Austrian business class is one of several solid options available to you when flying transatlantic. Austrian is a member of the Star Alliance joining Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, and United Airlines as airlines with nonstop flights between the US and Europe.

Being a Star Alliance member means you can book Austrian business class with miles in any of its partner airline member’s loyalty programs. For example, you can use United Airlines miles to book Austrian award flights. There’s a catch though. Austrian has high taxes and fees. So, you want to use one of Austrian’s partner airline loyalty programs that do not pass on Austrian’s high fees. More on this in the article below.

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Credit Cards Points to Earn to Book Austrian Business Class

Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and United MileagePlus are three great ways to book Austrian business classes. Avianca LifeMiles is a transfer partner of Amex, Brex, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott. Air Canada is a transfer partner of Amex, Capital One, and Marriott. United is a transfer partner of Chase and Marriott. This means that the credit and hotel points that you earn can be transferred directly to Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and United MileagePlus.

Some of my favorite credit cards in these programs include the Amex Gold Card, Capital One Venture X, Citi Premier Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Amex Gold Card earns 4x points at restaurants and US supermarkets. You earn 10x miles on hotels & rental cars, and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases with the Capital One Venture X. The Citi Premier Card earns 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. You earn 6x points at Marriott with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on dining and travel.

Austrian Business Class Routes

Austrian flies nonstop between Vienna International Airport (VIE) and Chicago–O’Hare, Newark, New York–JFK, and Washington–Dulles. There are also seasonal nonstop Austrian flights between Vienna and Los Angeles. Generally speaking, you’ll fly in an Austrian 767 or an Austrian 777 business class along these transatlantic routes. Austrian business class short-haul features different aircraft compared to its transatlantic aircraft.

Austrian Business Class Travel Dates

The following dates have availability in Austrian business class for two, and sometimes, four passengers:

Chicago–O’Hare (ORD) > Vienna (VIE)

• Dec: 27, 29, 30, 31
• Jan: 3, 4, 10, 12-14, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26-28, 30, 31
• Feb: 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 28
• Mar: 2, 7, 10, 14, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27-29
• Apr: 1, 2

Vienna (VIE) > Chicago–O’Hare (ORD)

• Dec: 16, 17, 20-22
• Jan: 10, 12-14, 16, 19-21, 23, 24, 26-28, 30, 31
• Feb: 3, 4, 6, 7, 9-11, 13, 14, 16-18, 20, 21, 23, 28
• Mar: 2, 4, 7, 9-11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23-25, 29, 31
• Apr: 1, 5, 7, 8

Newark (EWR) > Vienna (VIE)

• Jan: 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31
• Feb: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28
• Mar: 2, 6, 7, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27-31
• Apr: 1-7

Vienna (VIE) > Newark (EWR)

• Dec: 20
• Jan: 12, 14, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31
• Feb: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28
• Mar: 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 28-31
• Apr: 1, 4-7

New York (JFK) > Vienna (VIE)

• Dec: 28
• Jan: 15
• Feb: 3, 10, 17
• Mar: 3, 24, 26
• Apr: 8

Vienna (VIE) > New York (JFK)

• Dec: 14, 20, 21
• Jan: 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29
• Feb: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26
• Mar: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
• Apr: 1, 2, 3, 5

Washington–Dulles (IAD) > Vienna (VIE)

• Dec: 26
• Jan: 2, 16, 20, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30
• Feb: 1, 8, 12, 13, 15, 20, 22
• Mar: 8, 20, 27-29

Vienna (VIE) > Washington–Dulles (IAD)

• Dec: 14, 16, 21
• Jan: 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29
• Feb: 1, 5, 6, 12, 15, 19, 22
• Mar: 8, 15, 22, 30, 31

How to Book Austrian Business Class with Points

• *Air Canada Aeroplan – 70,000 miles
• ANA Mileage Club – 88,000 miles (round-trip only)
• Asiana Club – 40,000 miles
• *Avianca LifeMiles – 63,000 miles
• Singapore KrisFlyer – 72,000 miles
• Turkish Miles&Smiles – 45,000 miles
• *United MileagePlus – 77,000 miles

*No surcharges

Austrian Airlines has high fuel surcharges that show up when booking Austrian award flights with ANA Mileage Club, Asiana Club, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Turkish Miles&Smiles. So, you generally want to avoid booking Austrian award flights with these programs. Instead, use programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and United MileagePlus to avoid the high fuel surcharges.

Avianca LifeMiles requires the least number of miles to book an Austrian business class at 63,000 miles. However, Avianca LifeMiles is known to not show the same award availability that shows up when using United MileagePlus.

Air Canada Aeroplan is another excellent option to book an Austrian business class at 70,000 miles. Like Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan may not show the same award availability that you will see when using United MileagePlus.

Speaking of United MileagePlus, you need 77,000 miles to book an Austrian business class. United MileagePlus requires additional miles compared to Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan. However, United MileagePlus may give you access to more Austrian business class award flights. United MileagePlus also has the advantage of its Excursionist Perk. This effectively allows you to book a stopover on a round-trip flight.

How To Book Austrian Business Class

Searching for Austrian business class using United Mileage Plus is the way to go. Here are the steps to check awards available:

• Select “Advanced search” on United Airlines’ homepage
• Tick show price in “miles”
• Enter your origin & destination airports
• Select “Flexible dates” and choose a month
• Unckec 1 and 2+ under “Connections”
• Enter the number of passengers
• Select “Business”
• Run the search
• Confirm the same award space on Aeroplan/Avianca that you found on United if not using United
• Transfer points as needed
• Log into your account
• Run the search again
• Finalize the booking

Austrian Business Class Transfer Partners

• Air Canada Aeroplan: Amex, Capital One, Marriott
• ANA Mileage Club: Amex, Marriott
• Asiana Club: Marriott
• Avianca LifeMiles: Amex, Brex, Capital One, Citi, Marriott
• Singapore KrisFlyer: Amex, Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Marriott
• Turkish Miles&Smiles: Citi, Capital One, Marriott
• United MileagePlus: Chase, Marriott

American Express and Capital One partner with Air Canada and Avianca making it easy to pool your credit card points into either of these airline loyalty programs. Marriott points can be challenging to earn. So, transferring Chase points to United is likely going to be the most efficient route if you’re using United.

Austrian Business Class FAQs

Does Austrian Airlines have business class?

Oh, yea! Check out Flying in Business Class for more info.

Does Austrian Airlines have first class?

Unfortunately, not per Austrian Business Class Review.

Is Austrian a good airline?

SkyTrax rates Austrian as a 4-star airline per Austrian Airlines is Certified as a 4-Star Airline.

What’s the best business class airline?

The World’s 10 Best Business Class Seats (2021) covers everything you need to know.

Conclusion on Austrian Business Class

Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and United MileagePlus are three ideal ways to book Austrian business class. Each of these airline loyalty programs offers competitive award prices and does not pass on Austrian’s high taxes and fees. All in all, you can’t go wrong with using Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, or United MileagePlus to book Austrian award flights.

So, what do you think about Austrian Business Class? What other business class flights do you like to book? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.

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