Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.
TLDR — Is Aegean Airlines Worth It?
Aegean Airlines is Greece’s largest airline and flag carrier, a full-service Star Alliance member that’s the backbone of travel to and around Greece. Unlike the budget carriers, Aegean still includes the things that make flying pleasant: a real cabin experience, a strong loyalty program (Miles+Bonus), free onboard Wi-Fi for members, and a genuine business class. It hubs in Athens (ATH) and Thessaloniki (SKG) and flies a wide network across Greece, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. If you’re island-hopping in Greece or connecting through Athens, Aegean is the polished, reliable choice, and it consistently rates among Europe’s better short-haul airlines. Just choose your fare carefully, because the cheapest “Light” fare strips out checked baggage.
Who Is Aegean Airlines Best For?
The Greece Traveler and Island-Hopper
This is Aegean’s home turf. It connects Athens with Santorini, Mykonos, Crete (Heraklion and Chania), Rhodes, Corfu, and a long list of other Greek islands and cities, making it the natural choice for building a Greek itinerary. Paired with its sibling Olympic Air, it reaches the smaller islands too.
The Star Alliance Loyalist
Aegean has been a Star Alliance member since 2010, so if you collect miles with United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, or any Star Alliance carrier, you can earn and redeem on Aegean, and Star Alliance Gold members get perks like an extra free checked bag. For anyone in that ecosystem, Aegean is a smart way to keep the miles flowing.
The Traveler Who Wants Full Service Without Full-Service Prices
Aegean’s appeal is that it delivers a proper flag-carrier experience, complimentary cabin service, a respected business class, lounge access, often at fares that undercut the legacy giants. For travelers who find the ultra-budget carriers miserable but don’t want to overpay, it’s a sweet spot.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If your only metric is the rock-bottom fare for a short European hop and you’re traveling with just a backpack, a pure budget airline may edge Aegean on headline price. And if you book Aegean’s cheapest “Light” fare expecting a free checked bag, you’ll be disappointed (more on that below).
How Does Aegean Airlines Work?
Aegean is a conventional full-service airline, the opposite model from a Ryanair. You book a fare that already bundles in most of what you need, rather than starting at a bare seat and paying for every extra. It operates a hub-and-spoke network centered on Athens International Airport (ATH), with a strong secondary base in Thessaloniki (SKG), feeding a wide web of domestic Greek, European, Middle Eastern, and longer-haul routes.
Fares come in fare families (Light, Flex, Family, ComfortFlex, and Business tiers) so you pick the bundle that fits: the lighter fares for travelers packing carry-on only, the higher ones when you need checked bags, flexibility, or comfort. You book directly at aegeanair.com or the Aegean app, and because it’s a Star Alliance member, Aegean flights interline and codeshare smoothly with the world’s largest airline network.
Where Does Aegean Airlines Fly?
Aegean’s network has three useful layers for travelers:
- Within Greece: Athens and Thessaloniki to the islands and regional cities, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Kefalonia, and many more. This is the core reason most visitors fly Aegean.
- Across Europe: Major and secondary cities, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Brussels, and dozens of others, often via the Athens hub.
- Beyond: The Middle East and a growing list of longer-haul destinations, plus seamless onward connections through Star Alliance partners.
For travelers, the practical takeaway is that Aegean is built to get you to Greece from across Europe and then around the Greek islands on a single, well-connected airline.
What’s the Onboard Experience Like?
This is where Aegean separates itself from the budget pack. Even in economy, Aegean includes a cabin service rather than a buy-everything trolley, and the airline has invested in a fresh fleet (its “neo era” aircraft).
Highlights worth knowing:
- Free onboard Wi-Fi is available to Miles+Bonus members, you just join the (free) loyalty program.
- Business Class is a genuine product: Fast Track and lounge access, a guaranteed empty middle seat, a complimentary Wi-Fi bundle, and a chef-crafted menu.
- Miles+Bonus, the loyalty program, earns 1,000 welcome miles on signup and earns/redeems across Star Alliance.
- A genAIRation program for travelers aged 18-25 bundles perks like a 15% flight discount, free baggage, and free Wi-Fi.
Aegean has repeatedly been recognized among Europe’s better short-haul airlines, and the consistent, service-oriented experience is the reason.
