Flights from US to Athens

Hi,

You have some time yet. Delta has a direct flight from JFK on Fri/Sat which worked for us. We paid $980 a few years ago, the flight was in mid Oct. I would rather pay a little more than have to connect. There were cheaper fares using the Russian and Turkey airlines but you would have been flying all day.

I just looked at my notes, we booked in Feb for the Oct flight. I do remember I saw some cheaper flights later but I don't think that direct flight dropped by much.

Mary

You've got direct flights to Athens seasonally from JFK on Delta and from Philadelphia on American Airlines. They're the only easy way to get there.

You might want to check the Turkish airline website-did a search from Cle to Ath RT using your time frame,and price was $1050; Yes there is 2stops, Toronto and Istanbul, but they are a superb airline with plenty of room and great food.

I went to Greece last September (2016). I got a real good price on United Airlines round trip from Newark Liberty to Athens for about $900 per person economy. I booked the flight in early March.

Catherine, when asking for flight advice, it's thoughtful to say where u are from ... some Americans/Canadians have more options than others, depending on Location. Those in/near NY or PHiladelphia, or Toronto/Montreal are close to the 3 main direct flights from N America - ATH ... Delta, AA, and Canada Air. These 3 formerly would drop a little in Feb, but no more. Actually $1300 from Columbus,O (which i found by looking up your profile) is better than late may flights straight from PHL, which hover around $1400! But sometimes as michael says, United from Newark comes through. Also, if you have time to fool around, and are willing to do ONE round trip to a European Capital, and another from that city to Athens & back -- Iceland Airline (named WOW for some reason) is offering cheep-cheep round trips (like $200) from many US airports to major european cities. But that gets complicated, and from the fact that you are choosing a tour rather than independent travel, I'm guessing that wouldn't interest you. Good luck in snagging a discount! ... Just keep checking DAILY; sometime in early spring, usually around Tuesday or Wednesday, fares may drop FOR a DAY around $200 or so. If u have a choice between a US or Canadian airline, choose the latter, more room better experience.

I think you should wait a few months - it's way early yet. I track fares over a few months just to see where they're going. I don't think airlines are going to advertise their best deals in January for a flight that's almost at the end of the year. I wouldn't pay $1300 (that's way too much for off-season) but it depends what airport you're flying from and how much flexibility you have with exact dates (all tours recommend that you arrive a day or two early, or you can stay a few days after the tour as well). I think you have plenty of time to buy your airfare so I wouldn't panic if you're seeing prices like $1300.

I agree with Agnes. Watch the prices for a while, while you figure out which flights would be your favorite if you got to choose. For my March/April tour, I had previously watched flight costs the prior year during the winter. When it gets to where you find it acceptable go for it. I ended up with a deal that was much better than I ever expected...one day I just got this sense that I should check airfare at an odd time of day, for me. And there it was, a price even better than my known low on the exact flight I wanted, (From Boston on British Air via Heathrow to Athens = $650.00 and with my rewards, etc...down to $348.00). So I suggest you listen to Agnes...and listen to your gut as well!

Starting out in Ohio (per your profile) it will be hard to get a direct flight, and possibly, you may have two stops, or at least that will come up cheaper.

I agree that it is early, you might wait as long as June, but I have to admit that ticket costs have not been that predictable the last year or so. Used to be that you could pick a target, for me starting from Iowa, in the shoulder season, $900 was good, but I have noticed that $1100 to 1200 is more typical.

$1300 to me is high, but good may be $1100 now, in the end, not much difference to not worry and get the ticket and the flights you want; especially compared to the cost of the rest of the trip.

Yes, it's important to tell us your departure airport and dates. So much depends on how many stops, length of layover, what time you leave/arrive, etc.

I found prices a little more than $1,000 on Sky Scanner for early October for Ohio-Athens with two stops and long layovers. However they use a lot of third-party agents which some may not like. Normally when I use a site like Sky Scanner or Google Flight and find something that meets my needs I go directly to the airline's web site. You'll may get a better deal or at least better customer service.

When to buy a ticket is one of the most asked questions. I check on a regular basis starting 10 months out from when I want to go. I found a price from Boston-Paris-Athens on Delta/Air France at $468 late last November, round trip with good departure/arrival times and 1 short layover.

A couple days later the price jumped $200! So when you find something you can live with it may be the best time.

Obviously Boston is a lot closer to Athens than Ohio but if you search often you may find better deals.

I would add some words of caution:
• when you use search engines like MObissimus & Kayak, the most attractive prices may be offered by online agencies like "Globehunters" and "Fareboom" --- Beware!! if you google for reviews, you will find horror stories. Vayama & Cheaptickets are online agencies with pretty good records --but as others say, find the flights, then go direct to airlines involved & book direct.

