Based at Heraklion International Airport in Greece, SKY Express is a European boutique airline. The airline operates just 23 aircrafts and has a presence at 33 Greek airports. I’ve enjoyed the islands of Greece since I was a little boy, and this has been one of the airlines I’ve frequented most since it launched.
With easy access to most of my favorite places in Greece, I find this is the best way to get around this glorious part of the Mediterranean when I don’t have time to take a boat or ferry.
Since SKY Express’s business class 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 and currently serves many destinations in Greece, as well as Poland, London (Gatwick), Italy, Germany, France (with some seasonal routes), Cyprus, Belgium and Bulgaria. They operate newer planes and are constantly expanding their offering.
Traveling with family
SKY Express has made traveling with a family easier in a few useful ways. Firstly, they offer a discount for all kids, no matter their age. They also have a special safety seat belt for kids under two years old. 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 with me everywhere I travel, but the stress on her has made me rethink how often I take her on planes.
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.
Booking online
SKY Express drives you to do all of your bookings online and their website is much easier to navigate than most airlines. As you book, you can add on the various services you need by picking the fare class or doing it with a custom selection.
They will then offer options for extra checked baggage, seat selection, priority baggage delivery, fast lane, and lounge access. You’ll also find great offers on car rentals and hotel accommodation you can book at the same time with discounts.
Fares
SKY Express offers an array of fare options: BLISS, SKY Offer, SKY Joy, SKY Joy+ and SKY Enjoy (with some minor changes between domestic and international flights). BLISS is their version of business class (middle seat not occupied) and includes two checked bags, one cabin bag, and priority boarding, priority seats, and lounge access for no extra charge. SKY Offer includes one free cabin bag.
SKY Joy is their lightest fare and also includes one free item of cabin luggage. SKY Joy+ is their medium fare and includes one checked and one cabin bag. SKY Enjoy is their highest fare, which offers free unlimited changes on the ticket and includes seat choice, access to priority boarding and security, plus the lounge. There is also SKY Basic on certain routes, where you pay for anything extra.
Airline partners
SKY Express doesn’t have an arrangement with any of the big airline networks. But they do have partnerships with Delta, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Condor, El Al, Middle East Airlines, Transavia , and Emirates.
That means you can book your flight through them and have a connection via Athens that works perfectly. But note this won’t all be on the same ticket – the airline works with travel agents to help with these connecting tickets.
Baggage rules
On SKY Express, cabin baggage includes one piece of hand luggage plus a personal item. The hand luggage needs to be under 17 lbs in economy and under 28 lbs for BLISS (business class) passengers. Most of these smaller airlines are very strict about luggage restrictions, so it's worth weighing your bag before you head to the airport.
When it comes to checked luggage, they’re also very strict, but you can pay a fee for more weight if you need it. Depending on your fare type, there are certain weight restrictions: SKY offer and SKY Joy don’t have baggage included; with SKY Joy+ baggage can weigh up to 33 lbs; SKY Enjoy is 50 lbs; SKY Basic is 33 lbs; and lastly BLISS is two bags at 70 lbs each.
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.
Check-in
SKY Express allows you to check in 48 hours before your departure time. You can download your boarding pass online, but also pick it up at the airport. For airport check-in, they operate a strict two hours before departure policy. Some of the major airports, like in Athens, have self check-in kiosks where you can then drop off any luggage.
Simply follow the signs to find these kiosks. If you have additional heavy luggage, the cost for this is higher at the airport check-in desks than by booking it online beforehand. Athens airport also has a special SKY fast lane and executive lounge.
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 download it and read it online at ISSUU.
Food and drink onboard
On all SKY Express flights, you’ll find various food and drink items offered for free, 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 the airline’s SKY Drinks & Bites service.
Fees
The fees on SKY Express vary depending on which fare class you choose when booking. For instance, there’s a higher fee for changes if you’re traveling in SKY Offer than Sky Enjoy. 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.
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 PNR. 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 and special competitions.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
