Review of Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to Copenhagen in Business

AUA

OS - Austrian Airlines

Flight taken on 29 May 2014
OS301
07:15 01h 45m 09:00
Model Airbus A320
Class Business
Seat 2A
Rewardflying
1,129 · 15 · 3 · 0
photo os301 cover

It’s probably fair to say non-US airlines around the world offer better service than US carriers flying internationally. At least that is the general sentiment from those that have flown both. By association you’d then think that the domestic product of these foreign airlines would therefore be equally impressive. But is this assumption true?
In the US complaints typically outnumber compliments when it comes to food, comfort and treatment for both economy and premium domestic travelers. Maybe this is just typical consumer never satisfied attitudes. Maybe they are right.
To all who complain about US domestic business/first class, I say, GO TRY EUROPE.
Having flown Turkish Airlines on a regional flight a few months back I was aware of the seating. European business class seats are not. They are economy seats and your business class fare means the middle seat is blocked so you have a little more room. And maybe you’ll get a meal. From my limited experience flying business class over there, that’s about it.
Typical domestic premium seat


photo domestic fc seat

In the US I’ve taken 2 hour flights in lie flat first class suites on wide body aircraft many times. (UA 777 ORD-DEN 2hours). And I’ve written about how prime routes like Chicago to New York are being flown by tiny regional aircraft so I know the difference in service between various aircraft. On an A320 a domestic first/business class seat typically is pretty good. Food might be a different story.
So to US domestic business class customers who aren’t satisfied: Stop complaining! Here’s why.
This Austrian Airlines flight was part of my journey to fly Austrian, SAS and Air China to Seoul. Vienna to Copenhagen is a little over an hour. So as horrid as I may make this sound, it’s not a big deal. In fact I was amused.
A nice cup of European coffee at the gate started the trip. Vienna airport was quite busy this morning, my flight was a 7:15AM departure to Kopenhagen.


photo os301 gate 1photo os301 gate coffee

The aircraft to CPH was an Airbus A320.


photo os301 plane 1photo os301 plane 2

On this grey overcast morning during the taxi way out I got a photo of an Austrian retro-livery A320.


photo os301 os retro plane

Here is a photo of the business, err economy, ahh business class seat.


photo os301 seat 1

Not much room to maneuver but I got a photo from the back.


photo os301 seat 3

Notice the reading materials available.


photo os301 seat 4

All complaints aside, it was a nice seat, for economy.
Breakfast was served. Having had a couple meals on Austrian a few days earlier that were delicious, with this memory and expectation I passed on some of those tasty pastries within reach when I bought my coffee at the gate. Sometimes we make bad decisions.


photo os301 food 2

The muesli was good.
Breakfast was served with a tiny cup of coffee, fortunately there wasn't any turbulence this morning.


photo os301 food 3

In this A320, the first two rows were business class. Being early and still somewhat jet lagged from overseas travel I probably wasn't my sharpest. But my assumption was the cabins were seperated by a partiion and I sat in row 2, nothing behind me but a wall. After breakfast I stowed my tray getting ready for landing and suddenly I felt something collide with my back ankle. This startled me initially. What could possibly be down there. So I looked down and:


photo os301 seat 5

The safer spot is to sit in row 1! Oh, they block the seats in row 1. Now I know why.


photo os301 seat 2

Before getting kicked again I was in Denmark.
Boarding pass for "C" Business Class


photo os301 boarding pass 1
Display all

Product ratings

Airline

Austrian Airlines 4.9

  • Cabin3.0 / 10
  • Cabin crew5.0 / 10
  • Entertainment/wifi8.5 / 10
  • Meal/catering3.0 / 10
Departure airport

Vienna - VIE7.8

  • Efficiency8.0 / 10
  • Access8.0 / 10
  • Services7.5 / 10
  • Cleanliness7.5 / 10
Arrival Airport

Copenhagen - CPH7.6

  • Efficiency6.5 / 10
  • Access8.0 / 10
  • Services8.0 / 10
  • Cleanliness8.0 / 10

Conclusion

While there was no IFE, the entertainment was getting kicked! Would I take this flight again, of course.

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Comments (3)

  • "Here is a photo of the business, err economy, ahh business class seat" hahaha i like this part. I really curious imagine the expression on your first !

    anyway thank you for sharing FR ORD-VIE and ORD-CPH.

  • I don't get why it says Business. But otherwise great report. Nice commentary especially!!

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