I am considering going from Santorini to Rhodes (with a connection in Athens). My questions are:
* Do we collect our bags at the Athens airport when landing, then re-check in at Athens airport, or
* will the bags go on the next plane automatically?
and
* how much time should I allot for layover/connection?
If you buy a single ticket the airline will transfer your baggage and their schedule has figured out the necessary time.
If you are buying 2 tickets then you would retrieve and recheck your bags and go through security.
Some airlines close boarding 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Depending on the time of year and potential weather issues, 3 hrs is what I would be looking at if doing it on 2 tickets.
As mentioned if you book both legs of this trip on the same airline Presumably Aegean/Olympic or Sky Express your bags will be checked through to your end destination. If the airline is willing to sell yu a ticket with a short time frame for the connection they are responsible to get you to your destination so thats a good way to go. You can easily make that connection with an hour time frame. Athens airport is compact and easy to get around. I might have to be corrected on this but I think you do not have to go through security again if you are connecting two domestic flights.
Even if you use two separate airlines and have to pick up luggage and check in again two hours is lots of time in Athens.