Austrian A320, VIE-FRA, Economy
Previous parts of this trip
- Introduction: USA, September 2019
- Trip Report: TAP Portugal | Airbus A330 | London Heathrow – Lisbon
- Trip Report: TAP Portugal | Airbus A320 | Lisbon – Geneva
- Hotel Review: Crowne Plaza, Geneva Airport
- Trip Report: Iberia | Airbus A320 | Geneva – Madrid
- Trip Report: Iberia | Airbus A350 | Madrid – New York JFK
- Hotel Review: Crowne Plaza, HY36 Midtown Manhattan
- In Pictures: New York
- Trip Report: American Airlines First Class | B737 | New York – Miami
- Hotel Review: Holiday Inn, Port of Miami Downtown
- In Pictures: Miami
- Trip Report: American Airlines First Class | Airbus A321 | Miami-Dallas
- Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo, Dallas Downtown
- In Pictures: Dallas
- Trip Report: American Airlines First Class | Airbus A321 | Dallas – Chicago
- Hotel Review: Kimpton Gray Hotel, Chicago
- In Pictures: Chicago
- Trip Report: Delta Airlines First Class | Boeing 717 | Chicago – Detroit
- Trip Report: Delta Airlines Airbus A220 | First Class | Detroit – Newark
- Hotel Review: Crowne Plaza, Times Square
- In Pictures: New York 2
- Trip Report: Finnair | Airbus A330 | New York – Helsinki
- In Pictures: Helsinki
- Trip Report: Finnair | Embraer E190 | Helsinki – Geneva
- Hotel Review: Hotel PAX, Geneva
- In Pictures: Geneva
- Trip Report: Swiss | CS300 | GVA-ZRH
- Trip Report: Austrian | Airbus A320 | ZRH-VIE
- Hotel Review: Ruby Sofie Hotel, Vienna
In Pictures: Vienna- Trip Report: Austrian | Airbus A320 | VIE-FRA
The day started with a short walk back to the station before taking the CAT back to the airport.
By 08:00 I had arrived. Austrian Airlines offer a dedicated entrance to the check in area and security for business class and Star Alliance Gold passengers in Vienna. Think low budget version of the British Airways First Wing at T5 Heathrow…
As such, I was into the lounge around ten minutes after arriving at the airport.
Austrian Airlines Lounge, F Gates
Austrian Airlines operate a number of lounges in Vienna. From previous visits, I recall one being quite good. And another being not so good. This morning, I’d be using the not so good one as I was on a flight within the Schengen area.
There really isn’t too much to be said about this lounge. It’s essentially a large room with a buffet and seating.
There are a selection of newspapers and magazines also available.
Despite it not being the best lounge I’ve been in, I still managed to find myself a quiet corner with a view, so I was content for the next hour or so.
Boarding
The gate area was a little on the small side due to it doubling up as a café. Therefore not only did you have all the passengers for the flight departing from there, but you also had people using the café too. Meaning it was more than a little crowded.
Matters weren’t helped by the fact that no priority boarding was announced – just the “all aboard”. Although I guess with a bus boarding, it didn’t make all that much difference anyway.
Departure
Boarding was completed a few minutes before SDT and I managed to score a free middle seat.
We left the stand a couple of minutes behind schedule and made a short taxi over to the active.
Takeoff came just a few minutes later.
Flight time was given as 1h5mins.
Onboard service
The service on this flight was identical to the previous flight I took with Austrian. Either sweet or savoury.
I seem to recall having a tasty muffin on an Austrian flight out of Heathrow a year or so previously, so I guess they’re reserved for the longer European sectors.
Arrival
Landing was made into a cloudy Frankfurt twenty minutes ahead of schedule. We made a reasonably long taxi, but at least we didn’t end up with a bus gate, which is more often than not in Frankfurt.
My Thoughts
Much like the previous flight with Austrian, they got the job done with the minimum of fuss. The crew seemed to be a lot happier today – I guess that’s the main difference between catching the last flight of the day and one of the first.
The lounge could have been a little better though. Very busy when I arrived and even busier when I left. Although that seems to be the common theme on the Star Alliance legs of this trip.