Athens Airport

I did not have to wait too long for the check in, and the food in the restaurants was excellent. The airport has some really good shopping outlets, as well as restaurants, and the experience of getting from the check in to the gate was very pleasant, since there were barely any queues.

Seats have metal handles, making it impossible to lie down and sleep, or even sit in a comfortable way. Loud elevator "relaxing" music plays all over the place, non stop, day and night, especially at night. Some employees are very nice, others are very rude.

Athens Airport is small and easy to navigate. The customs and luggage area was expedient and despite the fact that numerous flights landed at the same time, I didn't have too wait long in the line. There are a lot of stores and the duty free area is really nice. The airport was also very clean.

Access to Athens International Airport is quick and excellent road and rail service. The check in area is well sign posted. Airline check in desks plentiful as are self check in kiosks. Airside duty free shops are plentiful. Polite staff on hand. Security seemed efficient.

Athens airport is fairly small, well run and is very quick. The food is fairly limited and overpriced, but the same can be said for most airports. Access too and from the airport is not too bad with public transport for Greek standards.

Came to Athens from New Delhi on 21st May. All in all a very convenient albeit a small airport. Immigration on arrival a tad slower than departure. The area outside the airport is quite scenic.

Athens Airport is very manageable, but it is organised in a little funny way, which was not very convenient for us. The main terminal building has a check in area and the area after "sort of security, where they just check your boarding pass". If you arrive and need a boarding pass to continue your journey, they do not have the transit area (there was nobody at the counter), so you have to go to exit to the main terminal building where check ins are. The big problem is if you have more than 3 or 4 hours until your next flight. You cannot get the boarding pass, because check in’s are working only 2 - 3 hours before your flight. If you are lucky and you travel with bigger airline, you might use the check in self machines. If you fly with smaller airline, you might not get the boarding pass on the machine. If you do not have the boarding pass, you cannot get in the airport area where lounges are. And you have to wait outside. Luckily we managed to check in online 6 hours before our flight (we do not know why it did not work before). We saw at least four lounges at Athens airport, check two and they are very convenient for longer transit. Otherwise the airport is pleasant and will use it again.

Probably the worst transit airport in Europe. As transit passenger you might need quick transit from gate to gate. Well, this is practically impossible in Athens where the distances are long compared to the scale of the airport and no transit facilities are offered. Security check is located just before the gate in a way that every transit passenger needs to be checked again, even when walking directly from gate to gate through the "secure" area. In busy times it's taking a lot of time.

Athens Airport has a very nice shopping area with several boutiques, duty free shops (the prices of cuban cigars are very appealing) and restaurants. But this is the only sweet spot I was able to find: as a transit passenger I found it quite confusing in the directions, plus I was asked a lot of times (at least three) for my ID and boarding pass before reaching the gate. Looks like there is no way to stay inside the sterile area if you have to take a connecting flight.

Quick service, very clean facilities, quick and polite security checks, bright, good ventilation and temperature. Easy to go around. Good connection with the city (bus and metro) and the ports of Piraeus and Rafina (direct bus services). The negative part is that it is a bit far from Athens centre and that there are travellers sleeping around during the night. 1 hour free wifi.