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Old Apr 8, 2016, 1:18 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: intuition
(This wiki format has been borrowed from the BA forum, and modified to fit the A3 circumstance. Thank you very much BA forum, and BA forum folks.)

(Also note: this is just a guide. Use at your own risk and discretion. But also, please contribute your experiences!)

What Is This?
This community maintained wiki lists out all known airports on the A3 network grading each airport in terms of its practical suitability for quick flight transfers. Three transfer categories are considered (and indicated as traffic lights from left to right in the following order):
  • "Back to back": Immediate turnarounds without checked baggage, with an airside transfer and flying out on the same aircraft that operated the inbound flight
  • "Transfer": Immediate turnarounds without checked baggage, with an airside transfer and flying out on a different aircraft (or airline) to the one that operated the inbound flight
  • "Landside": Full arrival and departure sequence. It is assumed check-in for the onward flight is processed prior to the arrival at the airport.
[New] Please add an entry in the Edit History below if and when you make an edit.

Grading:
Excellent generally means you will leave the aircraft and find yourself in the boarding area for departure.
Good suggests that you may have to clear either security and/or passports before reboarding, but it should still be possible.
Reasonable suggests possible but with potential difficulties
Poor means high difficulty and not advisable
Ungraded means we don't have enough reports/data

Caveats:
  1. Know that sometimes things don't go to plan. E.g. Some airports are unpredictable on bussing, which puts passengers landside and thus needing to reclear security.
  2. The above needs to be combined with the turnaround time. E.g. Some flight schedules offer generous back-to-back time, for example.
Example:

ABC

Back to Back: Excellent (reason, if any) [Date of Report]
Transfer: Reasonable (Arrivals decant directly into Departures. Especially okay if going Schengen again, tricky if non-Schengen) [Dec 2020] (Reasonable even for intra-Schengen, and here's why [...]) [Feb 2021]
Landside: Bad (Bus driver usually gets lost on the way to departures, sometimes stopping at Narnia along the way. See Post #123 and Post #456 as an example.) [Apr 2019]

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Edit Log/History
  • Feb 4, 2023: Added an edit log/history.
  • Nov 12, 2023: Added report for KLX
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Non-Greece List
Note: Some are seasonal. List accurate as of March 2021.
Note-note: Please ensure alphabetization if adding/subtracting a destination, and to update the "accuracy-date" in the previous line.

ADB ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

AGP ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

AMM ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

AMS ☻ ☻
Back to back: unless there is a spotcheck on the flight, forcing you to clear security on arrival, you will be able to almost immediately join the passengers gathering for departure at the gate you just arrived from. No security, no passport check - make sure to have your boarding pass already. [Unknown date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

ARN ☻ ☻
Back to back: works the same way as CPH - you are unloaded right into the gate area and should be able to immediately re-board [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BCN ☻ ☻
Back to back: Similar to MAD you are unloaded right into the gate area and can immediately re-board. There is even time to go to the lounge. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BEG ☻ ☻
Update 2023: Airport is currently under major changes. Centralised security is implemented and you are not offloaded anymore in the same area as departures.
Back to back:
This is outside Schengen and the EU but you are still offloaded into the same area as departures so you should be able to immediately re-board. Security is at each gate. I'm not sure how legal it would be to go there and not pass through passport control (your passport is actually stamped - a novelty there days!) but there are often some VERY cheap flights from ATH. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BER ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BES ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BEY ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BLQ ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BOD ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BRU ☻ ☻
Back to back: fed straight into gate area, so immediate turnaround possible. But big warning: no clue how recent events at BRU might have changed airport ops! [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

BUD ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

CAI ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

CDG ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

CPH ☻ ☻
Back to back: should be very doable, as you get straight in the main departure lobby/gate on all my times flying there. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

CTA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

DBV ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

DME ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

DOL ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

DUB ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

DUS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

EDI ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

EVN ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

FCO ☻ ☻
Back to back: If docked at a jetty/bridge, simply walk along the long corridor till you come to the common area, then take the escalator one floor up and go to your gate. Should not take more than 5-10 minutes, still could be a long walk. But if a bus is used (this happens every once in a while (10:1)), it gets rather close. You get bussed to the common luggage collecting area, walk out, take a left and take the elevator one floor up. You go through security and once through, add another 5-10 minutes to reach your gate. Security may take long, also bussing, the whole operation might take more than 30 minutes. Unfortunately no way of knowing beforehand whether it will be jetty or bus. [Unknown Date]
Transfer:
Landside:


