If you are flying for the first time by plane to Greece, the process may seem complicated and stressful, but with a good guide, everything is easier. In this text, we will guide you through every step of the journey, from arriving at the airport in Belgrade to arrival in Athens, with practical tips for beginners.

Fasten your seatbelts, we’re taking off :)

Arrival at Nikola Tesla Airport

Be at the airport at least 2 hours before.
Why? It is essential to have enough time. The rule dictates that you should arrive an hour earlier at the airport, however, when you add parking and navigating the space if you are flying for the first time, it is easier if you have enough time.

Parking

If someone drops you off and doesn’t want to park, they can take you to the entrance of the airport building and only stay as long as it is necessary for you to get out of the car and take the luggage from the trunk.
There is parking where you can leave your car for a longer time. Information boards about parking are displayed on the platform in front of the building, in front of the public parking, but you can always ask someone for help.

Check-in and Baggage Drop

When you enter the airport: on the main level, there are check-in counters.
You need to find the counters of the airline written on your ticket (Air Serbia, Aegean, or Olympic Air…)

At the counter, you hand in your passport and ticket and place your suitcase on the scale (moving belt next to the counter) to be weighed.

Baggage

Cabin bags are up to 8kg in weight, along with laptop bags or women’s purses, which stay with you. Large suitcases and bags, heavier than 8kg, are checked in here.

If you only have a cabin bag or a purse, you place it to be weighed, and the officer will put a tag around the handle of the bag or purse, which is a sign that the bag is checked in for the flight.
The same goes for strollers if you are traveling with a child; they will be marked as checked.

If you have a large suitcase, it goes on the conveyor belt for boarding the plane.

Boarding Pass

After checking in, the officer will give you a so-called boarding pass, which is a ticket with all the details for your journey. Time, flight number, seat, gate number…

Now follows the entrance to the part strictly reserved for passengers. Follow the signs “Departures” on Nikola Tesla Airport on the floor.
Go up to the departure floor. There, the passport and security control awaits you.

Passport and Security Control

First, show your passport and ticket at the checkpoint in front of the designated line area (marked with a belt like in banks and post offices).
After that, stand in line and reach the passport control. Show your passport and boarding pass.
The officer will check your passport, stamp it, and you can proceed.

You enter the passenger-only area, and there is an immediate duty-free shop. Depending on the time until the flight, you can browse and shop. There are monitors everywhere where you can track when your flight is and at which gate. Pay attention to the time, as you still have baggage check, so always be in front of the gate early.

Duty-free Shop

Like at any airport, here you can find a whole small shopping mall with a variety of products.
Also, there are numerous cafeterias and food and beverage stores.
TIP: if you have a ticket with only cabin baggage, where it is not allowed to carry food and drinks, you can buy souvenirs and a gift in the duty-free shop. When making a purchase, it is mandatory to show your passport and boarding pass. The cashier will pack everything you bought in a special plastic bag, which will be sealed hermetically. With a sealed bag, you can travel on the plane, even if there are bottles of alcohol in the bag. Prices do not differ much, and you can find very high-quality products.

IMPORTANT: Do not open it until you reach your final destination! If the bag is opened, you cannot bring it on the plane or on the next flight (if you continue from Athens).

Boarding Gate

When you reach the gate, a security check of luggage awaits you.
Place everything in special plastic boxes. Cabin bag, backpack, purse. Take out the laptop from the bag. Remove belts and all metal objects. Take out electronics from the bag, put liquids in a clear plastic bag.

Your items go through a conveyor belt scanner, and you go through a scanner that looks like any other security scanner, in the shape of a door. Then pass through the scanner. If everything is fine, you then enter the area with boarding gates to the planes.

The screen, as well as your boarding pass, will show the number of your boarding gate. Follow the signs posted on the ceiling and follow the numbers and signs. They are marked with letters and numbers, for example, A23 or C8, and so on. Follow the signs, and when you find your boarding gate, sit in the area in front of it and follow further instructions.

Boarding the Plane

During boarding, the staff will first call the business class and parents with small children, then they will call by seat numbers or by ticket class. Follow carefully and stand in line when your group is called.
When entering the “tunnel” leading to the plane, show the officer your passport and boarding pass. Then enter the plane through the tunnel.
On the Plane
When you enter the plane, the flight attendants will greet you. Find your seat. Place larger carry-on luggage in the overhead bins, and smaller bags under the seat in front of you.
Take your seat immediately so that other passengers can also settle in. Fasten your seatbelt.
Put your phone on “airplane mode.”

During the Flight

The crew will provide brief safety instructions. Then they will serve you, and you can request water, juice, or coffee (depending on the airline).
Restrooms are at the end of the cabin.
During takeoff, landing, and turbulence, your seatbelt must be fastened.

