This is the return portion of my first trip with the new Olympic Air. After a great first flight I had good expectations for the return and after a few days with my family it was time to say goodbye especially to my cousin who was leaving for the Army in a few days.

Some misc photos I took whilst there ::

My cousin getting ready to go by buying in his kit.



I saw this whilst out shopping and had to get it :





The house :









Souvlaki !!



Fav cakes



A Royal Caribbean Cruise ship in the port



Now thats what I call advertising :







I got the express bus to the Airport which took only 45 mins and cost around €3.




DATE : 03/NOV/2009
AIRLINE: OLYMPIC AIR
FLIGHT : OA269
ROUTE : ATH-LHR
CLASS : ECONOMY
SEAT: 27A
A/C: A320-232
REG: SX-OAQ


On arrival I was greeted by a impressive advertising campaign. Lots of Buses with the huge Olympic rings logo and posters around the entrance.



Note the smoking ban now at all Greek airports.







Then time to check in .



I was greeted by a friendly check in agent, no ques and asked if I was happy with 27A which had been pre allocated to me. I thanked the agent and made my way to look outside. Very fast check in process.





EL AL heading for its short flight to TLV













And then it was time to go and find SX-DFC  









The old OA. Not sure what will happen to these birds. But that is the problem for the Greek government now and not Olympic Air.

Time to go back into the Terminal and head to the Olympic Air lounge .





















Note the old OA still operating a few flights until the licenses get sorted. These are however operated by Olympic Air A/C and crew but under the old OA license.



3 PC's







I would love a set of those tea cups. I love airline branded stuff.





So a very nice lounge with nice food and sweets and drinks choices. Very spacious and clean. Nice staff. Even had showers.

It was then time to head to the gate.











We were welcomed at the door by two friendly crew. I noticed that the seats on this A/C were blue leather. I know some dont like blue but I do and it matches the OA brand. I hope they install blue leather on all their future A/C.













Very soft comfortable seats and very clean cabin.











A very wet ATH











Olympic Panda



















Pre take off sweet

































Pilot came over the PA welcomed us all aboard and soon we were making our way down the runway to take off.

Time to inspect the toilets.

































Then a nice smell as the food trolley neared my seat. I kind of knew what it was from the smell....



Bifteki ...



This was the best meal out of the two flights, just personal choice. I love it. Veg was cooked perfectly and it really was a nice meal. Also nice Greek salad .

washed down with some really good wine



Then after around 20 mins another drinks service. I went for Sprite.





Then Coffee.





Coffee top ups and biscuits.



And then the crew came around with bottles of water and cups.



Soon it was time to clear everything away and make our approach to LHR.















We pulled up on stand and it was time to say goodbye to the crew. I made a point of thanking them for the excellent service and they all smiled and thanked me.







Bags took a while to come off but not more than usual for LHR.



So that was the end of my second Olympic Air flight. A very nice trip and consistant with the first experience. I will certainly be using them more in the future. If they were a member of the Star Alliance I would use them for every trip to Athens. It seems that Skyteam is their destiny so whenever Ive renewed Star Gold in the future I will then take OA for the rest of my ATH trips.

"Η Ελλάδα ψηλά" - ''Greece Flying High'' ??

It certainly is  

Thanks for reading and I appreciate all your comments.

OA260

Nice second part of your new OA series. Will be interesting to see what happens to the A340s.

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): This was the best meal out of the two flights, just personal choice. I love it. Veg was cooked perfectly and it really was a nice meal. Also nice Greek salad .

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Coffee top ups and biscuits.

Very impressive. What kind of dessert did you get with the meal?


PH

Hi Philip
Great trip report, well worth waiting for. Thanks for posting.

Hi, Phil,

another well done story surrounded by nice pictures.

It seems OA provides great service on you´re two legs, something to explore for next year also.
Hopefully the new OA reaching it´s targets and going a strong way.

Greetings,
Markus (FLIEGER67)

Great Trip Report, Sad to see the old Olympic Air go, but hopefully this one is here to stay and really grows. Those flight attendants are pretty.....hot by the way.. 

