Review of Aegean Airlines flight from Geneva to Athens in Business

I travelled 12 to 18 times a year in most years between 2005 and 2019. Then came covid and I went only on three trips in 2020 and no international trips in until August 2021 but I was finally fully vaccinated so I could travel. First I flew from Iceland to Milan with Wizzair (no flight report), took the train to Geneva (no train report), flew from Geneva to Athens with Aegean (here), then flew from Athens to Paris also with Aegean (here) and flew home to Iceland with the new Icelandic low-cost airline Play (flight report to be published soon).

The best thing about Geneva Airport is that it is very close to the city: it only takes 7 minutes by train. The train was very comfortable.

Terminal 1 is just a few minute walk from the railway station.

Comfort ended here. The airport was extremely crowded. I saw more people here in a few minutes than the whole day in the city. Geneva is one the wealthiest cities in Europe but its airport is one of the worst. What a shame.

I checked in on-line and I only had hand luggage. There was only one check-in desk for business class passengers for 11 different airlines including Aegean. I was lucky I didn't have to wait in line.

Priority security was available and I cleared it in a few minutes.

The central area of the terminal with the board showing all departures.

The only available lounge was the Swissport lounge used by many different airlines.

The lounge was crowded but I was lucky to get the last available seat. A few minutes later I heard that the lounge staff - who did their best in difficult working conditions - had to send away Priority Pass passengers and ask all others to wait outside as the lounge was full.

There was a serviced bar with a coffee machine and a minimum choice of drinks and snacks.

The capuccino was really bad.

The choice of newspapers and magazines. Which one would you choose?

It's hard to imagine a worse lounge experience. Swissport might explain this with covid-related rules but come on, all restaurants work normally in Geneva, why does the lounge have to be like this?

The view of our plane from the boarding area.

Priority boarding was available. The PLF (Passenger Locator Form) for Greece was checked.

The cabin crew welcomed boarding passengers with a smile.

Aegean's business class product is very similar to the one offered by most other airlines for intra-European flights: regular economy seats with the middle seat blocked.

Legroom at seat 1F was reasonably good.

There was a total of five rows in business class on this flight. The load was 18/20. Economy class also seemed to be quite full.

Boarding was completed at 17.00 for a scheduled departure of 17.05. Push-back was at 17.20. An expected flight time of 2 hours and 15 minutes was announced.

Some views during taxi:

Take-off was at 17.35 from runway 22. Some views after take-off:

Menu cards were distributed a short time later. I pre-ordered chicken when I booked on-line.

The meal was served on a tray.

Quinoa Salad with Smoked Salmon, Cherry Tomato, Pomegranate and Rocket Leaves with Vinaigrette.

Chicken Thigh with Cheese and Mustard Sauce, Penne Pasta and Cherry Tomato Confit.

Blatsiotiko Matured Cheese and Kefalotiri Cheese from the Island of Naxos and Cream Tart with Tahini and Chocolate.

Semeli Oreinos Helios white wine.

Gastronomics by Stelios Parliaros chocolate was offered after the meal.

The meal was excellent both in terms of quality and quantity for this type of fight. Service by the cabin crew was just perfect: friendly, quick and efficient.

I had a tomato juice before landing.

  It was getting dark by the time we were approaching Athens.

We landed at 20.40 for a scheduled arrival time of 20.45. Arrival to Athens was quick: the vaccination certificate and the PLF were checked but I was in a taxi less than 15 minutes after our plane landed.