• Some "multiple airline" flights have tempting prices to ATHENS with short layover in Chas De Gaulle Airport. BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE. This airport can be a nightmare to change planes in -- as a bruised veteran I would never attempt a connection through CDG in less than 2.5 hours. The layout is like an octopus, with bus meandering lazily from one "limb" to another. And even if YOU make the connecting flight, too often your luggage doesn't. Better safe (& paying a bit more) than sorry.

Janet: My take on CD in Paris is different. I've laid over there several time (minimum of 1 1-/2 hours or 2+hours) and never had a problem getting from Point A to Point B and always got to the gate in plenty of time.

Yes, it's one of the largest airports in Europe and spread out and there's always a chance of getting lost or being slowed down by the crowds, but fortunately I've made my connections.

My options for my October 2017 flight was either Boston-NY-Athens or Boston-Paris-Athens. I've flown via New York several times. Never had any problems with NY and it's a short hop from Boston. However, it's a 9+ hours flight to Athens rather than 7 hours to Paris. May not sound like much but extra 2 hours on a plane does make a difference.

I should be OK for the length of layover in Paris going & coming and since I've been to CD several times I have a good idea of what to expect.

However, your advice has always been good so I would recommend travelers to consider what you say if it's their first time via Paris.

I've been through CDG twice, and twice Air France lost my baggage for 48 hours, which of course I didn't know about until I reached my final destination. The last time this happened I had a 75 minute window to make my connecting flight, and when I reached Passport Control, a room with at least a dozen kiosks for Immigration agents to process arriving passengers, only 3 of those kiosks were in use and at least 2 other full flights had also arrived, causing a huge 'traffic jam' of annoyed and frustrated, not to mention exhausted people waiting to be admitted into the Schengen Zone. I barely made my onward flight after having to run to catch a shuttle to the next terminal. The whole place stunk like stale cigarettes and there was no room to maneuver from gate to gate when I did finally reach my terminal because of the VERY POOR design and lack of seating. I agree that unless you have ample time to navigate this nightmare of an airport you're better off taking a different route.

Lee, so sorry to hear you had same experience in CDG as I did. We only made our plane because we jumped off the shuttle bus and RAN for half-mile or more thru center. (my companions saw my red face & feared I was having heart-attack). As our plane taxiied out to runway, we looked out window & saw shuttle bus slowwwly approaching gate. PLUS, our lost luggage was not delivered by A-F to our hotel, but dumped at Airport; we had to rent a car just to fetch it. Beware A-F & CdG connection.

After hearing about the "issues" with CDG airport I am now a bit nervous about making my connection. I've been to CDG before but it's been on a return from Athens where I didn't have to go through security again and I had a 2 hour layover. It's now 1 hour 25 minutes before my flight to Athens after flying from Boston.

I am aware of the time it takes to get from the plane to the arrivals terminal (2E) then a walk of at least 25-30 minutes (maybe more depending) to departure terminal 2F.

Apparently I will have to go through security again even though I will have gone through security in Boston.

It's too late to do anything but hope for the best and if I miss the connecting flight to Athens it's my understanding that I will be given a ticket for the next available flight and my luggage ends up where I can find it!

Good lluck tommy ... and none of us worries that much anyway when heading home.... if your luggage is delayed, well it's mostly dirty laundry. It's OUTbound when it matters -- especially when you have to connect w. an aegean flight to an island. -- Oops, I just realized your short Layover IS outbound! Good luck! And one thing I found was good was to tell flight attendant you have a hairsbreadth connection ... when I did that once, just before landing she came & got me, to a vacant seat up front, to get out fast.

Janet: It's on the way over that I'm concerned with, especially the CDG connection. I've already got my seat booked which is nearer the front (economy section) of the plane and on the aisle which makes it quicker to get your overhead bag and be on the aisle to get out ASAP. If my flight from Boston to Paris is on time that leaves 1 hour 25 minutes. At this point I'm my not sure if I'll be taking a bus from the plane to the terminal or be at the terminal. According to CDG website it takes approximiately 25-35 minutes to get from my arrivals terminal to the departures terminal. I can probably do it quicker since I'm relatively young and in very good health and can walk quickly even with my carry on.

The next issue is how long it will take to go through security which I've heard a number of different things ranging from super slow to relatively slow to somewhat slow.

However, if things are looking grim I'll ask a flight attendant about getting a better option seat or allowed to move ahead. Maybe at security I can plead my case about being late for the connecting flight.

It's a wait-until-I-get-there situation and since I'm an optimistic person I feel that I'll be able to make the connection.