This flight marks the final leg of an unforgettable five-year anniversary trip with my wife. Over the past few weeks, my journey has taken me to Qatar, the Maldives, Italy, and Austria — a trip filled with incredible experiences and some seriously impressive flights. Along the way, I have flown in some of the best Business Class products in the world: QSuites on a Qatar Airways A350-1000, Business Class on a Qatar Airways 777-300ER, and Business Class on an Etihad 777-300ER. To end this amazing adventure, I fly from Vienna (VIE) to Washington, D.C. (IAD) with Austrian Airlines.

I am particularly excited about this daytime flight after reading stellar reviews about the highly regarded Austrian Airlines “soft” product — the onboard service, food, and overall hospitality.

Award Flight Booking (9/10)

I book this ticket about six months in advance using Air Canada Aeroplan miles. The total cost comes to 70,000 Aeroplan miles plus $118.01 USD per person in taxes and fees — a solid deal for a transatlantic Business Class flight.

Here is the exact itinerary I book:

• OS 502: Rome, Italy (FCO) to Vienna, Austria (VIE) – departing 10:15 AM, arriving 11:55 AM
• OS 93: Vienna, Austria (VIE) to Washington, D.C. (IAD) – departing 10:35 AM (+1), arriving 2:50 PM (+1)

Note: This review only covers the second flight from Vienna to Washington, D.C.

Given how tough it can be to find award availability on Austrian Airlines, I am thrilled to snag this booking — especially for a daytime flight heading west. This gives me a full 8+ hours to experience the “soft” product on Austrian Airlines, versus flying east, where I probably sleep most of the flight. 

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Airport Check-In (7/10)

My wife and I arrive at Vienna International Airport (VIE) about two hours before the flight to allow plenty of time for check-in and immigration. As I step into the terminal, it is not immediately clear where I need to go. After checking the flight information board, I find the correct check-in desk and head over. Since I am flying Business Class, I use the priority lane and am helped right away — no waiting necessary.

The desk agent quickly checks my passport, tags my luggage, and sends me on my way with a warm smile.

Immigration is just as smooth. With some time to spare before boarding, I make my way to the lounge for a quick snack and a chance to relax before the flight.

Airport Lounge (3/10)

I head to the Austrian Airlines Business Class lounge near the D gates, where my flight is departing. Since Vienna International Airport (VIE) a Star Alliance hub, I expect an impressive lounge experience. Unfortunately, I am pretty disappointed. For the main hub of Austrian Airlines, the lounge feels underwhelming.

First, it is tricky to find — I have to navigate through a maze of hallways to get there. Worse, there is simply not enough seating, especially with several U.S.-bound flights departing around the same time. My wife and I can not find anywhere to sit, so we grab some drinks to go and head back to the terminal, where it is far more comfortable.

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While strolling through the terminal, I spot something that immediately lifts my mood: airplane-shaped Haribo gummies — my new favorite airport snack!

Boarding

Boarding is a bit chaotic. I have to show my boarding pass just to enter the gate area, as there is another Austrian Airlines flight to Newark (EWR) departing from the adjacent gate at the same time. The gate area is not big enough to hold passengers from two wide-body flights, so the ground staff split the space down the middle to keep passengers organized. It is not the most efficient setup, but I eventually make it onboard, ready to experience the highly praised Austrian Airlines Business Class service.

Aircraft Cabin And Layout (8/10)

The Austrian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER is a wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul flights, with a Business Class cabin featuring 24 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.

This layout ensures that every seat has direct aisle access — a huge plus for comfort and convenience. The middle seats alternate between being closer to the aisle or more centered, while the window seats switch between being positioned right next to the window or closer to the aisle. All seats face forward, providing a consistent and spacious layout.

Overhead luggage bins are available above all seats, though the bins above the window seats sit slightly lower than those above the center section. I also notice the sleek Austrian Airlines logo displayed at the front of the cabin — a stylish touch that adds a bit of flair to the overall design.

Business Class Seat (7/10)

For this flight, my wife and I are seated on the right side of the cabin in seats 3K and 4K. I take 3K, while she settles into 4K, directly behind me.

The seats are upholstered in cloth with a red leather headrest, adding a touch of style. To my left are the seat controls, which include several preset options (I am a big fan of the “relax” mode) and manual adjustments for different parts of the seat. There is even a massage function and firmness adjustment — a nice luxury touch.

