Intro

Austrian Airlines used to be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for economy dining.

Before 2021, you could pre-order stunning upgrade meals from DO&CO, one of the world’s finest airline caterers, with full trays, fresh sides, and proper metal cutlery for around €15.

Austrian airlines japanese meal economy class upgrade meal by Do&Co
austrian airlines do&co inflight breakfast pre order meal

Those days are gone. The elegant presentations vanished, complimentary catering disappeared on short and medium-haul flights, and everything moved to buy-on-board.

Short & Medium Haul

Flying within Europe now means opening your wallet for Austrian’s “Melangerie” system.

The menu looks impressive, but the execution tells a different story about modern airline cost-cutting.

Airline food and beverage menu on a tray table, featuring a cover image of sandwiches filled with vegetables. The text "Melangerie" is visible on the cover, associated with Austrian Airlines.
Open in-flight magazine showcasing various snack options with images, descriptions, and prices in English and German. Snacks include chips, chocolates, bars, and gummies.
An in-flight menu displaying different sandwiches and wraps with detailed descriptions and prices in multiple languages.

The Famous Schnitzel’s Fall from Grace

The schnitzel is still available, but what a comedown.

What used to arrive as an elegant full tray meal now comes in a grab-and-go box for €13.80.

Airplane meal on tray table with boxed meal labeled "Henry" along with cutlery, napkin, and salt and pepper packets.

The quality remains solid, the meat was thin and stayed juicy, and the accompanying potato salad had tangy dressing with fresh herbs.

But eating schnitzel from a cardboard box feels wrong.

A meal with breaded meat, vegetables in a white box, a cup of tomato juice, a napkin, and cutlery packet on an airplane tray table.

Gone are the warm bread rolls, fresh side salads, and proper cutlery that made the meal feel special.

Austrian airlines schnitzel meal economy class upgrade meal by Do&Co

You’re paying premium prices for food that looks like it came from a railway station, even if it tastes better than most airline offerings.

It’s probably still one of the better meals you can buy from the menu, but that says more about how far standards have fallen across the industry.

The Club Sandwich Alternative

At €9.90, the club sandwich offers better value.

The bread stayed crisp rather than going soggy, and the bacon and the fillings were generous enough to satisfy.

The lettuce was fresh, and the tomatoes had actual flavour.

It arrived in the same cardboard box format, but sandwiches are meant to be casual food, so the presentation didn’t feel as jarring as the boxed schnitzel.

A sandwich in a brown cardboard box is placed on an airplane tray table with a white napkin and an empty sachet labeled "Servus freshness.
A boxed sandwich with lettuce and bacon, placed on an airplane tray table alongside a napkin and a packaged moist towel, inside an aircraft cabin.
A sandwich placed on a white napkin, featuring toasted bread, lettuce, tomato, chicken, and bacon. A brown paper bag and a partial view of an airplane window are in the background.

Long Haul

Long-haul economy passengers still receive complimentary meals, and here, Austrian remembers how to deliver proper service.

Interior of an airplane cabin showing rows of economy class seats with red headrests marked "Austrian" and grey upholstery.

Vienna to Bangkok

My 9-hour 45-minute flight to Bangkok included two meal services.

The main meal featured chicken in a sauce that was creamy without being heavy.

An airline meal tray with a foil-covered hot dish, salad, bread roll, butter, cream cheese, dessert cup, salt and pepper, napkin, and a drink cup on an airplane tray table.

The side salad was crisp and fresh, while the marble cake dessert had that homemade texture you rarely find in economy class.

Thoughtful extras like butter, jam, and salad dressing showed someone at the airline cared about the complete meal experience.

The cabin crew delivered exceptional service throughout the flight – genuinely cheerful rather than going through the motions.

They offered extra bread and drinks after the main service and continued beverage runs throughout the night.

An airline meal tray with pasta, sauce, and vegetables in a main dish. Sides include salad, dessert, bread roll, butter, and jam. A cup with a lid and a napkin with “Servus, Guten Appetit” are also present.

Smart Booking Strategies

Pre-ordering meals

On short and medium-haul flights, you can pre-order from the Melangerie menu up to 24 hours before departure through the pre-flight-shopping.com system. Long-haul flights include complimentary meals automatically.

How To Pre Order

Special dietary requirements

Austrian offers comprehensive special meal options, including vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal, and medical dietary needs. Book these at least 24 hours in advance – they’re free on long-haul and cost extra on European routes.

Austrian Airlines Special Meals

Breakfast Service

Breakfast arrived 1.5 hours before landing with no choice offered – just scrambled eggs with potatoes and yoghurt.

The eggs were fluffy rather than rubbery, and the portion was small but adequate.

The partnership with renowned caterers like DO&CO ensures food quality remains above average, even when presentation has been simplified.

A tray with an Austrian Airlines in-flight meal, including a foil-wrapped container, bread roll, small dessert container, and a napkin with "Servus, Mahlzeit. Appetit." text.
An in-flight meal tray that includes a bread roll, a main dish of scrambled eggs, potatoes, and tomatoes, a dessert, and a wrapped napkin with the text "Servus, Guten Appetit.

Conclusion

Austrian Airlines’ economy remains one of Europe’s better options, mainly because most competitors have lowered standards even further.

The food quality is generally good, crew service is excellent, and the long-haul experience still delivers genuine value.

However, the short and medium-haul transition to expensive boxed meals represents a significant step backwards.

The schnitzel is still worth trying if you’re curious, but manage your expectations about presentation.

Austrian proves that food quality can be maintained while cutting costs, but the overall experience suffers when premium pricing meets budget presentation.

They’re still better than most.

About Austrian

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