eliiet

Hi,
Can anyone help me out with a question regarding the above airlines.
Do they have many delays usually?
I want to fly from Santorini with Aegean to Athens early morning of the 8th of June. Then catch a flight to Munich with Lufthansa at around say 8am (flight duration is around 2.5hrs) then catch my international flight from Munich back to Australia at 3:45pm. Is this do able?
I just don't want to miss the main flight back to Oz. Not sure what would happen if one of the earlier flights (Aegean or Lufthansa) were to be delayed what would happen with my flight home. Would travel insurance cover this?
Thanks in advance I would really appreciate anybody's help.

dulciusexasperis

It is never a good idea to count on making connections like that. Especially if your flight home is non-refundable, non-changeable. The best plan is to be in Munich the night before your flight home.

No one can guarantee you that the flight from Santorini or from Athens will be on time. I certainly would not risk the early morning flight to Athens to catch an 8am flight. I would at least plan on being in Athens the night before. The Athens to Munich has more flexibility and I would probably risk that one.



Your travel insurance provider is who you should be asking about coverage, not anyone here.

Lois2

That is a terrible idea to try to do all that in one day...just terrible. Advice given above is exactly what I would do. There is no predicting weather, mechanicals, strikes (not uncommon in Greece) and anything else. Don't do it. As for insurance...well even if it did cover it I would never consider it. I don't believe it would unless it was a published "legal" connection on one airline...clearly it is not. If your time in Santorini is too short by leaving a night early then retool your trip as Santorini will certainly be the highlight.

eliiet

Thank you for your in put I appreciate a thought on the matter. Kind Regards, Ellie

MmePerdu

You can check historical on-time performance by airline and route here:

http://www.flightstats.com/go/Flight...tingByRoute.do

MmePerdu

If the flights are booked as one continuing journey (1 reservation/ticket) then, if a segment were delayed, you'd be put on the next available flight, no charge. If they sell you the ticket they must honor it even if there are delays. If you buy them separately then you're at the mercy of chance.

brotherleelove2004

Don't risk it. Go back to Athens on the 7th.

MmePerdu

If I had only a few days at a destination and was in no hurry to get home so didn't mind a delay too much, I'd consider trying to make the tight connections, if it meant no or little extra cost to me. It depends entirely on one's personal inclinations and requirements. If the idea of an unexpected delay or overnight between 1 or another flight doesn't bother you too much then buy it on 1 ticket and give it try. If you feel you must make the flight home then overnight before your flight from Munich would be my choice. It would also be a more relaxing experience.

Cowboy1968

There is no "risk" if all legs from Santorini to Australia are on "one" ticket. If any connection is missed, the airline(s) put you on next available flight(s). And pay for an extra hotel night if the delay was caused by the airline. The worst case would be a one day later than expected arrival in Australia.

If OP bought Santorini via Athens to Munich seperately, it is a very different situation. In that case, I'd probably prefer to go to Munich one day earlier.

But unless we know what is the situation ticket-wise there is no blanket yes or no answer.

dulciusexasperis

I think we can easily presume that it is not ONE ticket from Santorini to Australia.

DonTopaz

> I think we can easily presume that it is not
> ONE ticket from Santorini to Australia.

You can "easily presume" that, but I would not.

Aegean and Lufthansa are both members of Star Alliance. I would think it's very likely to be a single fare to Santorini from Australia, on one ticket.

As long as it's a single ticket, I wouldn't hesitate to travel the same day (understanding, of course, that it will be a long travel day).

WWK

We've had a few flights delayed coming back from the Greek Islands ( Paros, Santorini) to Athens. First time was a mechanical problem, the other times were weather related due to high winds. As others have said, don't risk it! Spend the last night in or near Athens!

MmePerdu

"As others have said, don't risk it!"

We don't know if there's a risk or not. Only if there's something to lose, as in must be back or booked separate tickets. Maybe Ellie will return to tell us the facts but in the meantime, we have no way to know.

rialtogrl

Since both airlines are Star Alliance as DonTopaz pointed out, you could book one ticket flying from Santorini the day before you fly home to Australia, and spend the night at an airport hotel before continuing on the next day. That way it won't be such an uber-long day, and in case of any major problems with delays and cancellations you'd be covered.

MmePerdu

It appears to me from Ellie's original post that she wants to stay on Santorini as long as she can. Until she fills in the gaps, such as is it 1 ticket or 2 or 3? And does it matter if she's delayed, then we have no way to advise her meaningfully. Maybe she'll come back and tell us. But if not, then it's a mystery.

WWK

Something else to consider is that there are limited flights from the islands to Athens. And they fill up fast in the summer months. If she is cancelled, she may have to wait a day or two to get back to Athens. If that matters to her, she shouldn't risk it.

eliiet

Thank you everyone I really appreciate your help on the matter.
My flights are not on a single ticket, they will all be separate flights as I have already purchased the main international return flight from Oz to Munich. That's right I want to be in Santorini as long as I can but thinking it probably would be a good idea leave on the 7th.

MmePerdu

Ellie, consider buying the Santorini to Munich on one booking, unless you plan to overnight in Athens. If you'll be going on to Munich on the 7th you can at least have the benefit of checking your bag through to Munich from Santorini and protection if it all goes, as they say, pear-shaped and you miss the onward flight. They'll then be motivated to get you on the next possible to Munich or put you up if necessary.

dulciusexasperis

"I would think it's very likely to be a single fare to Santorini from Australia, on one ticket."

Don Topaz, it is highly unlikely anyone ever leaves Santorini on a single ticket all the way back to Australia via Athens and Munich. It is much more likely to be 2 or even 3 separate tickets as indeed is the case in this instance.

Eliiet, I agree with MmePerdu, try to go right through to Munich on the 7th if you can. If you can't then overnighting in Athens will have to do but of course it means getting up early enough to be at the airport to catch that 8am. flight. Pain in the butt. Better to be in Munich if you can and be able to sleep normally since you will only have to get up in time to catch the flight home to Australia which presumably is in the early afternoon.

joannyc

eliite said at 10:47pm yesterday that his/her tickets are not on a single ticket.