I’ve been very fortunate to travel through Athens Airport a few times recently, and the Aegean Lounge is without a doubt the best airport lounge at Athens Airport. My last trip, I flew with British Airways, which uses the Skyserv Business Lounge downstairs, which is nowhere as nice and was very crowded on my visit. The Aegean Lounge at Athens is an oasis of calm in an otherwise very, very busy airport.
With multiple sectioned areas, the Athens Aegean Lounge is suitable for every type of traveller, whether you are travelling for leisure or business, solo, in a couple or with a group.
This is Forward of the Wing’s review of the flagship non-Schengen Aegean Airlines Lounge at their homebase, Athens International Airport.
Location of the Aegean Lounge Athens
Easy to locate, all airport lounges at Athens International Airport are located within the one area airside. Follow the signs for “Business Lounges” and go up the escalators.
The contract lounges are located on level 2, and the Aegean Lounge is located on level 3.
The Athens Non-Schengen Aegean Lounge stretches from one side of the terminal to the other, so it is located on a dedicated floor within the terminal.
Opening Hours
The Non-Schengen Aegean Airlines Lounge at Athens Airport is open from 5am until 1am 7 days a week. This covers all Star Alliance flights from Athens, from the first non-Schengen Aegean Edinburgh flight at 6:30am through until the last Aegean flight to Cairo at 5 to 1 in the morning.
Seating Options
The Aegean Airlines Lounge at Athens Airport has a plethora of seating options available, whether you are travelling solo, in a couple or in a group. There are a mix of dining room tables, low couches with powerpoints, communal work tables with great lighting, armchairs, and a chaise lounge area next to the airside windows, perfect for planespotting. Truely something to suit every type of traveller whether you are just popping in for a bite to eat, get some work done or to relax for a couple hours between flights. A comprehensive selection of newspapers and magazines are also available, perfect for reading on one of those chaise loungers.
Speaking of, today I had a 4-hour layover between flights, so after some food, I set up camp in one of the chaise loungers to get some work done (and also planespot).
Panoramic Runway Views
What is super unique about the Aegean Airlines Lounge at Athens Airport is that the lounge stretches from landside to airside – the entire width of the terminal.
You can get fantastic apron views from one side of the lounge, but more importantly, the lounge gets all-day Greek sunshine.
Food Selection at the Aegean Lounge Athens
The Aegean Non-Schengen Lounge at Athens has a broad food selection catering to all tastes. Covering hot and cold, sweet and savoury, on my afternoon visit there were plenty of options available.
Here are the food options that were available on my lunchtime visit:
Soup
- Vegetable Soup
- Minestrone Soup with Braised Beef
- Selection of bread rolls
Meze
- Fava with Octopus, Capers and Caramalised Onion
- Beetroot Hummus
- Taramosalata
- Wrinkled Olives
- Kalamata Olives
- Savoury tart with salmon mousse, olives, tomato jam and poppy seeds
- Savoury tart with cream cheese, prosciutto, pineapple, spinach and lettuce
Hot Food
- Vegan chickpea and herb filo pie
- Graviera cheese pie
- Vegan artichokes and peas in lemon sauce
- Hünkar Beğendi eggplant mousse
- Hünkar Beğendi veal
- Pastitsio
- Country Potatoes
Chilled Deli
- Beetroot salad with green apple and walnuts
- Vegetable salad
- Cretan Ntakos Cake with rusks, tomatoes and feta
- Tortilla with vegetables and a grape-mustard dressing
- Round sesame bread with turkey, cream cheese and Florina Peppers
- Olive Sandwich with Feta, Cherry Tomatoes and a Pistachio Pesto Sauce
- Ground Beef with Bechamel Tremazzini (Sandwich)
- Charcuterie
- Greek Cheese Platter
- Sando with Turkey and Sun-dried Tomato Bechamel
Sweets and Desserts
- Bougatsa – pie with cream
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Brownies
- Butter Croissants
- Easter Bread
- Sweet cocoa nib and cream twist
- Butter cookies
- Apple and cinnamon biscuits
- Homemade cereal bars
- Oven Cooked Pudding
- Salted Caramel Sweetbread with Ganache
- Lemon Cream with Biscuit
- Trigona Panoromatos (similar to cannoli)
- Chocolate Truffles
- Saragli
As you can see, the Aegean Non-Schengen Lounge at Athens had a plethora of food options available for all tastes and for all dietary requirements including gluten free, vegan and vegetarian passengers. Indeed, a very, very wide selection. Do note though, I did notice a few errors with the vegan and vegetarian labelling, so best to check with staff if you are hyper-allergic. But all-in-all, a much more comprehensive range that most airport lounges (including the paid lounges downstairs), showcasing the very best of Greek cuisine.
