VIE departure experiences??
Mar 18, 2018, 9:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,088
VIE departure experiences??
I Googled this topic and found a lot of very unpleasant experiences. Slow, long security and passport control lines, very little sitting space in the gates, lack of restrooms... you name it.
We are departing this summer, mid July, on OS from VIE to BUD with a quick connection to LOT BUD to ORD. Just trying to get an idea what sort of misery we will face getting through the VIE airport. Our flight is at 1000. We'll probably be there by 0700ish. What should we expect? I know our GE/PREcheck gets us nothing. We are Biz Class on LOT out of BUD but only coach on OS out of VIE so no help there, I'm sure. Does our UA/Star Alliance Silver Premier offer any advantage at VIE security?
Also, as I stated, we are connecting to LOT in BUD. We have 45 minutes connection time from landing to departure. We are sitting in row 7 on the inbound so we should be able to exit the plane fairly quickly. Both airlines show to be in the same terminal. (2A, I believe). We will have carry on roll-aboards and a small tote each. Should we expect any problems getting from the OS gate to the LOT gate? Gates should be close to each other. Another security check between these two airlines. Aren't both VIE and BUD Schengen?
Wouldn't mind a bunch if LOT was a little late departing that morning!
We are departing this summer, mid July, on OS from VIE to BUD with a quick connection to LOT BUD to ORD. Just trying to get an idea what sort of misery we will face getting through the VIE airport. Our flight is at 1000. We'll probably be there by 0700ish. What should we expect? I know our GE/PREcheck gets us nothing. We are Biz Class on LOT out of BUD but only coach on OS out of VIE so no help there, I'm sure. Does our UA/Star Alliance Silver Premier offer any advantage at VIE security?
Also, as I stated, we are connecting to LOT in BUD. We have 45 minutes connection time from landing to departure. We are sitting in row 7 on the inbound so we should be able to exit the plane fairly quickly. Both airlines show to be in the same terminal. (2A, I believe). We will have carry on roll-aboards and a small tote each. Should we expect any problems getting from the OS gate to the LOT gate? Gates should be close to each other. Another security check between these two airlines. Aren't both VIE and BUD Schengen?
Wouldn't mind a bunch if LOT was a little late departing that morning!
Mar 18, 2018, 11:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
I Googled this topic and found a lot of very unpleasant experiences. Slow, long security and passport control lines, very little sitting space in the gates, lack of restrooms... you name it.
We are departing this summer, mid July, on OS from VIE to BUD with a quick connection to LOT BUD to ORD. Just trying to get an idea what sort of misery we will face getting through the VIE airport. Our flight is at 1000. We'll probably be there by 0700ish. What should we expect? I know our GE/PREcheck gets us nothing. We are Biz Class on LOT out of BUD but only coach on OS out of VIE so no help there, I'm sure. Does our UA/Star Alliance Silver Premier offer any advantage at VIE security?
We are departing this summer, mid July, on OS from VIE to BUD with a quick connection to LOT BUD to ORD. Just trying to get an idea what sort of misery we will face getting through the VIE airport. Our flight is at 1000. We'll probably be there by 0700ish. What should we expect? I know our GE/PREcheck gets us nothing. We are Biz Class on LOT out of BUD but only coach on OS out of VIE so no help there, I'm sure. Does our UA/Star Alliance Silver Premier offer any advantage at VIE security?
No, you UA Silver does not give you anything in VIE if in whY...
Also, as I stated, we are connecting to LOT in BUD. We have 45 minutes connection time from landing to departure. We are sitting in row 7 on the inbound so we should be able to exit the plane fairly quickly. Both airlines show to be in the same terminal. (2A, I believe). We will have carry on roll-aboards and a small tote each. Should we expect any problems getting from the OS gate to the LOT gate? Gates should be close to each other. Another security check between these two airlines. Aren't both VIE and BUD Schengen?
Wouldn't mind a bunch if LOT was a little late departing that morning!
Wouldn't mind a bunch if LOT was a little late departing that morning!
Mar 18, 2018, 11:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Apart from weird Schengen Lounge location, I have no issues with VIE airport. It is very efficient hub. Why do you want to be at 7 am for the 10 am flight? You do not have lounge access as *A Silver, so not much to do at the airport.
Mar 19, 2018, 4:02 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PRG
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 247
VIE is awesome ! 
as ftl I pass through check in and security in less then 5 mins, passport controls for G gates (non schengen are usually empty) and they installed e-gates for passports so even less waiting time..
as economy /non status customer if u dont wanna wait at check in I would suggest to have a boarding pass printed from home and u can self check your bag if u dont wanna wait for an agent..
as ftl I pass through check in and security in less then 5 mins, passport controls for G gates (non schengen are usually empty) and they installed e-gates for passports so even less waiting time..
as economy /non status customer if u dont wanna wait at check in I would suggest to have a boarding pass printed from home and u can self check your bag if u dont wanna wait for an agent..
Mar 19, 2018, 7:57 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,088
We we have a United Club membership. Maybe that’ll get us into a lounge?
Last edited by Kensterfly; Mar 19, 2018 at 8:08 am
Mar 19, 2018, 8:04 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Mar 19, 2018, 8:18 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,088
VIE is awesome !
as ftl I pass through check in and security in less then 5 mins, passport controls for G gates (non schengen are usually empty) and they installed e-gates for passports so even less waiting time..
as economy /non status customer if u dont wanna wait at check in I would suggest to have a boarding pass printed from home and u can self check your bag if u dont wanna wait for an agent..
as ftl I pass through check in and security in less then 5 mins, passport controls for G gates (non schengen are usually empty) and they installed e-gates for passports so even less waiting time..
as economy /non status customer if u dont wanna wait at check in I would suggest to have a boarding pass printed from home and u can self check your bag if u dont wanna wait for an agent..
With a short connection in BUD, and since we will be on our way home, we may just check our bags and not worry about them. If the bags don’t get transferred in BUD, they’ll have to eventually be delivered to us. (one *A ticket all the way to IAH.)
They are 20 inch carry ons but we don’t want to take the chance of having to gate check them in VIE and then wait for them to be brought up to the jetway in BUD.
Mar 19, 2018, 8:51 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Not sure if we can print boarding passes from the ship but does OS and LOT provide electronic boarding passes through an app for international flights?
With a short connection in BUD, and since we will be on our way home, we may just check our bags and not worry about them. If the bags don’t get transferred in BUD, they’ll have to eventually be delivered to us. (one *A ticket all the way to IAH.)
They are 20 inch carry ons but we don’t want to take the chance of having to gate check them in VIE and then wait for them to be brought up to the jetway in BUD.
Mar 19, 2018, 11:56 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 505
VIE is or was renown for strictly enforcing the 8kg carry-on rule. If your carry-on weighed more than 8kg, regardless of size, they would not let you through the security checkpoint and send you back to the check-in counter. Not sure if that's still the case, but something to keep in mind.
Mar 19, 2018, 1:42 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,583
LOT works just fine with Passbook. You don’t even need to download the App and it’s not worth bothering with anyway. Just checkin via the mobile website. Or checkin on your desktop and issue the BP to your email and within the email is a link to the Passbook/Android BP as shown in the image.
I don’t think VIE is particularly great. The gates were crammed. For my SN flight to BRU I had to literally push my way to the front to get priority boarding.