Aegean Airlines is Greece's largest airline operating passenger flights from Greek metropolitan areas both domestically and internationally. The head office of the air carrier is located in Athens. The company has several bases for charter and regular flights to Greek resorts.
Beginning history
Aegean Aviation was founded over thirty years ago, in 1987. Initially, she was engaged in the organization of premium air transportation, performing flights in the role of a special ambulance in the air. Five years later, Aegean Airlines became the first private carrier in Greece. Two years later, the company merged with the Vassilakis group and began to operate flights on a permanent basis from the capital of the country around the world.
In the winter of 1999, the air carrier acquires Air Greece. Aegean Airlines merged with Cronus Airlines two years later.
At the end of 2005, the Greek carrier signs the code-sharing agreement with Lufthansa. Four years later, the company signs codeshare agreements with Brussels Airlines, bmi and TAP Portugal.
In the summer of 2010, Aegean Airlines joins the Star Alliance. In autumn 2012, a Greek company bought Olympic Air for seventy-two million euros.
Flight geography
Greek airline Aegean Airlines makes charter and regular flights to the resorts of Greece. The main airports are ports in the following cities: Athens and Thessaloniki. Most of the flights are made from other cities. For example, Heraklion, Rhodes or Alexandroupolis.
In the international direction, Greek airlines Aegean Airlines fly to Europe, Armenia, Great Britain, UAE, Georgia, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Finland, Ukraine and Cyprus.
Activities in Russia
The Greek air carrier also operates in our country, performing:
- flights from Greek cities on a regular basis to the capital of our country;
- charter flights from Athens to St. Petersburg, Kazan and Rostov-on-Don;
- charter flights from Heraklion to Chisinau.
Airplanes
Aegean Airlines is said to own and operate first-class aircraft. Its fleet includes Airbuses A319-100, A320-200 and A321-200. The average age of the company's aircraft is just over eight years.
Traveling with children
According to company rules,An infant is considered to be a child under one year of age. When traveling with babies, the following rules apply:
- You cannot fly with infants under seven days of age.
- Each infant must have an escort over the age of fifteen.
Fare application rules:
- Special infant fare applies if traveling in the arms of an adult.
- It is necessary to contact the carrier's help desk to provide a child seat if the baby will be in a separate seat. Infant seats must be used in an unoccupied aircraft seat. Child seats cannot be placed in the aisle of the aircraft, near the emergency exit. The child seat must be secured prior to flight and must remain in place until aircraft lands.
- A separate seat is reserved for a child over two years old.
Traveling with animals
If you plan to carry pets on Aegean Airlines aircraft, you need to contact the company's reservations department and let them know about your desire. Transportation of pets on board the aircraft is only allowed in special carriers, subject to the following conditions:
- Only one pet is allowed in the cabin.
- Special carrier must be provided by the pet owner.
- The weight of the pet container must not exceed eight kilograms.
- The container must be carried as hand luggage.
- The animal must be vaccinated against rabies within the required time frame. Vaccination is done everyyear.
- Service Animals are transported free of charge.
Pros of flying from Russia to Greece
A trip to Greece always starts with a person's desire to touch something ancient, huge, incredible. Greece will change the worldview of any tourist, making him an avid traveler. Each new trip to this country is different from the previous one.
Millions of citizens of our country rest on the sunny beaches of cheerful Greece. Greece has preserved the originality of its ancient culture and wonderfully connected it with the modern world.
Trips to Greece will provide not only a carefree, but also a very tasty tourist vacation. In cozy restaurants, the tourist will feel the aroma and taste of local dishes. The world-famous Greek salad with huge shrimp, fried skewers with skewers, delicious meat dishes, fresh vegetables and fruits, sparkling wine will not leave indifferent any guest of the country who came here to relax, sunbathe, eat, drink and have fun.
Many citizens of our country, going on a trip to Greece, choose, guided by the reviews, the Greek airlines Aegean Airlines. We list the main positive points when choosing this carrier:
- Cheap tickets compared to other companies flying to Greece.
- Possibility of online check-in for a flight with a choice of a convenient seat.
- Boarding on the flight takes place, as a rule, without delays and overlays.
- You can bring hand luggage into the cabin, which is notespecially carefully inspected.
- The Airbus 320-200 is small, clean and comfortable. Armchairs with leather seats. There is plenty of leg room. According to passenger reviews of Aegean Airlines, there is a place to place luggage under the seat of the next chair.
