3 hours self-connection at ATH (separate tickets)
Aug 8, 2022, 7:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
3 hours self-connection at ATH (separate tickets)
Hi all,
Flying from Beirut to Geneva via ATH on 4th September, with a 3-hour self connection (2 separate tickets). Landing in ATH at 6pm on MEA flight ME253, and continuing from ATH to GVA at 9pm on LX 1823. Quite sure this is totally fine but wanted to double check if anyone has any similar experience via ATH.
Thanks in advance,
Flying from Beirut to Geneva via ATH on 4th September, with a 3-hour self connection (2 separate tickets). Landing in ATH at 6pm on MEA flight ME253, and continuing from ATH to GVA at 9pm on LX 1823. Quite sure this is totally fine but wanted to double check if anyone has any similar experience via ATH.
Thanks in advance,
Aug 8, 2022, 7:38 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,740
You haven't given us nearly enough information to determine whether the experience is similar or not.
Are you travelling with checked luggage?
What passport(s) are you travelling with?
ME253 is infrequent, and often late (it was 40 minutes late yesterday) - how damaging would it be if you missed the check-in deadline of your Swiss flight? Can you afford to buy a new onward ticket on the next day?
Are you travelling with checked luggage?
What passport(s) are you travelling with?
ME253 is infrequent, and often late (it was 40 minutes late yesterday) - how damaging would it be if you missed the check-in deadline of your Swiss flight? Can you afford to buy a new onward ticket on the next day?
Aug 8, 2022, 7:56 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
You haven't given us nearly enough information to determine whether the experience is similar or not.
Are you travelling with checked luggage?
What passport(s) are you travelling with?
ME253 is infrequent, and often late (it was 40 minutes late yesterday) - how damaging would it be if you missed the check-in deadline of your Swiss flight? Can you afford to buy a new onward ticket on the next day?
Are you travelling with checked luggage?
What passport(s) are you travelling with?
ME253 is infrequent, and often late (it was 40 minutes late yesterday) - how damaging would it be if you missed the check-in deadline of your Swiss flight? Can you afford to buy a new onward ticket on the next day?
Aug 8, 2022, 8:05 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,740
Sep 5, 2022, 3:21 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
I am happy to report that I made it. MEA flight from Beirut to Athens was on-time and I had 3 full hours to connect to my Swiss flight. Confirm Athens is a great airport to transfer due to its small size. Passport control took me literally 30 seconds, security screening less than 5 minutes.
Sep 5, 2022, 7:48 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,372
As another data point, a friend of mine recently flew into Athens from the UK and self-connected to a domestic flight. She arrived around 4am and immigration was like a zoo! It took 1hr45 to clear passport control and she made the domestic flight by seconds. So, I'm not saying it's always like that but, be prepared that it CAN get busy. I've always had good experiences, but, then again, I haven't actually left the Schengen zone for three years. A lot has changed...