Review: AEGEAN Airlines Business Lounge, Athens, Greece

Located in the airport’s Non-Schengen area, this is the flagship lounge of AEGEAN’s growing ambitions — not just a resting spot, but a statement. Once you’ve meandered your way through the shops, following the business lounge signs, it opens at 5:00 am and runs until 1:00 am.

It’s a lounge that cuts through the chaos — not with excess or opulence, but with composure. Read on for our full experience.

First impressions

The lounge is reached by following the signs to the third floor of the Non-Schengen Area (Area A) in the main terminal building. Even though we arrived at the opening time of 5:00 am, we weren’t the first to enter as a handful of people were already there.

Gaining access as AEGEAN business class travellers, though, is swift and efficient, and we are greeted by hushed lighting and well-zoned areas that unfold one after the other — it’s not open-plan chaos, but a flow of experiences, from coffee corners to meeting rooms to serene seating clusters.

Designed across more than 1,200 square metres, this beautiful lounge draws from Greece’s natural materials and architectural heritage — polished terrazzo, warm wood, marble, glass — but interpreted through a distinctly modern lens. Think Cycladic curves meet tech startup cool.

And at 5:00 am, only a dozen or so people shared the space, making it feel less like an airport lounge and more like a beautifully appointed private club we’d accidentally stumbled into.

Comfort and seating

The seating is quietly masterful in its versatility. If you trace the lounge from left to right, you begin with a series of reclining loungers, perfect for power naps or post-red-eye horizontal thinking.

Next comes a long communal table with stools and a drinks station, perfect for small gatherings or sociable solo travellers.

Glass walls conceal meeting-room styled spaces, perfect for an hour’s writing or a Zoom call. One room is dedicated to the Onassis Foundation, the entrance intriguingly etched with the words“The Art of Waiting.”

Beyond this enclave, the seating opens up. Round tables are flanked by upright chairs, and beyond them: crescent-shaped sofas (each comfortably seating four), plush leather armchairs that invite you to sink deep, and work-appropriate upright seats by a windowsill overlooking the tarmac.

(At sunrise, the blinds are gradually lifted, with the potential for plane-watching clearly built into the architecture.)

The overall capacity is generous — with seating for over 200 — but even at peak, the layout would prevent the space from ever feeling crowded. Large potted plants break up the sightlines, and the air feels still, not sterile.

Food and drink

AEGEAN puts the emphasis is on refreshments that cater for a variety of tastes and times of day, including some excellent Greek cuisine that you wouldn’t expect from a lounge. A small island – its shape possibly mirroring the curves found in AEGEAN’s logo – is adorned with pastries and cakes, with tea and coffee facilities beyond.

Meanwhile, the central food island anchors the breakfast offering. On it: Greek yoghurts, chopped fruits, cereals, and cakes arranged with a kind of casual elegance.

Beyond that, it’s the savoury selection that truly shines. Bougatsa cream pie, a vegan chickpea and herb pastry, graviera cheese pie, omelette rolls, bacon, and a cherry tomato–feta omelette sit alongside heartier offerings like chicken soup and vegetable soup. Nearby, platters of meats, cheeses, sandwiches, and mini burgers await the grazers. A wide choice of breads, marmalade and honey round off the spread.

Drinks stations are well distributed: water, juices, teas and coffee machines are found in distinct areas, minimising queues.

And tucked at the far end, an understated yet elegant alcohol display offers a rotating selection of wines (including Greek labels) and spirits — Metaxa among them — sure to satisfy travellers of all time zones.

Additional facilities

Beyond food and furniture, AEGEAN has thought carefully about function. Charging points are plentiful — built into tables and seating areas alike — and the WiFi fast. A dedicated news stand offers not only AEGEAN’s Blue in-flight magazine but also Athens Voice, Costa Navarino Stores, and a curated selection of Greek newspapers.

The restrooms are discreetly located and spotless during our visit, complete with Korres toiletries, an Athenian brand deeply rooted in its Greek heritage.

Departure boards are well-placed throughout so you can keep abreast of your flight’s developments, along with some inspiration for a variety of destinations frequented by the airline.

The final verdict

AEGEAN’s flagship Business Class lounge at Athens is not about opulence or Instagram moments. It doesn’t scream for your attention. Instead, it quietly earns your respect — through detail, through design, and through a calm confidence in what it offers.

It’s unmistakably Greek, but globally competent. Modern, but timeless. Spacious, but not soulless. If you crave a genuinely well-executed space to recharge, refocus, or just be before a flight, this is most certainly a lounge that delivers.

Disclosure: Our trip was sponsored by AEGEAN Airlines.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.