Review of Austrian Airlines flight Vienna → Tel Aviv in Economy

Introduction

Hello and welcome to another flight report!

Although many time passed since this flight, I finally found some time to write about my 4th experience with Austrian Airlines in OS859 flight from VIE airport to TLV airport, on the Airbus A321.

In the morning before the flight, I checked our flight status in FlightRadar24 application, and I saw our designated aircraft:

It was nice to see that the photo in FR24 is the photo that I took in the airport. :)

Before flight experience, VIE airport

We used transfer service from the city to the airport, the cost was something like 50 Euro for 5 people with 5 suitcases.

Here's the entrance to the airport terminal:


The terminal from inside:


The self check in:

In my previous flight report about the same flight, just month before the flight that I'm writing about in this flight report, I wrote that I really like the self check in system. It's brilliant and easy to use.
I hope to see some systems like this in TLV airport.

Since the check in process was really fast, but the sunset was early, so I couldn't do spotting like I did month earlier, so I went to Bretzel Meister in the terminal entrance, to eat something and drink some coffee:

The service was good, but It was expensive and not too much tasty, I can't recommend. Maybe the food area in the terminal is better, but I don't know.

While I was in the queue for the x-ray to our hand baggage, I saw this Boeing 767-300, so I went out from the queue and took a photo of this really nice aircraft:

The security process was really fast.

After this process, I went to the toilets:

As You can see, the toilets were in good condition and clean.

Since I had a lot of time to spend, I went to the duty free area in B, C, D gates:

I can't say nothing special about this duty free shop, It seemed similar to the duty free shop in gate G.

My boarding pass, It's usual thing in my flight reports:


So, It was the time to go to gate G area:

The immigration was very fast also, and soon I found myself in gate G area, still have a lot of time to spend…

Some duty free shops:

The duty free shops were nice, the service is good, even though You can buy some of the products in cheaper price in Vienna or in your country, still You can find some products with low prices. You can also get a VAT refund for your duty free things, It's really easy and very fast.

Still, with almost hour and a half to spend, I need to do something… so I went through the terminal from side to side and I took some aircraft photos. Of course, It's not good as the photos that I could took from the spotting terrace, but I did my best.
Austrian Boeing 777:


Korean Air Boeing 777:


Austrian A320:


Austrian A319:


Austrian A320 with Star Alliance livery:


Another Austrian A320:


Some photos from the terminal, that I took during the "spotting":


I went to the toilets near to the flight gate:

Still, looks not bad, but It could be more clean.

Our gate area:

The same gate from my previous flight with Austrian.

The flight schedule:


Finally, the boarding started.

Our aircraft for today:

Aircraft Information

Airbus A321-200
OE-LBD
In service since December 1998, almost 20 years old when I traveled.

Austrian EMB190:


The way to the jet bridge:


We had to wait a lot of time in the jet bridge, something like 15-20 minutes, due to the 100% load factor, the aircraft was full, I couldn't find any free seat, neither in the economy class, nor in the business class.

The jet bridge controls:


Last view in Vienna airport:

The flight

Cockpit:


Legroom:

Again, a generous legroom in the economy class of the A321, It was really comfortable, even for my uncle who traveled with me, and He's much taller than me.

Outside view:


Cabin view during boarding:


The old overhead panel:

I wonder, when Austrian will upgrade the A321 fleet? I like the new overhead panel much more than this one…

Adria CRJ900 during taxi:


Take off video (4K available):


Shortly after take off:


15 minutes into the flight, and the crew started the service, starting with soft drinks:

I chose some coca cola drink.

Cabin view:


Less than 30 minutes after the take off, the crew served meal:

Again, the same meal from my previous flight.
The meal included: Pasta with cream and mushroom, chocolate mousse, butter, bread, water.
This time, the pasta wasn't dry, It was tasty. The mousse was very nice and not too sweet.
In fact, I think that the meal is really nice for 3 hours flight.

After the meal, the crew served hot drinks like coffee and tea:

As addicted to coffee, You can see what I chose…

2 hours into the flight, I went to the toilets:

As You can see, the cabin and the toilets are well maintained, but the toilets weren't so clean, but I think It's acceptable after 2 hours, and I saw much worse aircraft toilets.

I tried my luck, and requested to visit in the cockpit after landing, but the pilots declined… I don't have a great success with entries to cockpits since 2014…

Austrian head rest:


Over Tel Aviv:


Landing video (4K available):


During the taxi procedure, I took some photos in TLV airport:

Elal Boeing 777:


Elal Boeing 737-800:


United Boeing 777:


Pegasus Boeing 737-800:


Last cabin photos, during deboarding:


And some photos in TLV airport:


Elal Boeing 737-900, 4X-EHC from my flight report LY358:

After flight experience, TLV airport

A bus took us to the terminal, but before I entered to the terminal, I took a photo of Ethiopian airlines Boeing 737-8 Max:

As a result, the security guard from the airport was angry that I took this photo, I really don't know why, since I had no problems in the past with photos in TLV airport, I said that I just took photo of this aircraft, and We moved on… (Of course, no one did something to me, since It wasn't forbidden to take photos in the airport)

The entrance to the terminal:


Some photos during the way to the immigration:

Immigration in TLV airport is very fast if You're Israeli and You have biometric passport or handprint pass option.

Baggage claim area:


Before leaving the baggage claim area through the customs, I went to the toilets:

Not so clean as You can see, I think that They need to improve the cleaning…

After customs, G level:


Outside view of the terminal 3, near to the taxi station:



I hope You enjoyed!
New flight reports soon (soon… probably in the summer, since It's my last semester in my first degree, and after this flight I'll not be able to write It, due to exams and assignments…):
QS1285
QS1286