Washington Dulles–Vienna

FIRST IMPRESSIONS As there was no line at the business-class counter, check-in for the flight took less than five minutes. Staff members were personable, and routinely double-checked my frequent-flyer account, itinerary and baggage tags. Despite priority lines for business class, security took much longer than check-in.
    Austrian business-class passengers are granted access to Lufthansa's business-class lounge in Terminal B, located beneath the Senator Lounge. The clean, corporate-looking room was split into a dining area and a more relaxed lounge, featuring cushioned seating and two flat-screen TVs. I was disappointed to find that, aside from a pay-as-you-go T-Mobile HotSpot, Wi-Fi was not available in the business-class lounge, which prevented me from sending any preflight e-mails. One of two desktop computer terminals was out of service, heightening competition for a sole computer with free Internet. Food consisted mainly of rolls, fresh fruit, soup, pretzels and muffins, while an open bar offered soft drinks, beer, wine, tea and coffee.

BOARDING We boarded on schedule, and entered the plane to the musical sounds of cheerful Austrian waltzes. The interior was decorated in bright purples, greens and blues that offset Austrian Airlines' traditional red color scheme. After sitting for 10 minutes, I was offered a choice of orange juice, Prosecco or mineral water. Inflight amenities were packed in an easy-to-hold, green nylon bag, and included a full-size toothbrush with toothpaste, as well as a Sky Spa kit, which contained practical toiletries like deodorant, moisturizer and lip balm, as well as a hand-held massager to improve circulation.

SEAT COMFORT The Boeing 767-300 offered a 2-2-2 configuration for the six rows in business class. The seats were relatively comfortable at 19-inches wide with a 60-inch pitch. Although the "sleep" mode adjusted to a flat 180-degrees, the seat did not recline to a fully horizontal position, forcing me to sleep at a slant, with my feet well below my head.

THE FLIGHT The flight departed 12 minutes late, and service began immediately after the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign was turned off. Austrian's DO & CO gourmet dinner service was overseen by a uniformed chef, beginning with a course of flavorful antipasti and delicious curry pumpkin soup. I enjoyed my main course of beef tenderloin in a rich tarragon sauce, though the potatoes were undercooked to the point of tasting almost raw. My alternate choices were swordfish brochette or linguine with buffalo mozzarella. Dessert was the definite highlight of the meal:  golden, flaky apple strudel served in warm vanilla custard, accompanied by a choice of fresh fruit or French cheese. Six Austrian wines and one Italian red were offered as pairings, including a silky 2004 Höpler Garnet Pinot Noir. Prosecco and chilled Duval-Leroy Champagne were repeatedly brought around, and the after-dinner coffee menu offered a wide selection of unique coffee drinks.  
    Individual video systems swiveled up from beneath the seats, offering a choice of half a dozen Hollywood movies on a 10-and-a-half-inch screen. I watched Marley & Me before preparing for bed, and was able to power up my laptop with the built-in power outlet. Soft, extra-wide pillows and the provided earplugs afforded me nearly six hours of sleep, which allowed me to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face my work in Vienna. An attendant quickly served me a cold strawberry yogurt smoothie, followed by my pre-ordered continental breakfast of hot croissants and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

ARRIVAL Despite our slightly delayed departure, our flight landed in Vienna nearly 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Business-class passengers were deplaned onto a separate air-conditioned bus and transported to the terminal. Immigration and customs were a quick and painless formality, and I was out of the airport with my bags in a remarkable 15 minutes.

VERDICT Any airline that can lull me to sleep wins big points—I also found Austrian Airlines' business class equally dedicated to providing top-notch food and beverage service. Adjustments to the service level in the business-class lounge will surely improve the overall experience. As a smaller, yet efficient international airport, Vienna is a smart entry point into Europe, and a convenient link to Eastern Europe and Asia, which is why I will continue to fly Austrian regularly.

Vienna–New Delhi

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Despite its small outward appearance, Vienna International Airport (VIE) is a major hub for intercontinental transfers, and can be frenetic and crowded at times. My early afternoon departure time meant fewer people and shorter lines. Furthermore, two separate Austrian Airlines business-class check-in counters allowed for almost immediate assistance. 

    The attendant helping me was experienced and professional, carefully checking my travel documents for India. As I was carrying a delicate gift in my suitcase, I asked for one of my bags to be marked "fragile." Another nearby agent answered my request by responding, "Austrian doesn't do fragile tags." As an alternative, my original attendant offered to tag it "high priority," and gave verbal instructions to the baggage handler.

    Austrian's business-class lounge in Terminal A is located on the fourth floor, above the Star Alliance Gold lounge. I was relieved to find free, fast and easy Wi-Fi available throughout a sizeable area, with plenty of quiet nooks, desk carrels and tables that provided both privacy and silence to work peacefully. Printers and fax machines were freely available, as were the most current European periodicals.   
    Decorated in refreshing light blues and cheery reds, the lounge offered a private, panoramic window view across the airport's many busy gates. There was an open bar of diverse drinks, including cocktails and cold-bottled spring water. Food seemed relegated to a bowl of fresh green apples and a breadbasket with butter and jam. A single shower was available to passengers, along with high-quality shaving and toiletry essentials. All in all, the lounge was memorable as a quiet refuge with pleasant drinks.

BOARDING In Vienna, secondary security screenings take place at each departure gate. Prior to boarding, business-class passengers waited in a separate, cordoned-off area. Immediately after boarding, we were served drinks and offered preflight reading material. Austrian's signature Sky Spa bags were folded and tucked into each seat, and included lots of individualized comforts for the six-and-a-half-hour flight.

SEAT COMFORT Business class in this Boeing 767-300 displayed a 2-2-2 layout for the first five rows, totaling 30 seats (half of which were unoccupied). With a 19-inch seat width and a 60-inch pitch, I did feel like I had ample room. The 140-degree recline, however, came tantalizingly close to letting me lay flat, without going those blissful last few inches, and I wondered why. Trying to sleep on that particular recline proved an exercise in constant feet shifting, though extra bedding and big pillows softened the adjustments made.

THE FLIGHT Despite prompt boarding, the scheduled 1:35 p.m. flight did not take off until 2 p.m. Menus were quickly passed out, and meal orders were taken. Mine began with an amuse-bouche of chilled polenta doused in balsamic vinegar reduction and sprinkled with chips of Parmesan cheese, followed by an appetizer of smoked salmon and leafy spring green salad. I was also impressed with the hot, freshly baked rolls. As an entrée, I chose the aromatic chicken makhani over basmati rice, while vegetarians were offered cashew rolls. Rich profiteroles were served under hot melted chocolate sauce and coconut ice cream. The signature wine list and vast coffee menu were nice touches, as were the creamy mango smoothies offered later in the flight.  
    Business-class seats were equipped with individual video systems, although they did not seem to be working. Instead, two large overhead screens showed Slumdog Millionaire. My in-seat power plug allowed me to do some work under the personal reading lamp without disturbing my neighbor.

ARRIVAL Despite our significantly delayed departure in Vienna, we arrived on time in New Delhi at around 12:30 a.m. Priority business-class luggage was offloaded within 20 minutes. Passengers traveling in the return direction should bear in mind that the business-class lounge is located outside security.  

VERDICT The inflight crew definitely outshone the ground staff in customer service, and their overall warmth and personality were appreciated. Austrian's food and beverage service is of high quality, and despite a few minor snafus, I did experience an almost seamless work environment that helped keep me productive in the air. For that reason alone, I would definitely fly Austrian to India again.