Greece - Travel Since Reopening
May 23, 2021, 9:08 am
#61
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,642
Anyone thinking of using separate tickets for a "transit"? Entering data into the Timatic form and declaring you are transiting makes it look doable, but if I show up to depart with a UA ticket to FRA and an Aegean ticket to ATH that departs in the next 23 hours...seems like the odds of failure are pretty high. I guess the question is whether Timatic information is applicable to each ticket rather than each person's itinerary.
ETA: No checked baggage
ETA: No checked baggage
May 23, 2021, 9:41 am
#62
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,112
Does anyone know if the country-specific exemptions from (https://travel.gov.gr/#/) apply to citizens regardless of origin flights?
Example - if I am a citizen of one of these countries but arrive via a third country (temporary tourist stay), would I still be exempt from quarantine with a vaccination?
The countries from which entry is allowed, under the aforementioned conditions, without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation are: EU & Schengen Area countries, USA, UK, Israel, Serbia, UAE, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, the Russian Federation, North Macedonia, Canada, Belarus, Bahrein, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia.
May 23, 2021, 11:06 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
May 23, 2021, 11:50 pm
#65
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 2
On May 21, I completed my trip from NY to Greece via FRA using just my US passport and CDC card. I had the various printouts to show the ticketing agents and German Border Control, but no issues to report with my transit. German Border Police asked me for my itinerary, including my booked ticket home, PLF, and the purpose of my travel (tourism).
Just another data-point for the other travelers.
Just another data-point for the other travelers.
May 24, 2021, 6:34 am
#66
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,454
Some datapoints: we are in Athens now. We transited thru LHR: SFO-JFK-LHR-ATH, on AA and BA (last leg). The AA check-in agent took about 30 min to check us in, and we were getting nervous something wasn't right, but it turns out she was just clueless and didn't know what she was doing. Entered Greece with CDC vaccination card - was a breeze. Transited UK with PCR test 72 hours before departure of our JFK-LHR leg.
Note that we also had to fill out PLF forms: one for each of us for the UK, and a single PLF for both of us for Greece. IIRC the Greek PLF needs to be filled out online 24 (or 48?) hours before you arrive in Greece. They email you the actual PLF with QR code at midnight of the day of your arrival - I got ours while we were in JFK and printed it out at the Admirals Club. The Greek PLF was checked by BA before they issued our boarding passes for the last leg. Another lady on our flight did not have her PLF completed and I think she ended up missing the flight.
Athens restaurants and site seeing sites are all open. There was zero line to get tickets at the Acropolis. Our guide said 15K people visit the Acropolis every day during normal times, and it seemed there was maybe 150 people there! Good for us, but feel bad for the tourism industry. I think things will pick up quickly this summer, though.
Heading to the islands tomorrow via domestic flight.
Note that we also had to fill out PLF forms: one for each of us for the UK, and a single PLF for both of us for Greece. IIRC the Greek PLF needs to be filled out online 24 (or 48?) hours before you arrive in Greece. They email you the actual PLF with QR code at midnight of the day of your arrival - I got ours while we were in JFK and printed it out at the Admirals Club. The Greek PLF was checked by BA before they issued our boarding passes for the last leg. Another lady on our flight did not have her PLF completed and I think she ended up missing the flight.
Athens restaurants and site seeing sites are all open. There was zero line to get tickets at the Acropolis. Our guide said 15K people visit the Acropolis every day during normal times, and it seemed there was maybe 150 people there! Good for us, but feel bad for the tourism industry. I think things will pick up quickly this summer, though.
Heading to the islands tomorrow via domestic flight.
May 24, 2021, 7:30 am
#67
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Did you catch anywhere in athens (like downtown) where you could get a PCR test? I know the airport has them but its inconvenient to go back there. I'm doing the opposite of you, islands then athens. With my itn, I can either get it in Rhodes somewhere (not sure what the airport offers) or perhaps on arrival at the athens airport
May 24, 2021, 7:52 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
On May 21, I completed my trip from NY to Greece via FRA using just my US passport and CDC card. I had the various printouts to show the ticketing agents and German Border Control, but no issues to report with my transit. German Border Police asked me for my itinerary, including my booked ticket home, PLF, and the purpose of my travel (tourism).
Just another data-point for the other travelers.
Just another data-point for the other travelers.
May 24, 2021, 8:33 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 193
Some datapoints: we are in Athens now. We transited thru LHR: SFO-JFK-LHR-ATH, on AA and BA (last leg). The AA check-in agent took about 30 min to check us in, and we were getting nervous something wasn't right, but it turns out she was just clueless and didn't know what she was doing. Entered Greece with CDC vaccination card - was a breeze. Transited UK with PCR test 72 hours before departure of our JFK-LHR leg.
