Athens Airport.I am transiting through Athens airport to Kos(Greek Island). My bag will be checked all the way.Does anyone know if i have to collect my bag,clear customs and recheck my bag at a transfer check in area at Athens airport?
It depends where you're transiting from. If its from within the Schengen area then your bags will go through. Otherwise you'll have to collect them and go through customs before rechecking them.
Flying Qatar.My flight is Bangkok via Doha to Athens then to Kos.It is all one booking on Qatar's website.Called Qatar but they were not sure of the procedure in Athens airport.
That seems a very short connection to me. I'd press your airline (in writing) for a response on what you need to do, together with what your options are if — through no fault of your own — you and/or your bags don't make your connection.
A brief Internet search suggests there may only be three flights a day, so you may wish to ask the airline to proactively usher you through priority security and immigration queues. (Good luck, though — that's probably a no, but if things do go belly-up it at least demonstrates you've shown good faith in trying to make it!
I live in Athens and it's a great well run airport we have here. Once you clear immigration, go to the desk of the handling agent for Qatar in the baggage hall and ask them (either Goldair, Swissport or Olympic Handling). They will tell you for certain and may be able to assist given your short layover. Will you receive your boarding pass for the Athens-Kos leg when you check in at Doha?
Thanks everyone for your info.I'm not sure about the Athens-Kos boarding pass.Shall call Qatar again.Hoping the bag and myself to be checked through to Kos.
To a certain extent it's dependent on whether you have one PNR for the whole booking - and then getting the Qatar check in desk at BKK to through-check your bags. When they put the tags on at BKK make sure they are labeled to KGS - Kos Airport - then it should be fine. I've generally found them to be quite helpful, but you need to explicitly tell them that you want them to do this, although I've equally found that while their will through check bags, they won't issue a boarding pass, and you need to check yourself in online from the computers in the Qatar lounge - something that really only works if you know what you are doing - and then make sure you walk to the Schengen side of the Athens terminal - not the non-Schegen side.
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
Athens Airport.I am transiting through Athens airport to Kos(Greek Island). My bag will be checked all the way.Does anyone know if i have to collect my bag,clear customs and recheck my bag at a transfer check in area at Athens airport?
PeterLoh
PeterLoh
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 May 2012
Total posts 356
It depends where you're transiting from. If its from within the Schengen area then your bags will go through. Otherwise you'll have to collect them and go through customs before rechecking them.
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
Flying Qatar.My flight is Bangkok via Doha to Athens then to Kos.It is all one booking on Qatar's website.Called Qatar but they were not sure of the procedure in Athens airport.
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
But my transit time in Athens is 1h25m.
John Walton
John Walton
Member since 03 Jan 2011
Total posts 86
That seems a very short connection to me. I'd press your airline (in writing) for a response on what you need to do, together with what your options are if — through no fault of your own — you and/or your bags don't make your connection.
A brief Internet search suggests there may only be three flights a day, so you may wish to ask the airline to proactively usher you through priority security and immigration queues. (Good luck, though — that's probably a no, but if things do go belly-up it at least demonstrates you've shown good faith in trying to make it!
jinxy
jinxy
Member since 06 Feb 2012
Total posts 7
yes you'll have to clear customs..but you'll have time. Athens is very efficient since the rebuild for the Olympics
alex_upgrade77
alex_upgrade77
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Sep 2012
Total posts 47
spot on jinxy.
I live in Athens and it's a great well run airport we have here. Once you clear immigration, go to the desk of the handling agent for Qatar in the baggage hall and ask them (either Goldair, Swissport or Olympic Handling). They will tell you for certain and may be able to assist given your short layover. Will you receive your boarding pass for the Athens-Kos leg when you check in at Doha?
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
Thanks everyone for your info.I'm not sure about the Athens-Kos boarding pass.Shall call Qatar again.Hoping the bag and myself to be checked through to Kos.
lorks
lorks
Member since 08 Apr 2011
Total posts 7
To a certain extent it's dependent on whether you have one PNR for the whole booking - and then getting the Qatar check in desk at BKK to through-check your bags. When they put the tags on at BKK make sure they are labeled to KGS - Kos Airport - then it should be fine. I've generally found them to be quite helpful, but you need to explicitly tell them that you want them to do this, although I've equally found that while their will through check bags, they won't issue a boarding pass, and you need to check yourself in online from the computers in the Qatar lounge - something that really only works if you know what you are doing - and then make sure you walk to the Schengen side of the Athens terminal - not the non-Schegen side.
Incidentally pretty good guide to Athens airport here: http://loungeindex.com/Europe/Greece/ATH/index.htm
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
Thanks Lorks.It will be one pnr booked through Qatar website.
Skamcev
Skamcev
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 15 Feb 2013
Total posts 2
Flew Qatar to Thessaloniki got bags there, and on the way home checked in to melb