Further back, I find a flip-up panel housing the reading light for the seat, a “Do Not Disturb” indicator, and the call button. Just above that are more features: an adjustable reading light, a USB-A port, a universal A/C outlet, and a headphone jack. There is also a small storage nook, perfect for glasses — though I keep mine in a case to avoid scratches.

Next to the seat, closer to the aisle, is a shelf where I can stash items like my laptop during the flight. This is where I first notice the age of the aircraft — the paint on the tray table release button is noticeably worn.

Speaking of the tray table, it is by far the most complicated airplane tray table I have ever used. It swings out from the shelf beside me and then lifts up to lock into place. The joint mechanism is tricky and unintuitive. In fact, the flight attendant has to help me several times throughout the flight. Judging by how practiced they are, I am guessing this is a common issue. Here is hoping the new Boeing 787-9 Austrian Airlines aircraft have a simpler design!

Across from the seat, there is a literature pocket with the safety card, entertainment guide, and a water bottle holder. Directly in front of me is the TV monitor, with a spacious footwell beneath it. I have plenty of room to stretch out or even curl up on my side for a nap.

There are no individual reading lights or air vents above the seat, but thankfully, the cabin temperature stays comfortable throughout the flight.

Business Class Bed (9/10)

Waiting at my seat upon boarding are a pillow and a blanket, both thoughtfully designed for long-haul comfort.

The pillow is impressively substantial — exactly what I like for a restful flight. The blanket strikes the perfect balance: warm enough to keep me cozy, but breathable enough that I do not overheat.

While Austrian Airlines does not provide pajamas or slippers on this flight, I do not mind skipping the pajamas since it is a daytime journey. However, slippers would be a nice touch — it is always more comfortable to slip those on rather than putting my shoes back on when walking around the cabin and to the lavatory.

My favorite feature is the “Relax” mode on the seat controls. Being able to recline comfortably while sipping coffee, reading a book, or watching a movie is the perfect way to wind down at the end of this unforgettable trip.

On-Board Entertainment (8/10)

The Business Class entertainment system on Austrian Airlines is compact but well-executed. The screen quality is excellent, offering sharp visuals and vibrant colors. While the selection of content is not massive, the options are relatively current. For example, on my February 2024 flight, Oppenheimer is available — impressive, considering it had only been released for streaming that same month.

One of my favorite features is the inflight map. Austrian Airlines highlights all the cities they fly to, along with a few they do not, like Havana and Colombo — a fun detail for aviation and travel enthusiasts.

The headphones are Austrian Airlines-branded and work perfectly well. While they are not noise-canceling, they get the job done for watching movies and listening to music throughout the flight.

Lavatory (8/10)

There are three lavatories at the front of the Business Class cabin, two on the left side and one on the right side. All three lavatories are reserved exclusively for Business Class passengers — no shared access with Premium Economy, which is always appreciated. The lavatories are relatively small and simple, with no fancy extras. However, as a relatively tall person, I am glad I can stand up comfortably without feeling cramped. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew keeps the lavatories spotless, which makes for a pleasant experience.

Amenity Kit (6/10)

The Austrian Airlines amenity kit on this flight is fairly basic for a premium Business Class experience. It includes socks, a sleep mask, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and chapstick — the simple, but practical essentials. During the flight, the only item I actually use is the chapstick, which comes in handy for keeping my lips moisturized. After the flight, I add the toothbrush and toothpaste to my guest bathroom stash and toss the sleep mask into my travel sleep kit as a backup.

The bag itself is compact and the perfect size for repurposing as a pencil case or small organizer. While this is not the most impressive amenity kit I have received, it is perfectly sufficient for a daytime transatlantic flight.

Food And Beverage (10/10)

Austrian Airlines sets itself apart from many transatlantic carriers by featuring an onboard chef. Their sole responsibility is ensuring each dish is plated beautifully and meets high culinary standards. During the meal service, the chef personally comes around to take orders, explain menu options, and check that everything is up to expectations. While the role might seem like more flair than function, the meal quality genuinely feels elevated compared to other Business Class flights I have taken. More importantly, it signals the serious investment of Austrian Airlines in their soft product to stand out from the competition.

Pre-Departure Service

Once I settle into my seat, a flight attendant warmly greets me and offers room-temperature mixed nuts along with a choice of orange juice or sparkling wine. Naturally, I take both!

Lunch Service

About 20 minutes after takeoff, the lunch service begins. Flight attendants lay down a crisp white tablecloth and offer a warm towel for my hands.

They also place salt, pepper, butter, and a bottle of olive oil on the tray — an impressive start to lunch. I order sparkling water and a bitter lemon drink, both served with fresh lemon slices, which I always appreciate. I absolutely love the triangle plates.

