Going Greek

Most of the European airlines serving South Africa offer connecting flights to Athens, as do the airlines from the Middle East (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar).

You will get the best fares when the airlines are offering specials on the SA-Europe leg of the journey. Your best bet is to find a good travel agent who will check all the carriers for special fares. You can also check the British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways sites for Internet-only specials. The budget carrier easyJet offers low-cost fares from London and Paris to Athens, so you could combine an easyJet ticket with a discounted fare from South Africa to London or Paris.