IMPORTANT: If you happen to experience a panic attack, seek assistance from the flight attendants. They are trained to handle such situations, so do not hesitate to ask for help and support. It’s better than creating any unwanted situations that might disturb other passengers.
IMPORTANT: To make the flight more comfortable, make sure to hydrate two days before the flight. It is especially important to hydrate children as their eardrums are more sensitive than ours. The same goes for pets if you are traveling with them.

Landing in Athens

You can see how Athens looks from the plane on the pictures when it’s a beautiful sunny day. It is important to have your seatbelts fastened during landing.

After landing, you will exit the plane and board a bus that will take you to the airport building.

Passport Control

The first thing you do when entering the airport is passport control.
There are two lines for passage - one for EU citizens and one for non-EU citizens. There is always a big crowd, so be prepared for patience. Stand in line and follow the movement. IMPORTANT: In case you have a connecting flight soon, approach the staff, show your ticket - they will escort you past the line.

Baggage Claim

After passing through passport control, follow the signs for Baggage claim and the line of people. There is a single direction. The monitors will display which belts are for which flight. Read carefully and wait for your suitcase at the place designated for your arriving flight.
In the hall, there are restrooms, as well as a smoking cabin (at the end of the hallway).

In that large hall, you will find the exit doors labeled EXIT. That’s where you leave the airport. If you don’t wait for large luggage, you can continue towards the exit doors immediately.

Note: if you have a connecting flight from Athens and very little time between flights, approach airport staff and show them your ticket and explain that you are in a hurry. Ask them to direct you to the departure gate in the shortest way possible.

If Athens is Your Final Destination

If Athens is your final destination, when you exit the building, you can catch a taxi, bus, or metro. There are also car rental agencies in the airport building. The metro station is on the upper platform, so you exit the building, cross the street, and take the escalator (on the left) to the upper platform. On the right side, there will be a walkway leading to the metro station, and on the left side, across the street, the entrance to the airport building.

If You Have a Connecting Flight from Athens

If you have a connecting flight and it’s very soon, approach airport staff for assistance, show them your ticket, and they will guide you to the quickest route so you don’t miss your flight.

In all other cases, exit the building, cross the street in front, which is only for taxi vehicles and buses, and take the escalator on the left side to the entrance of the airport building.
It’s the same building; the flow of passengers is just regulated that way.
When you climb the stairs, you will see the street where taxis and other vehicles picking up passengers stop. Enter the building (there are 4-5 entrances), and you will see, just like at Tesla Airport, a hall with check-in counters.
Look for the counter of the airline you have a flight to the island or another destination. Check-in usually takes place an hour to 1.5 hours before the plane takes off.
If you have a little more time between flights, you can walk around both inside and outside. There are many shops everywhere. From experience, we recommend trying the coffee, pastries, and sweets from the cafeteria located outside, in front of the entrance. Everything is very tasty. They are open 24 hours.

Entering the Passenger Area of the Airport

Always have your passport and boarding pass handy and follow the signs on the monitors – everything is clearly marked at both airports.

After checking in for your flight, in the middle of the airport hall, you will see a sign for the museum. Below that sign, there are parts A and B for entering the “passenger area of the airport” and baggage check.

MAKE SURE to check whether your ticket is for the A or B section, so you don’t go to the wrong side of the airport and waste precious time before your flight.
Once you confirm whether it’s A or B, enter the automatic gates by scanning the barcode on your boarding pass. The gates will open automatically.

Passport Control and Security Check for Luggage

Prepare your passport and boarding pass
Enter and follow the line for passport control.

After passport control, immediately enter the area for luggage check.
Place your cabin luggage in plastic bins, take out electronic devices, belt, and all metal items. Jackets are also taken off.

Duty-free Shop

After the check, you will be in the duty-free shop, and depending on the time you have available, you can browse and shop.

There are hanging monitors everywhere where you can see which gate your flight is on. Follow carefully and when the time comes, head towards your boarding gate exit, which is marked on your ticket. If you are unsure, always ask the staff.

In front of the gate, you will see your destination and departure time on the monitor, as well as the airline you are flying with.
Note: It is important to follow the airline name because sometimes there are multiple flights to the same destination but with different carriers.

We wish you a wonderful experience!

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions by Passengers

  1. How early should I arrive at the airport?
    At least 2 hours before the flight.
  2. What is allowed in cabin baggage?
    Liquids in a clear bag, laptop, small bag up to 8 kg.
  3. What to do if a panic attack occurs during the flight?
    Seek assistance from the flight attendants.
  4. How to recognize the gate?
    The gate number is indicated on the boarding pass and on the monitors in the waiting area.
  5. What if I have a connecting flight?
    Inform airport staff – they will guide you to the next gate past the line.

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Internet as soon as you cross the border

You can have Internet as soon as you cross the border by purchasing our Nikana eSIM card here: https://nikana-esim.com/
Setting up is very simple, via a barcode in a few seconds you will have internet on your phone for any country in the world.
Detailed instructions, how to check if your phone supports eSIM and answers to all questions can be found here: Nikana ESIM internet

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