Aegean Airlines Business Class Review

I’ve been flying with Aegean Airlines for more than a decade. As a Greek living in Berlin, I travel between the two cities 10-15 times per year and always fly with Aegean. During the last couple of years, I also often flew Business Class. As you can probably imagine, this is quite some upgrade, both in money and in-flight services. So, what you are about to read here is an honest Aegean Airlines Business Class review. I’ll try to cover every single aspect of Aegean’s Business Class and offer you some tips too.

Before writing anything else, I would like to mention that this is not a sponsored post. I paid for my tickets, and all opinions are my own. Therefore, the airline has nothing to do with this article, and what you are about to read is 100% my personal experience, an honest Aegean Airlines Business Class review.

So, let’s see if it deserves upgrading your Economy ticket to Business class with Greece’s flag carrier.

*Some of the links are affiliate links. It means that if you buy something, I might earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Aegean Airlines Business Class Review: Everything you need to know

The first part of this article is about booking your Aegean Airlines ticket and also some quick tips to smoothen the process and ensure the best prices.

How to book your Aegean Airlines Business Class ticket

In my opinion, the best option for booking airline tickets is always via their official websites. Apart from knowing whom to contact if an issue occurs, you will also have clearer terms if you want to cancel your tickets. Travel plans change often, and the last thing you want is a hard time getting a refund.

To book your Aegean Airlines Business Class ticket, search for a flight and choose the Business Class ticket instead of the Economy one. You can use the company’s website or the interactive widget below to find the best prices through Aegean’s official website.

Tips for booking your Business Class tickets with Aegean Airlines

Here you can find three tips for booking your Aegean Airlines Business Class tickets.

1. Make sure to check Aegean’s Low Fare Calendar. If you are flexible on dates, use the low fare calendar to find the best prices.
2. Sometimes, you can find excellent flight ticket offers on websites like Kiwi. Although it doesn’t happen that often, it might be worth having a look.
3. And here’s something that most people don’t know. You can currently upgrade EVERY economy ticket to Business Class. All you have to do is make an offer to Aegean for one of its Business Class seats. Aegean will then inform you at the latest 48 hours before your flight if your bid is accepted or not. If accepted, you’ll get your seat upgrade, and the company will withdraw your offer from your credit card. See more about how you can upgrade here.

At the International Airport of Athens (AIA)

The International Airport of Athens is the main hub of Aegean Airlines. The airline has several counters there, and at least two of them (sometimes up to four) are dedicated to Business Class passengers. There is usually no queue at all at these counters, and every time I flew from Athens to Berlin in Business Class, the service was excellent. The employees at the counters are always polite, and they will ask you if you’d like to have your boarding pass printed (I usually stay with my mobile boarding pass).

When you fly Business Class with Aegean Airlines, you can also have extra luggage. To be more precise, you can have two suitcases up to 32 kilos each (which you should, of course, check-in) and carry-on luggage plus a laptop bag. This is, of course, a very generous amount of luggage, but the truth is that I rarely use it because I prefer to travel light.

However, if you plan to carry a lot of stuff with you, you should consider the Aegean Airlines Business Class: such excessive weight might cost you a significant amount of money to add to a plain economy ticket.

Fast-track lane at Athens International Airport

After getting your ticket and checking in your luggage, you will have to proceed to security control. The Airport in Athens has a Fast-Track lane, and since you are traveling with a Business Class ticket, you are entitled to use it. The Fast-Track lane means that you won’t queue for security control. That’s a separate lane, and you will go through the security check-in in 1-2 minutes—or even less.

The Star Alliance Aegean Airlines Business Class Lounge in Athens

There is a brand new Aegean Airlines Business Class Lounge in Athens, and it’s beautiful. After the security control, you will find it close to Gate B 13. Then, all you have to do is present your boarding pass at the reception. Since this is a Star Alliance lounge, you’ll usually find many travelers during rush hours, but there is always enough space for everyone. You can find more info about the company’s lounges here.

