Austrian Airlines, VIE - BKK | WORST Long-Haul Flight EVER! Trip Report

This video is the first in our upcoming video series about a tour of Thailand that we took in May 2024. We flew non-stop from Vienna to Bankok with Austrian Airlines on a Boeing 777-200 in economy class.
Unfortunately, Austrian Airlines' austerity measures appear to have had a massive impact on comfort during the flight. Unfortunately it was by far the worst and lousiest flight we have ever taken. Plus with very little space.
You can see more in the video!
What were your experiences with Austrian Airlines on long-haul flights? Let us know in the comments!
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[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

A quick addendum from us: A few viewers claim that we only made this video because we deliberately wanted to complain about Austrian Airlines. That is not the case and we want to clarify that here. We live near Vienna, so Austrian Airlines is basically our "regular airline" with which we have flown countless times around the world. Anyone who lives in Austria will also know that this airline has been doing badly for years and is in constant economic decline. Our plane took off shortly after the end of months of strikes by staff, as they felt they were being treated unfairly by the company and complained about numerous grievances. It is unfortunately a fact that Austrian Airlines has been making massive savings in the normal economy class for the last 3 years - with the activation of the Premium Economy Class. On medium and long-haul flights. In the past, you could also get snacks and drinks on short-haul flights, but that is no longer the case. On long-haul flights, the seat pitch has been narrowed - as can be seen in the video - to create enough space for the Premium Economy. You can compare this with other airlines and numerous trip report videos on KZbin, you will see that Austrian Airlines has a much smaller seat pitch than other airlines. The thing about the vegetarian dinner and the small toilet is admittedly complaining at a high level and is due to the fact that we were unfortunately a bit annoyed by this flight that we had been looking forward to for months. Sorry 'bout that. We have flown this connection several times, always with Austrian Airlines and the Boeing 777 in exactly these seats. That is why we also know that there used to be more seat pitch and - as already mentioned - you can also compare it with other airlines. On the return flight of our trip we had seats in Premium Economy Class. And here we have to mention that - in contrast to the outbound flight - it was one of the best flight experiences we have ever had. It's a shame that there are such serious differences between Premium and normal Economy Class. There is also a trip report video for the return flight that will be completely contrary to this video. Although the toilet here was also small... 😛

[@hirschheisstdermann]

Thanks for the actual video. I am going to fly VIE-BKK in nearly the same seat in 2 weeks. Hope I'll get a free row in the middle...

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

We made the minimum bid for Premium Economy on the return flight and received an upgrade. I would highly recommend it, we really had one of the best flight experiences in Premium Economy

[@mcpointer756]

@@TheTravelExplorersAT Is there a video about your experience in Premium Economy coming as well?

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

@mcpointer756 Yes, but first we will upload all the videos we made in Thailand. We want to upload them chronologically.

[@TheEarthMD]

I’ve been flying to BKK with Middle East airlines but mostly with Thai Airways. Very impressed with Thai’s in-flight service even though they’re under a rehabilitation plan. Going to fly first time with Austrian to Bangkok via Vienna in a week and hopefully it’s going to be good.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Hope you have a good flight. Let us know later

[@Subc3r0_Games]

Did you flight yet? can you let us know how be the experience? thanks

[@johannesbols57]

You mention the staff was good. Now, imagine the same flight w/surly staff. How surly? The seat belt sign is illuminated and you press the call bell thing. No reply. Thirty minutes go by. You walk to the galley forward. The entire cabin crew is standing there like girls at a private school having a sleepover. You ask a flight attendant for a bottle of water. They don't have bottles of water. You ask for a glass of water. There are no glasses of water. You return to your seat and pull out the pages of the duty free mag w/items marked w/a quantity next to it. The flight attendant tells you that's a lot of stuff. You tell him IT'S A TEN HOUR FLIGHT.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

That sounds very tedious and unfortunately very familiar. Did that also happen to you with Austrian Airlines?

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

Thanks For Info About Austian Airlines Economy Class.Great Video

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Thanks for the feedback :)

[@romanamichi]

Leider hat Austrian stark abgebaut und die bilden sich auch was drauf ein - in den höheren Etagen zumindest. Nach bangkok sind wir mit Emirates geflogen, allerdings in business (Dubai - BKK mit 380er) - tja, auf diese Qualitätsstufe wird AUA nie kommen, auch nicht mit Biz: Emirates ist Weltliga, AUA höchstens Bezirksliga und dort vom Abstieg bedroht....

