Best Ways To Book Austrian Airlines Business Class With Points [Step-by-Step]

Austrian Airlines is one of the smaller full-service airlines in the Star Alliance. The Vienna-based flag carrier has long served the role of connecting passengers with Austria and destinations beyond.

With a current fleet size of around 70 aircraft, the carrier is not as ubiquitous as some of the other European giants, but you can see its wide-body jets from time to time, especially if you live near an international gateway airport in the U.S. Midwest or East Coast.

Austrian Airlines has an excellent business class product, but its food and beverage offering is particularly famous among luxury aficionados.

Let’s take a look at how you can use your points and miles to enjoy a Viennese coffee at 35,000 feet in Austrian Airlines’ business class.

A Look Inside Austrian Airlines Business Class

Austrian Airlines’ business class product varies depending on which aircraft you’re flying. Simply put, the Boeing 767-300 has a better cabin configuration (1-2-1) than the Boeing 777-200 which is more crowded with alternating rows of 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 seating.

All of Austrian’s business class seats recline to a fully flat position, but the seats on the 767 are slightly wider than those on the 777, and you’ll have direct aisle access at every seat on that aircraft. If you have a choice between the 2 aircraft types, we’d definitely recommend the 767.

These seats are forward-facing and staggered with 21 inches of width, 60 inches of pitch, and 78 inches of bed length. Each seat also features simple controls, a large in-flight entertainment screen, and an arm table.

This seat type doesn’t provide the most privacy, but there is the award-winning DO & CO catering service, which happens to be headquartered in Austria.

Austrian’s business class has become known for great service and food, while it offers a decent business class seat and amenities.

How To Fly Austrian Airlines Business Class Using Points

Booking Austrian Airlines business class is easy. If you search for award space around 6 to 7 months before departure, you’ll notice plenty of award availability throughout the schedule.

As a general rule, Austrian Airlines doesn’t make award space available more than ~210 days before departure. No need to worry, though. Searching for availability 30 to 60 or 90 to 210 days before departure should yield successful results.

Here are all of the nonstop routes available between the U.S. and Austria:

• Chicago (ORD) – Vienna (VIE)
• Newark (EWR) – Vienna (VIE)
• New York City (JFK) – Vienna (VIE)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Vienna (VIE)

The most common days with business class availability are Sundays through Wednesdays. Also, you might find last-minute award availability being released from time to time.

Unfortunately, Austrian Airlines, just like most other European airlines, imposes astronomical fuel surcharges to the order of ~$700 one-way, which further underscores the importance of using the right frequent flyer program.

Avoiding fuel surcharges should be one of your top priorities — we’ll explore this and more in this guide on the best ways for booking Austrian Airlines business class.

Avianca LifeMiles

Without a doubt, Avianca LifeMiles is one of our favorite frequent flyer programs. Until a few years ago, LifeMiles was relegated to a niche offering for a select group of travelers.

Nowadays, with awesome transfer partnerships, great partners, and good redemption rates, LifeMiles is becoming more popular than ever.

Here’s how much one-way Austrian Airlines business class flights will cost between the U.S. and Europe:

Even though the program has its quirks, like incomplete award availability, for example, this is generally not an issue for Austrian Airlines flights.

Unfortunately, phone support with LifeMiles is abysmal, so you’ll want to limit your award bookings to those made online. And finally, be aware of the $150 to $200 award change/cancellation fee per ticket.

Here are the steps to follow when booking your Austrian Airlines ticket using Avianca LifeMiles:

1. Go to LifeMiles’s website. The site should display in Spanish by default.
2. Change the website’s language to English by clicking the flag icon in the top-right corner and choosing English.
3. After getting redirected to the English homepage, click Log in in the top-right corner and enter your LifeMiles account details.
4. After logging in, click Travel in the top banner towards the left-hand side.
5. You’ll see a dropdown menu near the top of the search box that says Smart Search by default. Click it and switch it to Austrian Airlines.
6. Fill in the search box and click Find Flights.
7. Choose your flight date(s).
8. Redeem LifeMiles and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Because LifeMiles is an Amex transfer partner, Citi transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, Brex transfer partner, and Marriott transfer partner, it’s easy to earn lots of Avianca LifeMiles.

Amex, Citi, Capital One, and Brex all transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly — Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. Transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take around 1 business day.

What makes LifeMiles especially attractive is that Amex, Brex, and Citi routinely offer transfer bonuses of up to 30%, making it even easier to amass LifeMiles.

