Austrian Airlines Reviews 2,090

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the handling of a recent experience I had with Austrian Airlines on July 6, 2025, following the cancellation of our scheduled flight from Vienna to Zurich (Flight Number: 1583).

After the cancellation, we received an official email from Austrian Airlines stating that we could book hotel accommodation via a provided link. Unfortunately, the link was not functional. As a result, we approached the Austrian Airlines check-in desk at Vienna Airport to seek assistance regarding the cancellation and the hotel booking.

Regrettably, our interaction with your staff was deeply disappointing. A staff member named T. Esmerald was dismissive and informed us that Austrian Airlines would not be booking hotels, nor would they take responsibility for the email sent to us. When we requested help arranging accommodation—given that the cancellation occurred unexpectedly and during the night—we were treated with a lack of empathy and professionalism.

Furthermore, the manager on duty, C. Rosendaal, also declined to assist and, rather than offering an apology or support, joined the staff member in asking us to leave the counter in a rude and unprofessional manner. When we requested to file an official complaint and asked for the manager’s name, Mr./Ms. Esmerald called airport security to escort us from the area. This reaction was both shocking and distressing, especially as I have pre-existing health conditions and found the situation to be extremely stressful.

We remained at the airport, waiting for further clarification, at which point the manager, C. Rosendaal, approached us again and repeated the demand for us to leave, without offering any resolution or even a basic level of customer service.

This experience has left us not only disappointed but also concerned about Austrian Airlines’ commitment to its passengers during times of disruption.

Date of experience: July 06, 2025

Date of experience: June 05, 2025

10 mins before the flight we were told that the plane should be switched and they had to use a smaller one, so not everybody could board it. Their system decided randomly who would board the plane and who not, at least that’s what we were told. They didn’t organize another flight to that destination on the same day and said nothing about compensation!

Date of experience: July 05, 2025

We had a connection in Vienna, for a 12 hour flight. They forced us both to check-in our hand baggages so we were left with no hand baggage for our long trip. We had to quickly pick up some things and stick them in our pockets.
We've asked politely to at least leave us with one bag since we don't have anything else to store our things for the connecting flight. All the staff was rude and arrogant: "There is no more space, these are the rules!".
They didn't even bother 5 seconds to check if there was available space. And, yes, there was!
I don't know what this company does to their employees to cause them such frustration...

Date of experience: June 13, 2025

Checked bags..... we are full so...... No!

Free wifi....... yes but...... not this time

We are so sorry we missed your deadline.....
But we wont do anything to demo that

Very poor for price

Date of experience: July 03, 2025

Der Support war gut.

Date of experience: July 03, 2025

Horrible company pay money ekstra service and after not able to check in online never was possible as the homepage say you will receive a link from email after tried 10 times gave up and dont ever use this company ever as its cheat money from customers no link send to your email or any contact with this horrible company

Date of experience: July 01, 2025

Worse airline in the world. Very cheap airplanes. Very poor service and charge too much

I think even one star is too much for them

I never ever use this airline again even if I become desperate

Date of experience: June 28, 2025

We were scheduled on flight OS 866 from CAI to VIE on June 1, 2025. We were in business-class row 1 and first to disembark the airplane. The flight left 20 minutes late and upon arrival in VIE we waited 10 minutes on the plane for the stairs to be brought to the plane. Being the first to enter the first bus to the terminal we were the last to disembark the bus. The first bus was loaded and then did not move for 15 minutes while it waited for the 2nd bus to load and a few more passengers were then crammed into our bus before leaving. We then had to go through passport control toward the end of the line and security. Knowing we were tight on time we made no bathroom stops and ran the full length of the terminal since the flight was at the far end only to miss the connecting flight by 5 minutes arriving at 7:05am.
Austrian told us that our 2 bags had been removed from the flight we missed and rebooked us on the evening flight OS429 and charged us an additional change fee of $622.92 on top of the $1,368.30 original ticket price.
We waited 12 hours in the airport for the evening flight on June 1st, which ended up being delayed for over 3 hours and then canceled after sending us to 9 different gates F07, 23, 06, 13, 06, 36, 20, 32, & 14. When the flight was canceled, we went to the Austrian desk at F02 and could not get any help, so we had to book a hotel online and take a taxi to the hotel then a return taxi back to the airport for the June 2nd morning flight OS421. We asked 2 different gate agents about our 2 bags and they both assured us that they would be on the flight with us. We finally arrived in Nice with no bags.
Austrian has failed to compensate us according to EU regulations the 500 Euros plus our overnight lodging and taxi fare to get the next flight. Worst and dumbest consumer service ever.

