Austrian 737-800 to LHR - Charter Config?
Dec 28, 2009, 12:43 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,772
Austrian 737-800 to LHR - Charter Config?
Apologies if this question belongs in an existing thread but I just booked a business class VIE-LHR flight for April and noticed that the aircraft type is listed as 737-800, as are most of the daily LHR flights from April. I thought that all 738s were operated by Lauda Air in charter config. Is this true? If so will they reconfigure these aircraft for scheduled service or will business class to LHR have 30" pitch like the rest of the plane? This would be a significant reduction in comfort compared with the current A320 series aircraft on the route.
Dec 28, 2009, 1:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ZRH / SIN
Programs: FB Ulti, QR-Gold (OWS), TK *Gold, Bonvoy Ambassadort Elite, GHA Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 531
i´m not an insider, but heard that the 737-800 will be reconfigured in 2011 (LX-style).
I think it needs some more complaints to speed up the process and show OS that you can´t put your business clientele (LHR and similar routes) into a charter-configured 737-800.
As for now, from summer 2010 onwards 3 737-800 will be deployed on several high-frequency european routes (LHR, ZRH, TXL,.. plus BCN, FCO which are already served by 737-800), often mixed with A32S-service. The rest of the 737-800 will fly Charter-routes in summer.
I think it needs some more complaints to speed up the process and show OS that you can´t put your business clientele (LHR and similar routes) into a charter-configured 737-800.
As for now, from summer 2010 onwards 3 737-800 will be deployed on several high-frequency european routes (LHR, ZRH, TXL,.. plus BCN, FCO which are already served by 737-800), often mixed with A32S-service. The rest of the 737-800 will fly Charter-routes in summer.
Dec 30, 2009, 4:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: vie
Programs: BAEC GfL;LH M&M FQTV ; SPG Gold ; A-Club Gold;HHonnors Diamond
Posts: 171
Apologies if this question belongs in an existing thread but I just booked a business class VIE-LHR flight for April and noticed that the aircraft type is listed as 737-800, as are most of the daily LHR flights from April. I thought that all 738s were operated by Lauda Air in charter config. Is this true? If so will they reconfigure these aircraft for scheduled service or will business class to LHR have 30" pitch like the rest of the plane? This would be a significant reduction in comfort compared with the current A320 series aircraft on the route.
Is there a difference between the B737-700 and -800 ?
kind regards,
Ettrich
Dec 31, 2009, 5:16 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Travelling the skies over Europe
Programs: Lufthansa Senator, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,819
In business you should be all fine, even first rows of Economy should be good.
Dec 31, 2009, 12:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: vie
Programs: BAEC GfL;LH M&M FQTV ; SPG Gold ; A-Club Gold;HHonnors Diamond
Posts: 171
Just to repeat my original question:
Would you choose the first row to have a better pitch than the 30inch?AC or DF side better ? B737-700 and/or -800
Happy new Year
Ettrich
Would you choose the first row to have a better pitch than the 30inch?AC or DF side better ? B737-700 and/or -800
Happy new Year
Ettrich
Jan 3, 2010, 5:52 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ZRH / SIN
Programs: FB Ulti, QR-Gold (OWS), TK *Gold, Bonvoy Ambassadort Elite, GHA Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 531
please be aware that there is a huge difference between the 737-700 and 737-800 in the front part of the cabin. The 737-700 (and 737-600) offers decent legroom ahead of the emergency exit (similar or even better than OS A32S), whereas the 737-800 is a 100% charter-config (184 seats).
There was one 737-800 (OE-LNJ) with 2x2 business config. This one is already reconfigured to an all-charter-config (184 seats).
There was one 737-800 (OE-LNJ) with 2x2 business config. This one is already reconfigured to an all-charter-config (184 seats).
Jan 5, 2010, 6:56 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: vie
Programs: BAEC GfL;LH M&M FQTV ; SPG Gold ; A-Club Gold;HHonnors Diamond
Posts: 171
please be aware that there is a huge difference between the 737-700 and 737-800 in the front part of the cabin. The 737-700 (and 737-600) offers decent legroom ahead of the emergency exit (similar or even better than OS A32S), whereas the 737-800 is a 100% charter-config (184 seats).
