Austrian/Schengen visa advice urgently required (Ankara)

I intended to travel to Austria at the end of January with a Turkish friend. We were told that the visa application would need to be supported by a valid travel ticket. We bought two tickets from Austrian airlines. Austrian visa office now informs us that we cannot get a visa appointement until mid-february. Austrian airlines state no refund. We stand to lose 1,350 TL. Can we get a Schengen visa more quickly through another Schengen country? Any diplomats or visa people out there who can give me some advice on this please???