The selection of food and beverages is one of the best I’ve seen in European lounges. You will find a wide variety of salty and sweet options, ranging from traditional Greek spinach pie and meatballs to cakes and alcoholic drinks to sodas. Of course, you’ll also have plenty of coffee options. The sofas and chairs are comfortable to unwind or work before catching your flight. Overall, this is a great place to spend some time before you leave Athens behind.

There is also a stand offering a selection of newspapers, but most are in Greek. The only English options are a short version of the New York Times (in collaboration with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini) and Blue, Aegean’s in-flight magazine. You can get a copy for free -but you will also find it onboard.

Last but not least, the lounge has free Wi-Fi and a couple of desktop computers. Overall, this is a typical Star Alliance Lounge, and its brand-newness means that you’ll have a pleasant stay there.

At the Gates

When you arrive at your gate of departure, you will see a lane for business class passengers. When your flight is announced, you can board at any time from that separate lane. So take a seat and enjoy the time before boarding.

Aegean Airlines Business Class Review: On Board

First things first: Aegean offers only intra-European flights, so you should be prepared for the corresponding standards. That being said, do not expect private pods or excessive levels of luxury. Sure, there is some luxury but nothing to compare with the Business Class standards of long-haul flights. Also, remember that even the longest intra-European flights won’t usually exceed 4 hours of flight time; they often last just 2-3 hours.

So, as you probably know, the Business Class seats are usually located in the front part of the airplane. The Aegean Airlines flies the Airbus 320 and the 321, and usually, the Business Class occupies the first three or four rows. Therefore, the Business Class seats of Aegean seem identical to the Economy Class ones, but there are actually two main differences.

The first one is that there is slightly more leg space. However, if you are not tall, you might not even notice it (I am 1.91, and I, unfortunately, notice every missing inch or cm). The second difference, and the one you’ll notice at once, is that the middle seat is blocked and transformed into a table. Don’t imagine something fancy; it’s more of a board blocking the seat. Anyway, this is a welcome addition because it gives you enough space to stretch. That’s not something to underestimate; if you happen to be tall, it is wonderful even for a two-hour flight.

A welcome drink

Soon after you find your seat, a crew member will offer you a welcome drink. You can choose (and have more than one) from an orange juice, a glass of water, or sparkling wine. I have also seen passengers asking for a coffee, but I prefer to save it for later. Plus, I don’t want to bother the crew at the time of boarding. I always choose water and orange juice. On rare occasions, and usually on evening flights, I might have a glass of wine. Together with your drink, you’ll get a small packet of crackers.

The crew will also give you the menu, and the food selection is pretty good (but more on that later). After the boarding is complete, a red curtain separating Business and Economy Class will shut -and your Business Class journey with Aegean will start.

After take-off

One of the nicest things about flying Business Class is that you have an endless view out of the window. You won’t see the wings, and you can enjoy the sky and the feeling of being above the clouds. Of course, that is definitely not a reason to pay for a Business Class ticket (well…), but if you love flying as much as I do, you can probably understand what I’m saying.

The crew member responsible for the Aegean Airlines Business Class will introduce herself (or himself, although it’s rare) and will offer you a hot towel for cleaning your hands and refreshing your face. Soon enough, you will also be asked what you would like to eat and drink. There is a standard dish for starter and dessert most of the time, and you will only choose your main dish.

The crew member will address you most of the time with your surname.

The Aegean Airlines Business Class Menu

Now, I’m creating a separate category for the menu because I always find it impressive.

Aegean Airlines focuses strongly on Greek cuisine. They always collaborate with famous Greek chefs and sommeliers, like Lefteris Lazarou, Christoforos Peskias, Stelios Parliaros, and Konstantinos Lazarakis, resulting in a great selection of food.

You can see the current Business Class menus here.

So, here’s a closer look at one of the menus I had:

Shortly after take-off, the crew will bring you a tray with starters. This consists of a salad, a selection of Greek cheese, as much bread as you wish, and adequate quantities of wine (or any other drink). I find red wine always the best, and if you are fond of it, you should try it.

