Connecting at Athens (ATH)
Jan 8, 2024, 4:55 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: USA, JPN, GBR
Programs: A3, AA, AC, AS, DL, NH, SQ, SK, UA; BW, CP, HH, IHG, MB
Posts: 1,950
Overnight Airside
Sorry if this has been asked before. Is it possible to go airside during an overnight connection? I'm considering an Intra-Schengen to Extra-Schengen itinerary, where the first flight arrives at ~23:00 and the next one departs at ~7:00. IIRC, most hotels will eat up too much time in travel, and the Sofitel's too expensive for such a short stay.
Is Extra-Schengen passport control and security open that late and will they let me through? Ideally, bags would be through-checked (single ticket), but if not, will A3 accept bags the night before?
The Goldair lounge seems to be open 24/7, so it'd be a semi-decent place to rest for a few hours until the A3 lounge opens at 5:00. Hoping that it won't be too busy at night and they'll accept PP; last time I passed through (early evening), they were rejecting PP.
TIA!
Is Extra-Schengen passport control and security open that late and will they let me through? Ideally, bags would be through-checked (single ticket), but if not, will A3 accept bags the night before?
The Goldair lounge seems to be open 24/7, so it'd be a semi-decent place to rest for a few hours until the A3 lounge opens at 5:00. Hoping that it won't be too busy at night and they'll accept PP; last time I passed through (early evening), they were rejecting PP.
TIA!
Jan 8, 2024, 8:08 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,567
I can't answer the question on lounges during that time of the day (oops: night), but there are, indeed, occasional after-midnight flights leaving ATH for non-Schengen destinations even in the winter months (definitely many more during the tourist season). For example, last night there was one to ADD at 1 am and one to BEL at 4:40 am. So, I guess you can get into the non-Schengen departure area after your arrival, and even if all the lounges are closed, it will be rather quiet for you to find a place for a nap, even outside a lounge.
Jan 10, 2024, 2:30 am
#39
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,342
I'd probably agree if budget allows for a night at the HI. One thing to keep in mind is that their shuttle may not run at the times that you need it to run - so expect taking a taxi or bus (X93 and I believe X95 both stop there, so there are plenty of frequent services throughout the night).
Jan 10, 2024, 4:32 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
I'd probably agree if budget allows for a night at the HI. One thing to keep in mind is that their shuttle may not run at the times that you need it to run - so expect taking a taxi or bus (X93 and I believe X95 both stop there, so there are plenty of frequent services throughout the night).
Jan 10, 2024, 10:25 am
#42
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: USA, JPN, GBR
Programs: A3, AA, AC, AS, DL, NH, SQ, SK, UA; BW, CP, HH, IHG, MB
Posts: 1,950
Thanks for the info, all!
Good to know!
I agree that 4-5 hours in a real bed is preferable, but the options aren't great. The HI was the first place I checked, but at ~200 EUR, it's way more than I'd want to spend. Even the points rate is high. The shuttle from the airport seems to run hourly on the dot until midnight, so a ~23:00 arrival would mean the 00:00 shuttle there and a 6:00-ish one leaving the hotel. I guess I could play it by ear and see how things go on the inbound flight (and through-checked bags). If they still have same-day availability on points (at a decent rate), that might work.
AFAIK, it's the same price.
I can't answer the question on lounges during that time of the day (oops: night), but there are, indeed, occasional after-midnight flights leaving ATH for non-Schengen destinations even in the winter months (definitely many more during the tourist season). For example, last night there was one to ADD at 1 am and one to BEL at 4:40 am. So, I guess you can get into the non-Schengen departure area after your arrival, and even if all the lounges are closed, it will be rather quiet for you to find a place for a nap, even outside a lounge.
I'd probably agree if budget allows for a night at the HI. One thing to keep in mind is that their shuttle may not run at the times that you need it to run - so expect taking a taxi or bus (X93 and I believe X95 both stop there, so there are plenty of frequent services throughout the night).
AFAIK, it's the same price.
Jan 12, 2024, 11:24 am
#43
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,342
Yes all transport from the airport has that extra "airport fee". For example taking the metro from the Koropi stop (Right next to the airport, and the first stop on the way to the center) is only 1,20 euro - compared to the 10 euro if you depart from the airport stop. The bus is a little less extreme, but you re not going to be able to avoid the 4,30 euro surcharge (1,20 + 4,30 = 5,50). You may find a taxi that can do it for the same price though I imagine most taxi's to not be willing to take you (Since the drivers need to queue for hours to be allowed to take a client from the airport).
Spending 200 euros for a night at the HI is crazy, and indeed I would never consider that. I remember staying there on 5K points per night in the past (Granted, that was a good deal even back when they still had these point breaks). You could consider Avra hotel in Rafina (Typically quite a bit cheaper, around 70 bucks off-season) - but that is a 20 minute drive and their shuttle is only once per hour. So yeah, if the effective hours of rest will go down to just 3-4 I'd agree that it is probably not worth it spending significant amounts of money.
I agree that 4-5 hours in a real bed is preferable, but the options aren't great. The HI was the first place I checked, but at ~200 EUR, it's way more than I'd want to spend. Even the points rate is high. The shuttle from the airport seems to run hourly on the dot until midnight, so a ~23:00 arrival would mean the 00:00 shuttle there and a 6:00-ish one leaving the hotel. I guess I could play it by ear and see how things go on the inbound flight (and through-checked bags). If they still have same-day availability on points (at a decent rate), that might work.