We have never bothered with oxygen because up till now we have not been above FL120 but this trip seems to suggest it would be sensible. Weather check tomorrow and then we decide where to go. Thanks for all the feed back
Achim’s right. No problem flying VFR low-level through the Alps except in some very specific weather conditions. I’ve done it many times and it quite often, the winds were between 15 and 25 knots. It is quite remarkable how often the ride is actually quite smooth despite the winds.
Also, unless the weather dictates so, don’t go all the way to Villach if you want to go from Salzburg to Venice. Huge, unncessary detour.
After Lienz (LOKL), fly the Plöckenpass, then Tolmezzo, then Rivoli, then Pordenone, then Venice.
An alternative is: after Lienz, fly west to San Candido, then Kreuzbergpass, then Lake Pieve di Cadore and then follow the highway south all the way to Venice.
That said, I wonder why someone operating a -235 (which can go to FL160) and not have at least a simple oxygen system at hand, be it only for those very rare occasions. All it takes is a bottle, a regulator and a couple of oxysaver cannuals. Don’t need O2D2s and stuff if usage is very infrequent.
Just gives you so many more options!
even a guy on drugs on the final into LOWZ
I think I had AFIS on drugs there once. I got the instruction from AFIS “reduce your pitch” during initial climb. LOWZ is a great place and very easy to fly to but in summer it is totally crowded by people from one particular region of the planet…
If you have say a 20kt wind you do not want to be 1000-2000ft above the peaks.
I wouldn’t generalise that. If it is Foehn (which is often stronger than that) you sure want to be high up. In other cases, it’s perfectly normal to fly in the valleys with some wind.
In fact, I do not remember a wind-induced accident in the Austrian Alps in the past decade. There were some cases of VFR into IMC, several attempts to ignore density altitude on takeoff and even a guy on drugs on the final into LOWZ 
, but nothing with wind.
Flying IFR over the Alps is rather boring.
That strongly depends on the weather and winds!
If you have say a 20kt wind you do not want to be 1000-2000ft above the peaks.
The safest way to do that is to fly high up. The photo opportunities are still amazing and arguably better.
But in this case they won’t have the option, not having oxygen.
I would certainly do this VFR and follow blueline’s recommended route. Flying IFR over the Alps is rather boring.
By the way, if you’re in Venice and need fuel, you may want to do the short Adriatic crossing to Portoroz (LJPZ). It’s a nice place, and fuel is usually significantly cheaper there than in Italy.
SkyDemon shows GAFOR routes as well.
If you stay VFR you have several choices for crossing the main ridge of the Alps. All end in Carinthia, roughly abeam Villach, from where you fly along the very scenic Val Canale („Channel Valley“) to Udine and then proceed to the coastline, which you follow right until LIPV.
My recommendation is to fly from LOWS to LOWZ, then pass Großglockner (the highest mountain in Austria, stay clear of the National Park boundary) and proceed via Lienz to Villach. This is roughly the GAFOR route 40.
A second possibility is to cross via Radstadt to Spittal and then on the Villach (GAFOR routes 61 and 62).
You can always fly further to the east by following the Enns valley and using one of the lower mountain passes in this area, possibly proceeding as far as Bruck an der Mur and flying via Graz into Carinthia. But if the weather is good enough, you should stay further to the west and enjoy the scenery.
A sidenote to LOWS: A few years ago, it was possible to park directly in front of Hangar7 with prior notice. Might be worth asking, because otherwise you have to take a cab from the GA apron to the other side of the airport or walk through the noisy and stinky underpass.
