We stopped at the Goldair Handling Lounge at Athens Airport before an evening Aegean Airlines flight to Kos, and it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Despite the late hour, there was still an excellent variety of food and drinks available, and the lounge was practically empty.
It’s not the most luxurious airport lounge I’ve visited, but for a short stop before a flight, it had everything we needed. We visited before flying to Kos, where we spent five days exploring the island’s beaches, villages and restaurants.
📍 Location and Access
The Goldair Handling Intra Lounge is located in Hall B, Level 1, opposite Gate B13, after security in the Schengen departures area of Athens International Airport. It’s particularly convenient for domestic Aegean Airlines flights to destinations such as Kos, Rhodes, Santorini or Crete, as well as other Schengen departures.
We accessed the lounge using Priority Pass through my American Express Platinum card. The lounge is listed by Priority Pass and is open 24 hours a day, making it useful for early-morning and late-night flights. Priority Pass currently lists a maximum stay of three hours. Check your own card’s access conditions and guest entitlement before travelling.
🛋️ Spacious Seating and a Peaceful Atmosphere
The lounge is fairly spacious, with several seating areas furnished with grey armchairs and sofas, small tables and large windows. The interior is modern but quite functional, with bright lighting and a fairly simple design rather than anything particularly luxurious.
What made our visit so enjoyable was how quiet it was. We arrived late in the evening and there were hardly any other passengers, so finding a comfortable place to relax was certainly not a problem. I wouldn’t expect it to be this empty during busy daytime hours, but if you’re travelling late in the evening, you might be lucky enough to enjoy the same peaceful atmosphere.
🍴 Food and Drinks: Better Than Expected at Night
The food selection was easily the biggest surprise. Even at that late hour, the buffet was well stocked with a good variety of savoury and sweet options. There were several types of sandwiches and small rolls, Greek specialities such as stuffed vine leaves, pastries, cakes and a generous selection of biscuits and other snacks. It wasn’t an elaborate restaurant-style buffet, but there was certainly enough choice for a light meal before boarding.
The drinks selection was equally good, with refrigerated soft drinks, bottled water, beer and spirits, alongside a Nespresso coffee machine and a selection of teas, including THAMMA Cretan teas.
I particularly appreciated that the food and drinks hadn’t been reduced to a handful of leftovers just because it was late. Everything was still nicely presented, and there was enough variety to make even a short visit worthwhile.
⭐ Is the Goldair Handling Lounge Worth Visiting?
For us, definitely. We only stayed a short time, but the combination of a good buffet, plenty of drinks and an almost empty lounge made it a very enjoyable stop.
The interior isn’t especially impressive, and I wouldn’t arrive at the airport hours earlier just to visit. But if you already have Priority Pass access and are flying from Hall B, it’s a comfortable alternative to waiting at the gate.
My verdict: A practical, well-stocked airport lounge that pleasantly surprised us, especially considering how late we visited. I’d happily return before another flight to the Greek islands.
