You wanna fly to Athens on short notice? Got a health issue that needs a specialty available only at Athens? Need to attend a conference or a business meeting at most companies' headquarters at Athens? Plan to take your family on a weekend trip to Athens since you finally got some spare time and some savings?
Well, good luck with your trip as since June that Ryanair terminated their Athens-Rhodes route, Aegean was left as the sole carrier and of course as any business would do in a monopoly, they are literally milking the market. Not only prices have skyrocketed but also Aegean seems to keep capacity strictly controlled in order to maximize their profits. Its a non brainer actually, 4 daily flights with 720 seats paying average 120 euros are more profitable than 6-7 with some 1.100 seats averaging 60-70 euros plus airline uses less personnel and equipment.
But what about us? Well, if you can afford the asking prices, which can be up to 250+ euros per person for a 45 minutes trip, then you make the trip. Otherwise, you need to switch to ferry which in turn -being in fact also a monopoly- cost some 85 euros with a cabin which you will probably need in a 16 hours trip plus any other expenses you might have (food, beverages) on such a long trip.
What we can do? We clearly can not boycott Aegean but we really need to make them understand that we need better treatment. We are neither rich as many want to believe nor stupid, we just demand lower fares as affordable air transport for us is essential since we can not ride our cars to drive to Athens and the ferry is not suitable in many cases. Local authorities, representing each and every one of us, should approach and talk officially to Aegean, hopefully they will get the message. If not, then we really need to attract a second carrier offering for a start at least 2 daily return trips to Athens. There are a number of airlines we could refer to such as Ellinair, Volotea, Cyprus, even Ryanair.
Concluding, yes, we do love Aegean but we really need them to give us a break. Airplane travel for islanders shouldn't be a luxury, its a necessity for various reasons and Aegean needs to embrace our needs and not make us look for alternatives.
Below you can find screenshots of Rhodes-Athens route seat availability from tomorrow Wednesday 24 of October till mid November when fares seem to drop.
(Upd)Then, after one of our facebook reader's suggestion, we compare Rhodes-Athens fares with various trips that use Athens as a connecting point for another destination. Findings were unbelievable as sometimes its cheaper to book such a trip than the direct Rhodes-Athens.
RHODES-ATHENS, 24 OCTOBER TO MIDNOVEMBER
So, for tomorrow, only business at 201,55 euros available and only in the evening flight. Rest fully booked! Todays (Tuesday) fare at 260 euros should be not commented! Then, we see that for Thursday and Friday there are no seats available at all so we need to wait for Saturday!
So for Saturday the 27th, 2/5 flights are fully booked, for the rest fares start at 133,55 euros!!!
Sunday is even worse, 5/5 fully booked except business that starts from 201,55 euros!!!
Monday the 29th, 1/4 fully booked, 3/4 fully booked except business. Lowest fare at 133,55 euros or 201,55 for business!
Tuesday the 30th, 1/4 booked except business, lowest fare starts at 133,55 euros and 201,55 for business.
Wednesday the 31st, 4/4 fully booked except business starting at 201,55 euros.
Almost the same for Thursday the 1st of November, 3/4 fully booked in economy, lowest fare starts at 133,55 euros or business from 201,55!
The same for Friday the 2nd of November, 3/4 fully booked in economy, lowest fare starts at 133,55 euros or business from 201,55!
Tragic Saturday of November the 3rd, 4/4 fully booked in economy, 2/4 in business with fares starting from 201,55 euros. Bonus from Aegean is their afternoon flight which is planned to operate on a turboprop airplane - that's less than half of a jet capacity.
Sunday the 4th, now we got seats available on all 4 flights with prices staarting at 133,55 euros.
Here's an overview of week from 5 till 11 of November; as you can clearly see, prices start at 133,55 except Sunday the 11th!!!
So, now we are in mid November where we can finally find some fares below 100 euros!
RHODES-ATHENS-POINTS BEYOND AT MIDNOVEMBER
First, Rhodes-Athens direct flights prices for the week 6 to 12 November. 5/7 days prices begin from 133,55 euros.
Then, we compare firstly with flights from RHO to 3 domestic destinations via Athens. Going to Heraklion via Athens on Saturday the 10th is cheaper than Rhodes-Athens!
Or with 2 euros more, you can fly Rhodes-Athens-Alexandroupolis! Of course, there are days which daring to fly this trip is as expensive as going to Paris or Madrid via Athens!!!
35 euros more will get you to Ioannina on Saturday the 10th while if you 'd plan on a Monday trip better fly to Tirana and then drive back to Ioannina!
Now we compare Rhodes-Athens to trips abroad via Athens. Fist trip to Amsterdam. On Friday the 9th you can book this trip for 10 euros less than the direct Rhodes-Athens. Wow!
What about going up to Athens and then heading again down to Beirut? It only takes 9 more euros!
How about Dusseldorf? Now, here we have an additional trip as our cheapest option would be to fly to Athens, then catch another flight to Thessaloniki and then from there to Dusseldorf. All of this trip would cost you 17 more euros on Friday the 9th than the direct Rhodes-Athens.
On Saturday the 10th, just book Rhodes-Rome and you save 3 euros than the direct Rhodes-Athens!!!
Tel Aviv is the absolute winner! Booking Rhodes-Tel Aviv on Wednesday the 7th, Thursday the 8th and Friday the 9th saves you significantly up to 55!!! euros!!!
Next stop, beautiful Vienna! 15 more euros will take you to Vienna on Friday the 9th!
