It may be part of Germany’s Lufthansa Group, but Austrian Airlines is very much a national flag carrier. Based at Vienna Airport, the airline prides itself on the quality of its service, in particular the passenger experience.
Types of tickets
Austrian’s fares break down into three main categories: Economy, Premium Economy and Business. There are also Green Fares, offered mainly within Europe. Opting for an Economy Green or Business Green fare means a 20% in your flight-related CO2 emissions, with the remaining 80% offset.
The fare system is a little more complicated for flights within Europe, where Economy class breaks down into Light, Classic and Flex. Although this might seem like just one more decision you have to make, the additional flexibility is useful. If you’re heading off for the weekend and are happy with hand luggage only, Light is the fare for you. Classic includes seat reservation and a free baggage allowance. You can also rebook with a Classic fare, although there will be a fee. The Flex option includes free rebooking and priority boarding.
Not all of these fares are available on all Austrian Airlines flights, so read up on your options before booking.
Baggage
My single favourite thing about booking with Austrian Airlines is its online baggage calculator. There is something reassuring about typing in your details (route, class of ticket, loyalty programme status) and seeing exactly what you can bring on your flight without incurring extra costs.
The airline is very clear about the size of the bags that you can check in. This might seem prescriptive, but I like it – better to know at the packing stage than end up faced with excess baggage charges at the airport. If you are checking in luggage, it should weigh no more than 23kg (32kg in Business Class) and measure 158cm (height plus weight plus length) at most.
Hand luggage should weigh no more than 8kg and measure a maximum of 55x40x23cm if you have an Economy or Premium Economy ticket. Business Class passengers are entitled to bring two pieces of carry-on baggage, although each should be the same size and weight as those brought onboard by Economy or Premium Economy ticket holders. Occasionally this will be restricted to one piece if a smaller aircraft is used.
All passengers can bring a single ‘personal item’ with them in addition to their cabin baggage. This could be a handbag or a laptop case.
For a fee (or 7,260 miles) travellers flying out of Vienna (and a number of other cities served by the airline) can have Austrian’s partner Airportr collect and check in their luggage.
Its routes mean that Austrian Airlines needs to factor in passengers with skis. The airline transports skis as standard, although your skis should not tip your overall baggage over what is allowed by your ticket type. This free carriage does not apply to Economy Light fares.
It’s worth noting that bulky sports equipment can no longer be transported through London Heathrow Airport due to infrastructure restrictions.
The loyalty programme
Austrian Airlines belongs to Miles & More, which to my mind is one of the best loyalty programmes out there. Once registered, you can start accruing points with flights taken with not only Austrian and Lufthansa, but almost 40 other airlines, among them United, ANA and Turkish Airlines. Points can be redeemed on flights, hotel bookings and at certain shops.
Nothing is simple these days and unfortunately that also applies to Miles & More, at least on first acquaintance. There are two ways to earn benefits – points and qualifying points. The latter refers to flights on participating Miles & More airlines only, while points include flights on Star Alliance airlines. Points and qualifying points are earned at the same rate.
To gain the first level within the loyalty programme – Frequent Traveller – you will need to accrue at least 650 points and 325 qualifying points per calendar year. Benefits at this level include use of the Business Class Lounge, even if you are flying Economy Class, free additional baggage on certain Austrian flights (in theory those with a three-digit flight number, although I recommend checking ahead of your journey), and use of the Business Class check-in.
The next level is known as Senator, and requires a minimum of 2,000 points and 1,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Benefits include a booking guarantee up to 48 hours before departure and second-highest waiting list priority. Senator card holders can use both the Senator and Star Alliance Gold Lounges. Their checked-in baggage takes priority and they are eligible for two upgrade vouchers.
The Holy Grail of Miles & More is the HON Circle, membership of which requires 6,000 HON Circle points per year. Its booking guarantee operates up to 24 hours before departure, members are eligible for four upgrade vouchers, and have access to First Class Lounges, HON Circle Lounges and even First Class Terminals. One of the most attractive benefits, however, is a Senator card for your partner.
Star Alliance – further benefits
Austrian Airlines belongs to Star Alliance, the first global airline alliance. Established in 1997 by Lufthansa, Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways and United, it now numbers more than 25 airlines among its membership. In addition to Austrian, these include South African Airways, Aegean and Air New Zealand.
If you are flying with a Star Alliance member airline, you can collect points, regardless of the loyalty programme you belong to. Senator or HON Circle members can use Star Alliance Lounges. There are more than 1,000 worldwide and the Star Alliance website allows you to check for them by airport.
Destinations
Austrian Airlines is all about happy passengers and it does a really good job of explaining its destinations. I love the information the airline provides on the cities it serves, enabling you to easily make an informed decision on where to do. Information on Geneva, for instance, includes local cuisine (from that 1970s stalwart Fondue, to Malakoff, a type of deep-fried cheese balls) and sightseeing, recommendations including the Red Cross Museum and the iconic 140m Jet d’Eau fountain.
While the bulk of the airports served by Austrian are in and around Europe, the carrier also flies as far afield as Tokyo, Los Angeles and Male in the Maldives. When booking a flight on the airline’s website, it gives you the option of booking an Austrian Airlines flight or one served by a partner airline. Flexibility like this is invaluable.
The check-in experience
There are a number of ways you can check in for an Austrian Airlines flight. Online is probably the most popular these days, but the carrier also offers you the option of checking in at the airport, either at a check-in desk or a self-service check-in kiosk where you can also check in your bags and print out your boarding pass and luggage tags. I can see the former working well for the infrequent flier but if the airport is your second home, the kiosk option may save valuable time.
Austrian Airlines passengers with a ticket for Vienna’s City Airport Train (CAT) can check in (and check in their bags) at the CAT City Terminal at Wien Mitte Station. The station is a 15-minute walk from the city centre and is also easily reached by underground, tram, bus and local rail services.
What to expect onboard
Never a happy flier, I found myself flying abroad regularly when I lived in Vienna. This often involved flying through worse winter weather than I was used to, in and out of icy airports. It didn’t take long for me to start seeing Austrian as my ‘home’ airline, though, and it’s no exaggeration to say that I found the sight of those red uniforms reassuring. I knew I was in safe hands.
Food and drink
In Economy class, food and drink are available to buy – if you’re aiming for a truly economy experience, order in advance and save 10%. Vegan options are available.
Hot meals are served on long-haul flights, for passengers travelling on all fares. You can check the menu for your flight before travelling.
Premium Economy passengers receive a complimentary drink on boarding, as do Business Class fliers – in their case accompanied by a snack
Things to be aware of
A friend recently flew from Vienna to London with Austrian Airlines. The flight was delayed and while she was booked on a British Airways flight the following morning, Austrian did not arrange a hotel for the night – it took a colleague in the UK to do this.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up to date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