Date of experience: May 31, 2025

Don’t do tight connecting flights in Vienna. No service.

Date of experience: June 23, 2025

semi-business and unprofessional company that does not deserve to be a member of the Lufthansa group. Zero attention to the end user. I had a negative experience with damaged luggage where I was offered some partial solution with the company Dolfi who does not respond to emails. Pure transfer of responsibility from one to the other. Absolutely no protection of users or responsibility towards them. damaged LUGGAGE NON-REFUNDABLE WITH A VOUCHER FEE TO BUY ON THE SITE WHERE THEY CHOOSE. Where you cannot pay by card and where you cannot remove it because contact with the company Dolfi is impossible for over 20 days. Run away from them.

Date of experience: June 19, 2025

Was booked on flight OS217 from Vienna to Frankfort and then on to Windhoek. Flight departed with some delay and about 30-40 minutes into the flight, the captain announces through the PA that he is not able to land in Frankfort due to bad weather and has to return to Vienna. After we get back to Vienna, they sent us to the Ethiopian gate so that we could get rebooked. There were about 10-12 of us that were sent there and a few (3? 4? 5?) were able to board the plane without any problem but the rest of us (including me) were left to discuss with the Ethiopian ground crew who claimed that they were not able to find our reservations. Mind you, there were some passengers bound for South America that were sent to this gate to fly via Addis Abbeba to Buenos Aires (total craziness!). Long story short, none of the remaining passengers were able to board the Ethiopian flight (a rerouting which - in my case - would have made total sense) and they left without us. I then received an automated email that I was rebooked via Munich the following morning and from there on to Windhoek in the evening. So I had to return home and come back again the following day. This delay of almost 24 hours resulted in me missing the start of the guided tour in Namibia that I was booked on and incurred an extra €300 in stranded costs that Austrian refused to refund. The case is now with Flightright. Avoid Austrian Airlines at all costs, they are incompetent and unwilling to properly assist passengers. All their rebooking is done with AI which of course always favours the best solution for the airline and never the best solution for the passenger.

Date of experience: May 03, 2025

We recently flew with Austrian Airlines as part of a packaged tour that included a layover in Zürich, departing from Vienna. Unfortunately, our experience with the check-in process was frustrating and far below the standard one would expect from a premium airline.

Upon arrival at the airport, we were directed away from the check-in help desk and told to use the self-service kiosks. Despite entering our booking reference and names multiple times, the system consistently failed to locate our reservation. There was only one staff member available to assist a growing line of passengers, leading to long delays. When we finally received assistance, we were issued only a provisional boarding pass.

Oddly enough, the only part of the process that worked smoothly was the self-service baggage drop.

Afterwards, we were instructed to go to the check-in help desk—despite being previously turned away from it. After another wait in line, the agent there simply informed us that we would receive the actual boarding passes after passing through security. Once through security, we approached the “Ticket Sales and Reservations” desk, explained the situation, and were told to take a number and wait again. When our number was finally called, the staff member told us this counter was only for rebookings and couldn’t help us either.

At the gate, when we sought clarification, we were told by the staff that it wasn’t their responsibility and we should wait for another colleague.

Overall, the experience was chaotic and deeply disappointing. The service felt disorganized, and staff seemed inadequately trained or poorly informed, as we were repeatedly given incorrect or conflicting instructions. For an airline that charges premium fares, the level of customer service was unacceptable.

Given this experience, we would seriously consider flying with budget carriers like Ryanair or Wizz Air in the future. At least with them, expectations are aligned with the service provided. Austrian Airlines used to stand for quality, but that standard has clearly declined.

