5 Non-Stop Flights To Greece From the US This Summer

 

Even with the financial crisis that Greece has been going through and the refugee situation, Greece is still at the top of a lot of travelers’ list for where to visit. Between the beautiful beaches, wonderful cities and villages, and the really good travel deals (thanks to the fall of the Euro and cheaper prices around Greece), Greece can be a very compelling destination. If you want to travel to Greece this summer, here are 5 non-stop flight options to consider.

See the 2019 version with 7 Non-Stop Flights to Greece from the US!

5 Non-Stop Flights To Greece From the US this Summer

When it comes to vacations, more often than not, I think people prefer to just get there already! 🙂 To do that means to find as few connections as possible. If that is you, these non-stop flights to Greece from the US could be just what you are looking for. But, be warned, award availability in business class is really bad for the most part!

Note: The times of departure and arrival may shift slightly as the flights go through the season so these times are current from the original start dates.

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American Airlines

• Route: Philadelphia – Athens
• Start Date: May 5th
• End Date: October 28th
• Aircraft: A330-300
• Outbound Times: 9 hours and 45 minute duration
  • Departure – 4:25PM
  • Arrival – 9:10AM (the next day)
• Inbound Times: 11 hour duration
  • Departure – 11:45AM
  • Arrival – 3:45PM
• Cost in Miles (one way): 30,000 miles for economy and 57,500 miles for business

While the A330 planes that American Airlines flies on this route are of the older variety, it still offers a lie-flat bed in business class. It is quite comfortable and the service is good.

Booking Awards

However, it will be extremely difficult to find a business class award on this flight – even find economy awards can be difficult! In fact, there is not a single business class award seat at the saver level for the entire schedule (as of April 21). Unfortunately, that is a problem that AA gives customers on many routes, not just Athens.

Your best bet would for finding availability is actually on the return from Athens. But, tickets are also significantly cheaper if you bought a roundtrip ticket originating in Athens to Philadelphia so do check that out if you want to book yourself a return for a later time!

Delta Airlines

• Route: JFK – Athens
• Start Date: Currently flying (April 21)
  • A second daily flight will begin June 1
• End Date: October 28 | September 5 for the second flight
• Aircraft: A330-300 & 767-400
• Outbound times: 10 hour duration
  • Departure – 5:37PM (though it does move back to 4:59PM)
  • Arrival – 10:30AM (the next day – also moves back to 10:00AM)
  • (2nd flight) Departure – 7:30PM
  • (2nd flight) Arrival – 12:25PM (the next day)
• Inbound Times: 11 hour duration
  • Departure – 12:00PM
  • Arrival – 3:52PM (the same day)
  • (2nd flight) Departure – 2:25PM
  • (2nd flight) Arrival – 6:28PM (the same day)
• Cost in Miles (one way): 30,000 miles in coach and 70,000 miles in business

Having flown on Delta in coach on this route, I find it to be quite comfortable for such a long-haul flight (one of the longest distances in going from Europe to the US). The seat was comfortable and the service and food were even pretty good.

Booking Awards

But, if you want to fly up front, you will need to pay quite a bit in miles. Remember, Delta has no official award chart which means you pay what Delta feels you should pay in miles. So, business class can go from 70,000 miles to way over 200,000 miles and even coach can fluctuate quite a bit with many days ringing in at 50,000 miles one way and going up to 75,000 miles as well!

Emirates

• Route: Newark – Athens
• Start Date: Year round
• End Date: Year round
• Aircraft: 777-300
• Outbound Times: 9 hours and 10 minute duration
  • Departure – 11:55PM
  • Arrival – 4:05PM (the next day)
• Inbound Times: 11 hours and 30 minute duration
  • Departure – 5:30PM
  • Arrival – 10:00PM (the same day)
• Cost in Miles (one way): 22,500 miles in coach, 45,000 miles in business, and 67,500 miles in first class. These amounts would shift depending on award availability.

Booking Awards

Unlike with the other airlines, you will be paying some hefty fuel surcharges on these award tickets with Emirates (Delta has them as well if you depart from Europe). But, they are the only airline that flies from the US to Athens that actually has a first class cabin! Even though this is the 777-300 and not the A380, the first class cabin is the same but you would miss out on the shower (not a huge deal, though!).

Also unlike the other airlines, the Emirates flight is year round which is very nice and provides a lot more opportunities for getting to Greece in what many consider the low season – but still a great time to visit and snap up really great deals on accommodations!

United Airlines

• Route: Newark – Athens
• Start Date: May 24
• End Date:
• Aircraft: 767-300
• Outbound Times: 9 hours and 50 minute duration
  • Departure – 5:40PM
  • Arrival – 10:30AM (the next day)
• Inbound Times: 11 hour duration
  • Departure – 12:15PM
  • Arrival – 4:15PM (the same day)
• Cost in Miles (for one way): 30,000 miles in coach and 57,500 miles in business class

Booking Awards

United has the same issue as the other US carriers – award availability at the saver level is terrible! You can book awards at the standard cost on just about any day but that is a lot of miles to spend for that.

The United planes on this route are also pretty comfortable in coach so nothing to worry about with the long haul on here either.

Which Flight To Choose?

I personally like the schedule of the Emirates flight – gives you all day in the US and really maximizes your time in Greece. It also gives you plenty of time to catch a connecting flight to/from Athens. The bad part is that it will almost certainly require an overnight in Newark on the return given its late arrival.

If you are booking with cash, they will mostly be around the same price and award availability with all of them is not great. But, I think that Delta having 2 daily flights much of the summer will present the best option for getting to Greece using miles/points.

Other Awards To Book

Stay tuned for another post at how to book some of these flights with other mileage programs to make sure you are getting the best bang for your miles and points! For now, at least you know what your options are for non-stop flights to Greece from the US this summer (and year-round, thanks to Emirates!).

Takeaway

Greece is a lovely place to visit and could really use the help from tourist dollars! These non-stop flights to Greece should help to simplify your travel planning as you try and figure out the other aspects of your vacation while visiting Greece. Have fun!