Connecting at Athens (ATH)
Aug 11, 2012, 3:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 272
Connecting at Athens (ATH)
We are flying from LHR to JTR (Santorini) on Aegean through ATH in October. The connection time is 1 hour in ATH. Will this be enough to go through customs (if any) and make the connection? Do domestic Greek flights leave from the same terminal as international arrivals? Will it be enough time for the bags to make it? We would hate to miss the connection since it would be the last flight of the day..
Aug 11, 2012, 6:05 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
The MCT for your connection is 45 minutes and there are no multiple terminals at ATH:
[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.3/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: ATH/A3-A3]
[KVS Availability Tool 7.0.3/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: ATH/A3-A3]
Code:
DD DI ID II STANDARD: ATH 045 045 055 045 EXCEPTIONS: A/L DEPARR AREA A3 --- 045 --- 045 A3 LCA A3 --- 045 --- 045 A3 LHR -ALL- SCH --- --- 045 045 A3 SCH A3 LCA --- --- 045 045 A3 A3 LHR --- --- 045 045 A3 A3 SCH --- --- 045 045 -ALL- SCH **END OF DISPLAY**
Last edited by Prospero; Jan 7, 2015 at 12:54 pm Reason: Removed commercial link from citation
Aug 12, 2012, 1:01 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
We are flying from LHR to JTR (Santorini) on Aegean through ATH in October. The connection time is 1 hour in ATH. Will this be enough to go through customs (if any) and make the connection? Do domestic Greek flights leave from the same terminal as international arrivals? Will it be enough time for the bags to make it? We would hate to miss the connection since it would be the last flight of the day..
Aug 12, 2012, 4:20 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,892
We are flying from LHR to JTR (Santorini) on Aegean through ATH in October. The connection time is 1 hour in ATH. Will this be enough to go through customs (if any) and make the connection? Do domestic Greek flights leave from the same terminal as international arrivals? Will it be enough time for the bags to make it? We would hate to miss the connection since it would be the last flight of the day..
Sep 17, 2012, 11:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Your luggage doesn't go through customs (EU). You will arrive on the non-Schengen side of the airport, though (the UK is not part of it), which means a slightly longer way to your gate. Still, don't worry at all, you'll certainly make it, unless your flight from LHR is very late. A3 often waits for connecting passengers.
Apr 14, 2014, 1:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: UA MP, NW WP, AA
Posts: 719
Your luggage doesn't go through customs (EU). You will arrive on the non-Schengen side of the airport, though (the UK is not part of it), which means a slightly longer way to your gate. Still, don't worry at all, you'll certainly make it, unless your flight from LHR is very late. A3 often waits for connecting passengers.
Flying AF CDG-ATH arriving in ATH at 1735. Will need to collect bags in ATH and check in with A3 for a flight to Santorini. I am trying to decide between the 19:10 and the 21:35 departure from ATH. I would prefer the 19:10 departure but wondering if I will have enough time. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Apr 14, 2014, 1:37 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,892
I have a similar question to ask.
Flying AF CDG-ATH arriving in ATH at 1735. Will need to collect bags in ATH and check in with A3 for a flight to Santorini. I am trying to decide between the 19:10 and the 21:35 departure from ATH. I would prefer the 19:10 departure but wondering if I will have enough time. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Flying AF CDG-ATH arriving in ATH at 1735. Will need to collect bags in ATH and check in with A3 for a flight to Santorini. I am trying to decide between the 19:10 and the 21:35 departure from ATH. I would prefer the 19:10 departure but wondering if I will have enough time. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Apr 17, 2014, 12:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: UA MP, NW WP, AA
Posts: 719
Would you suggest buying a FLEX fare for the 1910 flight and if I can't make it just change it to the later flight? How are the loads for those flights in mid-August?
Apr 18, 2014, 2:33 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,892
You could do that but then August is peak and this year advance bookings for the Islands are way up on last year. Flights may be full. I personally would secure a place on the later flight and then try for an earlier one. That way you are guaranteed to get to your destination rather than being in a situation where you missed your early connection and they have no seats on the last flight out .
Aug 12, 2014, 11:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,353
Connecting in ATH
In late November I have an A3 booking from HER - ATH - LHR. A recent schedule change has left me with what looks like quite a tight connection in ATH.
I arrive at 18:25 on A3323 and depart at 19:10 on A3608. Is 45 minutes comfortable enough to make the connection, considering I will be going from domestic to non-schengen?
If the inbound flight is late what will A3 likely offer as my options? I am on a cheap 'GoLight' economy fare and hold no status with *A. Would they possibly re-route me on to the later EZY flight to LGW or can I expect to be in a hotel overnight until the next available flight the following day?
I arrive at 18:25 on A3323 and depart at 19:10 on A3608. Is 45 minutes comfortable enough to make the connection, considering I will be going from domestic to non-schengen?
If the inbound flight is late what will A3 likely offer as my options? I am on a cheap 'GoLight' economy fare and hold no status with *A. Would they possibly re-route me on to the later EZY flight to LGW or can I expect to be in a hotel overnight until the next available flight the following day?
Aug 13, 2014, 8:42 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
If there are no big delays and no luggage re-checking, 45 min is enough time, but not necessary comfortable: The gates that are furthest away are ~800 meters from each other, and you can always try to "push" your way through passport control and security. As for the second question, sorry, but I don't have any clues.
Aug 13, 2014, 1:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
If the inbound flight is late what will A3 likely offer as my options? I am on a cheap 'GoLight' economy fare and hold no status with *A. Would they possibly re-route me on to the later EZY flight to LGW or can I expect to be in a hotel overnight until the next available flight the following day?
[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.9 - Reference: Interline Agreements [IET]: U2]
Code:
CARRIER DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN E-TICKET INTERLINE AGREEMENTS
Aug 19, 2014, 3:04 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 586
I'm seeking some advice as well. We are flying CHQ (Chania, Crete) - ATH - CDG. We have ATH-CDG on A3 but have not purchased our CHQ-ATH flight yet. We basically have two options. Arrive late the night before on Ryanair and stay the night nearby or take the early A3 flight the morning of our ATH-CDG flight.
Option 1:
CHQ-ATH the night before on Ryanair + hotel near airport (any recommendations?)
Option 2:
CHQ-ATH at 6:20AM, arrive at 7:20AM for a 8:35 departure to CDG, all on A3. I think it's a bonus to get an extra night on Crete but this would make for an early morning.
I'm curious as to how our luggage would be handled if we went the all A3 route. We are on a business class award from ATH-CDG. If we get a separate ticket, would the connecting business ticket give us any advantage on luggage?
Option 1:
CHQ-ATH the night before on Ryanair + hotel near airport (any recommendations?)
Option 2:
CHQ-ATH at 6:20AM, arrive at 7:20AM for a 8:35 departure to CDG, all on A3. I think it's a bonus to get an extra night on Crete but this would make for an early morning.
I'm curious as to how our luggage would be handled if we went the all A3 route. We are on a business class award from ATH-CDG. If we get a separate ticket, would the connecting business ticket give us any advantage on luggage?