flying through Philadelphia versus Newark

Vienna is smaller and easier than Heathrow. Which of those two options you listed is the Vienna layover?

Beth -- Your text is somewhat confusing; I've been to greece many times, out of Philly and NY, and still my head is spinning. To clarify, I believe what you're saying is that you want us to recommend the best choice for your parents arrival/departure -- and you will work your own flight plans to adapt to that choice. Is that right?? In paragraph 2 & 3, you're talking about your own fligfhts, but in Concluding, you ask us to help you choose flights for your parents. Which?? Also, are your parents coming from Ft. Lauderdale as well? Or somewhere else? Here are some observations, based on 12 Athens trips, nonstops and Europe connections, and also with/without a 2nd connection to an Island-bound flight:

PHILADELHIA
• American (exUSAir) Nonstop 4:30pm - 9:15 AM next AM is 100% on-time arrival in ATH... also shortest actual airtime of any line. But of course, seats uncomfortable, food bad, fares higher.
NEWARK
* Haven't used; do you ask about 2hr40min layover between arrival from Ft Laud and outbound flight to Athens? Or layover upon return? For you on May 20, Or parents on May 26? Both?

HEATHROW
• United (or other) flight with Heathrow connection --- in my experience, Heathrow is nerve-wracking even if you have 3 hours between flights. Why? It's world's busiest airport, & Does NOT assign gates ahead of time!! Those changing planes must go to big central Pen and stare at huge boards for their gate number. It finally pops up, it says "boarding at _" (30 minutes)... and it takes 20+ minutes to reach the gate!!! IF you don't lose your way!! You run down loooong concourse, avoiding wrong turns, down escalator, out of exit door onto bus, off bus onto rail platform, then MUST exit car at correct Station (1-2-3-4) to find gate. Nightmare. I do not recall (trying to repress the memory!) whether you must go thru security before admittance to Central Pen. I think so. I was in my 60s, fit and energetic, I Ran down that concourse. How old/fit are your parents?
VIENNA
• I've never connected there, but this link describes a new terminal that makes connection easier -- https://www.austrian.com/Info/Flying/Terminal.aspx?sclang=en&cc=AT -- multi-level terminal with escalators: to go from one airline's gates to another's, people need only change levels, not sprint or bus between different terminals ... that's something I would certainly welcome!

CONNECTIONS in GENERAL

ATHENS AIRPORT
• In Late May, tourism traffic is already getting heavy, but it depends a LOT on arrival date; If arriving on Saturday or Sunday, expect bigger crowds; Also, fewer flights between 9 - 12 am; after that, Many connection flights from Europe and other Continents flood in, crowds multiply.

• A time-saving plus: Athens has only ONE terminal. Once u get thru passport control, you can grab bags & quickly reach either the street, or domestic flight check-in line. In my May trips, deplaning at 9:30 am, thru passport line, bag pick-up, ATM visit = 45-50 minutes. Afternoon time = 1hr 20.
ON-TIME AVERAGES
• Nonstops - Any day of week, no matter how delayed departure may be from PHL, JFK or Newark, even if more than an hour late, these arrive ATH on schedule -- they have all that ocean time to make up for delays.
• Europe Connections - There's where delay factor builds in. If you arrive Heathrow 7 AM for 9 AM take-off for 3 hr flight, you lose 1 hr, land ATH 1pm .. probably 15-20 minutes late. Later in day, connecting flight departures from Rome, Frankfort, etc etc are 12 or 1, liklier to be delayed , as well as longer lines in ATH airport.

I hope my experience can help you sort out choices ... and please do clarify who you are asking for, so that others may respond helpfully.

Janet,

And I thought was being clear!!!

I am flying to Athens on Sunday May 20 and continuing on to Samos at 4:15 pm on May 21. I am thinking of flying out of Miami to Athens and then return to Ft. Lauderdale where we live. Flying out of Miami would allow me to arrive later in the day so I don't have to wait forever in Athens airport. Reasonable connections out of ft. Lauderdale all connect in the U.S. and arrive early in the day.

My husband and son (not parents) are flying from Ft. Lauderdale to Athens on Saturday May 26.

We want to fly home on June 10 on same flight from Athens to Ft. Lauderdale so that is the issue as I need to chose a flight going to Athens that is on an airline that will work for both me and them.