FRA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

GVA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

HAM ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

HBE ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

HEL ☻ ☻
Back to back: Disembarkation is immediately in to the gate area from which boarding takes place. *A flights tend to be allocated the low number gates close to the SAS lounge (closed at the moment).
In the event of a bus, you are dropped into the gate area close to where you would board a bus on departure. There is no security or passport check as it's intra-Schengen.
If/when the SAS lounge reopens, it's OK for a few minutes and a snack but there is no other lounge within easy distance of this area of the terminal.
HEL is probably the longest back to back on the current network alongside LHR & DUB but certainly easier than LHR.
Transfer: See above
Landside: unknown

IST
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

JED ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

KRK ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

LED ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

LGW ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

LHR ☻ ☻
Back to back: The last flight of the day is definitely doable. You have the option of going through Flight Connections (the best option for those with non-UK/EU passports) or going landside and back through security that way. Both will take about 10 minutes at that time of the evening. The earlier flights would be more problematic, as the terminal would be much busier. It should still be doable but will more than likely not be very relaxed. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

LIS ☻ ☻
Back to back: if you end up on a stand with a jetway then you are deposited into the departure area and should be able to reboard. If you end up on a stand, you will be bussed to the terminal and end up on the far end of the departures area. You should still be able to make it to the gate with a boarding pass, but if things are running late, you may have problems. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

LUX ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

LYS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

MAD ☻ ☻
Back to back: You are unloaded right into the gate area and can immediately re-board. There is even time to go to the lounge. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

MAN ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

MLA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

MRS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

MUC ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

MXP ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

NAP ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

NCE ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

NTE ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

NUE ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

OSL ☻ ☻
Back to back: is a little different due to it not being in the EU (but still in Schengen). There you are unloaded into corridor above the main concourse and have to pass through a security check before going downstairs to the departure concourse. It SHOULD be very quick. NOTE that I have only arrived there from France and Germany, NOT from Greece but it should be the same. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

OTP ☻ ☻
Back to back: you will be feeded away from the arrivals hall. Make sure before clearing passport control to find the transit point (not always staffed). Within 5-10 mins from there you should be back into the departures area, after BP is checked/gate agents or ground personell is contacted. Never tried personally myself, but should be very doable what I've read! [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

PRG ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

PSA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

RUH ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

SOF ☻ ☻
Back to back: Forget it. I was bussed to the terminal which was really slow and then there was a reasonable queue at passport control (small airport and no other arrivals but only two desks). [Unknown Date]
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

STR ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

SXB ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: unknown
Landside: unknown

TBS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

TIA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

TLN ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

TLS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

TLV ☻ ☻
Back to back: Where the flight has a near 5 hour turnaround time A3928/929 this is a pretty hassle free trip. I landed and cleared in about 30 mins from landing. Advised guy at passport control the purpose of trip ( mileage run ) to which he asked if I had been to Israel before. After that gave me back my passport and said ''Enjoy''. Went to get some fresh air before going back through departures. There is a HBO security line to the right. I was given a full interview for about 10 mins but guy was very pleasant. Put a sticker on my passport with a barcode then I went through a very thorough screening/x ray process. I would advise to do this trip HBO only as with checked bags the process would be a lot longer as they open everything. I would certainly do this MR again. I got some lovely local produce and some nice wines for Xmas. ^ [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

VCE ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

VIE ☻ ☻
Back to back: you are unloaded right into the gate area and should be able to immediately re-board. If you are unlucky and get a remote bus gate, you may have to walk a bit but no need to re-clear security and should be do-able in 10 minutes [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

VLC ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

WAW ☻ ☻
Back to back: Idiot proof (i.e. arrival into the departure hall, back to the plane through the same gate) and time for a quick bite/drink at the Polonez lounge if disembarking through a nearby gate. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ZAG ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ZRH ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

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Greece List
Note: Some are seasonal. Some served by subsidiary, Olympic. List accurate as of March 2021.
Note-note: Please ensure alphabetization if adding/subtracting a destination, and to update the "accuracy-date" in the previous line.

