A3 [ATH] Lounge to get major refurb in the Spring
#16
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
Let's hope they also add some off the "E-Passport" gates for EU passport holders. They seem to be pretty much everywhere now. I've been lucky and never had to wait more than a few minutes in 'A' Arrivals but it never seems very well staffed and I'd hate to arrive in the back few rows of that EK 777-300!
In my experience an e-gate takes an average of ~25 seconds while a human without a passport scanner takes an average of ~8 seconds. If the human has a passport scanner then it takes longer.
#17
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,563
e-passport gates would slow things down for EU/EEA citizens since the officers at ATH merely inspect passports visually, or at least they did so the last time I was there.
In my experience an e-gate takes an average of ~25 seconds while a human without a passport scanner takes an average of ~8 seconds. If the human has a passport scanner then it takes longer.
In my experience an e-gate takes an average of ~25 seconds while a human without a passport scanner takes an average of ~8 seconds. If the human has a passport scanner then it takes longer.
My wife's passport was rejected by "all" automatic gates at FCO and SYD (2-3 times at each one) while it took the Police less than 10 seconds to accept it!
#18
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,369
e-passport gates would slow things down for EU/EEA citizens since the officers at ATH merely inspect passports visually, or at least they did so the last time I was there.
In my experience an e-gate takes an average of ~25 seconds while a human without a passport scanner takes an average of ~8 seconds. If the human has a passport scanner then it takes longer.
In my experience an e-gate takes an average of ~25 seconds while a human without a passport scanner takes an average of ~8 seconds. If the human has a passport scanner then it takes longer.
Actually, I take back my suggestion - the border control people at ATH are very quick - once they see a British passport they tend to just wave you through without even looking at it. I'm not sure how it is for other EU nationals.
#19
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,343
I usually sit at the back of the overnight LHR, where it is less crowded/noisy, so I have been behind ~100 people entering ATH at 0330, most of whom are EU citizens, and I feel that everyone is usually processed within 10 seconds. I presume these guys have just started their shift so it's not because they are in a hurry to finish work or anything.
Probably what may happen after gates are introduced is that the queue will be 50 people for the gates and only a few for the human. This seems to be the case in HEL exiting Schengen - there are about 10+ gates right in front of your face and the human officers are sitting off to one side - so most people line up for the gates assuming that only non-citizens need to go to the manual desks.
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,876
#21
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,563
@DELLAS (OP):
Where did you get your info from (a major refurbishing of A3's lounge)? I asked the lounge dragon/fairy yesterday and she was completely amazed. She told me that a few weeks back she had overheard a passenger talking about such a plan, but to her knowledge never was any one of her colleagues working there told anything by a supervisor. Conclusion: no idea what's going to happen.
Where did you get your info from (a major refurbishing of A3's lounge)? I asked the lounge dragon/fairy yesterday and she was completely amazed. She told me that a few weeks back she had overheard a passenger talking about such a plan, but to her knowledge never was any one of her colleagues working there told anything by a supervisor. Conclusion: no idea what's going to happen.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,876
@DELLAS (OP):
Where did you get your info from (a major refurbishing of A3's lounge)? I asked the lounge dragon/fairy yesterday and she was completely amazed. She told me that a few weeks back she had overheard a passenger talking about such a plan, but to her knowledge never was any one of her colleagues working there told anything by a supervisor. Conclusion: no idea what's going to happen.
Where did you get your info from (a major refurbishing of A3's lounge)? I asked the lounge dragon/fairy yesterday and she was completely amazed. She told me that a few weeks back she had overheard a passenger talking about such a plan, but to her knowledge never was any one of her colleagues working there told anything by a supervisor. Conclusion: no idea what's going to happen.
I would be surprised if something has drastically changed and its off !
#23
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,563
AFAIK nothing changed and still going ahead. That info was obtained when I posted and from a usually reliable source within A3. As for passengers being overheard in lounge maybe they read FT Or the M&B ''Closed FB page''. Surprised the majority of lounge staff do not know about it because some do and one would think they would at least mention it in passing to other colleagues.
I would be surprised if something has drastically changed and its off !
I would be surprised if something has drastically changed and its off !
#24
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 216
AFAIK nothing changed and still going ahead. That info was obtained when I posted and from a usually reliable source within A3. As for passengers being overheard in lounge maybe they read FT Or the M&B ''Closed FB page''. Surprised the majority of lounge staff do not know about it because some do and one would think they would at least mention it in passing to other colleagues.
I would be surprised if something has drastically changed and its off !
I would be surprised if something has drastically changed and its off !
#28
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,369
If you're flying *A rather than Olympic, try the Lufthansa lounge. That HAS been refurbished and it's quite nice, although no bigger.