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Wahre Worte, so traurig es auch sein mag. Mal sehen wie sich das mit den Dreamlinern entwickelt.

[@mcpointer756]

19:08 The toilet is extremely small and cramped? It's a standard 777 toilet. A toilet on an Emirates 777 has the same size.🤪 It seems, you're not very serious... Sorry to say!👎

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Compare it with our videos about Emirates, we have two of them. Emirates and also EVA Air (also 1 Video) have slightly larger toilets. And also much nicer and cleaner ones. A small but significant difference. Admittedly, this is complaining at a high level. This is due, among other things, to the fact that we were extremely dissatisfied with the entire flight and that Austrian Airlines has unfortunately deteriorated massively in recent years.

[@duaneowens7777]

were they strict with the checked bag weight.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Yes. But we checked our luggage on a scale beforehand so that we wouldn't be surprised by having to pay an additional fee for our luggage.

[@k9killer221]

There was not one single thing in that lounge buffet that I would eat. Not one.

[@DominicGoebel-ix4pu]

I would suggest to go for a privat jet the next time....

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Thanks for the tip, we will think about it

[@deepalperera4592]

very poor service I agree with you

[@motos0711]

AUA: best airline best pilots

[@semsemeini7905]

Austrian is very average. Good food but kids portions. Good legroom though 5 years ago on old 767. Must have reduced legroom when introduiced Premium. But you could buy Extra legroom seats then. Your legroom looks a disaster!!! Crews can be grumpy or friendly. Earphones awful. But good music / entertainment. Breakfast not bad. From USA you get a muffin.

[@alexandermartinristl4634]

you're booking yourself in the lowest class available. it is what it is. Instead of complaining fly business or at least fork out the extra couple hundred bucks for premium economy. Never understood people booking themselves into kettle class for the cheapest price and expect to get Michelin star catering and a throne to sit on. Ridiculous.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Your comment just shows that you are not familiar with Austrian Airlines and its decline over the past few years. Before the pandemic, there was actually a lot more legroom because Premium Economy didn’t exist. Since it was introduced, Economy has been turned into a sardine can. Back then, there were also much higher quality in-ear headphones. The cutlery is the smaller problem. Talk to people who have flown with Austrian Airlines often, they will all confirm it. Especially in Austria, it will be very difficult to find people who are happy with the domestic airline. Unfortunately, we find it regrettable too. And with videos like this one, we want to give an honest insight. If that’s ridiculous to you, then that’s just your opinion, and that’s fine too. But don’t worry, we flew back in Premium Economy.

[@dexon777]

I guess they don't work with Do&Co anymore.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

They still do. But unfortunately, especially in economy class, there are massive cuts to the cost of travel. This includes the portion sizes and the number of meals.

[@mcpointer756]

@@TheTravelExplorersAT In fact, they are serving more, than before the pandemic.

[@abysanto4131]

This is a standard Economy seat pitch.....so why did you expect, is it your first time in Coach?

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

To be honest, this is the 5th flight from Vienna to Bangkok with this airline, but the first after the "general renovation" in economy class. Before the pandemic, Austrian Airlines had a lot more legroom in economy class. You can compare it with other airlines such as Emirates (we have a video here too), Quatar or Eva Air (we also have a video here) and see that Austrian Airlines offers by far the least space. I'd rather not even start on the rest of the equipment :) How often have you flown long-haul with Austrian Airlines?

[@semsemeini7905]

No it aint. Only on bad airlines. It used to be much better 5 years ago on the 767.

[@robertgonzales3936]

do they served you snack in the middle of the flight and also I think its the same as other airlines economy Austrian Business class its really good but not economy!

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

No, they didn‘t serve snack in the middle of the flight

[@djlondon7956]

You had to eat a vegetarian meal. Absolute tragedy.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

Yes, it is, if you were looking forward to the other option and the plane is only half full. If I spend a lot of money on a plane ticket, then I expect everything else to be worth the price. But that was absolutely not the case. I wouldn't call it a tragedy, but at least an annoying no-go that could easily be avoided with better advance planning. After all, other airlines manage it too. At least the vegetarian alternative didn't taste bad.

