Stuck at Athens airport, what to do?
Jul 18, 2016, 11:17 am
#31
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
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And hotel if at all possible. It saves having to pay for it in advance and claim it back.
Jul 18, 2016, 1:51 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
The Holiday Inn I'm talking about is 12 KM from the airport, right off of the toll road. If someone got charged 30 euros, they got robbed, unless taxis only do flat rates from the airport and don't run the meter. It was still 38 euros two months ago, flat rate, all inclusive, from the airport to the central area, which is around 31 km from the airport.
Interesting enough, on my return to the airport back in May, the taxi driver asked me if I was in a hurry. I said no, so he said for 30 euros, it will about 10-15 minutes longer and take the scenic route. It was fine, we drove through some small towns and everything, running a few KMs parallel to the toll road on Leof. Lavriou and Leof. Markopoulou. I guess the tolls are 8 Euros or so, and he didn't like paying them. It did take about 15 minutes longer than it did on the ride in, so no problem there.
He crossed himself at every church we passed, and there were quite a few churches.
Interesting enough, on my return to the airport back in May, the taxi driver asked me if I was in a hurry. I said no, so he said for 30 euros, it will about 10-15 minutes longer and take the scenic route. It was fine, we drove through some small towns and everything, running a few KMs parallel to the toll road on Leof. Lavriou and Leof. Markopoulou. I guess the tolls are 8 Euros or so, and he didn't like paying them. It did take about 15 minutes longer than it did on the ride in, so no problem there.
He crossed himself at every church we passed, and there were quite a few churches.
Last edited by catocony; Jul 18, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Jul 18, 2016, 3:18 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
The Holiday Inn I'm talking about is 12 KM from the airport, right off of the toll road. If someone got charged 30 euros, they got robbed, unless taxis only do flat rates from the airport and don't run the meter. It was still 38 euros two months ago, flat rate, all inclusive, from the airport to the central area, which is around 31 km from the airport.
Interesting enough, on my return to the airport back in May, the taxi driver asked me if I was in a hurry. I said no, so he said for 30 euros, it will about 10-15 minutes longer and take the scenic route. It was fine, we drove through some small towns and everything, running a few KMs parallel to the toll road on Leof. Lavriou and Leof. Markopoulou. I guess the tolls are 8 Euros or so, and he didn't like paying them. It did take about 15 minutes longer than it did on the ride in, so no problem there.
He crossed himself at every church we passed, and there were quite a few churches.
Interesting enough, on my return to the airport back in May, the taxi driver asked me if I was in a hurry. I said no, so he said for 30 euros, it will about 10-15 minutes longer and take the scenic route. It was fine, we drove through some small towns and everything, running a few KMs parallel to the toll road on Leof. Lavriou and Leof. Markopoulou. I guess the tolls are 8 Euros or so, and he didn't like paying them. It did take about 15 minutes longer than it did on the ride in, so no problem there.
He crossed himself at every church we passed, and there were quite a few churches.
Btw, I always wondered if the flat rate was only for the center of Athens. I lived in Vrilissia (15-20 mins via Attiki Odos, way out from the center), but I never got a chance to test this because I usually took my own car to the airport and back. Anyone know?
Last edited by blackball; Jul 18, 2016 at 3:20 pm Reason: corrected toll cost
Jul 18, 2016, 3:38 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
I was told it was only for the center of the center. If you were down by the Intercontinental and the other big hotels along that road, you don't qualify for the flat rate and they use the meter, which is more than 40 euros. I don't know what areas the flat rate covers - I'm sure there's a map on-line somewhere - but I'm pretty sure a meter ride from the airport to the Holliday Inn Airport is less than 30 euros.
Jul 18, 2016, 6:36 pm
#36
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There's a Holiday Inn a few miles from the hotel that might have a shuttle.
As far as the *A lounges at ATH, there's a small LH Business lounge (no Senator at ATH) that doesn't even have a bathroom (use one in the hallway), and a larger Aegean lounge that does have a bathroom but no shower. The Aegean lounge isn't exactly smoke-filled, but it does have a smoking area that leaves the whole club smelling like an ashtray.
As far as the *A lounges at ATH, there's a small LH Business lounge (no Senator at ATH) that doesn't even have a bathroom (use one in the hallway), and a larger Aegean lounge that does have a bathroom but no shower. The Aegean lounge isn't exactly smoke-filled, but it does have a smoking area that leaves the whole club smelling like an ashtray.
Jul 18, 2016, 7:55 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
I am surprised that if A3 handed out a meal voucher, that it did not take care of a hotel voucher at the same time.
If not provided, push hard for the voucher.
Bear in mind that if you do have to Uber to/from a hotel, that too is reimburseable.
If not provided, push hard for the voucher.
Bear in mind that if you do have to Uber to/from a hotel, that too is reimburseable.
Jul 18, 2016, 11:02 pm
#38
Community Director
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The OP's sister assumed the US system of being responsible for your own accommodation applied with weather disruption, so probably never thought to ask for hotel details. Given the vast, vast majority of European travellers are not aware of their rights under EC261, it's hardly surprising that a US resident wouldn't instinctively know to ask.
Jul 19, 2016, 4:49 am
#39
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
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Personally I don't particularly like the HI as I found some rooms to be very noisy, and the shuttle is (imho) pretty useless as it doesn't run very early or very late - which is exactly the time one would want to arrive/depart from an airport hotel.
Jul 19, 2016, 9:14 am
#43
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Thread temporarily closed pending mod team review.
EDIT: Thread is now re-open. Thanks for your patience.
EDIT: Thread is now re-open. Thanks for your patience.
Last edited by NWIFlyer; Jul 19, 2016 at 8:44 pm
Jul 22, 2016, 10:23 am
#45
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
He did: However, apparently she's in Athens now and the Santorini flight is delayed 5 hours, and is now cancelled due to high winds and the last Ferry had already left, so they will have to overnight.