Originally Posted by
KLouis
Did you have to go through passport control? If yes, this would explain it, as the flights would be "Schengen" incoming and "non-Schengen" departing. Bussing pax would make it easier for purposes of logistics.
Incoming passengers from Greece have to undergo non-Schengen checks in German airports since about a month. An exception to the existing rules was granted for six months. The German authorities claim that this is the only way they can get illegal immigrants using fake IDs. At any rate, almost missing a connection is not a problem as the connection was... not missed.
When you see the very poor passeport control at ATH when arriving from non-schengen... (they don't even check the passeport with the computer,visual control only) this is understandable.
In CDG for flights from Athens, they do since few months a passeport control at the plane door when exiting.
Regarding bus, i took the end of afternoon flight to CDG tens of time and never had a bus, but when arriving it's very commun to get. PS : at ATH i prefer bus when i have a non schengen transfer.