5.7 million Germans flew to Greece in 2024. That's 13% more than the year before. And with the new Eurowings routes 2026, you can book islands like Kefalonia, Naxos, Leros, Syros, and Mytilini directly through eurowings.com since March.
Great news. But there's a catch with the Aegean Airlines hand luggage rules that almost nobody is talking about.
Quick answer: On ATR turboprop feeder flights to Greek islands, the stricter Aegean Airlines hand luggage limit applies: 55x40x23 cm at 8 kg, not the more generous Airbus allowance (56x45x25 cm). If you're traveling on a Eurowings-Aegean interline ticket, plan around the smaller ATR dimensions. The safest universal size for this route: 55x40x20 cm.
What's Behind the Eurowings-Aegean Partnership?
According to Aviation.Direct, this is a Eurowings Aegean interline agreement. You buy a single ticket through Eurowings, fly Eurowings to Athens or Thessaloniki, and then Aegean Airlines (or their subsidiary Olympic Air) takes you to the island.
Here's why it works this way: Eurowings doesn't have aircraft for tiny island airports. The runways on Naxos (900 meters) or Leros are simply too short for Airbus jets. So Aegean flies the island hops with ATR 72-600 turboprops. 70 seats, propellers, smaller overhead bins.
If you're comparing Eurowings and Lufthansa for Greece trips, our Eurowings vs. Lufthansa baggage comparison covers all the key differences.
And that's where the baggage situation gets tricky.
Aegean Airlines Hand Luggage Dimensions: Eurowings vs. ATR Compared
I've put the official numbers side by side. The differences look small on paper. In practice, they can cost you real money at the gate. (If you need the full breakdown, check our Eurowings baggage guide first.)
| Airline / Aircraft Type | Carry-On Dimensions | Weight | Personal Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurowings BASIC | 40x30x25 cm | no limit | only this item included |
| Eurowings SMART/BIZ | 55x40x23 cm | 8 kg | plus small item |
| Aegean Airbus (Light/Flex) | 56x45x25 cm | 8 kg | 40x30x15 cm (Flex only) |
| Aegean ATR Turboprop | 55x40x23 cm | 8 kg | depends on fare |
Sources: Aegean Airlines baggage page and MyBaggage
See the problem? Anyone who only thinks about their Eurowings Greece baggage on the main flight misses the tighter ATR dimensions. Your bag fits Aegean's Airbus at 56x45x25 cm, no issue. But on the ATR flight to the island? The limit drops to 55x40x23 cm. If you bought a suitcase based on Aegean's Airbus dimensions, you might be stuck at the gate on Naxos with an oversized bag.
The table shows the problem. What you should actually do about it is a different question.
Which Rules Apply on Interline Tickets?
Honestly? This is the part where even airline staff are sometimes unsure.
IATA convention says the "Most Significant Carrier" sets the baggage rules on interline tickets. That's usually the airline with the longest route segment. In theory, that sounds simple. In practice, it means: on Aegean-operated segments, Aegean decides. Not Eurowings. That applies to your Eurowings Greece baggage on the island connection too.
The specific problem: if you booked a Eurowings BASIC fare, you're technically allowed only 40x30x25 cm as carry-on. Whether Aegean enforces that smaller Eurowings limit at the gate or uses their own 55x40x23 cm rule depends on how the check-in is handled at that airport.
We also have a full hand luggage size comparison across airlines if you want to see how these numbers stack up.
Honestly, my best advice: call Eurowings before your flight and ask explicitly which baggage rules apply to your specific booking. I know that sounds annoying. But it's the only reliable answer to a question the airlines haven't cleanly resolved yet. If you end up needing checked luggage, it's also worth pre-booking Eurowings baggage in advance, which can save up to 50% compared to gate prices.
One more thing before you book: check your booking confirmation. Which airline codes are on it? If you see an EW flight and an A3 flight (Aegean's IATA code), Aegean's rules apply to the A3 segment, not Eurowings rules.
HON Circle and Senator: New Perks, With a Catch
For frequent flyers, this Eurowings Aegean interline cooperation brings an interesting new benefit. The conditions are a bit fiddly, though.
HON Circle members and Senators now get a second checked bag (23 kg) and free seat selection with extra legroom on Eurowings flights booked in the SMART fare. As Travel-Dealz reports, that sounds good. The catch: BASIC fares get nothing extra. And anyone who wants the benefits has to activate them manually through the Eurowings service center for now. There's no automation yet.
Frankfurtflyer.de also points out an interesting exception: golf bags can travel free even in the BASIC fare. So there's a creative workaround if you need extra packing space.
Bottom line: if you fly regularly and consistently book SMART, this is a real benefit. For everyone else? Barely relevant.
The Safe Aegean Airlines Hand Luggage Size for Island Flights
If you're flying to a Greek island through Eurowings, your Aegean Airlines hand luggage needs to fit on all three segments: the Eurowings jet, the Aegean Airbus to Athens, and the ATR island hopper. The number that works everywhere: 55x40x20 cm.
The Aerolite Erweiterbar 55x40x20cm auf 55x40x23 cm Handgepäck Koffer - passend für Lufthansa, Eurowings, Condor, Leichtes Hartschale mit 4 Rädern fits this exact size. And when you want to pack a bit more, it expands to 55x40x23 cm. If you prefer traveling with a backpack and still want to stay within the Aegean Airlines hand luggage limits, the Cabin Max Metz Reiserucksack Handgepäck Flugzeug 55x40x20 cm - Carry-On Rucksack 44L aus recyceltem Polyester is a solid choice built for exactly this kind of multi-segment trip.
One more tip: the BAGAIL 8-teilige Packwürfel Set - Kleidertaschen, Packing Cubes, Kofferorganizer für Urlaub und Reisen let you fit noticeably more into the same bag. On holiday trips with summer clothes, that makes a real difference.
Aerolite Erweiterbar 55x40x20cm auf 55x40x23 cm Handgepäck Koffer - passend für Lufthansa, Eurowings, Condor, Leichtes Hartschale mit 4 Rädern