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Pilot came over the PA welcomed us all aboard and soon we were making our way down the runway to take off. Time to inspect the toilets.

Tsk tsk...I certainly hope you weren't inspecting the toilets on take-off!!   

Nice report on what sounds like a great airline. I hope to give them a go myself one day, Athens is still on my to do list!

Hola Philip!

Thanks for this first reports on the new OA.

It seems a very nice airlines and I hope they keep their level of service, and start their services to BCN as soon as possible.

Loved the pictures of Athens, I am a big fan of Greek food, it is always nice to see what your neighbors at the other side of the sea are having.

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): "Η Ελλάδα ψηλά"

Sure they do!!!

Salut!

Roger

Hi Philip,

fantastic report and pictures - I enjoyed reading about the new Olympic Air a lot. It is good to hear that they offer such a good product and obviously had a good start. Let's hope that they will do well. And maybe they will return to Germany some time - that would give me the opportunity to try them out once as well.

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Note the old OA still operating a few flights until the licenses get sorted. These are however operated by Olympic Air A/C and crew but under the old OA license.

Sounds a bit confusing to the non-informed customer.

Regards
Christoph

It's very sad to see the old OAL A340s parked. I still believe they were the nicest looking planes at YYZ when they were serving here.

I also see a flight listed on the dep. screens as OA8411 to JFK. The old flight # was 411. What is this flight and did it actually operate?

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 1): What kind of dessert did you get with the meal?

Hi , It was Strawberry Cheesecake which was nice but I prefer a Greek sweet.

Quoting EICVD (Reply 2): Thanks for posting.

Thanks Mark , glad you enjoyed it.

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 3): Hopefully the new OA reaching it´s targets and going a strong way

Hi Markus, Yes if they keep this consistancy they should do well.

Quoting EwRkId (Reply 4): hopefully this one is here to stay and really grows.

I hope so too. I would rather they stay small and grow slowly rather than try to grow too fast.

Quoting BAViscount (Reply 5): Athens is still on my to do list!

Time to book an OA trip then. You will love Athens. I can give you some cool places to hang out !

Quoting Rogerbcn (Reply 6): I am a big fan of Greek food, it is always nice to see what your neighbors at the other side of the sea are having.

Hi Roger, yes very true.

Quoting Contact Air (Reply 7): Sounds a bit confusing to the non-informed customer.

I guess it does but its not for long and I guess better to keep a service than none at all. Especially to important places such as BEY TLV CAI. Those have always been important services.

Quoting JAGflyer (Reply 8): screens as OA8411 to JFK. The old flight # was 411. What is this flight and did it actually operate?

AFAIK its the DL codeshare .

Gia Sou Phil!!

As always such a wonderful TR! After reading this TR I bet LX is going to miss you on the flights you take to ATH!! Glad to see the new OA is doing such a wonderful job and glad to see they honored OA's past too! Truly a class act airline! I hope that they will someday get long haul AC and return to JFK!!

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): SX-DFC Wink

Glad to still see her in OA colors, c'mon OA accelerate the Marathon!  

Hi Philip,Nice follow up report, seems the New Olympic are off to a good start, let's hope they can maintain it, I'll be looking out for future reports.RegardsMark

Lovely report there- interesting to see all the changes that have taken place.. and good to see a decent looking brand emerge from it all!

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Souvlaki !!

Could you call that Gyros too? I had it in Greece under that alias.. completely and utterly gorgeous- and rather upsettingly, I haven't had it since!

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): The house :

Very nice, is that near the Pireaus area?

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): This was the best meal out of the two flights, just personal choice. I love it. Veg was cooked perfectly and it really was a nice meal. Also nice Greek salad . washed down with some really good wine

All looks very tasty.

The only thing I don't like are the uniforms. While not bad at all, it doesn't "pop" IMO. It's cool to see the flight attendants do a manual demonstration.

Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): "Η Ελλάδα ψηλά" - ''Greece Flying High'' ?? It certainly is

     

Thanks for Part II! Enjoyed it.

