Olympic Airways Sales to Greece from the US
Every year for the past 7 years Olympic Airways has offered a Spring sale to Greece, that covers the shoulder season(April, May and early June) and the peak season(early June to Aug 31). It has always come out by March 1(and then is followed by a series of other sales with the fares going up $50 or so with each successive sale. This year the sales have not arrived and although I’m being assured that they will be here(although it’s becoming less of an assured assurance and even the Olympic Airlines Agents can only assure me with an intonation that sounds more like a question than a statement).
I would still like to be optimistic that there will be a sale, but I’m also questioning whether it will come or not…(oh, by the way- I’m not just some one telling you about the trends of the market-I’m keeping my eyes on rates so I can head to Greece in early September).
Two things have happened that make me wonder whether the sales will come or not. 1) Olympic doesn’t want to be known as a “discount” airline(relayed to me via an Olympic Agent who spoke with her manager who spoke with the head of US operations)…..that’s about the most ridiculous statement I’ve ever heard an airline make!- especially since I wouldn’t classify Olympic as the top shelf airline in the first place. I think what they mean to say is that they want to squeeze every last dollar out of their passengers. With the fares the way they are, Olympic is quickly earning the reputation as an overpriced airline.
The second thing that happened allows the first to continue. The Greek Gevernment which has been illegally subsidizing the airline(which is deeply in debt) since Greece joined the European Community has announced it will protect Olympic from her creditors(preditors?) until Oct 2006.
Since Olympic is up for sale I think they’re trying to cook the books to make the airline look as profitable(or less unprofitable?) as possible….. will the sale come along? No one knows….so keep your eyes open and check back to GreeceFlights.com often as I’ll post the sale when I get wind of it.