How to: Join the Austrian Alpine Club
As promised in this post, here are my step-by-step instructions for joining the Austrian Alpine Club. I’m sure it get’s you a lot more, but the two benefits I primarily rely upon it for are reduced hut fees (up to 40%!) and no-hassle rescue insurance in the Alps.
Go to the Austrian Alpine Club’s UK Section: https://aacuk.org.uk/join
Choose your membership type. Standard full membership is £63 for the calendar year. There are discounts for those under 27, pensioners, and a family rate for couples and their children (Kirah and I are on a family rate for about 85 euros I think). Memberships are for 1 January - 31 December - if you sign up after 1 September they let you choose to start 1 January the next year. If you choose “Section E” you’ll be added to the newsletter.
Fill out the online application. Easy as.
Acknowledge the insurance coverage.
Make payment by credit card - if you live in Europe you can also directly debit your bank account.
Receive your confirmation email. You can download your digital membership card immediately, but a paper one is coming in the mail. I’ve always package-tape laminated mine.
Download the Alpine Club’s app. Amongst other things, it enables you to make hut reservations with your membership number.
Just a reminder, membership covers January-December. My general practice is to sign up every February when I’m leaving Antarctica. It includes some of the best rescue insurance for everywhere except North America, but you can contact the OAV for add-on policies. It’s available to anyone living outside of Austria. Membership is recognized throughout the UIAA huts in the Alps, and lot of private-operated huts provide discounts too.