There was one 737-800 (OE-LNJ) with 2x2 business config. This one is already reconfigured to an all-charter-config (184 seats).
There was one 737-800 (OE-LNJ) with 2x2 business config. This one is already reconfigured to an all-charter-config (184 seats).
So it is to avoid flights with the OS B737-800 in Business Class
kind regards,
Ettrich
Jan 5, 2010, 2:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ZRH / SIN
Programs: FB Ulti, QR-Gold (OWS), TK *Gold, Bonvoy Ambassadort Elite, GHA Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 531
I looked up flights on my favourite route VIE-ZRH and had 4 daily 737-800 from April on, since some weeks this changed to 1x737-800 + a mix of A32S and Fokker.
Jan 30, 2010, 2:25 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ZRH / SIN
Programs: FB Ulti, QR-Gold (OWS), TK *Gold, Bonvoy Ambassadort Elite, GHA Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 531
News for those interested in the VIE-LHR route. There is an update from 28.March onwards. 1 flight swapped from OS to BMI and there is an additional flight operated by BMI (BMI flights are operated with A320).
Vienna (VIE) - London (LHR):
OS 451 VIE ab 07:10 / LHR an 08:40
BD 426 VIE ab 11:40 / LHR an 13:05 (new)
OS 461 VIE ab 13:25 / LHR an 14:50
OS 455 VIE ab 17:15 / LHR an 18:35
BD 428 VIE ab 19:50 / LHR an 21:15
London (LHR) - Vienna (VIE):
BD 425 LHR ab 06:05 / VIE an 09:25
OS 452 LHR ab 09:25 / VIE an 12:40
BD 427 LHR ab 13:45 / VIE an 17:05 (new)
OS 462 LHR ab 15:35 / VIE an 19:10
OS 456 LHR ab 19:25 / VIE an 22:40
Vienna (VIE) - London (LHR):
OS 451 VIE ab 07:10 / LHR an 08:40
BD 426 VIE ab 11:40 / LHR an 13:05 (new)
OS 461 VIE ab 13:25 / LHR an 14:50
OS 455 VIE ab 17:15 / LHR an 18:35
BD 428 VIE ab 19:50 / LHR an 21:15
London (LHR) - Vienna (VIE):
BD 425 LHR ab 06:05 / VIE an 09:25
OS 452 LHR ab 09:25 / VIE an 12:40
BD 427 LHR ab 13:45 / VIE an 17:05 (new)
OS 462 LHR ab 15:35 / VIE an 19:10
OS 456 LHR ab 19:25 / VIE an 22:40
Jan 30, 2010, 4:04 am
#13
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,512
"Because we are operating at our own risk we are providing both Bmi planes and Bmi crew. There will be Bmi catering with similar quality to that provided by Austrian."
Feb 2, 2010, 9:26 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: INN
Programs: LH/OS SEN, HHonors Gold, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 357
Just been on OS 397 and 398 (VIE to BCN and vv). In fact, they do serve it with the all charter B737-800 with 30" pitch; C has a blocked middle seat, but same pitch. First row does not look comfortable, it's really tight. The seats are so uncomfortable (hard!) that sitting upright causes back pain to me after less than one hour. C was almost empty in both directions.
They really better enhance the seats soon, almost all competitors have way better seats; even AB who has the same seating (184 seats in the 737-800) does much better as they have more comfortable, softer seats.
They really better enhance the seats soon, almost all competitors have way better seats; even AB who has the same seating (184 seats in the 737-800) does much better as they have more comfortable, softer seats.
Feb 2, 2010, 10:23 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,772
Luckily my OS flight VIE-LHR is now operated by bmi, so no need to suffer the 30" pitch of OS. Hopefully bmi will put one of their nice A320s on the route with real C seats and 50" pitch 
I doubt it but at least the regular seats at the front have 32" pitch.
I doubt it but at least the regular seats at the front have 32" pitch.