Why Austrian Airlines Business Class Feels Like Europe at 35,000 Feet

Certain premium business class flights leave you indifferent despite their technical brilliance. However, this isn’t the case with Austrian Airlines. They create an atmosphere of true warmth and memorable character. A totally different world from those futuristic, flash-in-the-pan designs.

From that first sip of authentic Viennese coffee on board to one last taste of apple strudel prior to landing, their business class experience is uniquely comforting, cultured, and quietly self-assured.

As you’d expect, less showroom floor, more like a grand café in Vienna – but with wings. Let’s analyze.

Airport Experience & Lounges

The beginning of your journey will probably be in Vienna. Luckily, the airport here feels refreshingly calm compared to many other European hubs.

As soon as you arrive at the airport, you can sense that things will be dealt with promptly and efficiently. Check-in for Business Class has its own desks to make the process even more straightforward.

Getting through security is simple thanks to having fast-track access, allowing passengers to go straight airside. This seems to set the tone for a relaxed few hours ahead!

Austrian Airlines’ Business Lounge in Vienna is where it begins to feel personal, with its clever design combining lightness and airiness with stunning views over the runway. It’s an inviting space that encourages you to slow down.

We love the food here: it’s really good. You’ll find proper Austrian dishes as well as lighter options.

Lots of fresh bread, thick soups, and hearty mains that don’t pretend to be something they’re not. Their choice of wine is mostly Austrian, which feels right for a lounge run by the Austrian national airline.

And the coffee. It’s serious in Vienna about coffee, and Austrian Airlines brings that pride straight into the lounge. This isn’t some grim airport brew. It’s the sort of coffee you actually want to spend time drinking.

If you have Star Alliance Gold status, then the Senator Lounge is yours for the taking, providing even more peace and quiet plus a step up in the perk stakes.

And no matter where in the world you fly from, Austrian Business Class passengers have use of any Star Alliance lounges that they can reach.

The Cabin: Comfortable, Calm, and Classically European

Once inside the long-haul aircraft of Austrian, mainly the Boeing 767s and 777s, the first thing you’ll notice is the neat and simple elegance of the cabins.

The seat layout varies slightly between planes, but is generally either 1-2-1 or 2-2-2. Though not every chair has direct aisle access, the cabin never feels cramped or disorganized.

Seats fold down into fully flat beds measuring around 78 inches, plenty long enough to get a proper lie-down. The cushions offer good support, their padding is spot on, and the seats overall feel nicely ergonomic, a design detail passengers appreciate on overnight flights.

You also nod off quicker in these than you do at home, and waking up feeling human rather than zombie-like is a genuine possibility. Center seats come with movable privacy dividers, making it easy to pair up or go it alone.

The storage space isn’t excessive but is sensibly positioned. The side bins and the ottoman offer extra stowage as well as thoughtful lighting exactly where it’s needed.

Austrian has gone for a look that’s somewhere between classic and contemporary. Think neutral hues with pops of the carrier’s trademark red and a subtle pattern on the fabric. It gives the cabin an Austrian identity without feeling stiff.

Instead of feeling like a clinical technology showcase, these cabins feel more like a boutique hotel with a friendly vibe.

Dining That Deserves Its Reputation: Do & Co in the Sky

The onboard food experience is really something special, thanks to a partnership with Do & Co – a caterer based in Vienna. It’s not just good marketing.

You get properly cooked multi-course meals served in a measured time with thoughtfully designed crockery. The best bit? They can cook Austrian classics like Wiener schnitzel or goulash with that depth of flavour you never thought possible for airline food.

Apple strudel for pudding can bring back happy memories, too, for all the right reasons.

Maybe something lighter or a bit different is needed sometimes, though? Never fear, there is always grilled fish and vegetarian dishes available that actually sound nice on purpose.

For long-haul flights, there is a dine-on-demand service. You can eat when it suits you rather than waiting for the cabin crew to switch the lights on.

Then, of course, there is the coffee service, which many see as Austrian Airlines’ defining touch. Cabin crew make real Viennese coffee specialities such as Melange or Einspänner, served with water just as you would expect at home.

Entertainment & Connectivity

Austrian Airlines nails it with their in-flight entertainment system. Maybe not groundbreaking, but very much reliable. The screen is sharp and user-friendly, delivering a good mix of content. Expect Hollywood blockbusters, European films, music, TV series, and documentaries.

Noise-canceling headphones help you tune out those babbling babies as well. And although the interface won’t blow anyone away, it is logical.

Another thing: On many long-haul jets, you can pay to have Wi-Fi– whether for messaging, browsing, or gaming. So there’s that option to stay connected – or happily disconnect and enjoy the feeling of peace.

Amenities & Sleep

In keeping with Austria’s practical approach, the kits provided contain well-considered rather than just decorative extras. There are dental kits, skincare products (including foot moisturiser), socks, and eye masks.

Sleep is a significant aspect of the experience. Each seat comes with a mattress topper, duvet, and pillow to transform it into a genuine bed; on overnight flights, pajamas are handed out. A nice touch that’s becoming rare elsewhere in Europe.

The toilets are kept clean and stocked with shaving foam or razors as well as refreshing facial mist.

Mood lighting dims little by little between courses, and the sleep service turning down seats further encourages relaxation. It is a part of an unhurried pace that the airline fosters well, too.

Bottom Line

When you fly Austrian Airlines Business Class, you won’t find any flashy gimmicks. Instead, everything is done to an extremely high standard.

The seats are comfortable and lie flat, the food is great, and the crew is friendly. And there’s a distinct feeling of being somewhere special rather than on a plane.

This approach to in-flight service is incredibly popular, and also increasingly rare, with premium passengers across Europe.

But we reckon our offer will appeal to more than those after a bit of atmosphere with their legroom. Because why pay more? Book with Simply Business Class, and you’ll often find Austrian Airlines Business Class seats for up to 50% less than buying direct.

It makes that tasty Do & Co food a whole lot cheaper, same as the lie-flat seats and Viennese coffee onboard, all without any unpleasant surprises.