Intro
After flying five different routes between Luxembourg, Greece, and Cyprus during May and June, Aegean is one of Europe’s best kept secrets for anyone who cares about inflight service and free meals.
I took several flights in business and economy class to assess the airline’s offerings, and finally had the chance to experience their Non-Schengen Lounge at Athens Airport.
What a fantastic lounge!
Economy Class
Flying Aegean soon? They’re one of the few European carriers still offering free meals in economy class.
No buy-on-board options, but actual meals or snacks that are complimentary.
Let’s be honest – like most airlines, Aegean’s portions have become smaller over the years. But here’s the thing: they’re still free.
While more European carriers are adopting paid meal concepts, where you’ll pay โฌ8 for a subpar sandwich, Aegean continues to include something.
Even on domestic hops like Athens to Corfu, you’ll still get proper snack and drink service.
During one sector, I was served tsoureki (traditional sweet bread), and on another, tasty baklava.
The airline rotates various Greek snack products according to the route. For regular travellers, it shows they care.
On longer European routes, depending on the time of day, you’ll get either a hot/cold snack or a proper meal tray with various Greek-inspired offerings.
When so many airlines are asking you to pay extra for basic food, Aegean’s commitment to free service, however modest, feels refreshingly old-school.
It’s no longer about quantity; it’s about maintaining the sense of hospitality that once defined European aviation.
Business Class
Stepping aboard Aegean’s aircraft, you immediately notice the cabin design.
The walls feature geometric patterns inspired by traditional Greek motifs, creating an atmosphere that feels distinctly Mediterranean.
I experienced flights from Athens to Larnaca and Athens to Madrid, and the service consistency was remarkable – same attention to detail, identical meal quality, and seamless execution regardless of destination.
On this 90-minute hop, they deliver a three-course meal experience that rivals what you’d get on much longer flights with other carriers.
The experience begins before takeoff with a welcome drink served in real glasses.
The crew then presented printed menus explaining your meal choices: chicken fillet with lemon and oregano sauce, warm broccoli salad and potato purรฉe, or veal in lemon and oregano sauce with creamy au gratin potatoes.
Hot towels follow.
I opted for the chicken, and the presentation alone was impressive.ย
The Nicoise salad, with fresh green beans, lettuce, vegetables, hard-boiled egg, smoked tuna, anchovy fillet, olives, and capers, was delicious.
The main course delivered on its promise. The chicken fillet was tender and juicy, and the potato purรฉe was creamy.
What impressed me was the proper cheese course: Graviera cheese “Spilia” and Graviera cheese from Naxos Island.
The meal concluded with baklava created by Executive Chef Pรขtissier Stelios Parliaros.
On the Madrid route, dessert was a chocolate creation served after the main tray was collected.
When airlines credit their pastry chefs on the menu, you know they’re taking dessert seriously.
And it showed.
For reference here’s some photos from my trip from Athens to Madrid.
Looking at their bar menu, the beverage program is equally serious.
Greek spirits like Plomari Ouzo and Mastiha, classic cocktails like the Negroni, local beers like FIX Hellas and Mythos, and an extensive coffee program featuring Caffรจ Vergnano options.
Back to the Larnaca experience, the whole service flowed seamlessly despite the short flight time.
Nothing felt rushed, and the crew managed to deliver it all (including coffee service) without anyone feeling stressed.
For a 90-minute flight, this level of service feels almost ridiculous – in the best possible way.
Most airlines would skip the hot towels, printed menus, and collaborations with renowned pastry chefs.
Athens Non Schegen Lounge
Here’s where Aegean really impressed me.
Their non-Schengen lounge at Athens Airport opened in 2022, and it’s hands down one of the best airline lounges I’ve experienced in Europe.
Getting there is straightforward.
After security, walk through the duty-free area and follow the “Business Lounges” signs that point right, just before the Hugo Boss store.
Take two sets of escalators up to the third floor, and you’re there.
The entrance area features a stunning olive tree under a glass ceiling.
The entrance area features a stunning olive tree under a glass ceiling.
Walking into this place feels like entering a high-end Greek cafรฉ rather than an airport lounge.
The food setup blew me away. Instead of the grim warming trays most lounges use, everything is displayed beautifully.
There’s a cast iron pan with Greek meatballs still sizzling away, surrounded by cherry tomatoes and fresh bread.
You can smell the food.
They’ve arranged various Greek dips and specialities in beautiful blue and white striped bowls – Kalamata olives, authentic spreads, everything you’d expect from a good Greek restaurant.
They’ve arranged various Greek dips and specialities in these beautiful blue and white striped bowls, Kalamata olives, authentic spreads, everything you’d expect from a good Greek restaurant.
The attention to detail is everywhere. Even the salt and pepper shakers feature their logo, made of cardboard, yet surprisingly well-designed
In the bathrooms, you’ll find Korres handwash products, another example of featuring quality Greek brands throughout the passenger experience.
The space itself is genuinely impressive.
Floor-to-ceiling windows give you panoramic views of the airport and Athens beyond, including the control tower.
The seating is well-arranged, featuring quiet corners with recliners for those who want to sleep, communal tables for dining, and work areas.
Natural light floods in all day, making it feel more like a modern Greek home than an airport waiting area.
You can watch Aegean’s blue and white aircraft taxi past while sampling authentic Greek flavours, which creates an incredible sense of place that some lounges miss entirely.
Conclusion
For European travel, Aegean represents exceptional value. Offering free meals in economy when most carriers charge for everything puts them ahead immediately.
If you’re flying to, from, or within Greece, definitely consider Aegean over the usual European suspects.
The Athens lounge is worth a visit if you’re travelling through Greece to non-Schengen destinations.
Their approach to inflight service makes them worth supporting.
Sometimes, the best airline experiences come from carriers that remember why people used to enjoy flying.