Finally, 17 more euros on Friday the 9th will allow you to visit your banker at Zurich!
Bonus trip, Rhodes-Athens compared to Rhodes-Amsterdam near Christmas vacations. Flying to Amsterdam cost one and a half euros less than catching the early morning Rhodes-Athens!
Well, good luck with your trip as since June that Ryanair terminated their Athens-Rhodes route, Aegean was left as the sole carrier and of course as any business would do in a monopoly, they are literally milking the market. Not only prices have skyrocketed but also Aegean seems to keep capacity strictly controlled in order to maximize their profits. Its a non brainer actually, 4 daily flights with 720 seats paying average 120 euros are more profitable than 6-7 with some 1.100 seats averaging 60-70 euros plus airline uses less personnel and equipment.
But what about us? Well, if you can afford the asking prices, which can be up to 250+ euros per person for a 45 minutes trip, then you make the trip. Otherwise, you need to switch to ferry which in turn -being in fact also a monopoly- cost some 85 euros with a cabin which you will probably need in a 16 hours trip plus any other expenses you might have (food, beverages) on such a long trip.
What we can do? We clearly can not boycott Aegean but we really need to make them understand that we need better treatment. We are neither rich as many want to believe nor stupid, we just demand lower fares as affordable air transport for us is essential since we can not ride our cars to drive to Athens and the ferry is not suitable in many cases. Local authorities, representing each and every one of us, should approach and talk officially to Aegean, hopefully they will get the message. If not, then we really need to attract a second carrier offering for a start at least 2 daily return trips to Athens. There are a number of airlines we could refer to such as Ellinair, Volotea, Cyprus, even Ryanair.
Concluding, yes, we do love Aegean but we really need them to give us a break. Airplane travel for islanders shouldn't be a luxury, its a necessity for various reasons and Aegean needs to embrace our needs and not make us look for alternatives.
Below you can find screenshots of Rhodes-Athens route seat availability from tomorrow Wednesday 24 of October till mid November when fares seem to drop.
(Upd)Then, after one of our facebook reader's suggestion, we compare Rhodes-Athens fares with various trips that use Athens as a connecting point for another destination. Findings were unbelievable as sometimes its cheaper to book such a trip than the direct Rhodes-Athens.
RHODES-ATHENS, 24 OCTOBER TO MIDNOVEMBER
So, for tomorrow, only business at 201,55 euros available and only in the evening flight. Rest fully booked! Todays (Tuesday) fare at 260 euros should be not commented! Then, we see that for Thursday and Friday there are no seats available at all so we need to wait for Saturday!
So for Saturday the 27th, 2/5 flights are fully booked, for the rest fares start at 133,55 euros!!!
Monday the 29th, 1/4 fully booked, 3/4 fully booked except business. Lowest fare at 133,55 euros or 201,55 for business!
Tuesday the 30th, 1/4 booked except business, lowest fare starts at 133,55 euros and 201,55 for business.
Wednesday the 31st, 4/4 fully booked except business starting at 201,55 euros.
Almost the same for Thursday the 1st of November, 3/4 fully booked in economy, lowest fare starts at 133,55 euros or business from 201,55!
The same for Friday the 2nd of November, 3/4 fully booked in economy, lowest fare starts at 133,55 euros or business from 201,55!
Tragic Saturday of November the 3rd, 4/4 fully booked in economy, 2/4 in business with fares starting from 201,55 euros. Bonus from Aegean is their afternoon flight which is planned to operate on a turboprop airplane - that's less than half of a jet capacity.
Sunday the 4th, now we got seats available on all 4 flights with prices staarting at 133,55 euros.
So, now we are in mid November where we can finally find some fares below 100 euros!
RHODES-ATHENS-POINTS BEYOND AT MIDNOVEMBER
First, Rhodes-Athens direct flights prices for the week 6 to 12 November. 5/7 days prices begin from 133,55 euros.
Or with 2 euros more, you can fly Rhodes-Athens-Alexandroupolis! Of course, there are days which daring to fly this trip is as expensive as going to Paris or Madrid via Athens!!!
35 euros more will get you to Ioannina on Saturday the 10th while if you 'd plan on a Monday trip better fly to Tirana and then drive back to Ioannina!
Now we compare Rhodes-Athens to trips abroad via Athens. Fist trip to Amsterdam. On Friday the 9th you can book this trip for 10 euros less than the direct Rhodes-Athens. Wow!
What about going up to Athens and then heading again down to Beirut? It only takes 9 more euros!
How about Dusseldorf? Now, here we have an additional trip as our cheapest option would be to fly to Athens, then catch another flight to Thessaloniki and then from there to Dusseldorf. All of this trip would cost you 17 more euros on Friday the 9th than the direct Rhodes-Athens.
On Saturday the 10th, just book Rhodes-Rome and you save 3 euros than the direct Rhodes-Athens!!!
Tel Aviv is the absolute winner! Booking Rhodes-Tel Aviv on Wednesday the 7th, Thursday the 8th and Friday the 9th saves you significantly up to 55!!! euros!!!
Next stop, beautiful Vienna! 15 more euros will take you to Vienna on Friday the 9th!
Finally, 17 more euros on Friday the 9th will allow you to visit your banker at Zurich!
Bonus trip, Rhodes-Athens compared to Rhodes-Amsterdam near Christmas vacations. Flying to Amsterdam cost one and a half euros less than catching the early morning Rhodes-Athens!
