From: bstarr@bonnie.ics.uci.edu (Brian Joseph Starr)
Subject: My sad experiences with Austrian Airlines
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air,rec.travel
Organization: UC Irvine Department of ICS
Date: 12 Jan 93 14:06:57 GMT

A while back, I posted to rec.travel about Austrian Airlines.  I said that they
seemed to be rather uncooperative, and proud of themselves.  As I recall, they
had told me that I was to expect "the best flight of my life".  Some of you
may have felt that I was being rather unfair and subjective in my comments-and
I agree, at the time that may have been true.

Now, I've actually had the opertunety to experience their "service", here's
some Objective Facts:

1) I flew from the West Coast, so I had to take American to NY.  Folks, if you
   can help it, NEVER agree to such an arrangement!  It's an incredible hassle
   to have to clear customs in NY, and you must actually go out of the building
   and take a bus to get to your connection.

2) Several times during the trip, I had to re-check in for the next leg of my
   flight.  I mean, I actually had to stand in line, re-check my bags, etc.
   Not just in NY, but in other cities as well.  In general, Austrian agents
   seemed incredibly slow, and unhelpful.  More than once, they failed to
   notify me of important facts (for example, they wouldn't tell me if my
   request for a window seat couldn't be honored, although I looked over the
   guy's shoulder on one occasion and saw for myself).  The facilities in NY
   were horrible, dirty, crowded, etc.  Gross!

3) On the way from NY to Vienna, the service was pretty good, but from Vienna
   to NY, it wasn't.

4) On EVERY SINGLE LEG OF MY FLIGHT (and I had several!), there was some delay!
   On occasion, the delay was for HOURS-and at NO TIME were we offered any
   food, drinks, or other ammenities!  It was a traveler's worst nightmare!
   Do you know what it's like to sit around in a stationary plane for hours,
   without even a darn English Magazine to read???  Seriously, I asked them if
   they had Time or Newsweek, and they seemed to think I was nuts or something.

5) I had to wait for 7 hours in Vienna for my connection (which was delayed for
   an hour to boot), then, when it arrived, it was turned back on approach to
   Prague, returned to Vienna, and I had to take a BUS!  I found out later that
   the GERMAN SPEAKING passengers were aware of this possibility, but nobody
   announced it in English.  Of course, since they knew that this might happen,
   they COULD have given us the option of taking a bus (I would have even paid
   for it) in the first place-but NOOOO!!!

6) When I collected my bags, I found out that one of them had been destroyed.

7) The bus arrived in Prague after an additional 10 or more hours (including
   all the hassles at the airport, etc.) at 12:00AM, and NOT at the airport,
   where my friend was waiting, but at some strange hotel.   Since my bag was
   broken, I had an incedible time getting a taxi, etc.  Then, I couldn't get
   into the house were I was to stay, because my friend was (you guessed it!)
   STILL WAITING FOR ME AT THE AIRPORT!  Not a good day, let me tell you!

8) So, I missed a meeting which was scheduled for that day.  I tried to ask
   Austrian Airlines to reschedule my return to give me an extra day, and they
   were happy to do so, as long as I gave them $100!  Oh, and they did pay me
   for my broken bag (after 3 weeks), but the ammount was insuffiecient to
   replace it in Prague, so I had to leave some stuff with my friend.

Oh, there's more, but you get the idea.  Would I fly this airline again?  Would
Monkeys fly out of my butt?
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air