The fish is always delicious.

Most of the time, the main dish is either meat or fish. Whenever fish is available, I go for it—it’s always a filet. It comes with vegetables, and it tastes fantastic. As for the dessert, it’s also traditional Greek, and the crew will also offer you coffee or tea. That is not the usual pre-made coffee but one that they will prepare freshly for you. I find Aegean’s Illy espresso to be excellent.

Overall, the food is probably the highlight of any Aegean Airlines Business Class flight. It will also keep you occupied for most of your journey; plus, the constant refill of wine often makes the trip shorter.

Something to keep in mind: if you are traveling around Easter time, the menu of Aegean will vary slightly. The reason is that it’s a fasting period in Greece. I find it a bit odd that the company is not giving the passengers the option to choose if they’d like such a menu or not.

Aegean In-flight entertainment

That’s probably the only section of an Aegean Airlines Business Class flight that falls short.

After boarding the aircraft, the crew will offer you a newspaper. It’s pretty much the same selection you’ll find in the Business Class Lounge at the International Airport of Athens: some Greek newspapers, the Blue magazine, and the Times. And, unfortunately, that’s where the in-flight entertainment ends.

Of course, there are the typical screens above your head, but they will either present promotional videos about Greece in a loop or just the usual info about the journey—no movie or anything else. Sure, nowadays, everybody can download a movie on their laptop or save some Netflix episodes, but it would have been a nice addition, to be honest.

An Internet connection has lately become available on some Aegean Airlines flights. This is also something missing from the in-flight entertainment of Aegean Airlines, but if I have to talk about myself, then I would say it’s okay. Although I depend a lot on the Internet, the truth is that I find it nice to disconnect completely from time to time. This is not a problem for me for a three-hour flight because I prefer constantly looking out of the window and enjoying the flight. However, some passengers might prefer to be less lazy than me and work during the flight.

Also, please keep in mind that there are no power outlets in Aegean’s airplanes.

The Aegean App

Aegean Airlines has its own dedicated app called Aegean App. If you download it, you can access the company’s in-flight entertainment via the Aegean Stream service. Every passenger can connect to Aegean’s platform via Wi-Fi, and from there, you can browse a selection of magazines (in several languages, like German, Italian, and French), listen to some playlists, play games, and chat with other passengers via Aegean’s chat software.

I used Aegean Stream to read German and English magazines, but I didn’t use the rest. Please keep in mind that you can’t browse the Internet, and all you can do is access what the app offers. If you’d like to see more about the service and how to use it, please see the app here.

If you plan to travel frequently with Aegean, downloading its app is necessary. The app allows you to save your boarding passes and collect miles, as well as use their in-flight entertainment service. You can download the app here.

Before landing & after landing

One more drink

Approximately half an hour before landing, you will have the chance to order one last drink. I usually choose the Mastiha, a traditional sweet alcoholic beverage originating from the island of Chios. It comes together with some chocolate and it’s a nice treat before reaching your destination. You can, of course, have a whiskey, a brandy, or whatever you feel like having from the impressive menu of drinks.

The first to disembark

If you arrive in Athens with an Aegean Airlines Business Class flight, you will, of course, be among the first to disembark. Also, if you have to reach the terminal using a bus, the Business Class passengers will embark on a separate one. Therefore, you will reach the terminal faster and be there on time to pick up your luggage.

One of the perks offered by Aegean Airlines Business Class tickets is that your luggage will come out first. Saving some time at the destination airport feels always nice.

A short note on my journeys with Aegean Airlines

I have traveled more than two hundred times with Aegean Airlines during the last fifteen years. This is enough proof of how satisfied I am with their services.

Also, during the last few years, I have traveled several times in Business Class. More specifically, I have traveled from Athens, Berlin, Frankfurt, Venice, and Yerevan. An Aegean Airlines Business Class flight will also give you access to the local airport lounges. Don’t miss the chance to use them, either for working or just relaxing.