- Pilots are true professionals, taking off and landing smoothly even in difficult weather conditions (hurricane, heavy rain, snowfall).
- Flight attendants are friendly, smiling and attentive young women, Greek women. All are dressed in uniform. They speak English and some Russian. Before the start of the flight, flight attendants offer passengers Duchess-type caramels and distribute children's seat belts. Children are given an Aegean Airlines logo ball and a coloring book with crayons.
- After the start of the flight, flight attendants offer drinks: juices, carbonated drinks, water, wine or beer. In the middle of the flight, passengers are fed lunch: a hot dish, a snack. Meals on the plane depend on the time of departure. Overall, it's good, but far from overpowering. After the main meal, hot drinks are offered: tea or coffee (normal coffee from a coffee pot). Water or juices are brought at any request of the passenger.
- Many quality and exclusive items are sold on board the aircraft.
- By the way, at check-in, you can choose food from a special menu (vegetarian, low-calorie, kosher, children's meals, lactose-free meals, etc.) if you want, and it's absolutely free. Customers can place an order with the selected menu on the sitecompanies. The corresponding application must be made at least one day before the start of the flight, either when booking a ticket, or after booking a ticket through the information service. Please note that the unique in-flight menu is only available on international flights operated by Aegean.
- Most of Aegean's international flights offer hearty baby food in glass jars. Delicious food will not only satisfy the child, but he will certainly like it, as it is packaged in branded bags and served with colorful pictures and children's airplane-shaped eating utensils.
- If necessary, passengers are provided with disposable blankets and pillows.
- The cabin is air-conditioned to create a favorable climate.
- After arrival, luggage is issued without delay.
- Separate Aegean for families check-in desk for families with small children at the airport in the capital of Greece, Athens.
- There is a bonus system for regular customers of Aegean and codeshare companies. Loy alty of frequent flyers is rewarded with unique travel privileges. Each new membership level provides increasing benefits. Relatively good bonus program, however, before the Silver and Gold levels were given for life, and now they are valid for only a year.
Cons of flying from Russia to Greece
According to reviews of Aegean Airlines, there are still several negativemoments on flights with this carrier:
- There is no safety briefing in Russian on an international flight from Russia. Russian-speaking staff is extremely rare. According to safety regulations, these are not allowed.
- Poor communication to customers in the event of flight cancellations (eg by writing an email). Although, as a rule, in case of cancellation of flights due to the fault of the air carrier, passengers are provided with free accommodation, meals and transfer to the next possible flight.
- High pen alties when returning tickets. It is worth noting that there are non-refundable tickets.
- Hand luggage that passengers carry on the plane is not particularly inspected, so sometimes very large suitcases end up inside aircraft cabins. This disturbs other passengers.
- It is difficult to contact the company via e-mail when there is a problem.
Flight between cities in Greece
According to reviews (2017), Aegean Airlines operates domestic flights between Greek cities. We list the main positive aspects of these flights:
- Flights between Greek cities are affordable for a budget airline.
- Domestic flights are small planes, but clean and comfortable. The interiors are in excellent condition, with all upholstery and interior trim in perfect condition.
- Highly professional pilots also work on domestic flights. Planes take off easily and comfortablymake a soft landing.
- Benevolent, attentive young Greek women work as flight attendants. They speak English and Greek.
- After the start of the flight, the flight attendants offer drinks, crackers and nuts.
- Quick check-in counters for couples with small children exist at Athens, Thessaloniki and Larnaca airports.
- For little passengers on the boards of an international airline, gifts in the form of educational games are provided.
- Baggage is issued to passengers promptly.
Features of business class cabins
According to reviews of Aegean Airlines, business class can hardly be called a premium class. Let's dwell on the cons:
- No privileges for premium class when boarding and loading luggage (common queue, shared bus).
- Seats in the business class are ordinary, as in the economy cabin. The step between the chairs is also normal. A person cannot afford to stretch his legs, lie down. This is unacceptable when selling air tickets at an inflated price (a business class ticket is on average five hundred euros more expensive than an economy class ticket).
- Depending on the number of tickets sold in the business class, an ordinary curtain is placed between the business class and the economy cabin (how many tickets were sold in the premium cabin, so many rows were fenced off).
- Meals in business class are not much different from the budget option.
- No entertainment (Wi-Fi, multimedia system).
- High pen alties when returning tickets.
Results
In general, Aegean Airlines, according to reviews, leaves passengers with a pleasant flight experience. The flight schedule is respected. The planes are new and clean, the crews are experienced.
