For as frequently as I travel, and as much time as I spend time on FT, I’ve never seen a recent (circa 2019) breakdown of the HON service at VIE. There are reviews of the lounge, but that’s all I can find on Dr. Google.

For the record, this is as HON on a short-haul non-Schengen flight departing VIE. I don’t know if the experience is the same for connecting F-pax, but I believe it is.


In short, it’s excellent. Whilst obviously there is no FRA FCT or ZRH FCL E, I would go as far to say that service-wise it’s possibly superior to the other LH-Group hubs. For those who may disagree because of the lack of bells-and-whistles, I can say for sure that it is at least definitely more personalised.


For starters, there is an unpublicised (at least I couldn’t find info about it online, in English) exclusive HON Circle entrance at VIE at the very far end of the T3 check-in pier. If you’re looking at the SEN/C check in entrance, it’s probably 40-50m to the left of it (the very furthest place one can walk, or enter, the terminal). Get dropped at the very end of T3 if being dropped off by car.


When we walked in, we were greeted with “Mr. Vantage03! This is your first time with us in Vienna, yes?” I couldn’t believe it. They also knew the name of my partner, and wanted to update my profile so they knew all my preferences for future visits. I was blown away. For the record, I have an LH-issued M&M card. They also clarified that.


There was private HON security, which was over-the-top helpful, lifting our bags onto the security screening belt for us (even though we were more than happy to do it ourselves). Everyone was just so friendly and polite, it felt more like old friends than airport security. They also have a huge collection of rubber ducks on top of the security machine, which they said are gifts from their frequent HON guests.. so something to keep in mind if you’re passing through!


We easily walked on our own to the HON lounge.


In the HON lounge, they were already expecting us, and we were constantly updated as to our flight status. When it was time to board, the most lovely lady escorted us from the lounge not only to our gate, but to our seats on the (short-haul) aircraft, totally bypassing the seemingly never-ending long jetbridge boarding queue (this doesn’t usually happen on LH or LX short-haul).


We were then introduced to the Purser. The whole experience was overwhelmingly personal. Unnecessary? Yes. Much appreciated? YES. It all felt very special. We were having a romantic Christmas markets weekend so I probably was more appreciative than usual too.


Overall for me, if it made sense (acknowledging VIE’s geographical location in Europe may not always be ideal), VIE is a verrrrrrry appealing transit airport for HONs over the other LH-Group hubs.