Suzanne,

We're using our Alaska Air FF miles, with partner British Air, to save on air costs. We have considered this very option you suggested and may change course if a flight doesn't open up the day prior to when we are scheduled to fly out.

We'll hang on for a while and see if Oct. 1 opens up for us in Bus. Class. If not, we will go to plan B, which will be Lufthansa, a much better alternative.

We have a hotel reserved in Athens, if our plans change, and we arrive a day earlier, using our HH points.

As of now, we have George the taxi driver picking us up at the airport to tour in the morning, after we collect our luggage. We will most likely have breakfast before he picks us up, which is set for 7:30.

The other option, for such an early arrival, is to get a day room at Athens Sofitel, by the airport, freshen up and then have George pick us up there. However, Sofitel gave me a rate of 220E for the day room. EXPENSIVE!