Date of experience: June 15, 2025

You pay to have a suitcase onboard and then they take it at the gate to check it in... well thank you very much

Date of experience: June 12, 2025

Avoid Austrian Airlines at All Costs – Terrible Experience

I had one of the worst flying experiences ever with Austrian Airlines. For a 6-hour flight, the comfort level was absolutely unacceptable. The seats were extremely hard and cramped, with barely any legroom, and there were no personal screens — not even basic entertainment available. In 2025, that’s just ridiculous.

The service was just as bad. I asked for a cup of coffee multiple times and never got it. The flight attendants were rude, unfriendly, and seemed completely uninterested in helping passengers. When they finally brought food, it was a tiny, dry sandwich that was practically inedible. That’s all we got for the whole flight.

Honestly, it felt like they were doing the bare minimum to get through the flight. Zero hospitality, zero comfort, zero care for passengers.

If you have any other choice — take it. I will never fly with Austrian Airlines again.

Date of experience: May 30, 2025

In less than 2 yrs, Austrian delayed or lost EVERY BAG WE CHECKED WITH THEM in 2 different trips. Their service reps give outrageously wrong info on status, advise you to buy the clothing/toiletries you need and THEN REFUSE TO REIMBURSE YOU AS REQUIRED BY THE EU. The Lufthansa Group (which owns them) are simply incompetent at luggage handling and scam artists when it comes to paying what they are required to. AVOID!

Date of experience: May 20, 2025

Really horrible heartless airline !
I helped organise for my 83 year old friend who is suffering from dementia to fly home to see her relatives for most probably one last time.
I would have thought someone would assist her at Heathrow due to her condition and frailty.
No instead she missed the flight at the gate as she thought she would be called and these heartless villains charged her £240 to get on the next flight - Heartless robbers !

Date of experience: June 09, 2025

I was denied boarding by Austrian Airlines on June 9, 2025, from Yerevan to Belgrade, via Vienna (Flight OS642 + OS735), even though all my travel documents were valid and complete.

I hold a valid Singapore student visa, had a confirmed return ticket to Singapore, a hotel reservation, and was only transiting in Vienna for 3 hours — which does NOT require a Schengen visa.

The check-in staff rudely questioned why I only had a backpack, assumed I may not leave Europe, and gave no clear explanation. I provided my visa, study proof, flight out of Europe, and everything they asked — yet I was still refused boarding.

No written explanation was provided. The management team avoided accountability, only promising to refund my ticket. But this refusal ruined my entire trip, caused financial loss, emotional distress, and disrupted my travel schedule.

I do not appreciate being treated like a criminal just because I’m a solo Asian traveler. Not everyone wants to overstay in your country. I came to travel, not to beg for entry.

Austrian Airlines, you owe me more than just a refund. You owe me an apology.

Date of experience: June 09, 2025

Here is the English translation:

**Appalling experience.** On the flight from Bucharest to Vienna, the crew showed absolutely no interest in how luggage was being stored, so the overhead compartments filled up very quickly. As a result, the crew forced those boarding last to check in their cabin luggage but refused to offer any other assistance. The entire operation led to a significant departure delay. I’ve never experienced worse behavior, not even with low-cost airlines. The flight attendant didn’t wear a name tag, making it difficult to file a complaint, and she refused to tell me her name. In the end, she even lied and threatened me.

Date of experience: June 05, 2025

Paid for a return flight, then had disrupted travel plans (no fault of Austrian Airlines yet) and had to book alternative transport for the outward leg. When trying to check in for the return flight (which I had already paid in full), discovered that it was not possible online. Phoned them up to ask why, and they said they had cancelled the return leg because I didn't use the outward leg. I said that I still intended to fly, and had paid for a ticket and wanted to check in. They said this was impossible and that the best they could do was refund the return flight and book an alternative. Refund amount? €80. Rebook amount? More than €2000. So just because you have paid for a seat on a flight, don't expect to be able to take it. Absolutely disgraceful. Have never been left so high and dry by an airline.

Date of experience: June 07, 2025