Additionally, if you wait for an award sale, you might even reduce the number of LifeMiles you redeem by up to 20% (keep in mind Austrian Airlines routes are rarely included in these sales).

Avianca partners with Banco Popular to offer a co-branded credit card that you can use to earn miles, too. We don’t recommend using this card, but it’s still an option.

Lastly, LifeMiles offers very lucrative mileage sales during which you can buy miles for 1 to 1.1 cents apiece thanks to purchase bonuses of up to 200%!

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart, which means the further you fly, the more points you’ll redeem.

For flights between the U.S. and Europe, see the following award chart:

Aeroplan doesn’t pass on any fuel surcharges. And since all available flights between the U.S. and Vienna fall within the 4,001 to 6,000-mile bracket, you’ll pay the prices in bold above.

This program also has a unique benefit that allows you to add a stopover on a one-way flight if you’ve found award availability for each segment for just 5,000 extra points.

For example, if you wanted to fly from New York to Cape Town with a stopover in Vienna, you’ll calculate the sum of the distance of the 2 flights, find the appropriate distance bracket and pricing, and add 5,000 points to the price.

In this case, the nonstop flight from New York to Vienna spans 4,240 miles of flight distance, while the flight from Vienna to Cape Town is 5,650 miles in flight distance, which totals 9,890 miles.

This falls under the 8,001+ miles bracket, which costs 100,000 points in business class. Just add 5,000 points to that amount, search for award space separately, and call Aeroplan to book the ticket.

Overall, the steps to redeeming Aeroplan points is as follows:

1. Go to Air Canada’s homepage.
2. In the top-right corner, click Sign in and log into your Aeroplan account.
3. You’ll be redirected back to the homepage. There’s a search box in the middle of the page. Click Points to perform award searches.
4. Click One-way or Round-trip.
5. Enter your travel details, and click Find.
6. Find your desired flight, redeem your Aeroplan points, and use your credit card for taxes and fees.
   • Want to book a stopover? You’ll need to search for each segment’s award availability and then call Air Canada at 800-361-5373 to book your ticket.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Just like Avianca LifeMiles, it’s easy to earn Aeroplan points. The list of transfer partners is slightly different, though — Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Chase, Capital One, and Amex transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio in around 5 business days. Plus, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll earn a bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel^SM
• 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.

100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Welcome Offer

Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Freedom Flex℠

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus is our third pick for booking Austrian business class. It may be your go-to program if you already have a bunch of United miles, but we realize this may not apply to every traveler out there.

What makes United MileagePlus particularly attractive is its absence of fuel surcharges, a simplistic booking interface, and the ability to earn miles quickly.

Here’s the award chart for U.S.-Vienna flights in Austrian business class, and note that because United MileagePlus uses a dynamic award pricing system, awards can fluctuate in price:

Here’s the booking process for United MileagePlus:

1. Visit United’s homepage.
2. The homepage will have a search box. Toggle the checkbox that says Book with Miles.
3. Populate the search box, and click Find flights.
4. Scroll through the options and dates, redeem your miles, and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

While United MileagePlus is transfer partners with just 2 currencies — Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy — you’ll find the co-branded credit cards represent a fantastic way to earn lots of United miles.

Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio in around 3 business days. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer to United, you’ll earn a bonus of 10,000 United miles.

One of the best ways to earn United miles is to apply for any of Chase’s co-branded United credit cards, all of which earn miles directly and offer benefits with the airline.

Asiana Club

Asiana Club is Asiana Airlines’ frequent flyer program. As you’ll see in the table below, the mileage prices are hard to believe — in a good way!

Unfortunately, these prices come with a caveat: you’ll pay for every penny of fuel surcharges, which cuts into the value proposition immensely.

To make matters more difficult, Asiana Club doesn’t have any 1:1 transfer partnerships, making these miles pretty difficult to earn.

Lastly, you’ll need to pick up the phone to book any partner flights with Asiana Club — here are the complete steps to do so:

1. Browse on United.com to find Austrian Airlines availability.
2. Write down your flight details, call Asiana Club at 800-227-4262 and inform the agent that you’d like to book a mileage reward flight on Star Alliance partner Austrian Airlines.
3. Provide the agent with your itinerary details, spend your Asiana miles, and provide a credit card to pay for the taxes and fees.

