Vienna Airport has long been our main starting point for most of our travel experiences. It is logistically easy for us to reach and offers a wide network of connections. From the perspective of traveling with a dog, it is among those airports where things work relatively predictably. Therefore it was no surprise that our very first flight with Ibo also departed from there.
This article is not an official airport guide. You can certainly find plenty of those online. Here we will try to share more our real experience of the departure we took from Vienna with Ibo.
Transport to the airport with a dog
For transport to the airport we chose a private taxi service directly from Bratislava. In the context of traveling with a dog, this proved to be a very good and probably the most sensible choice.
The taxi provided us with comfort without transfers, plenty of space for luggage, removed the need to deal with parking, caused minimal stress for the dog, offered time flexibility, and ultimately a relatively favorable price compared to parking or combining buses and public transport.
For traveling with a dog, this way of getting to the airport is the one we most recommend.
First impression of the airport and orientation
Vienna Airport feels modern, clean, and well organized. Finding your way around the terminals is fairly straightforward and the signage is understandable even for passengers flying through here for the first time.
When traveling with a dog it is important that the staff are accustomed to transporting animals and that most processes proceed without unnecessary questions or improvisation.
Check-in and communication with staff
It was the staff’s approach at Vienna Airport that pleasantly surprised us. Communication was factual, clear and without unnecessary delays. Of course, it’s important to have all documents prepared and checked before arriving at the airport.
We were allowed to use priority check-in, which we considered a kind and accommodating gesture. At the same time the staff allowed us to keep the dog with us until the last possible moment. In practice that meant we had the chance to walk the dog twice more before actually entering the secure part of the airport.
This significantly shortened the time during which Ibo was in transport without our presence. Given that it was his first flight, it was a big bonus for all of us.
It should be added, however, that we did not find an ideal walking area with natural greenery directly at the departure terminals. Although the dog can be walked, it is more of an improvised solution than a full-fledged walking zone.
We ultimately handed the dog over at the place where oversized baggage is also handed in. We did not have to look for this place – the staff directed us there precisely.
Security check with a dog
One of the most interesting and at the same time slightly amusing parts was the security check.
Together with Ibo we were led to a separate, semi-finished room the size of a large bathroom. There was practically nothing in the room except a scanner for metal objects. It was this scanner that Ibo had to pass through.
The whole situation seemed unusual, but the process was quick, calm and stress-free. The staff knew exactly what to do and the check went smoothly.
Overall impression of Vienna Airport when traveling with a dog
Vienna Airport left a very good impression on us, especially in terms of its approach to traveling with a dog. The processes are clear and the staff are prepared and willing to communicate.
We consider the absence of full-fledged walking zones directly at the terminals a weakness. On the other hand, the option to keep the dog until the last moment compensates for this shortcoming to some extent.
Conclusion
If we are looking for an airport from which it’s possible to travel with a dog relatively calmly and predictably, Vienna remains our first choice. It’s not perfect, but compared to many other airports it offers a good combination of organization, staff approach and manageable stress for both the dog and the owner.
This is exactly why it was no coincidence that our first flight with Ibo departed from there.