Review of Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to Berlin in Economy

Very welcome to my first flight report!

I got to Vienna Aiport (VIE) early in the morning (about 5:50 a.m.) by car. Vienna offers various ways to get to the airport from the city. Here are all I am aware of:
? with your private or rental car
? by taxi
? by suburban train (every 30 minutes)
? by ICE (= Intercity-Express, less frequent)
? by CAT (= City Airport Train, every 30 minutes)
? by airport bus (Vienna Airport Lines, 3 lines, every 30 minutes)
The website of Vienna Airport provides you with further information. http://www.viennaairport.com/en/passengers/departing_passenger

All Austrian Airlines flights and these of most Star Alliance members depart from the newer Terminal 3 (former Check-In 3). Just be sure to check the website of Vienna Airport (http://www.viennaairport.com/en/passengers/airport/airlines) for details. If you use the CAT you will have the opportunity to check in/drop off your bags already at Wien Mitte station for no extra charge. Your bags will then be taken directly to your aircraft. Usually this is way faster than getting in the line at the airport.

Good morning everybody!

I already checked in online the day before (possible from 36 hrs prior departure time) but did not like to print out my boarding pass at home. This is no problem at all because you can easily (re)print it at one of the self-checkin counters in the check-in hall. I had to drop off my bag at an appropriate counter. Even it was early in the morning, most of the passenger areas were already crowded.

I still had some time left, so I decided to buy some Mercí at Spar in the arrivals level. On the way there I noticed an SMS I recieved from Austrian with some flight details. Your departure gate for OS271 VIE-TXL 27Jun 07:20 has changed. NEW: Gate F32. Please observe the display panels or http://m.aua.com/6CjFYumP

I went through the automatic security gates and proceeded to the security check. (What you see here is the Austrian Gigapixel Image of Paris, see embedded video) From the end of the line to passing the check it took me 4:30 min, which is good compared to other airports, but not as short as usual at VIE.

My departure gate F32 was nearly at the final end of the terminal building. So quite a distance to walk, I headed straight there passing the huge Heinemann Duty Free Shop.

Did you ever experience an airport not selling Toblerone?
Unfortunately the terminal windows at VIE are double which makes it nearly impossible to take good photographs through it.

At my gate I found a drink dispenser which is, in the view of the distance to walk there, probably neccessary.

Soon boarding started.

Heavy machinery

There were some snacks (apple turnover/savoury bisquits) and drinks (water/juice/soft drinks) offered.
I spent this flight in the cockpit why I can't show you some inflight pictures… (See the return flight OS276 by clicking on my username.)

…We'll make an excuse. We landed at TXL perfectly on time at runway 26R.

The arrival gate 11 was in Terminal A.
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-214 with the registration OE-LBL. It entered service in 2003 for German LTU, was transferred to Air Berlin and then became part of the Austrian Airlines fleet in March 2013. It is configured with 168 seats.

After exiting the arrivals hall in Tegel you will find yourself in the middle of exclusive German cars, but of course there are taxi stands and some bus stops (e.g. for the Tegel Express) as well.
You will hear more about the Tegel Express in my report for the return flight OS276.

Some famous Berlin sights…