Hot Tip: We recommend booking one-way tickets on Asiana Club, even if you want to travel round-trip, because you’ll save a significant amount on fuel surcharges by booking 2 one-way tickets, as opposed to 1 round-trip ticket ($1,095 vs. $1,506 in total taxes and fees).

Earning Asiana Miles

Earning Asiana miles is much more difficult than the other options discussed here because it has just 1 transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Asiana, and you’ll get a bonus of 5,000 Asiana miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at once. Transfers take around 4 business days to complete.

See our list of the best Marriott credit cards in our detailed guide.

ANA Mileage Club

The last major frequent flyer program we’ll discuss in detail is ANA Mileage Club. While the mileage prices are extremely attractive and the number of ways to earn ANA miles is relatively abundant, you’ll be liable for all taxes and fees aboard Austrian Airlines.

This amounts to a whopping $1,500+ on round-trip flights (one-way award flights are not allowed).

Even the technique of booking 2 one-way award flights to save on taxes and fees doesn’t apply here because ANA doesn’t allow one-way flights.

Here’s the award chart:

If this works for you, follow these instructions:

1. Use the United search engine to locate Austrian Airlines business class award space.
2. Visit ANA’s U.S. website.
3. Click Award Booking in the left-hand box near the top.
4. Log into your ANA Mileage Club account.
5. You’ll be redirected to the Award Reservation page. Fill in the search box and click the orange Search button.
6. Confirm the flight using your ANA miles and use your credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

ANA Mileage Club has 2 transfer partners: Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

If you transfer points from Amex, you’ll do so at a 1:1 ratio; transfers take around 3 business days.

On the other hand, if you transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy, it’ll be at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 ANA miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Transfers take around 4 business days to process.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club^® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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American Express^® Gold Card

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

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Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

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Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

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If you’re a business owner, you may want to consider an American Express business card.

Other Options for Booking Austrian Airlines

There are plenty of other ways to book Austrian Airlines business class, thanks to the Star Alliance.

You can book Austrian Airlines flights through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Lufthansa Miles&More, and more.

All of these airlines pass on fuel surcharges, which means you’ll be liable for $1,000 to $1,500 in total taxes and fees per round-trip ticket.

That said, if you decided to redeem miles through one of these programs, the best would be Turkish Airlines, as one-way tickets can be booked for just 45,000 miles. Plus, Turkish is transfer partners with Citi (1:1) and Capital One (1:1), making it easier to earn miles.

Great Austrian Airlines Business Class Redemptions

Austrian Airlines business class isn’t quite as aspirational as Emirates first class or Lufthansa first class; but it’s still easy to get fantastic value with your points.

Here’s an “executive summary” table of business class award tickets from the U.S. to Austria via the main frequent flyer programs we discussed:

We recommend Avianca LifeMiles first because of its generous list of transfer partners, great redemption prices, and most importantly, the absence of fuel surcharges.

If you have Chase points, the best deal, by a small margin, is Aeroplan. What makes Aeroplan extra useful is the ability to add stopovers on one-way flights for just 5,000 miles more. You won’t pay for fuel surcharges, either.

United MileagePlus is a fabulous way to go if you already have a bunch of United miles or are looking for a familiar booking process.

Asiana and ANA both offer sub-100,000-point redemptions for round-trip award tickets, but you’ll need to take into account the enormous, 4-figure fuel surcharges per person.

Let’s talk about each airline’s stopover and open-jaw policies:

• Avianca LifeMiles doesn’t permit stopovers on award tickets
• Air Canada Aeroplan permits stopovers for 5,000 extra points, even on one-way tickets
• United MileagePlus permits stopovers through the Excursionist Perk
• Asiana permits up to 8 stopovers if you’re booking a round-trip partner award ticket
• ANA permits 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw on award tickets

Now that we discussed all of the individual pieces of an Austrian Airlines business class award booking, let’s go over some of the best example redemptions you can make in Austrian Airlines business class:

• Cancún (CUN) – Vienna (VIE) round-trip in Austrian Airlines business class for 88,000 ANA miles + ~$725 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Vienna (VIE) one-way in Austrian Airlines business class for 63,000 LifeMiles + ~$53 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) one-way in Austrian Airlines business class for 77,000 United miles + ~$5.60 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) – Vienna (VIE) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in Austrian Airlines business class with a stopover in Vienna for 75,000 Aeroplan points + ~$36 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Vienna (VIE) round-trip (booked as 2 one-way tickets) in Austrian Airlines business class for 80,000 Asiana miles + ~$1,095 in taxes and fees

How To Earn Enough Miles for Austrian Airlines Business Class

One benefit of booking Austrian Airlines business class is that you can use virtually any transferable currency available to book this flight.

