Our Review of Vienna Airport (VIE)

Table of contents: Our Review of Vienna Airport (VIE) Pros and Cons of Vienna Airport (VIE) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Vienna Airport (VIE)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other reviews

The insights below are drawn from:

Skytrax airport ratings and awards — professional benchmarking of airport quality, service, facilities, and passenger satisfaction.
Google and travel site aggregated reviews — general traveler scores and comments about experiences at VIE.
Trustpilot user reviews for “Flughafen Wien” — real passenger feedback about service quality.
Flightradar24 review stats — combined airport ratings by travelers.
Community posts (Reddit) — informal traveler insights about security, lounges, and airport navigation.

Summary of Reviews — What Travelers Say

Skytrax & Professional Ratings

Vienna Airport holds a 4‑Star Airport rating from Skytrax, reflecting consistently good performance across facilities, service quality, shopping, and food & beverage offerings.
It has also received multiple “Best Airport Staff in Europe” awards, with passengers rating friendliness, efficiency, multilingual service, and helpfulness highly — ranking in the top airports of its category globally.
Skytrax data and surveys highlight strengths in staff service and facility comfort, placing VIE among the top airports for airports handling 20–30 million passengers.

Professional View: Vienna Airport is recognized for strong customer service and solid infrastructure, with ongoing investments aimed at future 5‑star quality levels.

Positive Traveler Feedback

Many passengers highlight several positive aspects:

Clean and well‑organized terminal: VIE is often described as “very nice and clean” with efficient layouts.
Good connections to the city: Public transport links (CAT, S‑Bahn, buses) are appreciated for convenience.
Efficient security at times: Frequent travelers report short wait times at security, especially outside peak rush hours.
Priority Pass lounge positive experiences: Some users praise lounges, especially when using Priority Pass, highlighting them as better than expected.
Helpful staff in many areas: While reviews vary, there are travelers who note positive encounters with airport personnel.

Travel Score Indicators: Overall traveler score on some aggregated sites is around 4.2 out of 5 — indicating generally favorable experiences.

Common Complaints & Issues Reported

Despite the professional ratings, there are recurrent traveler criticisms:

Staff behavior issues: Many individual reviewers describe rude or unhelpful staff at check‑in, security, or customer service areas.
Check‑in confusion and disorganization: Long lines or poorly managed check‑in experiences are highlighted in poor reviews.
Limited food & retail options: Some travelers say shops and dining outlets are sparse or overpriced, especially outside peak hours.
Directional and signage challenges: Reviews mention unclear signage and confusing navigation between terminals or gate areas.
Mixed comfort in amenities: While some enjoy the lounges, others feel amenities are mediocre compared to larger international hubs.

Public Sentiment: Trustpilot averages very low (around 1.5 out of 5), though these ratings tend to skew toward negative experiences and may not reflect the broader traveler base.

Overall Summary of Traveler Sentiments

Aspect	Typical Feedback
Cleanliness	Usually rated positively, terminals feel modern and tidy.
Staff Service	Professional rating high, but mixed firsthand reports.
Security & Check‑in	Efficient often, but chaos reported in rush periods.
Transport & Connectivity	Well‑connected to Vienna by train/bus/taxi.
Shops & Dining	Decent selection, though some find it limited/expensive.
Lounges	Some praised, others average; overall mixed feedback.

Final Rating & Justification

Final Score: 7.8 / 10

Justification

Positives

Vienna International Airport consistently ranks among Europe’s well‑rated airports on professional benchmarks, earning a 4‑Star Skytrax rating and multiple service awards for staff quality.
Travelers often praise the clean, organized facilities, punctual transport links, and smooth connectivity to the city center.
Efficient security at many times and lounge experiences add comfort for passengers.

Negatives

There are noticeable differences between professional surveys and individual traveler experiences, particularly around staff behavior, crowded check‑ins, or inconsistent information services.
Some visitors also mention limited food/retail options and logistical frustrations during peak hours.

Pros and Cons of Vienna Airport (VIE)

Pros

Efficient Layout – The airport is compact and well-organized, making transfers and navigation easy for passengers.
Excellent Public Transport Links – Quick connections to the city via City Airport Train (CAT), S-Bahn, and buses.
Modern Facilities – Free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, charging stations, and self-service check-in kiosks.
Variety of Shops and Dining – Wide selection of duty-free shops, boutiques, and restaurants, including international cuisine.
Comfortable Lounges – Multiple VIP and airline lounges offer a comfortable space for premium travelers.

Cons

Limited Terminal Size – Can feel crowded during peak travel hours, especially in Terminal 1.
Higher Prices – Food, beverages, and shopping can be more expensive compared to city prices.
Parking Costs – Short- and long-term parking fees can be relatively high.
Limited Night Transport – Public transport options are reduced during late-night hours.
Language Barrier – While most staff speak English, some signage and information may be only in German.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Vienna International Airport, also known as Flughafen Wien-Schwechat, is the main gateway to Austria, located about 18 km southeast of Vienna city center. Opened in 1938, it has grown into a modern hub for international and European flights, handling over 25 million passengers annually. The airport is well-known for clean, organized terminals, good transport connections, and a high standard of service.

Terminals & Layout

Terminal 1: Primarily for non-Schengen international flights and some low-cost carriers.
Terminal 3: Main terminal for Schengen flights and Austrian Airlines.
Levels: Check-in is usually on the ground floor; arrivals and baggage claim are on the lower level; departures are on the upper level.

Follow clear signage for gates; allow extra time if changing terminals.

Transport Connections

Train: City Airport Train (CAT) reaches Vienna city center in 16 minutes. S-Bahn trains run every 30 minutes.
Bus: Several Vienna Airport Lines and regional buses connect the airport to the city.
Taxi: Downtown Vienna is about 20 minutes away by taxi.
Car Rental: Major providers like Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Sixt are available at the terminal. Renting a car is ideal for exploring Austria.

Pre-book CAT or taxi to save time during rush hours.

Shops & Dining

Duty-Free & Shops: Fashion, electronics, souvenirs, and Austrian specialties.
Restaurants & Cafés: Offers international and Austrian cuisine; notable options include Das Schick for modern Austrian dining and Starbucks or Segafredo for coffee.

Grab a snack or coffee before boarding, as some boarding gates have limited options.

Passenger Services

Wi-Fi: Free throughout the airport.
Family & Accessibility: Baby-changing stations, family restrooms, wheelchair services, and elevators available.
Lounges: Austrian Airlines lounges for premium passengers, plus pay-per-use lounges for other travelers.
Baggage: Lost & found, luggage wrapping, and storage services are available.

Check your airline’s lounge access policies in advance.

Flights & Airlines

Vienna Airport serves both domestic and international destinations, with Austrian Airlines as the main carrier. Popular routes include London, Frankfurt, New York, Dubai, Paris, and Rome.

Check gate information in advance and allow at least 2 hours for Schengen flights and 3 hours for intercontinental flights.

Security & Check-in

Check-in: Most airlines have counters on the ground floor; self-service kiosks are widely available.
Security: Efficient but can get busy during peak hours; keep ID and boarding pass ready.

Follow liquid restrictions and keep laptops easily accessible to speed up screening.

Quick Travel Tips

Arrive 2–3 hours before your flight.
Use public transport for fast access to the city.
Keep local currency handy for small purchases.
Take advantage of lounges if you have a long layover.
Check your terminal and gate information on the airport website or app.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation