Intro

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

Before 2021, you could pre order gorgeous upgrade meals from DO&CO, one of the world’s finest airline caterers, with full trays, fresh sides, and proper metal cutlery for around โ‚ฌ15.

Those days are gone.

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

But is Austrian still worth flying for food?

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

Short & Medium Haul

Flying within Europe now means opening your wallet for food. Austrian’s “Melangerie” buy on board system features locally inspired meals and snacks, and while the menu looks impressive, 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.
An in-flight menu displaying different sandwiches and wraps with detailed descriptions and prices in multiple languages.
Open in-flight magazine showcasing various snack options with images, descriptions, and prices in English and German. Snacks include chips, chocolates, bars, and gummies.

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 โ‚ฌ13.80.

The quality remains solid, the breadcrumb coating had a good crunch, the meat inside was properly pounded thin and stayed juicy, and the accompanying potato salad had a tangy dressing with fresh herbs.

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

But eating schnitzel from a cardboard box feels strange. Gone are the warm bread rolls, fresh side salads, and proper cutlery that made the meal feel special.

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.

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

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 โ‚ฌ9.90, the club sandwich offers better value.

The bread stayed crisp rather than going soggy, the bacon was cooked correctly, 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 close-up of a sandwich with layers of lettuce, tomato, and meat, sitting on a white surface. The bread and cheese are visible in the background.

Long Haul

Long haul economy passengers still receive complimentary meals, and here, Austrian remember 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 had genuine depth, 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.
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 โ€œServus, Guten Appetitโ€ are also present.

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

It was dense but moist, with real vanilla flavour rather than artificial sweetness.

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.

Breakfast Service

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

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

The partnership with renowned caterers like DO&CO ensures food quality remains above average.

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

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

However, the short and medium term transition to expensive boxed meals represents a significant step backwards from their previous reputation as a dining standout.

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

Austrian Airlines 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, but they used to be truly special.

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