My ATH -> MUC -> IAD flight next month departs at 6am. Does the three-hour rule apply - i.e., should I plan to get there at 3am since it's an international flight?
What's the best way to get to the airport in the middle of the night from central Athens?
ETA: Thank you all for the great advice. When I fly in to Athens, I'll ask what time the counter opens, and schedule a Welcome Pickup to get me there by opening.
Your first flight is within Europe so not considered an international flight. Can't help you with time to arrive, sorry. I would take a taxi to the airport, flat rate.
If you're flying into ATH, I'd stop at the airline's check-in area upon arrival and ask what time they open. It can be less than 2 hours before some of the earlier flights. No point arriving before then.
In March, 2h30 should be enough since you are taking a flight to Munich in the Schegen area.
It also depends on whether you have baggage to check in. If not, 2 hours is enough
If there are a lot of people and long queues for check-in, airport staff call passengers who have a flight leaving soon and give them priority.
Your best option for getting to the airport would be to book a taxi with Welcome Pickups (or similar)
https://www.welcomepickups.com/athens/
The journey time from Athens center to the airport very early in the morning should not exceed 45 minutes.
Book a hotel for your last night that offers a free shuttle to the airport. The coastal port city has such a hotel, the Avra, witha shuttle leaving at 3am and again at 4am. It takes 30 minutes. It's closer than downtown Athens. The Sofitel hotel is right at the airport, literally just across the road, so you can be at your check-in counter in 5 minutes. It's not cheap but it is very convenient. Of course your hotel in Athens can book a taxi for you. The ight rate of €54 will apply.
For that early a flight, I would definitely not get there more than 90 minutes before departure. Not even sure if any of the check-in counters will be open. Also, are you checking bags - if not, I'm assuming you can check in on the app and have your boarding passes. Then the only thing major thing is to get through security.
Like others have said, your first flight is more like a domestic flight - really no reason to get there early with nothing to do at the airport.
Back in the day, the cheap way to get to the airport early was to take the direct bus from Syntagma Square. Not sure if that is a thing anymore or not...but back then we pretty much partied all night until leaving for an early flight...that won't happen anymore either.
Paul, back in the day, we were all a lot younger, and that was a favorite strategy. If Ekir75's screen name does not refer to his or her birth date, and he/she is young and sprightly, that route still works... bus about every 30-40 mins in wee hours.... a sign at the bus stop on Othonos (RH side of Syntagma Square looking up) will gi ve exact timetable.
Splurge and stay at the Sofitel the night before. Directly across the street from the airport it is a 2 minute walk to your check-in counter.
We have stayed at the Sofitel and it is definitely handy but it is also so sterile. It could be a business hotel in any city in the world.
I prefer my last night in Greece to FEEL like Greece, so we have over the years stayed in several b&b's near the airport. Last fall we tried the Avra Hotel, recommended by many people on this board, and it was wonderful. The hotel itself was very nice, with an elevator and comfortable rooms -- some with sea-view balconies. It's just a short walk to the port at Rafina, where you can choose from a variety of tavernas for your farewell dinner, and watch the ferries returning to port, ready for the next day's journey. The Avra has a free shuttle to & from the airport -- you'll need to arrange that when making a reservation. They know what time to get you there for your flight.
Edited to add: I just realized that you may be spending your last couple of nights in Athens. In that case, you may not want to change hotels, so a 3:30 am taxi would get you to the airport in time. But if you have the option to stay near the airport, I would pick the Avra. In fact, we've reserved it for our trip this coming September.
Enjoy your last afternoon and evening in Athens instead of spending it in this sad, impersonal, sanitized concrete cube with locked windows and with this "Mesoghaia restaurant" which serves one of the most expensive Greek salad in all of Greece ( 19.50€!!)
I happen to like the Sofitel. The convenience, the beds, the showers( the best in Europe), and a simple meal in the restaurant. Perhaps it is an age thing...but at 68 ( my husband 79) I'll take the Sofitel over having to take a 3:30 AM shuttle anytime.
For many of us, it's not an age thing, it's a budget thing... not everyone has options.
We are pondering the same thing for April. Sofitel is at least $325 for a double room w/ cancellation option. We’ve done the 3am thing before. Looks like we’ll do it again.
