Find cheap Sky Express flights

SKY Express is the Greek boutique airline based at Athens International Airport. Operating 29 aircraft across 33 Greek airports, it’s become my go-to for island hopping since I was a kid exploring Greece. This is the airline that connects you to those sun-drenched islands when ferries won’t cut it.

Since the business class on SKY Express just leaves a middle seat free (like most European airlines), I tend to just use it for little flight hops. I generally fly economy and find the airline perfect for these short trips. Here’s everything you need to know about flying with SKY Express.

Routes

SKY Express is a fast-growing airline that’s strongest within Greece, where it connects dozens of domestic destinations. Beyond Greek borders, you’ll find flights to London Gatwick, plus cities in Poland, Italy, Germany, France (seasonal routes), Cyprus, Belgium and Bulgaria. They operate modern planes and keep expanding their network.

Fares

SKY Express offers six main fare types, with some variations between domestic and international flights. Here’s how they break down:

• BLISS+: Their premium business class option with all the BLISS perks plus additional benefits

• BLISS: Business class with middle seat blocked, two 32kg checked bags (around 70 lbs), 13kg (aorund 28 lbs) cabin bag, priority boarding, seat selection, Fast Lane, exclusive check-in, priority baggage delivery and lounge access

• SKY Enjoy: Top-tier economy fare with unlimited free changes (fare difference may apply), seat choice, priority baggage delivery, Fast Lane and lounge access, plus one 23kg (around 50 lbs) checked bag

• SKY Joy+: Mid-tier fare including one 15kg (around 15 lbs) checked bag and one 8kg (around 17 lbs) cabin bag

• SKY Joy: Light fare with one 8kg (around 17 lbs) cabin bag included

• SKY Offer: Includes one 8kg (around 17 lbs) cabin bag

• SKY Basic: Available on select routes from Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion to destinations like Astypalea, Kalymnos, and Skyros, includes one 15kg (around 33 lbs) checked bag and 8kg (17 lbs) cabin bag

The BLISS fares come with more perks, while SKY Offer keeps costs minimal if you’re traveling light.

Booking online

SKY Express pushes you toward online booking, and honestly, their website is easier to navigate than most airlines. You’ll pick your fare class or customize your selection, then add extras like checked baggage, seat selection, priority baggage delivery, Fast Lane and lounge access. They also bundle in car rental deals through Avis and hotel accommodation with better rates if you book everything together.

Baggage rules

On SKY Express, cabin baggage includes one piece of hand luggage plus a personal item. Economy passengers get 8kg (about 17.6 lbs) for hand luggage, while BLISS passengers get 13kg (about 28.7 lbs). These smaller airlines are strict about weight limits, so weigh your bag before heading to the airport.

Checked baggage rules vary by fare type. SKY Offer and SKY Joy don’t include checked bags. SKY Joy+ allows one bag up to 15kg (33 lbs), SKY Basic includes one 15kg bag, SKY Enjoy includes one 23kg (50 lbs) bag, and BLISS includes two bags at 32kg (70 lbs) each. You can pay for extra weight, but it’s cheaper to add it when booking online.

Check-in

SKY Express opens online check-in 48 hours before departure and closes 3 hours prior, where you can download your boarding pass. At the airport, make sure to arrive with plenty of time for check-in. Major airports like Athens have self-check-in kiosks where you drop off luggage after checking in.

If you’ve got extra heavy luggage, book the weight allowance online beforehand. Paying at the airport check-in desk costs more. Athens airport gets special perks including a SKY Fast Lane and SKY Executive Lounge.

Onboard hospitality

Although I mostly fly very short routes with this airline, SKY Express takes its warm Greek hospitality very seriously. The flight attendants are like the Greek aunts or uncles we all need, friendly and nurturing. I love that considering the vast number of airlines I’ve flown with, this is what really stands out to me. It would make me choose this airline above any other in the region every time.

Food and drink onboard

On all SKY Express flights, the airline offers various complimentary food and drink items, including Nescafe instant coffee, orange juice, cookies and water. On their international flights, you can also pay for extra snacks, drinks, sandwiches and alcoholic beverages through SKY Drinks & Bites.

Airline partners

SKY Express isn’t part of Delta or any major airline alliance, but it does have individual partnerships with Delta, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Condor, El Al, Middle East Airlines, Transavia, Emirates, Air Transat, Air Serbia, British Airways, easyJet, Etihad, Royal Jordanian, and Turkish Airlines.

You can book connections through Athens that work smoothly with these partners. Through their interline agreements with carriers like Emirates, Condor, El Al, and Transavia, you can actually book your entire journey on a single ticket with baggage checked through to your final destination.

Traveling with family

SKY Express has made traveling with a family easier in a few useful ways. Firstly, they offer specific discounts for kids - infants from 0-2 years get a 90% discount, while children aged 2-12 receive a 33% discount on applicable fares.

They also have a special safety seat belt for kids under two years old who travel on an adult’s lap. If you’re pregnant, the airline requires you to tell them when booking under the special assistance section, as you would if traveling with kids.

Traveling with dogs and cats

International travel with dogs is hard. I know that firsthand. But SKY Express aims to make this easier with a few simple requirements, like a microchip, a note that states you’re the owner, a health certificate and a rabies and vaccine certificate. It’s tempting to take my 40 lbs dog Ella everywhere I travel, but the stress on her has made me rethink how often I bring her on planes.

Fees

The fees on SKY Express vary depending on which fare class you choose when booking. For instance, change fees are highest with SKY Offer (€50 plus any fare difference) while SKY Enjoy includes free changes. SKY Joy and SKY Joy+ include at least one free change. Change fees are steep if you’re in the lowest fare class, so be mindful of that when booking if you need to be flexible on your travel dates.

Restrictions in luggage

Greece is where you want to stock up on bottles of ouzo and olive oil, but note that the airlines are rather strict on these. For instance, alcoholic beverages are allowed in checked luggage but only up to 70% ABV and just five liters per person. I’ve experienced issues with this myself multiple times, so be aware.

Fun in the skies

SKY Express offers a treat for passengers called the ‘Lucky Seat’. During every flight, one lucky passenger will randomly be chosen to win a prize, which ranges from Marina Vernicos jewelry to something coffee-related from Nescafe. I’ve seen this happen on multiple occasions and witnessed the delight firsthand.

Onboard magazines

Although they no longer stock physical copies on their planes, SKY produces a gorgeous magazine, FLY, that features inspiration from all over Greece. You can read it online as a digital flipbook on the SKY Express website or through their official Issuu profile.

Special deals

SKY Express doesn’t offer a formal mileage program or a credit card loyalty program, but they do have SKY Holidays. To use this program, simply book your flight online and then book your stay at I Resort Beach Hotel and Spa (a five-star hotel in Stalida on the island of Crete) with your flight booking reference number. You’ll then receive a 30% discount on your stay.

Since I had to be in Crete for a work function, I used their offer and loved getting the chance to soak up some sun before my conference. The airline also has a newsletter you can sign up for, where they advertise their deals, offers and special competitions.