CFU ☻ ☻
Back to back: have to reclear security, but airport is very small so only takes a few minutes -- told OA staff what I was doing and they offered to have the GA make sure to hold things in case of any delay [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

CHQ ☻ ☻
Back to back: bus gates/walk to arrivals on tarmac, so will have to reclear security, but as airport is very small it could surely done in 20-30 mins. High season charter crowds at the wrong hours of the day can complicate this! (Not stopping over for at least a day in CHQ is anyway a crime against humanity). [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

EFL ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

HER ☻ ☻
Back to back: You always get bussed, first waiting for business class to deplane. Once in the terminal, turn left after exiting the building and walk through the CI area to Schengen departures (~150 metres). The CI area may be a zoo in the summer months, push yourself through. Easy in off-season but iffy in the summer due to crowds at security. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JIK ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JKH ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JMK ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JNX ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JSH ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JSI ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

JTR ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

KGS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

KIT ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

KLX
All transfers are landside

Back to back: Tarmac deplaning and short walk to arrivals where passport and customs filter exists (unmanned for schengen arrivals). From here you must exit to landside, where you walk 30-40 meters inside the termial building to the north, passing 3-4 check-in desks (likely closed at the time you pass them) before you find departures security scan where boarding pass and travel documents are checked. 20 meters after security boarding pass is scanned again before entering holding pen at the gate, from where it is a short tarmac walk back to the plane. Business class passengers are held in a separate pen and boarded (led onto tarmac) first. [Nov 2023]

Transfer: Same procedure as B2B - Best practice is to make sure transfer flight is operated by the arriving aircraft. Because of the small size of the airport, this is often the case (but technically it can hold more than one plane at a time on the apron, so do your research). [Nov 2023]

Landside: Same procedure as B2B. If you have a longish layover, pay attention to opening hours of security and check-in desks. It is a very small airport and services may be intermittently closed. [Nov 2023]



KVA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

KZS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

LCA ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

LRS ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

LXS ☻ ☻
Back to back: 1 minute bus drive from plane to terminal (and same back). Terminal very small but check-in desks likely closed once you get to there so make sure you have boarding pass already. 25 minutes as is typical connection time is enough, when plane is delayed you'll likely need to run. You have to re-clear security. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

MJT
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Tiny airport - off the plane, through security and at the gate in 5-7 minutes. Would be easy as a back-to-back/immediate turn around too. [2022-04-10]
Landside: Unknown

MLO ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

PAS ☻ ☻
Back to back: PAS is my home airport and it would be very easy to just walk outside, back into the termal and through security - probably about three minutes from stepping off the aircraft to being ready to board. Also, there is only one flight at once and only 4 or 5 members of staff at the entire airport so just tell somebody what you are doing as you depalane and I'm sure they'd wait for you. I imagine most of the other small airports (Naxos, Syros etc.) work the same. [Unknown Date]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

RHO ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

SKG ☻ ☻
Back to back: Tarmac deplane and 20 meter walk to enter terminal building (no bussing on this occasion). There is a transfer-door which let's you stay airside. You need to show onward BP to enter; a back-to-back BP was not an issue on this occasion. Some 20 meters down the hall you'll find the lounge on the right. Boarding can be done from the lounge, so this is a really quick path. If you don't have lounge access, then stairs to departures level is to the left and you can get to the gate in a few minutes.
Only problem would be if the transfer door isn't manned or if your onward BP isn't accepted. Then you will have to do landside. [2022-05-16]

Transfer: Excellent, see back-to-back
Landside: Unknown

SKU ☻ ☻
Back to back: Doable (good, but not excellent). Like PAS, this is a tiny airport, with just one or two flights a day (if even that). Made the short walk to arrivals with other arriving passengers, but quickly joined the single security line, went through security, and walked back out to the plane. Told the ground staff I'd be on the return (not sure if that made a difference). [Oct 2018]
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ZTH ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

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Hub Itself

ATH (Non-Schengen to Non-Schengen) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (Non-GR Schengen to Non-Schengen) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (GR-Domestic to Non-Schengen) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (Non-Schengen to Non-GR Schengen) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (Non-GR Schengen to Non-GR Schengen) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (GR-Domestic to Non-GR Schengen) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (Non-Schengen to GR-Domestic) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (Non-GR Schengen to GR-Domestic) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown

ATH (GR-Domestic to GR-Domestic) ☻ ☻ ☻
Back to back: unknown
Transfer: Unknown
Landside: Unknown






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Immediate turnarounds in Europe on A3

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Old Feb 8, 2023, 2:45 am
  #286  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,890
Originally Posted by Knobbgb
This is becoming a bit of a double-post as I already just replied to this poster on another thread but...

