by Lufthansa Flyer | Oct 9, 2015 | Austrian, Business Class, Featured, On Board Experience, Passenger Experience |
Last week, Austrian’s CCO Andreas Otto was in New York to visit colleagues at Austrian’s offices and provided his insights on the airline and what the future will bring to OS.
As part of his comments, he suggested that a new Business Class cabin is on the way for Austrian’s long haul aircraft. His plans called for the retrofit to be completed by 2020 and would include any 767, 777s and A350s that could or would be in the fleet at that time. Maybe I missed something along the way, but I did not think OS was getting any A350s.
Regardless, I look forward to what the new Business Class concept will be from OS. It feels like only yesterday that the current Business Class cabins were introduced.
Stay tuned. I’m certain theres a lot more coming on this topic.
On another topic, he also mentioned SFO and LAX may be next on OS’ radar….but nothing definite at this point.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Oct 9, 2015 | Austrian, Featured, On Board Experience, Passenger Experience |
AUSTRIAN has quietly introduced extremely strict monitoring of Carry On luggage at their hub in Vienna and at gateways throughout Europe. According to OS, this is in direct response to the new fare concepts (Light/Classic/Flex) that were launched on October 1 that are specific to the European market.
Specifically in Vienna, enforcement of the carry on policy will take place just before the Boarding Pass Control Gates in Terminal 3. Similar methods will be put in place throughout OS’ Euro network. The scrutiny will be ‘Pass/Fail’. Either your bag fits and you can proceed, or it doesn’t and you will be forced to check the bag for a cost if your fare class does not allow for a free checked bag.
OS says this is being done to ensure cabin safety and expedited boarding. However looking through those comments, it comes down to revenue. I have no doubt that the ‘Light’ fare option will by far be the most popular fare class under the new program. ‘Light’ is the only fare class out of the 3 that has a fee for checking a bag, so it only makes sense that OS wants to stop people circumventing the luggage policy by having ‘slighty’ non compliant carry on luggage taken on board. If it was about safety and expedited boarding the policy would have been strictly enforced for years.
Regardless of class, any passenger wishing to board an OS flight for travel within Europe will be forced to comply. The policy for baggage size has always been there, but now it looks as though revenue models are forcing it to be enforced. In short, EVERY bag is now subject to the scrutiny.
Be mindful if you are arriving to VIE from a transcontinental destination. Your bag might have been allowed on a 777 or 767 but it will be subject to the new scrutiny if you are connecting onward on an OS flight from VIE, you’ll need to pay to check the bag if it doesn’t fit the carry on luggage sizer.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Aug 15, 2015 | Featured, Ju52, Lufthansa, On Board Experience |
On August 18, Lufthansa for the first time ever will broadcast live from aboard a flight on the beloved and revered Junkers Ju52, affectionately known as ‘Tante Ju’, or ‘Aunt Ju’.
In order to watch you’ll need to use this Facebook link that will contain the broadcast. As it stands now, it is scheduled to begin at 8:30a Central European Time, which makes it a 2:30a start time on the East Coast in the USA. The flight is scheduled to depart at 9:00a CET, conditions permitting.
I assume there will be a video archive of the even but I think the ‘wow factor’ will be to watch it live as it happens.
I had my chance at a flight last year in Hamburg, but the only 20 minute thunderstorm of an otherwise perfectly sunny day ruined those plans as the flight was canceled and later flights were already booked up.
Considering most people will never get a chance to fly aboard her due to her limited schedule, this simulcast may be the next best thing.
To learn more about this fantastic piece of history, including her schedule please click here. You can book you very own ‘JUnique Memory!
