benberg2013

I really don't think so, because once you pass security (to access the lounge) you will not be allowed out again.

KLouis

Oh yes, you will! You can go out any time you want, for instance you can stay in the A3 lounge in the B area, go out of the "airside" area and then go into the A area, provided you have the BC for that. As a matter of fact, nobody checks you when you leave. By the way, the lounge is before security, which does nor change anything, anyhow.

benberg2013

So does that mean that every day I want I can access a lounge in Athens Airport (or any airport for that matter) with my priority pass (free with American express) then leave the airport? Could I thereby use a lounge in the airport without a flight booked?

KLouis

Of course not, and I never said that: You always have to show your valid BC! But if it were not allowed to use a lounge and then simply go, "lounge hopping" would not be possible. Also, there are numerous lounges that are located before any kind of "barrier" such as security or BC. I think of some at JFK, for example. Independent of lounges, you are ALWAYS allowed to leave an airport, they can't simply lock you there. I repeat, all lounges in the ATH B area are located before security but after BC control.

Xandrios

Basically there are three different levels in Athens: Open for everyone, Shopping/lounge area for people with a valid BP, gate area for people that have gone through security.

So to reach the lounges one would still need to pass a boarding pass check. Besides that I am pretty sure that Priority Pass requires a flight when accessing a lounge.

It is also becoming more common to actually allow to do check-in in the lounge, meaning the lounge is before any form of security or checks. This is for example the case in Rome, where the 'new' alitalia lounge is in the departures hall. It serves as both a check-in area for elites, and a lounge. And a flight school if you like

frenchft

5 hours i would not go in Athens... would go to the sofitel and relax at the teracce enjoying their very nice and not that expensive selection of greek wines

Away from YYZ

Humm.. not sure if I understand all these, slightly confused... BTW is BC=BP? if not, what's BC?

However, seems like there maybe a change of plan. Did my OLCI, even I am in transit via ATH to JTR. But BP only checked all the way to ATH. i.e. most likely I will need to pick up luggage at ATH....

1) my plan of staying air side to take a break doesn't seems to work, does one have to go thru passport control before picking up luggage?

2) Assume I picked up luggage, I will be in the 'land side'? (i.e. need to go thru security to get back to 'air side', right?)

3) How early A3 gate agent will let me re-check in my luggage? Or I assume I need to get a locker or something to put my luggage there if I plan to go out of the city...

KLouis

Sorry! BC = Boarding card = BP = Boarding pass.

Hope it's not too late. You can OLCI at -48 hrs for each flight. Get into their site again and do get your BC/BP for the second, domestic leg too.

Yes, but you will not have to pick up your luggage. You can check it to your final destination at your point of departure!!!

Yes, when arriving at ATH you are always land-side, unless your flight was very late and you are then escorted directly to your departure gate.

As I said above, you will not have to re-check your luggage. But in the case you simply only check it to ATH, don't worry, they'll re-check it immediately for you.

Away from YYZ

Thanks for the answer

In my case I arrive ATH at 0400 and depart at 2130, would A3 gate agent recheck the luggage for me? (not the case in most airport based on my experience, IIRC agent doesn't check in luggage until within a few hours of the flight departure)

But I could be wrong... never been ATH or deal w A3 before.

KLouis

I guess/hope they will. But I repeat, check it through to your end destination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Knobbgb

As for the question about storing luggage in the lounge and then leaving the airport for the day...

You have to go through boarding card control to get to the lounge, but not security. I've never tried to go back past the control point but I don't see how they could stop you. They do scan your boarding card so maybe it would flag up a problem the second time you pass (multipule use of the same boarding card). I'm actually in the lounge right now and i'm bored. I will go to check....

EDIT: OK, I asked the lounge-dragon and she said it is no problem. You must be sure to tell the staff here that you are leaving your bag in the locker and coming back. She said there is no problem going back past the bc checkpoint. She just said you must not leave the luggage here overnight, after the lounge closes

Away from YYZ

Now I am back from ATH and having a clue what's A/B side you guys were talking about...

B side = Domestic (e.g. ATH->JTR)
They simply scan your BP and let you in. However if you are arriving ATH and just want to grab a drink before exiting the airport. (Which most likely your connecting flight is next day) They will not let you in until after 11PM for some reasons.

A side = Non-Domestic, passing passport control, exiting EU (e.g. ATH->IST)
You will have to go thru passport control, stamped exit EU on passport, then security (if you have check-in luggage with you on arrival, you are SOL)
To exit, you have to go "downstair" (or I was told), thru passport control again to get the enter EU stamp. Or you can try to exit the same level and have the office to scratch off your exit EU stamp.

* on A side, you may need to ask for an invitation to "swissport lounge" and it is all the way to the end of the terminal.

frenchft

no need of invitation for the non schengen swissport lounge. bp with A3 or *A gold status in enough

KLouis

No, you got it wrong! B: Schengen (including domestic), A: Schengen. But all the rest is correct.

KLouis

Well, yesterday morning they asked for my card (no scan, only visual) and they filled an invitation card with my details (name, flight, M&B number) that they... kept. Perhaps their scanner was not working and they needed this as "proof" that I was there.

PS Now I understood the "view" statements of some previous posts: Gate A13 was abolished and the lounge was expanded now reaching the windows. As of a few months ago it was much smaller.