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layover time at Athens airport- transferring to an Aegean Air flight 2hrs enough time?

Posted by on

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year. Asking this for a friend. She and her husband are flying Detroit to Athens on a Wednesday in late May. They have a 2 hr layover in Athens before a flight to Thessaloniki on Aegean Air. This is a not on the same ticket. Will 2 hrs be enough to clear immigration and get their Aegean Air flight? I'm advising her NOT to check luggage.

Thank you. On a side note, my husband and I and two friends are doing the RS Greece tour that starts at the end of March. We are adding on 5 days at the end and going to Crete, I know not nearly enough time but this was our best option.

Posted by
2635 posts

2 hours should be good provided that the flight from Detroit is on time and that there are not too many flights arriving from non-Schengen countries at the same time.

Since there are flights to Thessaloniki almost every hour until about 11pm with Aegean and Sky Express, maybe a 1 hour longer connection would be wiser.

Wait & see what other travelers from the USA think.

Posted by
1515 posts

We have done transatlantic flights many times. Both Aegean and Sky express allow you to check in 2 days in advance so you do not have to go to a gate agent.
This is what you can expect. On arrival head to passport control. Athens airport is very efficient and the longest time we have experienced is 30 minutes for passport control. When you get through, pick up your bags and go through the door marked" Nothing to declare." We have never even seen an agent at this door. That was customs.
You now go up one level and you are in departures. Check your bags (there is a machine where you can do that yourselves or you can go to a gate agent. Go through security and you can head to your gate. We have never had a problem making a connection in 2 hours.

We have always checked bags and never had any issues in getting the bags and getting to the next flight.
Hope that helps.

Posted by
2950 posts

There also is an economy class of ticket that allows you to change your flight without penalty. I bought that class of ticket and then did not worry. My family had 1.5 hours and we made it. Now I landed before them and had scooped out where to go but we all checked bags on Aegean, went through security, bought lunch and made our plane.

We had carry on from US so didn’t wait for baggage claim.

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