Originally Posted by
jlampert
I am looking to book an itinerary from Paros to Milos via Athens. Before you say something, yes, there is a single direct ferry the date I'm looking for, but the timing is awful and would take the same amount of time.
When I searched on Google Flights, it priced it out for me, but when I went to the Aegean and Olympic Air websites, it was not able to accept that routing unless I booked two separate one-way flights.
Before calling the airline, I thought I'd ask here and see:
- Has anyone been able to successfully book a similar itinerary (island > ATH > island) under one booking before?
- If I book two separate one-ways, would Aegean/Olympic (1) check my bags through and/or (2) protect me in case the first flight is delayed/cancelled?
(SkyExpress will route me my desired itinerary as one ticket, but the timing isn't much better than the ferry...)
1) Yes, but not that route or any close-together islands. I've done Paros to Samos and Rhodes and seen others available.
2) Check-through - Yes, never had a problem. Protected - No. That might be one of the reasons they're reluctant to book these itineraries - delays this summer are RIFE to the islands served by ATR, Paros being the one I notice most. Actually, check out the average delays before you book. The afternoon evening flights have been consistently 30 to 90 minutes late - and that was only in June! When they switched from Q400 to ATR they re-calculated all the schedules and added just 5 minutes here and there. This might (just) take into account the extra flight time but the ATRs take so much longer to board and disembark due to the single rear door. Nobody seemed to think of that so the delays build gradually through the day. Also, I've had a lot of clients arriving from Athens without their luggage this year - far more than usual. IF you book two individual flights, I'd allow at least 2.5 hrs in ATH.