Are Aegean Airlines Strict With Baggage? | What To Expect

Quick answer: how strict is Aegean Airlines with baggage rules?

Aegean enforces the limits it publishes for size, weight, and number of items. Agents weigh cabin bags at check‑in and spot‑check at the gate, and staff use sizers on busy departures. Economy travellers on the Light fare may be asked to gate‑check a roll‑aboard when bins fill. If a bag is overweight or over the stated dimensions, expect it to be checked and charged under the extra baggage policy.

Aegean baggage basics by fare

Allowances depend on the fare shown in your booking—Light, Flex, ComfortFlex, or Business—and on the aircraft type. On Airbus aircraft the cabin frame is 56 × 45 × 25 cm, while on turboprops it is 55 × 40 × 23 cm. Economy cabin weight is typically 8 kg per passenger; Business includes one cabin bag up to 13 kg plus a personal item. Checked baggage follows the piece concept: 23 kg per item for Economy where included, and two items up to 32 kg each in Business. See the airline’s current baggage allowance page for live details.

The table below summarises what you can expect by fare on Aegean‑operated flights. Always confirm the exact allowance shown for your ticket in the fare comparison module during purchase or in Manage Booking.

Notes: sizes refer to the outer limits including wheels and handles; cabin item count can vary by fare family and aircraft. Always follow what your booking shows.

Carry‑on sizes and weight

For the cabin, Aegean lists two size sets: 56 × 45 × 25 cm on Airbus, and 55 × 40 × 23 cm on turboprops. Economy fares advertise an 8 kg limit for the carry‑on, while Business allows a cabin bag up to 13 kg. Personal items must fit fully under the seat. If overhead space is tight on a Light fare, crew can require you to hand over the cabin bag at the gate at no charge; keep laptops, cameras, medication, and any power banks with you.

Personal item rules

Whether a personal item is included with Economy depends on the specific fare family. ComfortFlex includes both a carry‑on and a personal item; Business includes both and sets the higher cabin weight. Flex may include a personal item on some routes or aircraft; Light generally provides only one piece—either a small personal item or one carry‑on—so pack accordingly.

Checked baggage overview

Economy Light and Flex usually do not include a free checked bag. ComfortFlex adds one checked piece up to 23 kg. Business includes two checked pieces up to 32 kg each. The standard size for a checked bag is a total of 158 cm when you add length, width, and height. Over that, the item is treated as special baggage and is priced separately.

Is Aegean strict about carry‑on and checked bags?

Yes. Staff weigh and tag checked luggage at the desk, and cabin bags are checked when boarding areas are busy. On full flights from popular islands, gate teams often place the sizer near the queue and ask passengers to test their bags. Soft‑sided luggage that fits the frame tends to pass, but if a wheel or handle pushes past the edge, the bag goes to the hold. If your checked piece reads above 23 kg, the system prices an overweight fee up to the 32 kg cap.

What happens if you’re over the limit?

Bags between 23 and 32 kg are charged as overweight; anything above 32 kg is accepted only as cargo. Pieces larger than 158 cm in total dimensions are billed as special baggage. Prices are lower online than at the airport, and the highest figures appear at the gate. You can see exact amounts for your route in the airline’s baggage calculator before you travel.

The next table gives common situations and what usually follows. Treat this as a guide; your booking and the calculator show the final figure.

Smart ways to avoid fees with Aegean

Pack to the published sizes. Use a tape measure and shape soft bags so they slip into the sizer. Weigh at home using a digital scale; aim for 7.6–7.8 kg in Economy to leave room for a small scale variance. Move heavy chargers and power banks into your pockets or your under‑seat item until after boarding. Buy extra weight or a checked bag online before check‑in opens; prices jump at the desk and again at the gate. Choose ComfortFlex when you need a 23 kg checked bag and a personal item; it often costs less than buying baggage later. Flying Business? Spread weight: one cabin bag up to 13 kg, plus a laptop bag under the seat, and two checked bags up to 32 kg each.

Special items, strollers, and sports gear

Each passenger can carry a total of five items across bags, pets, and special equipment. Collapsible strollers for children can travel free, either checked for priority handover or handed to staff at boarding subject to aircraft capacity. Sports equipment and musical instruments over the standard size or weight count as special baggage and are billed per item. If you travel with a bike or scuba kit, check the airline’s rules, pay online, and arrive early for drop‑off.