Also be aware that DUB was one of the WORST airports this last summer for security and immigration queues due to low staffing. There were reports of people turning up three or four hours before their flights and still missing them. It was fine when I was last there (January) but if you're travelling in high season and if they haven't yet fixed their staffing problems... Whenever I've traveled UK-Dublin I've always had to go through immigration even with the existence of the CTA. I'd say you are asking for trouble. Even if there IS a connections point allowing you to avoid immigration, it might not even be open if they are short staffed (I've been to more than one airport where I had to ring a bell and wait... and wait...) And there might still be a security check required. And technically you DON'T REALLY have a connecting ticket...

I think you need real, on the ground advice from someone actually doing this at DUB before you attempt this connection. I'm not going again until next winter but I will report back for sure.
You are indeed correct . Im Dublin based and through the airport weekly . I know the layout inside out and probably would not attempt it. That is not to say you would not make it but take into account judging by recent advance booking figures this Summer is going to be jammed. The Irish are booking like crazy and according to a mate of mine who works at one of the big travel
suppliers here its up 25% . One reason why Dublin Airport and ground handlers are recruiting like theres no tomorrow . I have recently waited 25 mins in fast track and other times just sailed through and its off peak currently.
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 6:18 am
  #287  
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: FLR
Programs: LH FTL - A3 Gold -AFKL Gold - HH Gold - IHG Platinum
Posts: 42
Originally Posted by DELLAS
You are indeed correct . Im Dublin based and through the airport weekly . I know the layout inside out and probably would not attempt it. That is not to say you would not make it but take into account judging by recent advance booking figures this Summer is going to be jammed. The Irish are booking like crazy and according to a mate of mine who works at one of the big travel
suppliers here its up 25% . One reason why Dublin Airport and ground handlers are recruiting like theres no tomorrow . I have recently waited 25 mins in fast track and other times just sailed through and its off peak currently.
Thanks mate. That's why I changed my trip back to Athens with a TK flight, and changed my date for the DUB-ATH , I will go direct to DUB to take my flight to Athens, and will get the A3 G status one week later . 😊
Thanks again to all !
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Last edited by DocStrangelove; Feb 8, 2023 at 7:38 am
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 9:22 am
  #288  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SIN and Medway, UK (so... LCY/LGW/BRU)
Programs: A3 *G, BA OWS, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 748
Originally Posted by jerry_greece
If i remember correctly there is a way to stay "air-side" after a NS arrival, by going upstairs from arrivals (and not going to passport control). It might include clearing security again though.
I was walking around the NS section in ATH last week after entering it and didnt find a way to get out — to passport control — after realising I could have gone to the Schengen lounge at 4am before the Non-Schengen one opened at 6.

As far as I can tell from my tour it seems like NS arrivals and departures are segregated in ATH and there's no way to go to NS departures other than clearing and re-clearing passport control
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 12:12 pm
  #289  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: A3G, BA Silver, LH FT
Posts: 296
Originally Posted by tmobiley
Need help! 🇨🇿 🇬🇷 🇧🇬 🇦🇱 🇷🇴 🇧🇪 🇮🇪

Does anyone here have experience transiting airside through Athens International between non-Schengen countries?

I would think I might stay in the international terminal if I did not check my 20kg case? I would have my 8kg cabin bag and personal handbag.

I am looking at the following itinerary:

Turn #1: Prague > Athens > Sofia
Turn #2: Sofia > Athens > Tirana
Turn #3: Tirana > Athens > Bucharest
Turn #4: Bucharest > Athens > Bruxelles > Dublin

I would be able to do same-day turns between Sofia, Tirana, and Bucharest, all at Athens International, simply by deplaning with my 8kg and handbag and then finding my new gate, correct?