Beer, Wine and Spirits Selection
The bar selection at the Aegean Non-Schengen Lounge is comprehensive, with something for everyone, including plenty of non-alcoholic options too. The beer, wine and spirits selection includes plenty of local Greek options (which is great to see), as well as classic international options too. Here are the options that were on offer during my visit:
Spirits
- Absolut Elyx Vodka
- Mataroa Mediterranean Gin
- Mastic
- Martini Bianco
- Smirnoff Vodka
- Barcadi Rum
- Cardhu 12 year
- Aperol
- Baileys
- Jose Cuervo Resposado
- Metaxa
- Roots Divino 0% Vermouth Bianco
- Pampero Aniversario Rum
- Roots Mastic
- Metaxa Private Reserve Greek Brandy
- Amorgion Rakomelo
- Ouzo of Plomari Isidoros Arvantis 1894
- G’Vine Floraison Gin
Wine
- 2023/2024 Moinoterra Archanes, Crete
- 2021 Oinari, Peloponnese, Greece
- 2024 Assyrtiko Malagouzia, Pelaponnese, Greece
- 2024 Domaine Papagiannakos Savatiano Old Vines, Attica, Greece
There were also a selection of three local Greek beers available.
A fantastic broad selection showcasing the best from local producers. A particular shoutout to Mataroa Gin, a Greek gin from Northern Greece (made in a town called Aridaia) with botanicals of French lavender, Cypriot chamomile, Moroccan mandarin, Greek mastic, Italian iris root, Spanish orange rind, Egyptian lemon peel, Syrian bay leaf and Tunisian coriander, which I thought was particularly delicious. Undoubtedly, a true taste of the Med in a glass.
No sparkling wine was available however, but I didn’t think it was missed with such a comprehensive, high quality selection highlighting the best of Greece. Much better than your usual lounge offering.
Non-alcoholic options
There were also a large range of non-alcoholic options available:
- Coke
- Coke Zero
- Diet Coke
- Coke Zero Caffeine
- Tuvunu
- Lemon Iced Tea
- Sprite
- Sparkling Water
- Schweppes Tonic Water
- Mint and Spearmint Sparkling Water
- Lemon and Lime Sparkling Water
- Three Cents Pineapple Soda
- Three Cents Ginger Beer
- Three Cents Aegean Tonic
- Orange Apricot Apple Juice
- Pomegranate juice
- Orange Mango Juice
- Orange Grape Smoothie
- Pomegranate, Strawberry, Banana, Pear and Honey Smoothie
- Kiwi and Mint Smoothie
A comprehensive self-serve bar selection indeed with something for everyone. I have to mention that the Three Cents Pineapple Soda, Ginger Beer and Aegean Tonic are absolutely delicious, and well worth trying if you are passing through the Aegean Lounge at Athens.
Separated from the main buffet, there is also a tea and coffee area with a selection of more sweet treats available.
Bathrooms
There are modern bathrooms located within the Athens Non-Schengen Aegean Lounge, so no need to leave the lounge to go bathroom. The bathrooms were clean and modern, in signature Aegean blue, and feature Korres Citrus Fresh hand wash and body lotion.
Unfortunately this lounge doesn’t have any showers which is a shame as Athens is Aegean’s home hub, and a key stopover point for their long-haul (and shorter-haul flights).
How to Access the Aegean Lounge at Athens Airport
Aegean has a fairly standard lounge access policy for their flagship Non-Schengen lounge at Athens, in line with other Star Alliance carriers. Passengers meeting the following criteria can access the Aegean Non-Schengen Lounge at Athens:
- Star Alliance Business Class and First Class Passengers
- Aegean Airlines Business Class Passengers
- Aegean Miles+Bonus Gold passengers (+1 guest)
- Star Alliance Gold passengers (+ 1 guest)
Only Star Alliance Gold and Aegean Miles+Bonus Gold passengers can bring guests into the Aegean Non-Schengen Lounge at Athens. Unfortunately, day passes are not available for passengers who don’t fit the criteria above.
Conclusion
The flagship Aegean Non-Schengen Lounge at Athens is a gorgeous airport lounge, well worth a visit if you have access.
With a fantastic food and beverage offering, stunning panoramic runway views, plenty of seating and a beautifully designed interior, this is a beautiful space worthy of being a flagship airport lounge for Greece’s national airline.