Review of Aegean Airlines Business Class

Greece relies on Aegean Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier, to showcase the distinct Hellenic flavour in the air, something that the carrier’s premium service offering, known as aegean business class, does rather well. The carrier brings a touch of Greece to the wider world.

However, aegean business class is often compared unfavorably to other European airlines due to its lack of additional services and comfort. Many travelers find that Aegean Airlines' business class does not justify the higher price compared to economy class.

The airline was founded as Aegean Aviation in 1987 and is the largest Greek carrier in terms of passengers, destinations, and fleet. It operates full-service scheduled and charter services from its hubs in Athens and Thessaloniki throughout Greece, to Europe and the Middle East. In 2013 it acquired the regional carrier Olympic Air – which is now a subsidiary of Aegean.

As of 2022, Aegean Airlines flies to 78 destinations (ranging between one to four hours in length) with a fleet of 51 aircraft consisting exclusively of a family of Airbus narrow-bodies. It has codeshare agreements with a plethora of airlines and since 2010 has been a member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance in terms of membership and passenger numbers. Its own frequent flyer program (and that of its subsidiary, Olympic Air) is called Miles+Bonus and has three tiers: Blue, Silver and Gold, with the latter two tiers equivalent of Star Alliance Silver- and Gold status.

Athens International Airport is the largest international airport in Greece and the main hub for Aegean Airlines. It is located 19 miles (30 kilometres) east of Athens. It began operations in 2001 in preparation for the Summer Olympics in 2004 and handles more than 25 million passengers a year.

There are two terminals at Athens International Airport - the Main Terminal and the Satellite Terminal. The Main Terminal has two halls: Hall A is for flights to Extra-Schengen countries and Non-European countries; Hall B is for flights to Intra-Schengen countries and domestic services. The Satellite Terminal, south of the Main Terminal, is only used in high season when passenger numbers increase and can handle up to 6 million passengers a year.

In April 2022, Aegean Airlines opened a new Business Lounge at Athens International Airport.

The new lounge is a notable step-up from the previous offering. It was apparently inspired by “the folk architecture of the Cyclades (an island group south of mainland Greece) and the cutting edge technology of air travel’. It is light & airy and features premium marble, terrazzo, glass, and wood.

Amenities in the lounge include a media suite, a social area, and a quiet zone together with a restaurant, two cafeterias, a wine bar, two coffee stations and a juice bar – with the juice bar offering novelties such as strawberry-and-coconut smoothies and lemon-and-mint juice. Food and wines are mostly from Greek producers. There are recliner chairs providing a generous view of the airside, internet access is free and there are plenty of charging points. The Aegean Airlines Business Class Lounges are available to all Business Class and Miles+Bonus Gold passengers, as well as to Star Alliance Gold Members. Compared to the Schengen lounge, the non-Schengen lounges at other airports are often more spacious and offer superior amenities and comfort, including better dining options and views, making them preferable for travelers waiting for connections. However, Aegean Airlines' business class does not consistently provide lounge access, and the experience can vary significantly depending on the airport.

The Aegean Airlines lounge at Athens International Airport is located before security, which can complicate access for connecting flights, especially if you are in transit and need to clear security again.

In Athens, in the case if the aircraft you’re boarding is parked at a remote stand, a private bus transfer dedicated to Business Class passengers ensures a smooth priority boarding process – which is a nice touch. However, business class passengers are often shuttled to the aircraft via bus, especially when the aircraft is parked at a remote stand. The boarding process for Aegean Airlines business class has also been criticized for being chaotic and lacking organization, which can lead to a frustrating experience for passengers.

Securing an Aegean Airlines business class ticket is a straightforward process, designed to offer business class passengers a smooth and premium experience from the very start. Booking can be completed easily through the airline’s website or the Aegean app, where passengers can not only purchase their ticket but also manage every aspect of their journey. The app and online portal allow for convenient check in, seat selection, and access to digital boarding passes, ensuring that flying business class with Aegean is as efficient as it is comfortable.

