Aegean Miles+Bonus Schengen Lounge Bonus Points Continue (May 2025)

Aegean changed its Schengen lounge access policy two years ago in May 2023 (read more here), and I experienced the mayhem by myself in July (read more here) and December (read more here) in that year and again in May last year (read more here).

It is unclear if this arrangement of giving bonus points due to lounge crowding is temporary or permanent, as it has been going on for more than 24 months.

You can read Aegean’s May 2023 announcement here.

Aegean’s Schengen lounge is often bustling, so the airline has decided to demote Star Alliance Gold members traveling with a companion (non-Gold) to a third-party Goldair Handling lounge next door, which is also part of the Priority Pass (or you can always go to the Lufthansa lounge next door if traveling on Star Alliance flights).

What is somewhat weird about this situation is that Aegean offers Gold and Silver members automatic bonus miles if they travel with the airline through Athens, whether they try to access the Aegean lounge or the Lufthansa one.

The Gold member bonus for domestic Greece flights is 200 miles and international ones 500.

I flew from Dubai to Milan with Aegean this past week with a stopover in Athens, and received the 500 bonus miles.

Star Alliance Gold members, including Aegean’s who fly on Aegean flights ex-Athens, can access the Lufthansa lounge instead if they don’t prefer using the Goldair Handling one.

Note that Aegean’s Olympic Air subsidiary operates many domestic and short-haul international flights. Olympic Air is NOT a Star Alliance airline, so Star Alliance Gold members on Olympic Air flights in economy won’t get any benefits, such as lounge access.

Miles+Bonus Gold members, however, are eligible for Aegean-specific benefits, such as extra luggage allowance or lounge access on these Olympic Air flights.

Lufthansa lounge access is NOT available for Olympic Air-operated flights, whether Star Alliance or Aegean Gold.

Aegean’s May 2023 Announcement:

Conclusion

I used to prefer the Lufthansa lounge over the Aegean one in Athens, but they are equal nowadays, and I visited both again this past Friday when flying out of Athens.

Remember that Lufthansa is not an option if Olympic Air operates your flight, as they are not associated with Star Alliance, and Star Alliance benefits don’t apply.

Lufthansa lounge is not usually as busy as the Aegean’s, but I am glad to take Aegean bonus miles every time I transit or leave Athens.

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