Me and my wife have a 2.5 hr layover in Istanbuls new airport. Is this enough time to make our connecting flight to Athens? Thanks
Is this a single ticket, or separate bookings?
There is a difference
Single ticket.
I don't think many people have been through the new airport yet. If you're on a single ticket, you just transit through to your connecting gate. In the worst case (which I doubt will come to pass), check when the next flight to Athens is if you miss the connection. I would think there are several each day, so you will know ahead of time how long you'd have to wait.
In advance, look up the schedule for the next flight available to Athens and copy down the details (time, flight number, etc.) The info can help if you miss the connection and have to negotiate with an airline agent for a subsequent flight.
The new airport is huge, hopefully you won't have a long trek between gates.
"What happens if I miss my connection?" is the key question you need to ask yourself. If on one ticket, they'll do their best to get you on the next available flight - so you need to figure out when that is, and what impact it wold have on your plans if you didn't arrive in Athens until a later flight gets you there (would you miss a cruise ship departure? just arrive at your hotel a few hours later?).
If there is frequent flights to athens then it wouldn’t be a big deal because I arrive in Athens later in evening with not enough time to do much anyways. If I have to wait a day or two till next athens flight I will just explore Istanbul and miss out on Athens I suppose. Surely 2.5 hrs is enough time I would hope.
Ataturk Airport was very big in its own right. 2.5 hours was very doable there, I can not see that it would be any worse at the new airport. Turkish Air has always had pretty good customer service, I don't think you will have a problem.
Surely 2.5 hrs is enough time I would hope.
IF your inbound flight is on time, then yes, it would. But flight delays (including long delays) happen every single day.
My last flight to Europe departed over 2 hours late. I missed my connection in AMS and had to overnight there. Not the end of the world but not what I had planned.
It should be no problem. You'll go through a security check. Last time I did that, at Ataturk a few months ago, it was mickey mouse so the lines moved quickly, took about 10 minutes, didn't have to take my laptop out, and my water bottle went through without comment. Turkish Air has over half a dozen flights a day to Athens (I'm assuming you are flying Turkish, otherwise, why would you have a layover in Turkey), so if there's a delay, they'll get you on another flight. I would be more concerned about my checked luggage not making the connection, so take what you need for the first 24 hours in your carry on. If you are not planning to check luggage, be careful with the carry on limits. Last time I flew from the US (Chicago August last year) they were weighing carry on at the check in counters.
I just returned from Istanbul. I went through the new airport three times! Lots of flights for me. 2.5 hours for connecting will be fine, if your first flight is on time. If your first flight has a long delay, you might miss your connection. The new Istanbul Airport is huge. Lots of walking.