One of the standout benefits for business class passengers is the ability to select their preferred seat in advance. Aegean Airlines business class seats are arranged to maximize comfort, with the middle seat intentionally left empty, providing more space and privacy compared to economy class. This thoughtful configuration means that, even on a short haul flight, passengers enjoy extra space and a quieter cabin environment – features that set Aegean apart from many other airlines operating within Europe.

When it comes to the airport experience, business class ticket holders benefit from priority services that streamline the journey. Fast track lane access at security helps minimize waiting times, while dedicated boarding groups ensure a relaxed start to the flight. Lounge access is included, offering a tranquil space to unwind, enjoy a welcome drink, and sample Greek wines or sparkling water before boarding. These amenities, combined with attentive cabin crew and a premium meal service, make the extra money spent on a business class ticket feel like a worthwhile investment.

Aegean Airlines also makes managing connecting flights simple, whether you’re heading to Naxos Island or another European destination. The airline’s modern Airbus aircraft are equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to stay connected and entertained throughout the flight. The cabin crew is known for their friendly and professional service, ensuring that every aspect of the journey – from booking to landing – is handled with care.

For those seeking a premium experience on European flights, Aegean Airlines business class offers a compelling blend of comfort, service, and convenience. With easy booking, flexible management options, and thoughtful touches like a hot meal and welcome drink, Aegean delivers one of the best business class experiences among European carriers, making every flight a pleasant journey.

Aegean Airlines’ rebrand also reimagined the cabin interior with a colour combination of ‘Aegean Blue, Silver Blue and White’. Essentially, the walls are white and the seats are dark blue (and carry the twin gull logo stitched into the headrest). The business class cabin on Aegean Airlines' A320neo aircraft has a modern aesthetic with dark blue leather seats and gray and white interiors. On the A321 aircraft, the business class cabin features adjustable headrests and electric sockets at each seat. It’s a simple, yet contemporarily stylish look.

Aegean Airlines' business class features a seating arrangement with economy seats at the front of the cabin and a blocked middle seat for extra space. As is the norm with short-haul Business Class on European carriers, there is nothing that separates Business Class and Economy Class when it comes to the seats. The differentiating factor is that the middle seat is always vacant, creating an empty seat (usually obstructed by a tray table) in Business Class in order to provide an added sense of spaciousness. This uniformity enables the airline to modify the number of seats in each class according to passenger demand – with a curtain denoting the division between the cabins.

As such, in terms of hardware measurements, the seats are identical on the entirety of Aegean Airline’s fleet, given that they exclusively operate Airbus narrowbodies. The aircraft is arranged in a 3-3 layout – although in Business Class, a max of 4 seats are available each row due to the middle seat being intentionally left vacant. Having the entire row to oneself can significantly enhance comfort and privacy, offering more space than just an empty seat alone. The seats have a width of 53 centimetres (21 inches) and a pitch of 84 centimetres (33 inches). This is a full 7.6 centimetres (3 inches) more pitch than offered by either British Airways and Lufthansa. Passengers seated in Row 1 enjoy extra legroom, the downside to the added space is that there is no under-seat storage.

The flight search on Businessclass includes images, videos and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested, before making your choice.

Aegean Airlines’ Business Class menu is curated by three esteemed Greek Executive Chefs: Lefteris Lazarou, Christoforos Peskias and Stelios Parliaros, plus a Master of Wine – Konstantinos Lazarakis. It puts a particular emphasis on Greek flavours and local produce and is branded as ‘Gastronomics’.

Aegean offers premium meal and beverage options in business class, including pre-departure drinks and a selection of quality wines. The meal service includes a hot towel service and a printed menu with multiple meal options, even on short flights. Meals are served on proper porcelain, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Printed menus are distributed (a rarity on flights in Europe - even in Business Class), with an appetiser and the choice of two mains offered – usually chicken or veal as the main course, followed by a cheese plate (usually sourced from within the Greek Isles) and rounds off with dessert – also Greek in nature. The main course is a key part of the meal, and its quality can significantly impact the overall impression of the dining experience.

However, the food quality in Aegean Airlines' business class is frequently criticized as being similar to economy class offerings. Passengers have also found the food quality to be inconsistent, with some meals being described as average or uninspiring.