Note that we also had to fill out PLF forms: one for each of us for the UK, and a single PLF for both of us for Greece. IIRC the Greek PLF needs to be filled out online 24 (or 48?) hours before you arrive in Greece. They email you the actual PLF with QR code at midnight of the day of your arrival - I got ours while we were in JFK and printed it out at the Admirals Club. The Greek PLF was checked by BA before they issued our boarding passes for the last leg. Another lady on our flight did not have her PLF completed and I think she ended up missing the flight.
Note that we also had to fill out PLF forms: one for each of us for the UK, and a single PLF for both of us for Greece. IIRC the Greek PLF needs to be filled out online 24 (or 48?) hours before you arrive in Greece. They email you the actual PLF with QR code at midnight of the day of your arrival - I got ours while we were in JFK and printed it out at the Admirals Club. The Greek PLF was checked by BA before they issued our boarding passes for the last leg. Another lady on our flight did not have her PLF completed and I think she ended up missing the flight.
When I was initially booking my flights to Greece, I considered British Airways and Lufthansa connecting through the UK and Germany, respectively. But then the more I read about the transit rules, the more I thought, OK, just use a US airline that connects in the USA, i.e., only two countries involved (I ultimately booked UA from SFO to ATH, and AA from ATH to SFO, which connected through IAD and PHL, respectively). That way, I only need to fill out the Greek PLF form, and do not need any test going to ATH since I have my CDC vaccine certs.
May 24, 2021, 8:44 am
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
Wow, that's a lot of hoops (UK PLF, Greek PLF, 72 hour PCR test) to go from US to Greece. Glad you made it ok.
When I was initially booking my flights to Greece, I considered British Airways and Lufthansa connecting through the UK and Germany, respectively. But then the more I read about the transit rules, the more I thought, OK, just use a US airline that connects in the USA, i.e., only two countries involved (I ultimately booked UA from SFO to ATH, and AA from ATH to SFO, which connected through IAD and PHL, respectively). That way, I only need to fill out the Greek PLF form, and do not need any test going to ATH since I have my CDC vaccine certs.
When I was initially booking my flights to Greece, I considered British Airways and Lufthansa connecting through the UK and Germany, respectively. But then the more I read about the transit rules, the more I thought, OK, just use a US airline that connects in the USA, i.e., only two countries involved (I ultimately booked UA from SFO to ATH, and AA from ATH to SFO, which connected through IAD and PHL, respectively). That way, I only need to fill out the Greek PLF form, and do not need any test going to ATH since I have my CDC vaccine certs.
May 24, 2021, 9:37 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,928
For those of you who will go to Corfu, Crete or Rhodes and if you need a PCR or antigenic test, they have a super website to book your test and they come to your hotel to do it. Price : 60€. You can pay online. I just did it and it is super simple 
www.doctornearyou.gr
www.doctornearyou.gr
May 24, 2021, 10:55 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
For those of you who will go to Corfu, Crete or Rhodes and if you need a PCR or antigenic test, they have a super website to book your test and they come to your hotel to do it. Price : 60€. You can pay online. I just did it and it is super simple
www.doctornearyou.gr
www.doctornearyou.gr
May 24, 2021, 11:32 am
#73
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,454
Wow, that's a lot of hoops (UK PLF, Greek PLF, 72 hour PCR test) to go from US to Greece. Glad you made it ok.
When I was initially booking my flights to Greece, I considered British Airways and Lufthansa connecting through the UK and Germany, respectively. But then the more I read about the transit rules, the more I thought, OK, just use a US airline that connects in the USA, i.e., only two countries involved (I ultimately booked UA from SFO to ATH, and AA from ATH to SFO, which connected through IAD and PHL, respectively). That way, I only need to fill out the Greek PLF form, and do not need any test going to ATH since I have my CDC vaccine certs.
When I was initially booking my flights to Greece, I considered British Airways and Lufthansa connecting through the UK and Germany, respectively. But then the more I read about the transit rules, the more I thought, OK, just use a US airline that connects in the USA, i.e., only two countries involved (I ultimately booked UA from SFO to ATH, and AA from ATH to SFO, which connected through IAD and PHL, respectively). That way, I only need to fill out the Greek PLF form, and do not need any test going to ATH since I have my CDC vaccine certs.
May 25, 2021, 3:51 am
#74
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Did you catch anywhere in athens (like downtown) where you could get a PCR test? I know the airport has them but its inconvenient to go back there. I'm doing the opposite of you, islands then athens. With my itn, I can either get it in Rhodes somewhere (not sure what the airport offers) or perhaps on arrival at the athens airport
Here is one example.
https://bioiatriki.gr/covid-19-en.php
May 25, 2021, 4:55 am
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
Most, if not all Microbiologist offices do Covid tests, in my experience. Any facility that does blood tests basically will do Covid testing. Obviously make sure to say that it is needed in English.