Athens: Delta to Aegean Connection

Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 06:50 AM
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Athens: Delta to Aegean Connection

Hello! We have booked a Delta flight next May arriving into Athens at 10:35 am. Instead of going straight into Athens we would like to continue onto Santorini and are looking at a 12:20 pm Aegean flight to Santorini. Is this enough time to make this connection?

In Athens do you have to pick up your bags to go through immigration? Would it be possible to check our bags all the way through to Santorini from the Delta counter in Charlotte?

We are also looking at Naxos but it looks like the Olympic flight leaves just a bit earlier so I figured we could go to Santorini first.

Thanks for your help.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 07:14 AM
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Melissa, I think you should be able to make it OK... Yes you do have to pick up your bags and then re-check them into Aegean. However, the process is not as lengthy as in NYC or elsewhere.

Apparently there are 2 (Or more) people since you say "we." Thus If for any reason there is a slight delay and you are concerned about the check-in thing, one person could wait for the bags, while the other goes down the hall to the Aegean desk with your e-ticket to alert them that you are there for the 12:20 flight.

Going from Santorini to Naxos there are several ferries on most days, including regular ferries with decks that enable you to have (and photograph) the famous "caldera view" that people talk about
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Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 07:22 AM
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You should have plenty of time; friends have made this connection in less than 90 minutes and didn't really have to rush. I've done this connection twice (both times in late May) and had time to spare with 2 hours.

You do pick up your bags and go through both immigration and customs then re-check at the Aegean Airlines desk. When you come out of Customs, you just take the escalator back upstairs and go to the Aegean windows (there are several ATMs if you want to get euros first). Unfortunately, it's not going to help if one person checks in for the flight if you don't have the bags. But the check-in is pretty efficient on Aegean, and it's not been a problem for me in the past, nor for any of my friends who've done the same connection (not a single missed flight out of our group of 12).

You cannot check your bags all the way to Santorini, but Athens has a relatively small and very efficient airport. When you come back into Athens, I'd recommend taking the train into the city; it's both faster and much cheaper than a cab unless you have tons of bags.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 10:37 AM
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All we are looking to do the same thing next September. We normally don't check luggage and do only carryon when going to Europe or anywhere for that matter. If that is the case will we have to go through security again or be able to go directly to the Aegean gates after passing through customs? Thanks.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 11:35 AM
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Melissaperry2, you should have enough time for your Aegean connection. Although I usually take Olympic domestic flights myself, in all good conscience I wouldn't recommend booking with them at the moment. Olympic is going through restructuring, and no one knows for sure what the outcome will be.

Travel_princess, after checking in for your domestic flight you will go to the departure area. Security for carry-on luggage will be at the gate.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2008, 12:07 PM
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Thank you Heimdall!
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Old Jan 3rd, 2008, 04:42 AM
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Thanks so much for the valuable information!
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Old Jan 3rd, 2008, 06:24 AM
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Melissa, not to be rude, but if Delta is late, you may not make your connection. Who can tell if Delta will be on time? I, for example, just flew Delta from Berlin to JFK and my plane was 1 1/2 hours late. Flying today is a crapshoot, sweetie darling.

If your plane is late you will just have to get a later flight on Aegean or upgrade to Business Class (about 200E extra). There are usually seats available in Business Class if the rest of the plane is booked. I don't think too many people will be flying to Santorini in May.

Athens airport is extremely small if that is any consolation. Doug is correct, you just turn right after leaving Customs and go upstairs to Aegean. Grab one of those ladies with the walkie/talkies to point you in the right direction.

Good luck,
Thingorjus
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Old Mar 22nd, 2013, 04:46 AM
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Excellent information and soles my problem for a Mykonos connection!
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Old Mar 22nd, 2013, 06:08 AM
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This thread is five years old, and some of the information is outdated. The old Olympic Airlines has been replaced by Olympic Air, and I would now have no hesitation in booking with them.
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Old Mar 22nd, 2013, 08:08 AM
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Seafox, if your plan is to continue on a connecting flight to Mykonos when you first arrive, and you're using Aegean Airlines, you can print your own boarding pass (48 hours in advance, I think) to save more time.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2013, 05:46 PM
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TY for the updated advice. We have booked, fingers crossed!
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