The main part of my trip to Africa earlier this year started in Vienna from where my dad and I took an Austrian flight to Zurich before continuing to Johannesburg on Swiss.
Continue reading this review to see what the short hop to Zurich in business class on Austrian Embraer E195 was like.
Check-in, Lounge & Boarding at Vienna Airport
After driving to Vienna Airport from my parents’ home in Slovakia and dropping the car off at a parking lot near the airport, we found ourselves inside Terminal 3 around 1:45 p.m. We headed straight to Austrian’s relatively spacious and – at the time of our visit – underutilized Senator and Business check-in area, which consisted of a row of check-in counters closest to the security checkpoint and offered access to a dedicated lane.
With no one else in the area, it was our turn right away. Once the kind staff confirmed that we did not need visas to visit South Africa as Japanese passport holders, he tagged our bags through to the final destination and handed us boarding passes for both flights.
With the boarding passes in our hands, we went to the deserted priority security check lane.
While there was no queue and my dad was through security in no time, it took a while for me to get through due to having to undergo a more thorough check (my camera kit triggered that before several of the flights I took on the trip).
Since we still had over two hours until our flight’s scheduled 4:45 p.m. departure time when we got through security, we visited the nothing-to-write-home-about (although I did enjoy the cevapcici offered!) but fine Austrian Senator Lounge.
We left the lounge just before 4 p.m. and headed to gate F08, which was just a couple of minutes away.
Outside, an E195 registered OE-LWH and wearing the Star Alliance livery was being prepared for the flight to Zurich. The 12 years old aircraft was delivered to Lufthansa Cityline in 2011 before being transferred to Austrian in 2016.
Around 4:15 p.m., an announcement was made saying boarding would be delayed by ten to fifteen minutes due to the late arrival of our aircraft. Ten minutes later, an announcement was made delaying that by another ten minutes. Ultimately, boarding started at 4:41 p.m. but we had to wait another five minutes in the boarding bridge until we were let into the aircraft.
In the meantime, the gate agent approached a random passenger asking him to come with her to gate check his bag. When he politely suggested she also ask someone else, she said “Sir, could you come? Otherwise, I have to call my supervisor and offload you.” Given that he was the first person approached and she has not asked if there were any volunteers, I thought that was an unnecessary escalation.
She asked a couple more people who refused/ignored her before someone volunteered.
Austrian E195 Business Class Cabin & Seat
Austrian’s Embraer E195s are equipped with 120 economy class seats in a 2-2 layout. Like on most other European airlines, the first few rows (the exact number being dependent on demand and set using a movable curtain) are used as business class. In the case of our flight, the first four rows were designated as business class.
Unlike some airlines that do not do so anymore, Austrian continues to block the seats next to business class passengers even on the E-Jet (i.e., each business class passenger gets a pair of seats).
While the standard regional jet economy class seats, advertised as having a 29-inch seat pitch, were not the most comfortable seats you can fly in as a business class passenger, they did the job for the one-hour flight.
Each seatback was equipped with a document compartment at the top and a small seat pocket at the bottom with a single-piece tray table between the two.
The passenger service units were equipped with individual air vents.
Austrian Flight 553 Departure
Boarding was completed just before 5 p.m., and soon after, one of the pilots welcomed us on board, mentioning that we would be ready to go in a few minutes. The purser then welcomed us saying “Good Afternoon and Servus,” and mentioned that our flight time would be one hour and five minutes.
We were pushed back nearly 20 minutes behind schedule, at 5:03 p.m., and a couple of minutes later, the flight attendant in charge of the business class cabin handed us packaged wet tissues.
The push back was followed by a short taxi to runway 29, from which we took off at 5:11 p.m.
Austrian Short-Haul Business Class Light Meal
Seven minutes after take-off, the seatbelt signs were switched off and the light meal service started.
Another few minutes later, both my dad and I were served drinks – sparkling water and Coke Zero, respectively. A full can of the latter was provided.
About ten minutes later, just after 5:30 p.m., I was served the meal with the words “Enjoy your snack, sir.” It came on a tray, which included a Greek salad that wasn’t overly voluminous but was more than sufficient for the short flight and a cake. I enjoyed both.
Soon after serving the tray, the friendly but professional flight attendant came back with a bread basket.
Five minutes into the meal, Austrian’s signature “Servus” chocolates were distributed.
Then, just before the seatbelt signs were switched back on, hot drinks were served. I decided to have a cup of peppermint tea.
I had that along with the cake, which the flight attendant mistakenly took to the galley before bringing it back when I asked for it. “Sorry, you told me to take the tray away,” she said when bringing the cake back. Fair enough.
Separately, I also had one more cup of sparkling water.
Austrian E195 In-Flight Entertainment System and Onboard Wi-Fi
The Austrian E195 was not equipped with in-flight entertainment of any form. It was not equipped with onboard wi-fi either.
Arrival at Zurich Airport
The seatbelt signs were switched back on at 5:45 p.m., when I was still enjoying my peppermint tea and cake.
Ten minutes later, the first officer announced that we would be arriving about 10 minutes late, and that it was 23 degrees Celsius with a bit of wind and clouds in Zurich.
At 6:09 p.m., the landing gear was lowered, and two minutes later we landed at Zurich Airport.
We reached our parking spot at 6:18 p.m., 18 minutes behind schedule.
Austrian E195 Business Class Summary
Aside from the slight delay, the Austrian flight from Vienna to Zurich in business class was perfectly fine.
While the seats were regular economy class seats, at least Austrian continues to block seats next to business class passengers on its E-Jets. Similarly, while the meal was nothing to write home about, the salad was perfectly fine for the short, one-hour flight.