I am flying from Dublin to Santorini in July. We have a 1 hour layover in Athens and I’m a bit concerned about making the connection. When I called Aegean, the customer service representative said that during the summer, immigration and customs is done in Santorini. She said I’d be able to deplane in Athens and go directly to my Santorini flight. I haven’t found any information online to confirm. Has anyone else seen or heard this information? Thank you!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12233 posts
Is Dublin to Santorini on one ticket?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Yes, it’s all on one ticket on Aegean.
Posted by
Freedonia
16748 posts
That doesn't sound right to me. Not everyone coming off your flight to Athens is then going on to Santorini.
Did you ask where you go through "customs" to the customer service rep? Because customs will be in Santorini but immigration will be in Athens? Plan for it to be this way.
If it is on one ticket, and you miss your connection, Aegean has to get you on the next available flight.
Posted by
France Southwest
2611 posts
It seems strange to me
Schengen and non-Schengen arrivals are in two different areas of Athens airport. Logically if you are arriving from Ireland you should arrive in the Extra Shengen area of Athens airport and therefore go through immigration control at this time.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
It seemed strange to me too. I called Aegean customer service again and the agent insisted that because I was coming from EU that there was no immigration or customs period.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2632 posts
You might be travelling between two EU member countries but they are not both members of the Schengen area.
Immigration will occur where you enter the Schengen i.e. Athens. Customs will not occur as both are members of the EU customs union.
Posted by
Freedonia
16748 posts
Sorry, but the Aegean customer service agent is wrong. It has nothing to do with the EU. It has to do with Schengen. Ireland is not in Schengen. Greece is. You go through Schengen immigration at your entry point into Schengen. That is Athens.
By the way, what passport do you have?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for confirming what I thought! Strange that 2 different agents said the same thing. I have a US passport.
Posted by
France Southwest
2611 posts
I would tend to believe the Aegean employee, but according to flightaware.com, the Athens to Dublin return flight Aegean flight A3630 departed yesterday from gate A12 which is in the non-Schegen area.
Unfortunately the gate number of the arrival flight A3631 Dublin-Athens is not indicated.
(gates Axx are Non Schengen, gates Bxx are Schengen)