Aegean Short Haul Flight: Business VS Economy (From Brussels to Cairo via Athens)

 Discover the ultimate comparison between Aegean Airlines' business and economy class on a short-haul flight from Brussels to Cairo, featuring in-flight meals, service highlights and insider travel tips to elevate your journey!

Flying short-haul in Europe can be a mixed bag, especially with the ongoing decline in onboard services. When planning my trip to Cairo for a wedding at the Seasons Country Club, I had two choices: a direct flight with EgyptAir at €400 each way or a more affordable €400 round trip with Aegean Airlines, connecting through Athens.

The deciding factor? Aegean Airlines’ reputation for excellent service and onboard meals, as recommended by a Greek colleague. Curious to experience their business and economy classes, I booked the light economy fare and decided to bid for an upgrade on one leg of the journey. Here's how both experiences are compared.

Economy Class: Brussels to Athens to Cairo

Pre-Flight and Boarding

Booking a light economy fare meant travelling light—carry-on luggage only. Since we were only staying three days for the wedding, this worked well for us.

Check-in was smooth, but as we didn’t pre-select seats, we ended up in the middle rows. Boarding followed Aegean’s policy of grouping passengers, with those who didn’t pre-select seat boarding last. To avoid checking our luggage (which contained fragile gifts), we joined the queue slightly ahead of our group—thankfully, this strategy worked!

In-Flight Experience

The Airbus A320neo was modern, complete with USB plug sockets at every seat—a rare convenience on European short-haul flights (Figure 1). 

Figure 1: USB plug sockets on A320neo aircraft.

Shortly after takeoff, we were served the economy meal: I opted for the pasta, which was surprisingly flavorful, accompanied by a small salad and drinks. I went for a bottle of Kokotoe wine, packed in glass—a nice touch. Dessert was a simple but satisfying chocolate wafer bar (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Food served at Aegean Airlines economy class.

Though the food exceeded expectations, service was a bit slow; my partner had to wait 45 minutes for a glass of water, expected on a full plane with a complimentary meal. Overall, the experience was pleasant, and I appreciated the thoughtful details like the wrapped jelly candies offered during boarding and the dessert chocolate wafer bar (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Serenata dessert in Aegean economy class.

Layover at Athens Airport

 Athens Airport is vibrant and well-organized, making the quick transition relatively stress-free. However, having to pass through border control to outside the European Union took some time (20 minutes).

Business Class: Athens to Cairo

Pre-Flight and Boarding

For this leg, I bid €45 for a business class upgrade and was thrilled when it was accepted. Boarding was delayed due to connecting passengers (ourselves included), but the attentive crew made up for it with impeccable service.

In-Flight Experience

Business class began with a welcome drink—sparkling wine served in real glassware before take-off, a rare treat on European flights (Figure 4). Once airborne, menus were distributed alongside arrival cards for Egyptian visas. Aegean’s personal touch shone through here, though the single pen available for all business passengers to share was a minor hiccup.

Figure 4: Welcome sparkling wine in business (left) and business dinner food menu (right).

For the main course, I chose the chicken burger with spicy pilaf and yoghurt sauce, while my partner selected the sea bass with lemon sauce (Figure 4). Both dishes were well-executed, with the sea bass being a standout—even for my Portuguese standards. The meal was complemented by Greek wines and a delightful Coppa Cocktail Passion Fruit Martini. Dessert was equally indulgent, rounding off a luxurious dining experience.

Figure 5: Business dinner at Aegean short-haul flight.

Despite the delay, the flight felt seamless, and the attentive crew ensured a smooth arrival in Cairo.

Visa on Arrival in Cairo

Getting a visa on arrival was straightforward. At the Bank of Egypt kiosk, I exchanged $25 (or the euro equivalent) for a visa stamp. The process was quick, and the staff even returned some Egyptian pounds as change when paying in euros. With the visa sorted, we breezed through border control and hopped into an Uber to our hotel.

Key Tips for Flying with Aegean Airlines

1. Bid for Upgrades: Keep an eye on upgrade offers—they can be as low as €45.
2. Check-in Early: Free seat selection is limited; in economy class, late check-in often means middle seats.
3. Bring a USB Charger: Aegean’s newer aircraft (like the Airbus A320neo) have USB plug sockets, but you’ll need a standard USB cable, not USB-C, for charging.
4. More key tips on the way with my review of the return flight!

Flying with Aegean Airlines was a truly delightful experience in both economy and business class. The business class, in particular, stood out with its gourmet-level service and food quality—surpassing the standard of many European carriers. For just €45, the upgrade, along with the added perks of business class, was an incredible value. The thoughtful details, from excellent meals to attentive service, made the journey memorable. Stay tuned for my review of the return leg, where I’ll dive deeper into Aegean’s exceptional offerings.

Disclosure: We paid for our flights and received no compensation for this review. This post is based on our personal experience and is not officially reviewed by the airline. Therefore, some details may be subject to inaccuracies.