The partial oxidation of an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde over an oxidic catalyst, mainly based on Mo and V, has been studied. Two different experimental setups served for the investigations of the reaction kinetics. The kinetic measurements in the first setup were performed by monitoring the gas phase composition along the length of a fixed bed catalyst. In the second setup, the kinetic measurements were carried out employing a gradientless recycle reactor, realised by a jet loop reactor, which behaves like a CSTR. This provides the direct measurement of reaction rates as an unambiguous function of concentration and temperature and thus a more detailed kinetic analysis. The two experimental setups lead to consistent results, thus the concentration profiles along the tubular reactor could be calculated by use of the kinetic model developed on the basis of recycle reactor experiments in good agreement with experimental data. The appropriate application of both methods is discussed.