[@JO-nh6mo]

@@TheTravelExplorersAT Why not just go to Billa at the airport parking or Spar in T1 and get some food for your trip? As long as it is not liquid, you can bring it all on board.

[@abysanto4131]

Here again,standard lavatories size are the same for every airlines on the same aircraft type... more and more airlines used wooden cutely in coach not better than these on OS.... suspect your main goal here was to complain....

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

As said before, compare it to our recent Trip Report Videos with Emirates Airlines or Eva Air. You will see that of all the videos, Austrian Airlines offers by far the least space - even in the toilet. And every other airline had silver cutlery in economy. Even Bangkok Airways offers silver cutlery - two videos about this "low-cost airline" whose price/performance ratio is far better than that of Austrian Airlines will follow in the coming weeks.

[@Aeneas75]

I’m getting tired of people complaining. You are flying coach. You get food, pillow, blanket, headphones and ife. Nothing is up your standards. I’ve flown with them a couple of times ( my first time was in 1977) and I never had a problem with them. And you complained about everything, like a flying Karen, even about the slippery table!😂

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

You obviously haven't flown this route in recent years, otherwise you would know how much the economy class has deteriorated and narrowed since the introduction of Premium Eco 😉 But there are enough other KZbin videos from this time, you can use them as a comparison and you will notice that a qualitative decline has been taking place within AUA for just over 2 years. Unfortunately. And this mismanagement is no secret, it has been heard almost daily in the Austrian media over the last four months. If you call the honest opinion in this video, which reflects pretty much the majority of all AUA Eco Class passengers, "Flying Karen" - fine, then that's just how it is. Doesn't change our opinion. But it's also good that there are different opinions. And if you're happy with AUA's current service, then that's OK too. We're not. On the other hand, we must also say that we took the return flight in Premium Economy and that was one of our best flight experiences.

[@twilightlove]

Stop whining. Book a seat with extra leg space next time.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

When we booked, these exact seats were no longer available. And you can still expect a little comfort in economy class, after all, other airlines manage it too 🙃

[@tomaschaloupka2058]

Your intention was clearly to complain and brag and moan. First of all: all airlines get run out of meal choices. They do not guarantee chicken for everyone. "... we do apologize If YOUR FIRST CHOICE is not available". And If there was only one choice people like you would complain there should be 2 and more options. If you wanna ensure you get chicken perharps pay for seat up the front. Woodem cutlery is standard across all major airlines. This is nothing new. Complaining about toilets and their size - made by Boeing in this case. Just negative review created with clear intention to complain about everything. You need to grow up.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

No, that was not our intention and I think we know that better than you. Nice try, but it didn't work out. Compare this video with our videos about Emirates or Eva Air, both Boeing and both Economy. You will notice a significant difference, both in the cutlery and the size of the toilet.

[@tomaschaloupka2058]

Sits in the economy and "there was no chicken". Horror... This happens everyday on every airline. The fact it didnt happen before and happened now just shows its small %. Or do Austrian have on their website they guantee chicken to everyone in the economy? Wooden cutlery is standard. For example in France its a law and everything is wooden.

[@TheTravelExplorersAT]

@tomaschaloupka2058 If you're happy with that, that's your business. We certainly weren't. And the fact that you weren't given any more drinks after the meal - it was a 10:30 hour flight - is anything but great. It's nice that it's the law in France. Many other airlines like Emirates, Quatar, Etihad, Eva Air or Bangkok Airlines - a budget airline after all - hand out normal cutlery. And also offer far more legroom than Austrian Airlines. Strange... and as I said, you can check some of it in our videos :) we wanted to make an honest video with our honest personal opinion. That's what we did. We were looking forward to this flight for a long time and were unfortunately disappointed.

[@cndam]

@@tomaschaloupka2058 that too plus also at at the very end. Cannot expect them to cater double. Sometimes you are lucky to have your choice at the back and sometimes not. Many of the complaints were things I see with most airlines.

[@ThomasBriese]

Solch einen Reise Bericht habe ich noch gesehen , lange 15 Min. den Sitz Bildschirm zeigen und das WC +2 x Essen ,Kein Wort gesprochen ,, Das kann man nicht TRIP Report nennen ;Typisch ,da gibt es Bessere ,o(