legroom

Austrian Airlines' economy class offers a range of amenities to ensure a pleasant flying experience. Passengers can enjoy comfortable seats, a good selection of food and drinks, and ample in-flight entertainment.

The seats in economy class are designed with ergonomics in mind, featuring a unique relax function to enhance comfort, particularly on long-haul flights. Passengers can reserve their preferred seats at the time of booking or via the "My Bookings" feature. Additionally, the outside seats in rows 36 to 40 offer a 2-4-2 layout, providing extra shoulder and hip room, as well as an extra seatback pocket for storage.

When it comes to dining, Austrian Airlines offers a wide selection of drinks, snacks, and hot and cold food from the Austrian Melangerie. Passengers can choose between two free menus during the flight and receive a small refreshment before landing. The food options include dishes like baked chicken served with rice, vegetables, a cucumber salad, a bread roll, and even a dessert like cheesecake. However, some reviews suggest that the food could be improved, with reports of dry chicken and soggy vegetables.

In terms of in-flight entertainment, economy class passengers have access to a large range of newspapers and magazines, which they can store on their personal electronic devices. Additionally, passengers can purchase FlyNet internet access on flights with the Austrian Airbus fleet, allowing them to browse the web during their journey. For those looking for more traditional entertainment, Austrian Airlines offers up to 400 hours of films and TV, as well as music and podcasts.

However, one notable drawback of Austrian Airlines' economy class is the lack of legroom. This can be a significant disadvantage, especially for taller passengers or those seeking more space during long-haul flights. The cramped quarters can make the journey less comfortable, and upgrading to premium economy may be tempting for those seeking more legroom and spacious seating.

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In-flight entertainment: The selection of movies and TV shows is extensive but lacks new releases

In-flight entertainment is an important aspect of the overall flying experience, especially for long-haul flights. Austrian Airlines' business class offers a range of entertainment options, including movies and TV shows. However, the selection of new releases appears to be limited.

With a total of 109 movies and 158 TV shows available, Austrian Airlines provides a substantial choice for passengers. However, a common observation is that many of these options are not recent releases. This could be a drawback for passengers who are eager to catch up on the latest films and shows during their flight.

The selection of in-flight entertainment varies across airlines, and some passengers may prioritize having access to new releases when choosing an airline. While Austrian Airlines offers a wide variety of content, it may not be the top choice for those seeking the latest movies and TV shows.

It is worth noting that Austrian Airlines has included a German documentary about Lufthansa, which showcases a unique aspect of the airline industry. This type of content adds a distinctive flavour to their entertainment offerings. Nonetheless, passengers should be aware that the selection of newer releases is limited.

While the entertainment options may not be the most recent, Austrian Airlines still provides a diverse range of movies and TV shows to cater to different passenger preferences. The inclusion of documentaries and feature films about the airline's home country is a nice touch, providing a sense of cultural exposure for international travellers.

Frequently asked questions

The entertainment selection is just ok, with a total of 109 movies and 158 TV shows, but many of the options are not new releases.

Austrian Airlines still has one of the best business class meal services across the Atlantic, even though some cutbacks have been made. The food is also good quality in economy.

The service on Austrian Airlines is a mixed bag. Some customers have praised the flight attendants for being kind and attentive, while others have criticised the airline for its poor customer service.

The seats in business class are staggered, alternating between a 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 layout. The seats in economy are comfortable, but can be squeezy for larger people on long-haul flights.

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