Liquids, batteries, and security rules that apply

Liquids and gels in the cabin must follow the EU one‑litre bag rule unless your departure airport publishes different screening rules. Duty‑free liquids in a sealed, tamper‑evident bag are fine within the connection window shown on the receipt. Spare lithium batteries and power banks are not allowed in checked luggage; carry them in the cabin with terminals protected. E‑cigarettes stay in hand luggage and remain switched off.

Frequently missed details that trigger bag checks

Cabin weight applies to the whole bag, not just the contents—chargers, toiletries, and souvenirs add up. Backpack frames and removable hip belts can push cabin size past the limit. Duty‑free wine can exceed your personal item allowance if the Light fare only includes one piece. Expandable zips add depth and often fail the frame test; close the gusset before you head out. Shared tickets on partner airlines may follow the MSC rule; when all legs are on Aegean and Olympic Air, the Aegean policy applies.

How we verified this guide

We checked Aegean’s official pages for cabin sizes, checked bag dimensions, overweight thresholds, and fare‑family inclusions, starting with the main baggage allowance page. We also used the baggage calculator to confirm pricing logic. Because allowances can vary by aircraft and fare, review the fare comparison shown in your booking and then add prepaid baggage online to lock in the lower price.

Route and aircraft differences that matter

Most Aegean flights within Greece use Airbus jets with the larger cabin frame. Short island hops may be on turboprops, which use the slightly smaller cabin frame. If your bag only just fits the 56 × 45 × 25 frame, it may fail on a turboprop frame, so plan for the tighter 55 × 40 × 23 size if your trip mixes both types. On hot summer days, crews also gate‑check more cabin bags to speed boarding, which makes checks more frequent.

Boarding and weighing: what to expect at the airport

At check‑in, the desk agent weighs each checked piece and prints a tag. Cabin bags may be weighed on the same scale or at a nearby stand. When the gate opens, staff scan boarding passes and watch for bags that look heavy or oversized. They may ask you to use the sizer, to lift the bag unaided into the frame, or to step aside while they weigh it. If bins are full on a Light fare, they tag the bag for the hold free of charge; remove laptops, cameras, medication, and any spare batteries.

Sample packing checklist for Economy Light

One cabin bag within 55–56 cm × 40–45 cm × 23–25 cm and up to 8 kg. Small crossbody or slim laptop sleeve only if your Light fare permits a personal item on your route and aircraft. Chargers, power banks, and travel documents grouped in a flat pouch that fits under the seat if a personal item is included. No large liquids; keep toiletries in a one‑litre transparent bag. Pack a compressible tote inside in case the cabin bag is tagged for the hold at the gate.

When upgrading fare beats buying baggage

If you need a 23 kg bag each way, ComfortFlex often costs less than buying checked baggage later. With ComfortFlex you also gain a personal item and change flexibility, which helps during weather‑related disruption. Business makes sense when you carry samples, camera gear, or formal wear, since it includes two 32 kg pieces and a 13 kg cabin bag.

Infants, children, and family extras

Infants without a seat may bring a small cabin bag up to 6 kg, sized at 55 × 40 × 23 cm. If an infant uses its own seat, a car seat with a base up to 40 × 40 cm is required. Children aged two to eleven follow the adult allowance tied to the booked fare. Families can hand over a collapsible stroller at boarding or check it for handover at arrival, depending on capacity at the departure airport.

Status holders and extra pieces

Miles+Bonus Gold and Star Alliance Gold add one extra checked piece free on Aegean and Olympic Air flights, following the piece concept. That means an extra 23 kg in Economy or an extra 32 kg in Business on eligible itineraries. Some partners vary the benefit on select routes, so confirm at the desk if you connect to another carrier.

Codeshares, connections, and which rules apply

When your ticket combines Aegean with a partner airline, baggage allowances can follow the operating carrier or the MSC policy used for interline trips. Aegean provides guidance for these scenarios and cites U.S. DoT rules on some tickets that continue to North America. If your connection includes a stopover, bags may be re‑tagged under the next airline’s policy, so confirm at check‑in how pieces will be checked.

Delayed or damaged bags: what Aegean says to do

If your bag misses a connection, the airline sends a notification when you provided a mobile number during check‑in or you use the app. You can file a report online and receive updates while the bag is traced and forwarded. Fragile items and valuables belong in the cabin; if you check them, the desk may ask you to sign a limited release form.

Real‑world strictness: what flyers report

Travellers often report scale checks at Greek island airports and spot checks at the gate in Athens. Reports mention that crews weigh cabin bags more often on full flights around weekends and holidays. Experiences still vary by team, but the safest plan is to arrive packed to the published limits and to prepay any extra bag online using the airline’s add‑baggage page.