Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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]

>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>> >>>>>>

Edit Log/History
  • Feb 4, 2023: Added an edit log/history.
  • Nov 12, 2023: Added report for KLX
>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>> >>>>>>

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

>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>> >>>>>>

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

>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>> >>>>>>

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






Print Wikipost

Immediate turnarounds in Europe on A3

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 21, 2016, 10:58 pm
  #106  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YWG
Posts: 2,272
Originally Posted by gpb_croppers63
Well I got back from my segment run yesterday evening. I'm happy to report that the back to back in LHR went perfectly. We landed at 20:50 and were on stand at 20:55 so I had 1h 20 in the end to make the connection. I was through arrivals and up at the check-in desk by 21:05 so it was all very relaxed. Nobody in front of me at security and I was sitting at the gate before they even called boarding. Why did I go to the check-in desk I hear you ask.......well that's a slightly longer story.

Let's start at the beginning: so I arrive in TXL on Saturday morning about 1h 50 before the flight. Just as check-in is opening actually. I'd already seen that the inbound aircraft was a new A320 with sharklets so all was good with the world. I go to the check-in desk and the agent is really lovely. She says "I can print all 4 boarding passes for you". Excellent I think! She hits print and her boarding pass printer beeps and refuses to print anything. After a bit of troubleshooting (including turning it off and back on again), she can't print any boarding passes at all! She asks her supervisor to print my BP and the same happens to her. My itinerary has now broken 2 check-in desks! A quick phonecall to the technician (who asks if she's tried turning it off and back on!), and he promises to drop by ASAP. I go and grab a Currywurst from the Ess-Bahn to start my day in style. Back to the desk about half an hour later and things are running smoothly again. They could only print the BP to LHR but that's fine, I have 4 hours there so I can collect the rest then. As long as I get the LHR-ATH leg printed before I leave ATH, all will be good I think.

Great flight down to ATH and we arrive a few minutes early. I head straight to the check-in desk and explain the situation. "No problem" says the Goldair Handling agent. Goes into my booking, presses print and then "beep, beep, beep". She tries again, the same thing happens. Now her printer is broken! She calls her supervisor, he tries it too and now his printer is broken!!! He makes a load of phonecalls and suddenly, another agent appears from behind me with A4 pages with my BPs printed out from the OLCI stations in ATH. What great thinking! Excellent service from Goldair and A3 at this point. I'm good to go and not worrying about my connection anymore. Incidentally, I also try the SSKs in ATH and they won't print anything either!

So that's how we get back to LHR and I go to the check-in desk. I wanted to see if my theory that the 1 hour in LHR was causing the system to fall over was correct. And it was! The guy in LHR was able to print my BP for LHR-ATH and ATH-TXL no problem. I can only assume that A3s systems did not like me only having 1 hour in LHR despite it being a perfectly legal connection. If it hadn't been for the quick thinking of the Goldair agent in ATH, I'd have been fretting about my connection in LHR far more. I would probably have downloaded the BP to my phone just to be certain but I much prefer paper BPs, as they can't run out of battery.

Hope you enjoyed reading my mini saga! In conclusion, LHR is more than doable on the last flight of the day but I wouldn't want to try it on any of the earlier ones, as there's no way T2 will be that quiet then!

Edited to add: I've updated the wiki with my experience as well.
I'm assuming you are travelling on an EU/UK passport? Since A3 does not off Fast Track passport control, not sure how do-able this would be for non EU/UK folk.
hydrogen is offline  
Old Nov 22, 2016, 2:11 am
  #107  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: A3*G, Marriott Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium
Posts: 860
Originally Posted by hydrogen
I'm assuming you are travelling on an EU/UK passport? Since A3 does not off Fast Track passport control, not sure how do-able this would be for non EU/UK folk.
Yes, I have a UK passport. You make a good point but I would suggest that non-UK/EU passengers use Flight Connections in that case, as I believe you don't have to go through passport control when connecting between 2 international flights. That would make it still doable. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
gpb_croppers63 is offline  
Old Nov 23, 2016, 10:32 am
  #108  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Braunschweig/Germany
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 83
I had a direct turnaround two times in IST. When you leave the plane, there are one way down to the Immigration and one way up to transit. You will end up at the same gate and then just wait for boarding.
Bjotr is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2016, 10:09 am
  #109  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: BOGish. VLCish. It's complicated.
Programs: BA
Posts: 683
WRT the whole concept of back-to-back legs and potential issues with carriers I know an airlines nut who does this just for fun just to collect the BPs. He's never had a problem afaik.
IanWorthington is offline  
Old Nov 26, 2016, 12:43 pm
  #110  
TPJ
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Database:

WAW


While I didn't do a MR, today's flight utilized Gate 30 (jetty) - MR would be a piece of cake - just leave the aircraft and re-board (quick visit to the LO Lounge would still be feasible).
TPJ is offline  
Old Dec 3, 2016, 4:37 pm
  #111  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
I did a turnaround in IST, but I took the morning flight to IST and the afternoon back. The time inbetween I spent in the Turkish Airlines lounge. Probably the best lounge I've been to.

