The Definitive Guide to Austrian Airlines’ Direct Routes from The U.S. [Plane Types & Seat Options]

Austrian Airlines is a European gateway airline headquartered in Vienna. The airline is actually owned by Lufthansa Group, which also owns Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines.

Their route network is relatively small, with only 83 aircraft in Austrian’s fleet. Even so, this airline provides a comfortable and solid experience to fly nonstop to Vienna.

In this guide, we’ll be discussing the various route options that Austrian Airlines provides to Europe from the United States.

Update: Due to COVID-19, Austrian Airlines may temporarily suspend routes, frequencies, and/or aircraft flown. Please check with the airline directly for the most current information.

Seat Options by Aircraft Type

Austrian Airlines currently operates a total of 6 flights between the United States and Vienna:

Now that we have an idea of which gateways make nonstop flights to Vienna possible on Austrian Airlines, let’s look into some of the ways to use points to fly on them.

Best Points to Earn to Fly Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines is a Star Alliance partner, which means that you can use miles like Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More, and Avianca LifeMiles to book your award travel.

However, if you’re looking for the best value, you should check out Asiana Club or ANA Mileage Club.

You can even use Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles to book your award travel, though the redemption rate is typically not favorable. Here’s how these bookings look using transferable points currencies:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and United MileagePlus
• American Express Transfer Partners: Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and ANA Mileage Club
• Citi ThankYou Rewards: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Avianca LifeMiles
• Capital One Miles: Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Marriott Bonvoy: Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More, Avianca LifeMiles, Asiana Club, ANA Mileage Club, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Bottom Line: You have a ton of options to book Austrian Airlines with miles, but your best options will be ANA Mileage Club or Asiana Club due to the affordable mileage costs.

Austrian Airlines First Class Options

Unfortunately, Austrian Airlines does not operate a long-haul first class product like Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines.

Austrian Airlines Business Class Options

Austrian Airlines operates 2 aircraft on their U.S. routes: the 777-200 and 767-300. Both of these offer a very solid business class product and represent an excellent way to fly nonstop to Vienna.

Business class on Austrian Airlines features excellent food and beverage offerings, a relatively comfortable seat, and great service throughout the flight. All in all, Austrian Airlines provides a good business class product.

1. Austrian Airlines 767-300 Business Class

Austrian Airlines’ 767-300 has their largest long-haul business class seat, at 21″ wide, 60″ in pitch, and 78″ long in lie-flat bed mode.

The biggest difference between the 767-300 and the 777-200 (and the reason for our ranking) is the cabin configuration. On the 767-300, you’ll find staggered seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, each of which have direct aisle access, as shown here:

As you can see, all of the lavatories and galleys are located at the front of the cabin. As a result, the best seats will be at the rear of the business class section. Seats 7A and 7K are excellent choices, since they are as far from the cabin noise as possible.

If you can’t choose 7A or 7K, the next best is 5A or 5K, followed by 3A or 3K. Couples traveling together can sit in middle seats to enjoy each other’s company better.

Here are the routes Austrian Airlines currently operates from America using the 767-300:

• Boston (BOS) – Vienna (VIE) from March 29, 2020
• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) sometimes
• Newark (EWR) – Vienna (VIE)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Vienna (VIE)

2. Austrian Airlines 777-200 Business Class

Our other choice is the 777-200. This particular aircraft, though larger than the 767-300, actually has a denser business class cabin than the 767-300. There are 40 business class seats spread out in an odd configuration (see below).

As for the seats themselves, they are each 20″ wide, 40″ in pitch, and 78″ in bed length — these 777-200 business class seats are an entire inch narrower than the 767-300’s business class seats.

Additionally, the cabin configuration is less optimal; it alternates between a 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 configuration as follows:

This means that some seats are better than others. You would always rather have a seat with direct aisle access than have to climb over somebody else to use the lavatories.

In this seat map, the best seats are either in row 3 or row 5, since they have the most favorable configuration and are far from the lavatories and galleys. Window seats are best for travelers flying alone, whereas couples may favor middle seats.