There should only be customs if entering the Schengen area of the airport and, of course, when entering/exiting the countries, I will be travelling to/from which are non-Schengen.

If I do not check luggage, I can simply transit gate to gate airside? And if I do check luggage can I connect my segments and have my bag follow me through all my AEGEAN flights? Thank you!
I did LHR-ATH-LHR in November 2022 on separate one way tickets and the transfer took less than 10 minutes. I was first off the plane and after disembarking we turned left and walked through the glass walkway passing all the low numbered A gates. Then an escalator downstairs to immigration hall. Ahead of you are immigration lanes, however turn left from the escalator and there is a passport check and a small transit security checkpoint with very bored staff who processed me very quickly. Another escalator ride up and you emerge in front of the big Hellenic duty free in the non Schengen wing. Everything is very well signposted. There was an Aegean Connection Ambassador in blue vest and I asked her for directions to non-Schengen. She wanted to know where I’m flying to and was just gobsmacked when I said I’m going back to London. She even pointed out it will be the same plane and the same gate
Regarding luggage it will be checked through if you’re on single ticket.
Aegean magazine has a schematic on page 247 explaining the different transfer variations.
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Last edited by palcsaky; Feb 8, 2023 at 12:28 pm
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 9:40 pm
  #290  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Nectar Card
Posts: 1,092
Originally Posted by jerry_greece
If i remember correctly there is a way to stay "air-side" after a NS arrival, by going upstairs from arrivals (and not going to passport control). It might include clearing security again though.
Not OP, but is it correct DUB requires everyone to go through passport control, regardless of whether they're transiting or arriving, and regardless of where they're coming from or going to?

Originally Posted by palcsaky
I did LHR-ATH-LHR in November 2022 on separate one way tickets and the transfer took less than 10 minutes. I was first off the plane and after disembarking we turned left and walked through the glass walkway passing all the low numbered A gates. Then an escalator downstairs to immigration hall. Ahead of you are immigration lanes, however turn left from the escalator and there is a passport check and a small transit security checkpoint with very bored staff who processed me very quickly. Another escalator ride up and you emerge in front of the big Hellenic duty free in the non Schengen wing. Everything is very well signposted. There was an Aegean Connection Ambassador in blue vest and I asked her for directions to non-Schengen. She wanted to know where I’m flying to and was just gobsmacked when I said I’m going back to London. She even pointed out it will be the same plane and the same gate
Regarding luggage it will be checked through if you’re on single ticket.
Aegean magazine has a schematic on page 247 explaining the different transfer variations.
So there is some sort of formal transit-connection pathway to do NS-to-NS without clearing passport control? (I don't have an upcoming NS-to-NS through ATH but this is good general knowledge.)
futuramadramallama is offline  
Old Feb 9, 2023, 2:14 am
  #291  
 
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So there is some sort of formal transit-connection pathway to do NS-to-NS without clearing passport control? (I don't have an upcoming NS-to-NS through ATH but this is good general knowledge.)
There always used to be a transit point before that area was redesigned a couple of years ago but beware - The old transfer point was often closed at quiet times and you had to call and request an agent to deal with you. Who knows how long that would take. Maybe it's different now that traffic is growing and (I guess) more people are transiting NS-NS.

I did LHR-ATH-LHR in November 2022 on separate one way tickets.....
Regarding luggage it will be checked through if you’re on single ticket.

Are you saying you really checked bags LHR-ATH-LHR throughout? Well, I guess if it;s part of a longer trip it's cheaper than leaving them in luggage storage at LHR
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Old Feb 9, 2023, 4:42 am
  #292  
 
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Originally Posted by Knobbgb
Are you saying you really checked bags LHR-ATH-LHR throughout? Well, I guess if it;s part of a longer trip it's cheaper than leaving them in luggage storage at LHR
I didn't. I was responding to tmobiley 's question. He's flying SOF-ATH-TIA and TIA-ATH-OTP. There's no reason why they wouldn't check his bags through if on a single ticket. The one thing that's not clear is if he's also doing immediate turnarounds in SOF, TIA and OTP which would not be possible with a checked bag.
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Old Feb 9, 2023, 7:16 pm
  #293  
 
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Originally Posted by Knobbgb
There always used to be a transit point before that area was redesigned a couple of years ago but beware - The old transfer point was often closed at quiet times and you had to call and request an agent to deal with you. Who knows how long that would take. Maybe it's different now that traffic is growing and (I guess) more people are transiting NS-NS. [...]
So when it was quiet, you had to know to request an agent, who may or may not have been willing to assist.
(I've done a "meaningless" border entry before, just to go through security and exit the border again because there was no other pathway I was aware of. So it's nice to know which airports have easier transit connectivity.)