For example, my flight from Yerevan was a red-eye flight (departure shortly before 5 a.m.). So I had to be at the airport at 3:30 a.m., sleepless, and having access to the lounge somehow saved me: I could eat something, and there were also fantastic sofas on which I could even take a short nap.

Overall, my Business Class flights with Aegean offered always a great experience: the dedicated counter for the luggage, the fast lane, the access to the lounge, the delicious in-flight menu, and above all, the extra space during the flight are enough reasons to book a Business Class ticket if you can afford the cost.

10 tips for your Aegean Airlines Business Class flight

So, here are ten tips for your business-class flights with Aegean Airlines.

1. To save time, go straight to the Business Class counters. Don’t use the Economy Class ones; they tend to be packed.
2. Arrive half an hour earlier than usual (or more) and use the time to enjoy the Business Class lounge. From the ones I have visited with Aegean, the Athens International Airport and the Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport lounge are the most beautiful.
3. Pre-book your Business Class meal. Log in to Aegean’s website up to 24 hours before departure and choose your meal. If you are seated in the last row of Business, you might not get the main dish you want due to high demand.
4. Make sure to pre-book your seat -it’s free in Business Class. Remember that there are just aisle and window seats -the middle seat is used as a table. The first row has the most leg space. Seats 1A and 1F are on the window, while the seats 1C and 1D are on the aisle.
5. The first-row seats are the most spacious ones. However, you can’t have a bag during take-off and landing.
6. Try the red wines with your food and the Mastiha with your dessert.
7. Don’t miss the chance to have a fresh espresso while flying.
8. Collect Aegean miles and get free upgrades after reaching Silver or Gold Status. Aegean’s Miles & Bonus is generous, and you can reach Silver Status pretty quickly, faster than with any other Star Alliance airline.
9. Remember that your Business Class ticket is fully refundable. If you need to cancel your ticket for any reason, you will get your money back. You’ll only be charged 20 euros as part of the processing fee.
10. Check Aegean’s Low Fare Calendar to find offers even in the business class.

Aegean Airlines Business Class Review: The verdict

First things first: if you can afford a Business Class ticket, you should go for it. It’s not about the status of flying Business (I don’t care at all), nor about the delicious food. What matters to me the most is having some comfort and avoiding arriving cramped at my destination. This is important, and if I can fly Business, I don’t think twice.

Now, most of the time, I can’t afford to fly Business. You see, a one-way Economy Class ticket from Athens to Berlin with Aegean could cost less than 80 euros; sometimes it might cost up to 100. But, the Business Class ticket for the same route won’t usually cost less than 270 euros. So, this is quite some price difference undoubtedly.

So, for whom is the Business Class of Aegean Airlines? Apart from the people who can afford it at all times, it’s also a) an excellent option if you would like to celebrate something or make a present for yourself; b) if you would like to carry lots of things with you.

Keep in mind that if you are collecting miles (either with Miles and Bonus or with any Star Alliance airline), you can use them to upgrade to Business Class. Also, if you reach the Silver Status of Aegean, you will get two free Business Class upgrades -and four upgrades if you reach the Gold Status. I am currently a Gold Member, and that’s how I sometimes manage to travel Business.

That said, traveling with Aegean Airlines Business Class is always pure joy for me. Sure, there is no comparison to the comfort and standards of long-haul Business Class flights. However, the food is delicious, the service excellent, and the views out of the window superb. Yes, the in-flight entertainment is mediocre, but then again, the whole experience is more entertaining than any program on a small screen.

So, that was it with my Aegean Airlines Business Class Review. Find the best prices for your next Aegean Airlines flight via Aegean’s website or use the price finder below.

Would you like to see more Business Class reviews? Please let me know in the comments below.

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More articles about Aegean: Aegean Pass & How to Use it, Domestic flights in Greece

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Last Updated on March 23, 2024 by George Pavlopoulos