Morning trip from Budapest to Vienna
 

Leading into the final leg of a trip to Europe next year, we will need to travel from Budapest to Vienna on a Saturday morning in time to connect with a flight to London departing Vienna at 13.25. Our TA has made a tentative booking on an Austrian Airways flight, but has sounded a caution about the financial stability of AA and has suggested that we may need to look at another option. Is there a problem with AA and, if so, is there a reliable air carrier out of Budapest to Vienna, or are there any overland options that we could explore? It seems to me that, given the distance and travelling time from central Budapest to Vienna airport and the timetables for buses or trains, it may be that travel by air is our only choice, but any alternative suggestions would be welcome.

1) Why can't you fly home from Budapest Airport? BA flies Budapest-London heathrow

2) If you HAVE to fly out from Vienna's airport, Budapest->Vienna is 3 hours by train. Not sure when you're going next year, but plugging in tomorrow's date, there is a train that departs Budapest at 7:10am and gets in Vienna at 10:08am. That will certainly give you enough time to get to Vienna airport to catch your 13:25 flight.

And,

3) Again, IF you have to fly out from Vienna airport, why not travel from Budapest to Vienna the night before? That way, you don't have to worry about getting TO Vienna the day of your flight home.

Thanks, yk. The Vienna-London leg comes about because of the airfare structure that we are locked into. We can't change that.

If we leave the night before, we will miss out on a planned highlight of our trip, so that, too, is not really an option.

That 7:10 train may be the best option, and it won't involve us in needing to be at the airport around 6:00am, as it was looking like we would have to.

Thanks again.

Rob.

Your travel agent is not really up to date.
Austrian Air has been acquired by Lufthansa, one of the largest and most financially stable airlines in the world.
One that still makes profits.
This insures that Austrian will remain in business for the long term.
This is a simlar situation structure to that made with Swiss Air a number of years ago.

The train is a reliable option for your transfer.
The train stations in Vienna are now being renovated and rebuilt.
This should not really affect your plans.
Note schedules for next year change in the middle of December. Check about this.
A airport transfer bus runs from train stations to the airport .
Currently every 30 minutes - a 6 euro transfer cost and the trip is about 30 minutes time.

Thanks a lot. That really helps to round out our plans.

Rob.

Yes, I took that bus this past spring between Vienna airport and Westbahnhof (where the train from Budapest arrives). It's quite straightforward; and Vienna airport is small.