Aug 19 2006
New Security Measures at Athens Airport
Traveling through the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) at Spata? Here are the latest security guidelines as of August 18th, 2006:
- Allow two-and-a-half hours to check in for flights to Canada, the U.S., and the U.K departing from the Athens International Airport. Other countries may be added to this list depending on conditions.
- No "large" carry-on hand luggage will be allowed. What is "large" is not clearly defined by the Athens International Airport authorities, so it will likely be discretionary.
- No liquids or gels of any kind will be allowed on the flight. This includes beverages, left-over sun tan lotion, hand cleansing gel and anything similar. If it's liquid, lose it.
Other Athens Airport Security Tips
These are my suggestions, not official advisories.
- Have an expandable travel bag in your carry-on. If something suddenly is forbidden, it gives you the option of rearranging your bags and checking an extra item through.
- Have a large clear plastic baggie with you. If the "baggie process" returns, where passengers are only allowed to carry their papers on board, you'll be prepared. Freezer bags, by the way, are more durable; zipper-type bags sometimes come apart under travel strains.
- Have all important phone numbers with you on an index card. If you can't bring your cell phone into the gate areas, you can still call from (horrors!) a pay phone.
- While the prohibition on large carry-on bags may tempt you to jam everything into a smaller bag, remember you may be searched or the bag may end up being checked in anyway. You don't want it all bursting at the seams as it bounces through the system. And even if you can keep it with you, I can guarantee you'll never pack it back in at the airport the way you did at the hotel.
