04.09.2002 - Just returned from my holidays in Scotland with Ciaoer Mike (Aspen). A handful of trave...
04.09.2002 - Just returned from my holidays in Scotland with Ciaoer Mike (Aspen). A handful of travel ops are in preparation. See ya soon.
Member since:17.02.2001
Reviews:61
Members who trust:143
Austrian Airlines (AUA) are the friendly choice for travellers to Eastern Europe. They serve a lot of airports that no other airline is flying to, and they are doing quite a good job at it. Here comes a full review of their product and services. I haven't tried them on intercontinental routes yet, so my review covers their European network only.
AUA operate a modern fleet of Airbus 330s and 340s on intercontinental routes, and McDonnell Douglas MD 81/82/83/87 on shorthaul flights, which are subsequently being replaced by Airbus 320s and 321s. Some commuter routes are still served by 75 seaters Fokker 70s, which will eventually be outsourced to subsidiary Tyrolean Airways. All flights are operated in a two class setting (Business & Economy), there is no First Class on intercontinental flights.
On shorthaul flights, Austrian's one and only problem becomes visible right after embarking the aircraft: the rather small seat pitch. AUA have installed one more row than Lufthansa has on the same planesand two more than Swissair. That's still the same as BA, but British Airways are far from setting the standards in this category. The front half of the plane is okay as these rows are convereted to Business Class depending on demand, which makes the rear end all the more narrow, below the quality of some charter airlines. The seating setup is 2 to 3 on MD
80s and 3 to 3 on Airbus, which in Business Class are converted to 2-2 and 2-3 respectively. In Economy, try to get a seat as far to the front as possible, in Business, sit on the left side where seats are slightly wider. Unlike the industry standard, Austrian have opted for textile instead of leather seats, which you may like or not, but onboard AUA the textile is more of the scratchy kind.
The food quality creates a much better impression. AUA's meals are always a class better than those served by its partner airline, Germany's Lufthansa. Whilst onboard shorthaul continental flights with Lufthansa you only get served a small roll in Economy Class, Austrian serve a full breakfast and tasty hot meals for lunch and dinner. On average, AUA's economy meals match those of Lufthansa's Business Class. Austrian's own Business Class comes with two or three choices of meals depending on length of flight. These meals are quite extensive with cold starter, salad, hot intermediate, hot main course, fruits, cheese and desert. That's still not as good as the inflight catering of Austrian's subsidiary Lauda Air (see my review of Lauda, describing their heavenly cuisine), but far above the airline industry's average. If you are used to flying BA, then AUA clearly come as an upgrade.
AUA's inflight entertainment is definately setting the standards. Austrian Airlines is the only European carrier to offer video AND audio entertainment on its shorthaul fleet (Swissair has video without tone, SAS have audio, Lufthansa couldn't care less). You can choose between ten audio channels plus English or German tone for the video. The screens are installed in the overhead ceiling on every side, one every three rows, with good visibility from every seat. This feature is available on the Airbus 320/321 fleet, but not onboard the MD80s (only audio here) which will fully dispappear from the AUA fleet until 2002.
The service onboard Austrian Airlines is always very friendly and attentive. Austrian stewardesses seem to have this unbeatable charme, which ultimately reminds you of the Waltz Princesses in Vienna ballrooms. You can be sure to always leave an Austrian Airlines flight with a smile on your face.
In March 2000 Austrain Airlines broke away from the Qualiflyer Group and joined the Star Alliance built around United, Lufthansa and SAS. AUA signed up to Lufthansa's Miles & More frequent flyer programme, which is probably the second best mileage programme worldwide. So good marks for Austria in this category as well.
Austrian Airlines' airport lounges for business class passengers and elite status customers are among the best in Europe, second only to Scandinavian Airlines'. You should avoid the ones operated by Lufthansa in Vienna on Austrian's behalf, instead the following lounges are first choice at Vienna Airport: Terminal A: Senator / Star Alliance Gold Lounge Terminal B: Business Lounge Terminal C: Frequent Traveller / Star Alliance Gold Lounge
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So far for the usual airline features. As I have indicated before, Austrian's unique selling point is the competence it has built in the Eastern European market, and the routes it serves almost exclusively. Here's a list of the destinations soly served by Austrian Airlines (and a lesson in geography LOL): Anapa (Russia), Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegowina), Chisinau (Moldavia), Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine), Kharkov (Ukraine), Kosice (Slovakia), Mostar (Bosnia-Herzegowina), Odessa (Ukraine), Pristina (Kosovo) and Timisoara (Romania).
However, successfully operating in Eastern Europe doesn't mean simply flying there. These countries pose a difficult environment for any western business. In many of the places that I have flown to with Austrian I know their local offices and can truly commend the professionalism and intercultural understanding shown by the Austrian expats who run these offices. AUA are also doing a great job at integrating and qualifying local staff.
Doing business in Eastern Europe sometimes requires a certain degree of leniance. Once I was booked with AUA to Tbilisi, Georgia, on a non-changeable, non-refundable ticket. As can happen in these countries, I got stuck in a remote mountain region and missed my flight by several days. AUA had no reason to change my booking and could have made me pay for a new ticket. Instead they gave me a reservation for the next flight at a very small surcharge (equivilant of 30 Pounds) on my original (400 Pounds) ticket. Although this shouldn't be mentioned in public, they also helped me to get through customs with an expired visa (with the help of a friend of a relative of a friend, as usual over there), which once again proves their good connections in the local market. All this happened long before I had attained Star Alliance Gold Status and the little bit of extra attention and care that comes with it. Austrian Airlines have never disappointed me since and I truly recommend them to anyone.
If you have become used to my lyrical travel guides or intellectual discourses shown in other opinions, I am sorry if I have disappointed you with this rather plain text. But Austrian Airlines simply provide a solid, good product which I have tried to accurately describe as such, and this would be the wrong place for poetry.
Airlines reviewed by myself so far:
Austrian Airlines British European Airways (formerly Jersey European Airways) British Mediterranean Airways Czech Airlines Deutsche BA Lauda Air Copyright 2001 by Hansjörg Gebel, Witten, Germany
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
excellent, it gives you all the details one could look for in such a review...
by the way... I've already booked my next flight with Austrian Airlines... :)
thanks!
From_The_Continents_girlfriend 22.02.2001 18:19
Not by chance my home airline :-) calls itself "the most friendly airline". And as it is described in your really detailed and useful opinion it is not only a marketing strategy to push themselves in a better position within the market but reality for every passenger who expects to enjoy his flight.
From_The_Continent 22.02.2001 09:14
It came as a shocking first-time experience, but I've had to realise today that I am not without fault. Line 63 of my opinion contained a mistake stating that the city of Anapa was part of Ukraine. Infact this city on the Black Sea, near the oil harbour of Noworossiijsk, lies in Russia, Krasnodar region. As Anapa and Noworossijsk are at the end of the Russian pipeline for Caspian Oil (which also flows through Chechnya - does that ring a bell?), my mistake to give Anapa to Ukraine would probably have doubled Ukraine's GDP overnight. In order to turmoil between Moscow, Kiev and Berlin, I have corrected the mistake. I did however discover this myself. None of the first nine readers bothered (who would). Has anybody read to line 63, and if so, where is your Geography? LOL
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Feb 21st, 2001
(Feb 23rd, 2001)
exceptional by (6%):
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