The beginning of the meal includes a bread roll, an amuse-bouche, and my chosen starter. The amuse-bouche is a roasted vegetable plate, beautifully plated by the onboard chef. For my starter, I select the leaf salad with dark bread croutons, marinated chickpeas, ricotta, and grilled vegetables, topped with a yogurt-herb dressing (similar to Ranch dressing in the U.S.). This is easily the best salad I have ever had on a plane — it is fresh, hearty, and something I might expect from a proper restaurant, not a 35,000-foot meal service.

Next comes the soup course: a sweet potato coconut soup. It is creamy, flavorful, and hands down my favorite dish on this flight. I can not think of another airline offering a soup course in Business Class on transatlantic routes — American Airlines only serves soup in international First Class, making this an impressive touch.

For my main course, I choose the filet of pork with cauliflower gratin, ratatouille, and red pepper sauce. I am pleasantly surprised when two pieces of pork arrive, both tender and flavorful. I happily finish the entire plate.

For dessert, I opt for the strawberry-mango macchiato and a fresh fruit cup, which I enjoy with a glass of dessert wine. Everything is light, refreshing, and the perfect way to end such a satisfying meal.

While I am tempted by the cheese course, I am comfortably full by this point, so I pass.

Coffee Service

This is the part of the flight I am most excited about. Austrian Airlines is famous for recreating the iconic Vienna coffee house experience in the sky, and after enjoying a leisurely visit to one in Vienna during our trip, I am eager to see how it translates onboard. In fact, when booking this flight, I specifically choose a daytime departure so we can savor coffee, read books, and watch movies at 35,000 feet while heading home.

Now, how important is the coffee service? Well, Austrian Airlines dedicates an entire page of the menu to their coffee selection, even providing historical context about the coffee culture in Vienna — a thoughtful detail I truly appreciate.

For this flight, I order the Wiener Eiskaffee, a double espresso served over vanilla ice cream with freshly whipped cream, presented in a tall glass. It is paired with a piece of chocolate for extra sweetness, completing the indulgent experience. It does not disappoint.

What I love most is that after putting away my tray table, the flight attendant serves my coffee on its own tray, allowing me to enjoy it at my leisure. There is something special about sipping a beautifully made coffee while reading a good book, cruising over the Atlantic.

It is the perfect way to end this unforgettable trip with my wife — and easily my favorite part of the flight.

End-Of-Flight Meal Service

About an hour and 15 minutes before landing, just north of New York City, the end-of-flight meal service begins. For this meal, I order the mozzarella and tomato panini with a side of potato chips. I also opt for a vanilla profiterole covered in chocolate and a cup of coffee to finish the flight on a sweet note.

The panini is decent. The challenge with serving a panini at the end of a long flight is keeping the bread crispy, which is tricky after sitting in a warming oven for hours. That said, Austrian Airlines does a better job than most, even if it is not quite restaurant-quality. The profiterole, however, is fantastic. I have always been a fan of puff pastry filled with cream, and this one hits the spot perfectly.

Overall, this pre-landing meal rounds out what is one of the best dining experiences I have ever had on a daytime flight from Europe to North America. Bravo Austrian Airlines, for investing in such an elevated onboard dining experience!

Staff And Service (9/10)

The service on this flight is perfectly fine — efficient, consistent, and attentive. Anytime I hit the call button, a flight attendant appears promptly. Nothing is ever forgotten, and used dinnerware is cleared quickly and discreetly.

I do want to give a special shoutout to the flight attendants for their patience while I struggle with the overly complicated tray table. It is so poorly designed and unintuitive that they have to assist me several times. Judging by how smoothly they handle it, I suspect this is not their first time dealing with confused passengers.

Final Thoughts

My flight with Austrian Airlines on their Boeing 767-300ER in Business Class exceeded my expectations with its thoughtful service, excellent meals, and unique onboard coffee experience. Highlights included a well-executed multi-course meal, professional cabin crew, and the indulgent Wiener Eiskaffee served mid-flight — an in-flight experience that truly sets Austrian Airlines apart. While the cabin shows its age in places (like the tricky tray table) and the amenity kit is basic, the overall experience is polished and comfortable. The investment of Austrian Airlines in its soft product, from the onboard chef to personalized service, makes it a fantastic (and severely underrated) option for transatlantic travel.

I can not wait to fly with them again — hopefully aboard their soon to launch Boeing 787-9 aircraft.