I had to be in Hungary for a business trip and I was open to flying a new airline. After many searches, I settled on a route of SFO-JFK-VIE-BUD, with the transatlantic segment on Austrian Airlines.
Map and Trip Info Courtesy of FreeWorld.travel
Getting an award flight to Europe from the West Coast of the US can be tricky in business class. But given that I had to deliver a speech when I landed, business class was necessary so that I could get some sleep. Plus, better booze.
Fortunately there was space available in business class searching the United website. Even better, it would allow me to try United's cross-country service and fly business class on Austrian Airlines.
First impressions of the Austrian cabin are that they have a stylish cabin and a good amount of space with a 1-2-1 configuration in the 767-300.
If you are traveling alone, I definitely recommend a window seat. The middle seats don't have nearly as much personal space. If you are traveling as a couple, then you probably will be stuck with the middle seat or a resentful significant other.
For your own sake, you will probably be choose to be near each other. That means you're stuck in the middle seat with no awesome views of the alps through your window. You will probably be sad (more on this later).
Middle seats in Austrian Business Class
I would say that Austrian takes pride in their business class cabin. Check out the embroidery on head rest!
Seat embroidery
Seat Controls
Pro tip: Hit the massage button to get a very loud vibration coming from your chair. It won't actually feel like a massage, but it may give you the confidence you need to do a Darth Vader impression.
Power and more embroidery
And who can forget the amenity kit. It felt really nice to the touch #punintended.
Business Class Amenity Kit
They sure jam packed a lot into that sucker.
Business Class Amenity Kit opened
The ascent into the sky provided us with a nice view of New York lit up at night. The plane was moving mighty fast, so the photo is blurry. Next time I will try to get the pilot to slow down so I could take a more clear picture for you.
View of New York City on Departure
Then they handed out menus. You order both your entree for the evening and breakfast for the "morning" when you wake up. Of course, morning was really about 3 hours after dinner.
Breakfast Menu
Dinner Menu
Now for the feeding frenzy. There's something about being sedentary for long periods of time that really builds up the appetite.
Leftover Pretzel Rolls from Another Flight?
Nuts
Tasty Chicken Salad
Red Wine "aka Knockout punch" List
Soup Course
Beef Filet Entree
If I may, I'd like to give a shout out to the dessert cart people. They clearly went above and beyond the call of gluttony with me by upselling me all desserts and a glass of port. Heroes, every one of you.
Dessert Cart
Awesome Dessert. I was not hungry, but I ate it anyway for the sake of this review
All eat and no exercise makes Jeffsetter a sleepy boy.
Sleepy time
What? It's already time to eat again? I just ate 3 hours ago.
Ok, if you insist.
Unmemorable Breakfast. I literally have no memory of this breakfast.
On this flight, my breakfast companion was the Alps.
Wake up views of the Alps
Up close and personal with the alps from this gorgeous view out the window
And farmland.
Farm land with windmills in the upper left corner. Beautiful!
Then it was all over. I hardly got to know you, Austrian Airlines.
Business class lounge offerings of morning booze. Just in case you would need it I guess.
Soak up all of that booze with some bread and rolls!
Austrian Airlines Business Class Review
I'd fly Austrian Airlines again. Probably in business class. Probably from Chicago or somewhere further west, so that I can squeeze in more food and booze sleep.