Aegean Airlines compensation: what you can claim when a Greek trip goes wrong
Aegean Airlines is Greece's largest airline, flying holidaymakers from London and across Europe to Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands, from Santorini to Crete. We have already handled claims for more than 150 Aegean passengers, from short island hops into Athens to European routes such as Lisbon–Athens and Madrid–Athens. A 3-hour delay, a last-minute cancellation or a refused seat can be worth €250 or €400 for each passenger, plus a ticket refund where it applies.
Aegean is a Greek and therefore EU carrier. Regulation (EC) 261/2004 applies to its domestic flights within Greece, to flights between Greece and the rest of Europe, and to flights returning to the EU from outside it, such as Cairo–Athens. Aegean flights leaving the UK are also covered by UK261.
Arrived late
You reached the last destination on your ticket 3 hours or more behind schedule.
Threshold: 3 hoursFlight axed
Aegean warned you less than two weeks ahead and the new timing did not suit the rules.
Under two weeksSeat refused
You checked in and turned up at the gate on time, but the aircraft had been sold beyond capacity.
Paid immediatelyExcluded cases
Genuinely unforeseeable events, such as strong winds closing a Cycladic airport or an air traffic control strike.
Extraordinary circumstancesEnter your airports and travel day and you will know in two minutes whether you can claim. Check your Aegean flight.
How much Aegean Airlines pays by route
The amount is fixed by the kilometres between your departure airport and final destination, not by the fare. A cheap domestic hop and a full-price European ticket are treated alike.
| Kilometres | Aegean flights from our claims | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Within 1,500 km | Santorini–Athens, Athens–Chania, Athens–Cairo | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | Lisbon–Athens, Athens–Lisbon, Madrid–Athens, London–Athens | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | Rare on Aegean's network, which mostly stays within this limit | €600 |
Every person on the booking has a separate claim. A family of four returning Santorini–Athens–London on one ticket and landing in London 4 hours late could claim €1,600 between them. A child occupying a seat counts the same as an adult.
Delayed Aegean flight: the right steps
Just over half the Aegean claims we deal with concern delays, often in summer when aircraft shuttle many times a day between Athens and the islands. Delay is measured when the door opens at your destination. Do this straight away:
- Photograph your boarding pass or keep it in the Aegean app.
- Write down what gate staff say and save Aegean's texts stating the cause.
- Note the exact time the doors open on arrival.
- Ask the Aegean desk for meal vouchers; if none are given, keep your receipts.
- Decline Miles+Bonus miles as a settlement until you know your cash entitlement.
Airport care with Aegean
Whether in Athens or Mykonos, Aegean must feed and water you during the wait, and provide a hotel and shuttle if the flight slips overnight. This applies even in bad weather.
| Route | Starts after |
|---|---|
| Domestic and short flights, up to 1,500 km | 2 hours |
| European flights, 1,500–3,500 km | 3 hours |
| Over 3,500 km | 4 hours |
| Wait longer than 5 hours | You can give up on the trip and get the fare back |
Missed connection in Athens
Many flights from the UK to the islands route through Athens. If London–Athens leaves late and you miss the onward flight to Chania, on a single booking it is your arrival time in Crete that counts. With two tickets bought separately, each flight is judged alone. More on our page about the delayed Aegean flight.
Cancelled Aegean flight: money back and compensation
More than one Aegean claim in four comes from a cancellation. Getting your fare back does not rule out compensation.
You can always choose between the price you paid and a replacement flight.
Owed as well if the notice reached you less than 14 days before departure.
| Cancellation notice | Compensation due? |
|---|---|
| Two weeks or more before | No: refund or another flight remain |
| 7 to 13 days before | Yes, if the alternative left more than 2 hours early or arrived 4 hours or more late |
| Under a week before | Yes, if the alternative left more than 1 hour early or arrived 2 hours or more late |
Moved flight. If Aegean shifted your departure by many hours just before your holiday, the EU Court of Justice may treat it as a cancellation. Read about refunds for a cancelled Aegean flight or run the check.
Aegean overbooking: one claim in five
In our data, denied boarding accounts for about 1 in 5 Aegean claims, mostly on summer island flights. If you were left behind against your will, Aegean must pay at once and offer you another flight or a refund. If you gave up your seat voluntarily in exchange for an offer, the terms you agreed apply. See our guide on Aegean overbooking and denied boarding.
Greek strikes and Aegean flights
General strikes in Greece often reach air transport too. When air traffic controllers stop work, the airline owes no compensation but must still look after you. When Aegean's own staff strike, the EU Court of Justice holds that compensation is normally due (case C-28/20). Establishing who was on strike is the first thing we check.
Aegean won't pay? The usual answers
When Aegean rejects a claim, it usually relies on one of these reasons.
The meltemi can genuinely close runways such as Mykonos or Santorini. But it must have hit your flight: we compare weather data for that hour with the schedule.
A fault discovered during ordinary operations remains the airline's risk.
EU Court of Justice, case C-549/07Aegean or Olympic Air staff: normally payable. Greek or foreign air traffic controllers: not payable.
EU Court of Justice, case C-28/20In summer one aircraft flies many legs a day and lateness adds up. A tight rotation is the airline's choice, not an extraordinary event.
Olympic Air flights and the Athens, Thessaloniki and Larnaca hubs
Olympic Air has been part of the Aegean group since 2013, and many flights to smaller islands are operated by Olympic Air under the OA code, even when bought on aegeanair.com. Your rights are the same and the claim goes to the airline that operated the flight, which we take care of. Besides Athens and Thessaloniki, Aegean has a major base at Larnaca in Cyprus, also inside the EU.
Claiming from Aegean: DIY or with us
Aegean takes compensation requests through the customer support section of aegeanair.com; you need your booking reference, flight number and passenger details.
Free, but you answer Aegean's objections yourself. After that you can go to the national enforcement body of the country where the flight departed (the CAA for UK departures) or to court, on your own time.
A few details and a digital signature. We manage the claim, formal demand and court case with our own lawyers. You pay only when you are paid: 25% + VAT, so you keep €173.75 of €250.
Aegean has already said no
Send us the reply: if the extraordinary circumstance is not proven, we restart with a formal letter.
Documents to have ready
- Aegean bookingConfirmation email or boarding pass.
- PassportFor each traveller, children included.
- Messages and expensesAirline notices and receipts from the wait.
Deadlines for an Aegean claim
The Regulation sets no time limit; the law of the country where you bring the claim does (EU Court of Justice, case C-139/11). A Greek holiday from a few summers ago may still be in time: enter your flight date.
How long Aegean takes to pay
When Aegean accepts the claim, it usually pays within a few weeks. If a formal demand or court case is needed, it can take a few months. We stay with you until your share is transferred.
Lost or damaged Aegean luggage
Missing or damaged suitcases fall under the Montreal Convention. Before leaving the airport, in Athens or on the island, file a PIR at the baggage desk. Then send Aegean a written claim within 7 days for damage and within 21 days of delivery for a delay.
Aegean Airlines contacts and flight status
- Head office
- Aegean Airlines S.A., Athens, Greece
- Hubs
- Athens, Thessaloniki, Larnaca
- Claims
- Customer support section of aegeanair.com
- Loyalty scheme
- Miles+Bonus
- Flight status
- Aegean app or aegeanair.com