When I deplaned, there were two gangways. One leading DOWN towards immigration, one leading UP for connections. Make sure to go UP! Be prepared for some ground staff person to shout and run after you, as it happened to me. However, he let me proceed once he had checked my boarding pass for my return&onward flights. So be prepared!
sokolov is offline  
Old Dec 7, 2016, 6:08 am
  #112  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Has anyone tried TLV ? Arrive at 0045 and depart at 0540?
DELLAS is offline  
Old Dec 7, 2016, 11:42 am
  #113  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
Originally Posted by DELLAS
Has anyone tried TLV ? Arrive at 0045 and depart at 0540?
I did similar a while back - I arrived from LCA at 2am and departed to ATH at 6am. There is a "transfer" option in TLV, however, very rarely used. Been discussed here - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/el-al...l#post27155866.
They may allow you to go through connections, if you follow the sign to "transfers" go down the escalator, use the phone to call an agent, who will question you, and take you through security, and into the departures area. However, most likely, at a time like that, middle of night, they will tell you to just go to arrivals and back to departures the normal way.
However, if they ask where you coming from, you will have to say ATH, and then ask why you coming to Israel, you say, flying to ATH. Might be somewhat suspicious, and further questioning at the worst, so might just be some hassle.
But in any case, 5 hours is plenty time.

Someone can add this to the wiki.
benberg2013 is offline  
Old Dec 7, 2016, 1:11 pm
  #114  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Originally Posted by benberg2013
I did similar a while back - I arrived from LCA at 2am and departed to ATH at 6am. There is a "transfer" option in TLV, however, very rarely used. Been discussed here - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/el-al...l#post27155866.
They may allow you to go through connections, if you follow the sign to "transfers" go down the escalator, use the phone to call an agent, who will question you, and take you through security, and into the departures area. However, most likely, at a time like that, middle of night, they will tell you to just go to arrivals and back to departures the normal way.
However, if they ask where you coming from, you will have to say ATH, and then ask why you coming to Israel, you say, flying to ATH. Might be somewhat suspicious, and further questioning at the worst, so might just be some hassle.
But in any case, 5 hours is plenty time.

Someone can add this to the wiki.
Thanks for the info. I once did a day trip to TLV back in the BMI days so know about the questions and security layers. I was asked tons of questions and asked to show pictures I took while I was in Tel Aviv during the day but once they knew the reason was a mileage run they were satisfied and quite pleasant and invited me to go back for longer next time which I actually did.

Good to know even with all the formalities 5 hours is ok. If I decide to do it I will report back.
DELLAS is offline  
Old Dec 23, 2016, 5:11 am
  #115  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Well I did it and glad I did. A nice trip and pretty hassle free. Have updated the Wiki.

A few pics I took a long the way.



.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
DELLAS is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2017, 7:22 pm
  #116  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NRT/HND
Programs: A3 *G, HH Gold
Posts: 74
Just another data point, but in November I did ATH-TXL-ATH-LHR.

TXL: Totally possible, security is at the gate and you exit directly beside the security line for the gate so you can just get right back in it.
nar0 is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2017, 12:54 pm
  #117  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: MUC
Programs: A3*G, HH Gold
Posts: 74
Originally Posted by DELLAS
Well I did it and glad I did. A nice trip and pretty hassle free. Have updated the Wiki.
I am thinking about doing the same, albeit arriving at 01:45am and leaving 07:00am. Were you able to get your BP for the TLV-ATH leg before or is it necessary to go to the A3 counter? As my layover will be slightly longer I'm wondering if the check in will already be open this early...

Otherwise a real steal at 130€ from GVA!
Bavariair is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2017, 2:42 am
  #118  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Originally Posted by Bavariair
I am thinking about doing the same, albeit arriving at 01:45am and leaving 07:00am. Were you able to get your BP for the TLV-ATH leg before or is it necessary to go to the A3 counter? As my layover will be slightly longer I'm wondering if the check in will already be open this early...

Otherwise a real steal at 130€ from GVA!
I was able to print off my return at home and also get Mobile BP on my iPhone so you should have no problems. Also if all else fails the self service kiosks before check in will print one off for you at TLV. Just one point the security control closes for a few hours so you may find that you have to stay land side for 90 mins but some shops and cafes open which you can always kill time at.
DELLAS is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2017, 4:28 am
  #119  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: MUC
Programs: A3*G, HH Gold
Posts: 74
Originally Posted by DELLAS
I was able to print off my return at home and also get Mobile BP on my iPhone so you should have no problems. Also if all else fails the self service kiosks before check in will print one off for you at TLV. Just one point the security control closes for a few hours so you may find that you have to stay land side for 90 mins but some shops and cafes open which you can always kill time at.
Thanks for your reply but have decided to go to IST instead. Would have been a very long day without sleep otherwise
Bavariair is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2017, 3:44 pm
  #120  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PDX
Programs: kayaker
Posts: 851
Originally Posted by Bavariair
Thanks for your reply but have decided to go to IST instead. Would have been a very long day without sleep otherwise
IST has a much nicer lounge, too.
o mikros is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.