So my questions have to do with connections for my husband and son coming from Ft. Lauderdale. I think I am better off on the United flights from Miami as they go through Vienna while American goes through London. But that would mean them flying through Newark as that is the route for United from Ft. Lauderdale to Athens and return. I am not familiar at all with Newark.

1. Is 2 hours and 40 minutes enough time in Newark to change from a domestic arrival to an international departure? Is 3 hours enough time to go through customs and connect to a domestic flight on return?

2. And the alternative is for all of us to fly American. That would have me going through London from Miami (and I have done the board) and them flying from Ft. Lauderdale through Philadelphia with a 2 hour layover going to Athens to change from a domestic arrival to a international departure . Is a two hour layover adequate? Returning from Athens to Ft. Lauderdale, we would then have three hours to go through customs in Philadelphia and connect to a domestic flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Is that adequate?

I trying to coordinate six people coming from different cities with different arrival times and me going to Greece six days earlier than the rest of them. Clearly it has jumbled my brain and is reflected in my query!

I hope I am clearer this time!

Beth

I think your circumstances are complicated enough that it would benefit you to work with a travel agent. They are able to untangle these kinds of complexities. I don't know what you would have to pay for their services, but it might be worth it. There are probably some online services that could help you if you don't know a local travel agent in your area.

It seems so odd to suggest working with a travel agent in this day and age. I think it's been over 20 years since I last used their services. But maybe you should consider it.

I agree heartily with Lane; time for a travel agent! Yes, the coordination seems to have scrambled what certainly must be a fine brain! -- Because you talk about You, Husband & Son which to me = three, and THEN you talk about SIX people coming from different cities at different times ... Help!! Make it stop!!

You're in Ft. Lauderdale which of all places still doubtless has a thriving travel-agency business, due to all the travel-mad seniors who don't want to make their own arrangements. They have software that enables them to call up all the options on their screen at once ... and compare them.

If you balk at this, you can answer your worries about layover times by telephone calls to human beings at: United (OR Newark airport), to find out whether, at Newark, arrivees go OUT of Security before making connection, or whether they have a contained pathway to the connection gates. That will tell you whether they have to stand in another security line. ALso find out if there are 2 different terminals and if so, if there's a walkway, or some vehicle for passenger transfer.

In Philadelphia, International and domestic are in 2 different terminals, and WIDELY separated, and you end up walking forever. At Christmas, tho taking a domestic flight, I had to be left off at the International American terminal ... luckily for me, I'd just gotten a New Knee, thus qualified for one of those Speedi-Cart rides. Did I feel luck ... passing by all those trudging fellow passengers. It must have been a mile when you count all the concourses, and of course one's flight is always at the very end of the structure.

PS -- I've also been to Samos 2x, and loooove it .... wish I could go back with someone interested in exploring all the Western parts. Once we get this family flight-a-thon straightened out, you can start a different thread re Samos -- but DO give relevant info such as -- where staying, what transportation, any group tour arrangements, any special interests.

Both Philadelphia and Newark are challenging airports to connect through. Both are notorious for delayed flights.

I recently connected through Newark on the way back from Rome. There were only 5 Global Entry kiosks (1 was broken) and the "regular" US Immigration line was very long. They then randomly assigned people do go through an agriculture inspection. Then security. Then walk to your gate. 2 hours and 40 minutes is doable, but if you have checked luggage or aren't fast walkers, it may be cutting it close. Then again, your connecting flight may be late, so you could be okay.

Regarding Philadelphia, as a previous poster mentioned, the international terminal (A) is far from the other terminals. It's a great walk (good exercise), but if the inbound flight is delayed, 2 hours could be cutting it close.

I booked flights this morning so I promise no more posts about flights! I decided on United. I did recall suddenly, because of posts here, the very long walk from terminals in Philadelphia for an international flight! It looks like United domestic and international are in same terminal in Newark plus the layover is a little longer for Newark. And I was able to get myself a flight through Zurich to Athens that arrives early afternoon in plenty of time for 4:15 flight to Samos that returns on United. I was even able to reserve seats in the same row for us for the return from Athens!

There are six of us, but three all ready had flights purchased. I should not have put the reference to six in my post . So sorry.

Yes, a travel agent may have been a good idea but now everyone has flights booked, and I have had for some time places to stay reserved.

Beth

Philly might be easier. Newark can be overwhelmed with a few international flight delays.