Quoting SXDFC (Reply 10): Glad to still see her in OA colors, c'mon OA accelerate the Marathon!

Hello Bobby, you should write to MIG and tell them to paint up Marathon and install new blue leather seats with PTV's and what a nice A/C that would be !!!

Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 11): seems the New Olympic are off to a good start

Hi Mark, Hope you are well. A trip coming up for you soon I think IIRC!! Yes OA are off to a good start and first impressions are everything, they just need to keep this level of standard.

Quoting NQYGuy (Reply 12): Could you call that Gyros too?

Hi the two are explained here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souvlaki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyros

Both taste great but I prefer Kalamaki.

Quoting SKYYBLUE (Reply 13): Very nice, is that near the Pireaus area?

Yes its in Piraeus not far from the port. Would be about a 15 mins walk near the Hotel Savoy if you know it.

All the videos from the outward and return can be viewed here ::


























CLICK ON PICS TO VIEW VIDEOS

Nice..how long is ATH-LHR? How much was the fare? I didn't know the reincarnation would remain full service within Europe....

Hi Philip,

Very impressive trip report of Olympic Air! I like the way you captured the whole experience from the start to the finish.

The lounge in ATH looks very appealing. It amazes me how much food they have got on offer. They look simply delicious!

On top of that hot meal in Y! How many European airlines still serve this?

Thank you for sharing.

Cheers,
Suryo

Philip,

once again OA did a fantastic job on your flight. The meal looks delicious indeed. Any choice, or all passengers the same meal?
I like the cabin setting on the A320 you flew on. It looks fresh and luxury. And I think the leather is easier to keep in good condition too. I still remember the shabby look of the cloth seats on the old OA B734's.

Regards,
Eric

Quoting ThegreatRDU (Reply 16): how long is ATH-LHR?

Around 3:30 hrs usually.

Quoting ThegreatRDU (Reply 16): I didn't know the reincarnation would remain full service within Europe....

Their main point was to offer the good service that OA used to be known for. If they didn't, they wouldn't stand a chance against A3 unless their fares were significantly lower.

Quoting ThegreatRDU (Reply 16): how long is ATH-LHR? How much was the fare?

For me I bought an all in ticket fom Dublin and it was a holiday weekend so it was quite expesive but normally fares average around $200-$300 return.

Quoting Akhmad (Reply 17): On top of that hot meal in Y! How many European airlines still serve this?

Hi not many at all. Maybe TK and OA are the last few . Hospitality and food is very much a part of Balkan life so Im glad they are able to carry on the traditions on the airlines.

Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 18): I still remember the shabby look of the cloth seats on the old OA B734's.

LOL... yes and now they are all parked at ATH with no sign of them doing anything.

Hey Phil

Another great TR as always. I loved all the history of OA in the in flight magazine. Its great to see a once proud airline starting to recover to its former glory.

Well done again
Andy

Quoting EIRules (Reply 21): I loved all the history of OA in the in flight magazine

Hi Andrew,
Thanks. Yes I got a few copies. Might get some more next time also. Nice to have those to keep.

Hi Phil,
Thank you for the lovely trip report. I enjoyed it very much. It seems OA has a wonderful thing going. Their new Airbus fleet look great inside and out.
The meal looked very good. What does BA etc., serve on this route? It's a real treat to get a decent meal in Y, then again, any class of service these days.

Regards,
LACA773

Quoting LACA773 (Reply 23): Their new Airbus fleet look great inside and out

Yes very comfortable inside and looks good outside.

Quoting LACA773 (Reply 23): What does BA etc., serve on this route?

Not sure maybe I need to do a report on them lol...

Hi Phil,

Just to add my congrats to you on another great trip report,loved all of the photos and of your second love,the cruise ships!!.Best of luck to Olympic Air,and I have to say that i agree with you on the blue leather seating as well.
Excellent report,keep them coming!!!
Nibog      

Wow. This is a really nice TR. I was waiting to hear news about new OA!
UNfortunately I'llhave to wait next summer to test it!