How to Book Travel on Olympic Airlines

Once known for poor service, Olympic Airlines has changed its image, proving to be one of Greece's most important major airlines. Learn how to book travel with Olympic Airlines by following these simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access
• Passport

Instructions

Book Travel on Olympic Airlines

1. Enjoy a large variety of available flights. The airline travels to 13 intercontinental, 28 European and 36 domestic destinations.

2. Purchase your own ticket. The name on the credit card used to purchase a ticket must be the same name as the passenger. If you are booking a flight for your boss, spouse or family member, use that person's credit card rather than your own.

3. Read the rules before accepting discounted tickets. Olympic Airlines runs specials for their intercontinental, European and Middle Eastern travels. However, there are stringent rules for each individual special that is offered. Check the Web site (see Resources below) for details.

4. Reward yourself for the miles you collect from traveling. Olympic offers a rewards program called Icarus, which offers incentives for frequent travel. A corporate option for this program benefits both companies and their employees.

5. Avoid long lines at the airport. You can check in online with the e-service available through the Web site (see Resources below). E-service is only available for flights departing within 4 to 24 hours, and for customers who are traveling without stowed luggage. If you use this service, you will be able to print your boarding pass from your home computer.

6. Wait until you are in Greece to arrange local flights. The airline offers special prices on domestic flights when you book from within Greece.

7. Enjoy the complimentary services offered for your particular ''haul.'' The flights are divided into large hauls, medium hauls, small hauls and domestic flights. The longer your trip, the bigger your haul. There are free services available for each category.

8. Book your ticket online via the Olympic Airlines Web site.

9. You can also book via the company's toll-free reservation line: [phone].

Tips & Warnings

• The airline will be undergoing a possible takeover as early as 2007, which may change the name.

• Passengers have spoken less than favorably about the food on Olympic Airlines. You may want to pack some snacks before traveling.

• Olympic Airlines suffered major losses in recent years, which some claim is due to poor management and free flights to government travelers.

• Olympic Airlines has a history of crashes. In each accident, multiple people perished.