You can find this 777-200 business class layout on the following Austrian Airlines routes to/from the United States:

• Chicago (ORD) – Vienna (VIE)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Vienna (VIE)
• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) mostly

Austrian Airlines Premium Economy Class Options

Premium economy is a solid way to save on costs while still flying comfortably to your destination. We think Austrian Airlines’ 767-300 features the better premium economy section when compared to the 777-200.

1. Austrian Airlines 767-300 Premium Economy Class

Austrian Airlines’ premium economy cabin consists of only 18 seats across 3 rows in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats measure 19″ wide and 33″-35″ in pitch. The overall cabin intimacy makes this Austrian Airlines’ premium economy a worthwhile product to try.

Here’s what the seat map looks like:

Travelers should avoid 10D and 10G due to restricted legroom at the front of the cabin. Otherwise, any other seat is about the same, since there are no lavatories or galleys near the premium economy section.

You can find this premium economy setup on the following long-haul routes operated by Austrian Airlines:

• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Vienna (VIE)
• Newark (EWR) – Vienna (VIE)
• Boston (BOS) – Vienna (VIE) from March 29, 2020
• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) sometimes

2. Austrian Airlines 777-200 Premium Economy Class

Austrian Airlines’ premium economy cabin on the 777-200 contains more seats, though they’re the same size as the 767-300. Because its premium economy cabin is larger and denser, the 777-200 falls into our second place.

There are a total of 24 recliner seats spread out in a 2-4-2 configuration across 3 rows:

The 777-200’s middle rows may be suitable for family travelers, while the side rows are best for couples traveling together. As there are no facilities nearby, there are no true preferential seats here.

Here are all the offered routes on which Austrian Airlines operates the 777-200:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Vienna (VIE)
• Chicago (ORD) – Vienna (VIE)
• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) mostly

Austrian Airlines Economy Class Options

The best way to optimize economy seating in general is by selecting the aircraft with the most spacious seats and choosing the preferential seats on said aircraft.

In this case, we think the 777-200 wins out for Austrian Airlines.

1. Austrian Airlines 777-200 Economy Class

Economy seats on the 777-200 are 17″ wide with 31″-33″ of pitch. With a total of 244 economy seats, this aircraft is configured in a 3-4-3 arrangement as shown here:

The best seats are in exit rows, since they typically have extra legroom. In this case, the only exit row seats are in row 27.

However, the lavatories and galleys are both located in front of row 27. But it may be worth it to reserve seats in row 27 anyway due to the amount of room you’ll have to stretch out.

You’ll be able to find this economy class layout on the following routes:

• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) mostly
• Chicago (ORD) – Vienna (VIE)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Vienna (VIE)

2. Austrian Airlines 767-300 Economy Class

The 767-300 has a less dense configuration, but that’s because the aircraft itself is smaller. These seats are also 17″ wide, but have a reduced pitch of only 30″-31″.

You’ll find a 2-3-2 configuration with a total of 167 seats in economy. Unfortunately, there aren’t very many preferential seats at all, as you can see here:

The main reason why row 19 is highlighted green is because row 18 seats have very limited recline. As a result, row 19 is said to have “extra legroom” due to the limited recline from the seats in front. This isn’t much of a preferential seat, but it may be worth reserving if there’s no additional fee.

Austrian Airlines flies the 767-300 on the following nonstop routes between Austria and the United States:

• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) sometimes
• Boston (BOS) – Vienna (VIE) from March 29, 2020
• Newark (EWR) – Vienna (VIE)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Vienna (VIE)

Final Thoughts

Austrian Airlines offers a great way to fly nonstop to Europe leveraging the Star Alliance. Award availability is plentiful, and there are many different miles you can use to book your trip.

In addition, Austrian Airlines maintains a simple fleet of 2 aircraft: the 767-300 and 777-200. As we’ve shown above, the 767-300 is the top pick for business class and premium economy, whereas the 777-200 is our winner for economy class.

Now you have an idea of all the Austrian Airlines routes from the United States, along with cabin classes and flight frequencies.