I would like to fly from Crete to Istanbul. I only seem to be able to find flights that stop over in France, Germany or Switzerland and I’d like to minimize time of the plane. I can book a flight from Heraklion to Athens and then a second flight from Athens to Istanbul. My question is: how much time should I allot to transfer planes?
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1425 posts
Two hours is sufficient time to make the transfer. In reality since you do not require passport control an hour is probably safe.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
956 posts
You should book your flights on one ticket….Aegean and Turkish are both Star Alliance members so you will be checked through from Heraklion to Istanbul.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1425 posts
Good point Leslie.
Posted by
San Francisco area
1880 posts
Greece is Schengen. Turkey is not. I would think that you would have to go through passport control for leaving the Schengen area. Unless there’s some quirk that I’m not aware of.
Posted by
France Southwest
2200 posts
There are plenty of Crete → Istanbul flights via Athens with Aegean or Aegean and Turkish Airlines which are both Star Alliance members. So plenty of possibilities every day to have both flights in one ticket.
Indeed, Turkey is not part of the Schengen zone. Allowing 2 hours would be safer
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for the info. I didn’t think to book through Star Alliance. Now I see the flights. Plenty to choose from.