Business Class passengers can reserve their special meal preferences online up to 24 hours prior to departure – including diabetic, gluten intolerant, Kosher, low calorie, low fat, vegetarian and vegan.

A pre-departure drink (usually water or orange juice) is served on the airline’s longest flights, along with a hot towel. The timing of the beverage service is coordinated with the flight time, ensuring passengers are served before take off. Aegean Airlines provides pre-departure drinks in business class, which is a rare offering among European airlines. Business class passengers receive a welcome drink served in proper glassware during boarding. Aegean Airlines offers pre-departure drinks in business class, which is not commonly provided by many European airlines. The business class experience also includes a welcome drink and a menu, which are not commonly offered by many European airlines. Aegean Airlines makes a deliberate effort in working with local Greek suppliers, and sources many of its onboard beverage offering close to home. A minimum of two whites and two reds are always on offer – with the Kokotos and Semeli Estates offering up one of each with some frequency. Amalia, an elegant local Greek sparkling wine is also offered.

The more usual suspects of liquor include whisky, brandy, gin and vodka, but the Greek liquor – Ouzo – is also served to the more adventurous traveller! Choice of liqueurs are served with chocolate and pralines, beer – including Greek favourites Fix Hellas and Mythos, and a range of soft drinks, juices, waters and teas. The coffees, which are espresso-based - highly unusual on short-haul flights - comes served with small chocolates on the side.

The flight search on Businessclass includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes, but feel free to let us know if there is something we missed.

The flight attendants on Aegean Airlines play a key role in delivering service in business class. Aegean Airlines flight attendants are often described as friendly and professional, contributing positively to the customer service experience. However, some passengers have reported experiencing indifferent or even rude service from flight attendants, which negatively impacted their overall experience. Some travelers feel that other airlines provide better service, food, and comfort, resulting in a better experience. Additionally, Aegean Airlines' business class service is often described as lacking in hospitality compared to other airlines. Customer service responses from Aegean Airlines have also been criticized for being automated and lacking a personal touch, leading to dissatisfaction among passengers.

The airline’s uniforms were created in 2015 by London-based Greek fashion designer Sophia Kokosalaki, which feature the company’s corporate colours of Aegean blue, red and grey and are intended to be ‘functional and elegant with a hint of Grecian classicism’. Kokosalaki also designed outfits for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

Wi-Fi is available on the carrier's A320/A321neo aircraft and should be available throughout the company's fleet by 2025. Aegean Airlines' entertainment offering can be accessed via its onboard Wi-Fi system (‘AEGEAN Stream'). The system offers a selection of music, documentaries, cartoons, games, and news' together with newspapers in a variety of languages. Aircraft with the updated cabin design feature USB power ports in each seat plus a handy holder for mobile devices on the seat in front – a great tool for those who rely on mobile streaming during flight for entertainment. Wi-Fi is complimentary for all Business Class passengers.

The flight search on Businessclass includes information on WiFi and inflight entertainment.

As Aegean Airlines does not fly long-haul, there is little in the way of amenities in Business Class. There is no amenity kit, but blankets and pillows are available on the longest flights.

Aegean Airlines operates primarily short flights, making it a popular choice for brief journeys across Greece and nearby destinations. The longest route is the 4-hour journey from Athens to London or Madrid. Many of the shorter domestic flights are operated by Olympic Air – its subsidiary flying exclusively turboprop aircrafts such as the ATR and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100. The time flying on these short flights often passes quickly thanks to Aegean Airlines' efficient service and comfortable cabin.

Aegean Airlines believes its new Airbus 321neo aircraft will deliver significant reductions in fuel consumption (15-20%); CO2 (19-23% per seat); nitrogen oxide (50%); and noise (50%). The company is also exploring the use of sustainable aviation fuel. Aegean has participated in a range of sustainability projects, donating/recycling fleece blankets, ready-to-eat food and furniture and also supports a wide range of NGOs with free tickets to help facilitate their work.

The new Aegean Airlines Business Lounge – an impressive upgrade for Business Class travellers

Greek tastes – the airline is dedicated in its promotion and endorsement of Hellenic flavours in the air

The 2020 rebrand – a suitably modish restyling, which has been tastefully applied throughout