However, Austrian Airlines levies massive fuel surcharges on flights between the U.S. and Vienna — upwards of $700 each way — so it’s generally a good idea to accumulate miles in a program that doesn’t pass on these fuel surcharges, like Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and United MileagePlus. But if you can accept these fuel surcharges, you’ll redeem the fewest miles with ANA or Asiana.

These are the main transferable currencies and their relevant transfer partners for Austrian Airlines business class flights:

• Amex Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and ANA Mileage Club. Amex points transfer to LifeMiles and Aeroplan almost instantly, while it takes about 3 business days for them to transfer to ANA.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus almost instantly.
• Citi ThankYou Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Avianca LifeMiles almost instantly.
• Capital One miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio to LifeMiles and Aeroplan almost instantly.
• Brex Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to LifeMiles almost instantly.
• Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avianca LifeMiles (1 day), Air Canada Aeroplan (5 days), Asiana Club (3 days), ANA Mileage Club (4 days), and United (4 days) at a 3:1 ratio. United transfers get a 10,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

The last thing to remember is that Avianca LifeMiles and Aeroplan historically have had the most frequent transfer bonuses. LifeMiles usually tops out at a 30% bonus and Aeroplan at 25%. These transfer bonuses usually occur with Amex or Citi.

When Should You Search for Award Space

As a general rule of thumb, you can search for Austrian Airlines flights up to 7 months in advance.

There’s usually a “black hole” of availability for flights 2 months before departure on most routes, so just keep that in mind. Additionally, availability within 1 month of departure is typically excellent.

Basically, as long as you search between 30 and 60 or 90 and 210 days before departure, you should find generous availability.

Austrian Airlines releases 2 business class seats reliably, but you’ll probably need to be flexible to find 4 business class seats on the same plane.

Why Austrian Airlines Business Class Is a Great Redemption

As we mentioned earlier, Austrian Airlines uses either the Boeing 777-200 or Boeing 767-300 aircraft for U.S. flights.

The airline’s 767s have business class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, while its 777s have an alternating 1-2-1 and 2-2-2 configuration. While the seats themselves aren’t the best in the sky, there are other factors that set the experience apart — let’s take a look.

Incredible Food and Beverage

Austrian’s business class catering program is industry-leading.

Most of your dishes are plated next to your seat from a trolley, which is a neat novelty. Multi-course meals feature dishes like glazed short ribs, truffled pasta, and much more.

The beverage selection is plentiful and high-end. There are anywhere from 8 to 10 choices at any given time, including Champagne, white wine, red wine, dessert wine, and more.

Most importantly, though, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a top-notch coffee menu, including “eiskaffee,” which is a lavish espresso drink topped with ice cream and whipped cream.

Overall, the onboard dining program is fantastic.

Professional Service

Austrian Airlines offers efficient service, though it never feels rushed or anything less than great.

You’ll be served a welcome beverage, given a warm towel service, and of course, the full multi-course meal service.

Plus, within a few seconds of calling, you’ll have any service requests answered.

Great Award Availability and Nonstop Service to Austria

Having the option of booking $4,000 to $6,000+ plane tickets using points is a massive plus.

There aren’t a whole lot of airlines offering nonstop service to Vienna, and being able to access award space on a handful of U.S. routes is a blessing.

And, since Austrian Airlines is a Star Alliance partner, you can pretty much redeem points from any transferable currency, as well as directly from airline mileage systems like United, to book your Austrian Airlines business class flight.

Just remember that the earliest you can plan flights is generally about 7 months in advance. The carrier reliably releases 2 seats, though you’ll find short periods of time during which Austrian releases 4 business class seats on U.S. routes.

Final Thoughts

When booking Austrian Airlines business class, you’ll get a great soft product, especially if you’re interested in a robust food and beverage program.

Couple this with a generous amount of award availability up to 7 months in advance, the ability to redeem virtually any type of transferable rewards for business class award flights, and a nonstop route network to Austria, and you have a winning product.

But, if you don’t redeem the right miles, you’ll be responsible for paying nearly $1,500+ in taxes and fees. We hope this guide will help you avoid those fees and get you excited about booking a trip to Austria or beyond in style!