What’s the Catch With Aegean Airlines?
No airline is perfect, and a fair review names the trade-offs.
The “Light” Fare Has No Free Checked Bag
Aegean’s fare-family model means the cheapest Light (and Flex) fares include a carry-on but no free checked baggage, you add it for a fee or step up to a ComfortFlex fare, which includes a 23kg checked bag. It’s not hidden, but travelers used to flag carriers automatically including a bag can get caught out. Match your fare to whether you’re checking luggage.
It’s Hub-Centric
Aegean’s network leans heavily on connecting through Athens. That’s efficient, but it means some routes that look like they should be direct actually route via ATH, adding time. Check whether your itinerary is nonstop or connecting.
Not the Absolute Cheapest
Aegean is well-priced for a full-service carrier, but a determined budget traveler with no bags can sometimes find a lower headline fare on an ultra-low-cost airline for the same short hop. You’re paying a little more for the service, the network, and the miles.
Aegean Baggage and Fares at a Glance
- Carry-on: roughly 8kg in economy, up to 13kg in business, plus a personal item on most fares.
- Light / Flex fares: no free checked bag (add for a fee).
- ComfortFlex fare: includes 1 checked bag up to 23kg.
- Business fares: up to 2 checked bags at 32kg each.
- Star Alliance Gold / Miles+Bonus Gold: one additional free bag.
- Overweight: 23-32kg is charged as overweight; anything over 32kg must travel as cargo.
- Maximum total: 5 items per passenger (bags, pets, sports/special equipment, instruments combined).
- Tip: pre-purchasing extra baggage online is significantly cheaper than paying at the airport.
How to Fly Aegean Airlines: A Quick Guide
- Book direct at aegeanair.com or the Aegean app for the best fares and full fare-family choice.
- Pick the right fare. Carry-on only? Light or Flex. Checking a bag? ComfortFlex saves you the add-on fee.
- Join Miles+Bonus (it’s free) to earn miles and unlock free onboard Wi-Fi.
- Use online check-in, available from 48 hours up to 30 minutes before departure.
- Pre-pay any extra baggage online, since airport prices are notably higher.
- Consider the Athens hub when comparing itineraries, a connection there can open up far more options.
Is Aegean Airlines Worth It? My Verdict
Aegean is one of the easiest airlines to recommend in this part of the world. It does the unglamorous job of connecting Greece to Europe and stitching together the Greek islands, and it does it with a level of service, a fresh fleet, and a loyalty program that put it well above the budget carriers without the bloated fares of the old legacy giants. The Star Alliance membership is a real bonus for anyone already collecting miles.
The only thing to watch is the fare family: book Light expecting a free checked bag and you’ll pay for the mistake. Choose the right fare and Aegean is a genuinely pleasant, reliable way to fly. Four and a half stars.
Aegean Airlines FAQ
Yes. Aegean is Greece’s flag carrier and largest airline, a full-service Star Alliance member known for solid cabin service, a modern fleet, and a strong loyalty program. It has repeatedly been recognized among Europe’s better short-haul airlines.
Yes, Aegean has been a Star Alliance member since 2010. You can earn and redeem miles with Star Alliance partners, and Star Alliance Gold members receive perks like an additional free checked bag.
It depends on the fare. The cheapest Light and Flex fares include a carry-on but no free checked bag; the ComfortFlex fare includes one 23kg checked bag, and Business fares include up to two 32kg bags. Match your fare to your luggage.
Yes, free onboard Wi-Fi is available to Miles+Bonus members, and membership is free to join. Business Class includes a complimentary Wi-Fi bundle.
Aegean (with its sibling Olympic Air) is the main airline connecting Athens and Thessaloniki to the Greek islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Rhodes, making it the most convenient way to island-hop by air.
Economy passengers can bring a carry-on of roughly 8kg plus a personal item on most fares; Business Class allows up to about 13kg. Each passenger may carry a maximum of five items in total, including bags and special equipment.
In my experience, it depends. I’ve flown with them a few times and sometimes they checked and sometimes they didn’t.
Compare Your Options
Planning European travel? See my other airline reviews, including budget carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, and Eurowings, to weigh full-service against budget for your trip.
Last updated June 2026.
