Background
To celebrate my girlfriends graduation from Physical Therapy School we decided back in April to go to Vienna. Unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts the only time we could make it work was late June, conveniently when major airports decided to stage meltdowns of epic proportions. Once we decided this the fun of flight planning began! Off the bat I knew I wanted to use the AMEX-BA transfer discount to book VIE-IAD. When I first looked there was the ideal F2 available but I foolishly waited 24hrs so we will be in J for 50K MR and ~$350 each. Initially had a 13:00 VIE-LHR flight and a 3 hr connection onto the new Club Suite but the 13:00 flight got canceled so now we have a 7:45 am departure and 8hr layover before getting to fly the A380 (my first time!!). To get to VIE I burned 80k UA miles each for saver J but there were only two flawed options available: IAD-DUB-VIE on Aer Lingus with DUB-VIE in Y and a tight 1hr layover or DCA-EWR-FRA-VIE with EWR-FRA-VIE on LH including a 747-800. at T-25 hours decided to risk it and try the EWR option (Shout out to the United MileagePlus Forum and Aer Lingus Forum threads for the help). Last but not least, used my AMEX FHR credit to book the Vienna IHG Intercontinental for about $200 a night.

Itinerary
DCA-EWR and EWR Lounge Hopping
EWR-FRA on LH 747-800 Upper Deck Business Class
FRA Lounge Hopping and Fake Business Class (FRA-VIE)
InterContinental Vienna
VIE-LHR and 8 hours of Lounge Hopping
LHR-IAD A380

T-4 hours to DCA-EWR so here is to wishing the IRROPS away, I hope you enjoy!