Piraeus Port: Self Baggage Drop Off Hub for Airline Passengers Departing from Athens Airport Opens

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the inauguration of the In Town Check In hub in Piraeus.

Flying back home from Athens just got easier thanks to a new self bag drop off point for travelers that recently opened at Piraeus Port.

Dubbed In Town Check In, the baggage drop off point is a mini airport terminal located in an area of the port of Piraeus and aims to facilitate tourists and locals who are to depart on a flight from Athens International Airport (AIA). The service can be used between 120 minutes and one full day ahead of the scheduled flight departure time.

The In Town Check In terminal gives travelers the option of self baggage drop off with the guidance of trained staff. Travelers with time to spare before their flight can drop off their luggage, receive their boarding pass and baggage tag and then explore Athens while their luggage is shipped to the airport.

The In Town Check In hub is located at the port of Piraeus at the “Agios Dionysios” passenger terminal at Gate Ε3 (additional entrance from Gate Ε2).

The new service has been launched by Spirit World Group, in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Athens International Airport (AIA) and ground handling companies. Established in 2004, Spirit World Group is a provider in Shipping & Management, Cargo Forwarding & Transport, Store & Provision Supplying-Marine Fuel Bunkering/Barging and Trading.

“This is a new, innovative product for Greece and our tourism,” said the Group’s CEO, Mike Spiridakos, during the In Town Check In launch event in Piraeus on Wednesday.

Introducing the new service, Spiridakos said it can be used by all that have a flight departing from Athens Airport including ferry passengers, cruise passengers, residents of Piraeus, business travelers, etc.

Spirit World Group CEO Mike Spiridakos.

“A main aim of the service is to give visitors to the country the opportunity to continue their vacation in Greece right until the last second without having to drag their luggage around with them,” he said, adding that In Town Check In guarantees travelers a “hassle-free” travel experience in the city of Athens, either for shopping or even having a day cruise if they have enough time before their departure from the airport.

Transport Minister: Attica’s tourism offering gets a boost

Greek Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras.

Inaugurating the new service, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras referred to In Town Check In as a modern, attractive and efficient system of transport services that benefits tourists, residents and the economy.

“Services such as In Town Check In offers high added value to the tourism product of Attica and Greece as a whole,” he said, underlining that the “pioneering project” is sure to attract the attention of travelers. He added that the service will act as a guide for the development of a similar service in other key destinations of the country.

As announced during the inauguration ceremony, Spirit World Group has plans to open a second In Town Check In service in the center of Athens while a umber of other destinations are also under consideration.

“Our plans include to launch a similar service at Hellinikon, but under a whole different concept, and we are looking to see what other Greek destinations are in need of such a service,” Spirit World Group’s CEO said, adding that many Greek islands, such as Crete, are being considered to become hubs for out of airport remote baggage acceptance for airline passengers as well as some areas of mainland Greece.

Deputy Minister: Less airport time, More time to see Athens

Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti.

On her part, Deputy Tourism Minister Elena Rapti said the launch of the innovative In Town Check In service comes to give “a new added value” to the Greek tourism market.

“It is very important that passengers arriving by ship in Piraeus and wish to transfer to the airport to travel back home now have the possibility to do self baggage drop off at this multipurpose area within the port area of Piraeus and then receive their boarding pass and baggage tag, freeing them from the procedural obligations of their trip, which are often stressful and time-consuming,” Rapti said.

The deputy minister highlighted that with the new service, the hours (waiting time) before a flight is turned into a “useful time of travel experiences” in the urban environment of Attica, making the departure process pleasant, comfortable and unique.

“We all know how much final impressions count… The last impressions of a visitor leaving Greece to return to his homeland must be the best possible and the In Town Check In service is sure to contribute to this,” she added.

Secretary General: More services to come

Greek Secretary General of Transport, Yiannis Xifaras.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Secretary General of Transport, Yiannis Xifaras, pointed out that through modern infrastructure and digital technology, the In Town Check In service can contribute to the better connection of ports and airports and at the same time upgrade the overall level of the travel experience in Greece.

The In Town Check In service became a reality following the coordination of a number of public bodies including the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority and the Piraeus Port Authority.

“With this service we are unlocking a series of subsequent projects that will support the city of Athens,” he said.

All-day ticket for public transportation

Spirit World Group CEO Mike Spiridakos.

Aiming to add to the visitor experience, Spirit World Group’s CEO, Mike Spiridakos, announced that an all-day ticket to commute in Athens will be made available for passengers dropping off their luggage at In Town Check In.

“Consider this as a one-way ticket from Piraeus to Athens Airport but with stops… Passengers with the all-day ticket can hop on and off of any means of public transport and have a city excursion… We don’t want the visitors’ experience to end at the counter but we want to facilitate their journey in Athens before they go to the airport and be able to go to any point of interest in city, to visit the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, Plaka, Thisseio… To go anywhere they want with their final destination being the airport,” he said.

The all-day ticket is expected to soon be available to travelers doing self baggage drop off at In Town Check In. The ticket will be valid for 24 hours and will allow unlimited transport on the metro, the suburban railway, ISAP trains and buses.

Additional services of In Town Check In include baggage wrapping system, booking assistance for taxi-limo services, booking assistance for car rental services.
Further information can be found here: https://www.intowncheckin.gr/