Hi Fodor's family -

We are planning a trip to Greece in May, and for our last leg we will be staying in Santorini before heading back to Athens. Our flight leaves from Athens at 3:10pm on May 31, so we need to make it back from Santorini by then. Many people have recommended that we spend our final night in Athens to ensure that we make our flight, but I suppose i am willing to take my chances and put my faith in the greek transportation industry in order to have one last night in the greek isles...

Here's my dilemma: I have been looking at flights, and I have discovered that there are different available Aegean and Olympic flights from Thira to Athens posted on Kayak.com that are purchasable via Orbitz, but that are not listed on the airlines' own websites. The only thing that is stopping me from booking from Orbitz is that the flights are around $160, compared to the less convenient and more expensive flights found on the airlines' own sites, which worked out to something more like $115 (87 euros or so). Does anyone have any answers to why this would be?

On another note, would it be crazy to consider taking a highspeed ferry that morning instead of a flight? it sure would be cheaper...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

It would be crazy.

I agree, crazy.

Check with expedia.com for the same flights. They have an 800 number you can call for customer service to make sure the flight you want is still 'really' available.

>>On another note, would it be crazy to consider taking a highspeed ferry that morning instead of a flight?<<

No, it wouldn't be crazy - it would be impossible. ;-) The highspeeds make out and back runs from Piraeus to Santorini, and don't arrive back in Piraeus until after your 3:10PM flight departs.

The airlines' own websites list all the flights that still have seats available. The only flights that would be practical for you would be the ones that leave Santorini around 7AM, and Aegean Airlines often has cheap Saver fares for those early flights. It could be that the Kayak site is showing flights that are already sold out, and they certainly wouldn't be offering Saver fares.

Your risk of flying back to Athens the same day as your flight home is the same as for any connecting flight. When you book flights separately, you are on your own when you miss your connection. If you are prepared to take the risk of buying one-way tickets home at full fare (and possibly an extra night in an Athens hotel), that is your choice. I do it all the time, but would never advise someone else to do so.

besides, ferry's do get cancelled. i spent 5 hours of a freezing morning at Piraeus waiting for word on my ferry.until the last min when we were told it was cancelled.

hopped the subway to the airport and caught a flight out to Mykonos. there in an hour.

id recommend flying if time is of the essence.