Review: Goldair Lounge Athens Airport (ATH)

I know you're not much of a beer drinker but could you make your pics so that it's possible to see what's offered?

@ Thomas -- I absolutely would have, but as noted in the post, the guy working in the lounge was yelling at me for taking pictures around the time I was photographing the drink selection, hence the lack of close-ups. My apologies.

You should visit the new Aegean extra Schengen lounge next time you fly out of ATH!!! It is spectacular!

Hi Ben - coincidentally we were flying TK from ATH to JFK via IST today. The check in agent gave us passes for the Golden Air lounge but I told my kids we were going to the Aegean lounge since I'm Star Alliance Gold and we were flying TK business class. The new (3 month old) Aegean lounge is gorgeous with far more fresh food offerings, 12,500 SF of space, and terrific staff. Not sure why TK was trying to stuff us into the Golden Air lounge, but I knew better. My son was curious about the Golden Air Lounge so I just got to show him your review while we are in IST at their 56,000 SF monster lounge. What a great coincidence!

Agreed - skipped breakfast at hotel this morning and just went straight there!

I know youve flown through athens a few times the last few years... have you used either the Aegean or Lufthansa lounges? I'll be in ATH next month and not sure if either is better than this one...

+1 to Basil, the new Aegean lounge is quite nice as I was there a few days ago. Fairly good food selections, lots of unique Greek alcohol options and a highlight for me was an Nespresso-ish pod machine that specifically makes Greek coffee with the grounds and all.

Didn't SAS get rid of contract lounge access years ago for *G and SAS Plus? I'm surprised that they paid for this lounge when there are two *A Schengen lounges at ATH - A3 and LH.

Next time your in Athens you must go to the new Aegean Lounge. I was there a few weeks on Priority Pass and it was amazing. Blew the rest out of the water.

Was there in May. Pretty much the same experience as yours, though it was at a more crowded time. There's not much space to walk between the sets of facing chairs, and was amazed by the people who had their luggage and legs stretched in the pathway inhibiting movement, even when I was obviously trying to get by.

By the way, when I was there the bar was staffed and an attendant had to get your drinks. Maybe he/she thought you were going to pour your own drink?

The Schengen Goldair Handling Lounge Athens Airport (ATH) is indeed a pretty decent lounge, much better than the other contractor lounge of the Schengen area accepting Priority Pass members, the Skyserv Melina Merkouri Lounge, that was once the lounge of the defunct Olympic Airways (in those days it was a very good lounge, though!). The food offering include good Greek specialities. During Covid times staff were very careful to avoid unnecessary ‘contacts’: they insisted that customers wore disposable plastic gloves (provided) when self-serving food, and for that reason they insisted in pouring drinks and preparing espressos. Like that whole Athens airport, during peak summertime the lounge gets too hot (the air conditioning not being enough powerful).

I've visited both those intra-Shengen lounges, though the Lufthansa one only once. The reason being, that for most of the time pre-covid there would even be a line of people reaching outside the lounge trying to get in. The lounge itself is probably the smallest I've ever seen, smaller than the one at Bali's DPS and doesn't even have lavatories! The Aegean lounge is right next door (both are quite a walk after clearing security!) and is much larger, but, especially if you're going in the a.m. like the author here, it will get very crowded! You'll probably still be able to find a place to seat, but being an Aegean gold myself, I think they should have upgraded that lounge before pouring so much cash in the extra-Shengen lounge.
Never been to the Goldair lounge, but from reading here and there it seems most people generally prefer the other two (yes, even that tiny LH lounge, most state due to "better food/beverages" than A3's lounge, though I wouldn't agree) over the Goldair one.

I visited the Goldair lounge in the opposite hall about a month ago before flying premium Econ on American Airlines, with lounge access through my OneWorld Emerald status. It was basically the same as this one but darker inside with less lighting and black stone tile covering the walls. I visited around noon and it was packed. For food they had chicken and vegetables, as well as an assortment of pre packaged sandwiches and other snacks.

Visited the Gold Air Lounge twice December 2021 and January 2022; they had a lot of local Greek food which was fresh and fantastic, it was super clean and stocked with many Greek wines and beers. Both times we were in there it was nearly empty... The two staff members were personable and friendly. I found it way better than any of the priority pass lounges I've been in the US

Yes. And a pretty idiotic guy pouring the slowest smallest glasses of wine and got very very offended if you tried to pour yourself a proper one 🙂

I arrived at athens airport and headed fir the emirates business lounge which is non existent. They do however offer entry to the goldair handling lounge.
On arrival to their front desk the two receptionists (if u can call them that) were busy on their cells and i waited in front of them for a minute b4 one if them looked up. No acknowledgment just said u cant come in till 3 hours b4 uour flight.
So after spending 2.5 hours wondering around went back up to the desk. Again on Facebook or whatever. Handed my boarding pass and was told i had to get authorisation at counter.
What counter????? I said in frustration. She coukd she i was getting pretty annoyed so she took biarding pass back andctyped into her system but practically threw the pass back.
Very rude and abnoxious.
The lounge itself is pretty small but is better than waiting at terminals.
Emirates should check the service offering for their premium customers and advise goldair that service is unacceptable.

The facilities and drinks in the lounge are good but the food in the morning is terrible. So much salt added which makes all the cooked food options inedible.

You visited the wrong lounge the goldair in terminal A has showers and much more bathroom capacity and much large and nicer room

I would like to make a complain about the personal (agent from the reception desk) from Hall B Goldair Handling lounge. She behaved extremely bossy and rude with us not allowing us to enter even if we have waited 15 minutes as her collegue requested, mentioning that is full. During the 15 minutes wait, 6 persons left the lounge, therefore no reason to act like this. In contrast, the lounge from Hall A is extremely amazing with warm and emphatic, professional and calm personal. Totally recomand the lounge from Hall A, while recomand a change in the personal (agents) from Hall B.

Goldair Athens gate C is too small and the rudeness was unforgettable. I frequently travel to Greece and this was the worst experience I’ve ever had. I guess I’ve grown accustomed to Atlanta and JFk Sky lounges. I’ve paid for Delta One over the last 20 years and this is one location I will grab a drink or a bite to eat at Starbucks instead of dealing with the angry representatives at this Goldair location.