Thank you for the clarification.
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Old Mar 21, 2023, 5:55 pm
  #294  
 
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Just to share on my experience (not for the faint hearted), I managed to do a 4-flight back-to-back itinerary LHR-ATH-LHR-ATH-LHR in two days, starting from the lunchtime LHR-ATH flight and finishing back to LHR at lunchtime again for a zero to Gold run. I was inspired by a comment from a few months ago, from someone who did ZRH-ATH-LHR, though I can't find it anymore in this M&B forum.

In terms of immediate turnarounds, ATH and LHR are quite easy to achieve for the flights that I have done (A3 601, 608, 609, 600), though sitting in the same aircraft three times in one day can be quite exhausting at the end of the day. The procedure for ATH (5pm, 4am) and LHR (9pm) is similar to what other experienced, where there is no queue at all at the transfer section and you can pass through in a few minutes, and even have time to enjoy the lounge if you have access to them. Though as a side note, only the duty free section is open at 4am in ATH, so if you want to make it easier to do you could clear immigration and stay at hotels nearby ATH and catch a later flight.
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Old Mar 21, 2023, 7:34 pm
  #295  
 
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Originally Posted by Knobbgb
There always used to be a transit point before that area was redesigned a couple of years ago but beware - The old transfer point was often closed at quiet times and you had to call and request an agent to deal with you. Who knows how long that would take. Maybe it's different now that traffic is growing and (I guess) more people are transiting NS-NS.


Are you saying you really checked bags LHR-ATH-LHR throughout? Well, I guess if it;s part of a longer trip it's cheaper than leaving them in luggage storage at LHR

Last edited by Malibu369; Mar 21, 2023 at 7:49 pm Reason: Sent before composed message
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Old Mar 21, 2023, 7:40 pm
  #296  
 
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Originally Posted by Knobbgb
There always used to be a transit point before that area was redesigned a couple of years ago but beware - The old transfer point was often closed at quiet times and you had to call and request an agent to deal with you. Who knows how long that would take. Maybe it's different now that traffic is growing and (I guess) more people are transiting NS-NS.


Are you saying you really checked bags LHR-ATH-LHR throughout? Well, I guess if it;s part of a longer trip it's cheaper than leaving them in luggage storage at LHR
Yes done NS-NS transfers at ATH a few times over last two years. You pass an entrance to transit security on the left at the bottom of the escalators. After showing your passport and boarding pass to the guard. Hand luggage is rescreened very quickly and you head back up the escalators into the duty free area. I have often been the only passengers passing through on the late LHR departure
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Malibu369 is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2023, 10:13 pm
  #297  
 
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Just a warning for DUB . I am not sure if it was a one off but everyone needed a new paper boarding pass issued at the check in desk. The digital boarding pass was not allowed to pass through security on last nights flight. If anyone had been trying to risk a turn around there would have been issues .
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Old Oct 25, 2023, 1:56 pm
  #298  
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Does anyone have experience of KLX, as to how quick a turn-around can be done? Schengen-to-schengen
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Old Oct 28, 2023, 7:47 am
  #299  
 
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B2B Saturday nov 11th

Looking for a B2B for Saturday Nov 11th, need 6000 points... would prefer an airport without passing security again.
would probably start from Athens, although LCA is also an option
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Old Oct 28, 2023, 8:08 am
  #300  
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Originally Posted by intuition
Does anyone have experience of KLX, as to how quick a turn-around can be done? Schengen-to-schengen
No experience myself; however I have arrived and departed from KLX a few times. Its a small airport but can get crowded at times when multiple flights land/depart around the same time. There is no airside transfer as far as I am aware - and deplaning/boarding may involve a few minutes walk to the aircraft when parked further down the apron.
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