PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11144 posts, RR: 63 Posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1812 times:
Hi there,
I am looking for information and perhaps first hand experience of very long transit times at SVO airport in Moscow, as an itinerary which I am looking at would give me a stopover of almost 17 hours in the terminal. I'm not overly concerned that there is probably going to be nothing to do, as I can bring a book, but what will the attitude of the guards/police be to such a long transit time? According to the Russian visa regulations, any transit of up to 24 hours between international flights where the passenger remains airside can be accomplished without a visa of any sorts, but as I don't know Russia and have never been there, I'm interested to know if this really will be the case? If not, then can any suggestions be made as to other potential and interesting (but cheap) routing's between the Ukraine and GYD (in accordance with the situation below).
The reason for such a question is that my next trip will take me from Warsaw to Baku using ground transportation; road, rail and sea, I already have a confirmed and fully paid ticket from GYD back to Europe - so I have to get there! However, according to my original plan, this means going through Georgia, which five months ago when I booked the trip seemed like a great idea, only now the situation between Georgia and Russia has 'developed' unfavourably, and my family (they worry about everything!) is asking me to re-think my plans. I'm thinking therefore of flying straight to Baku and, if relations have improved - which I hope they will have, then I can take the train back into Georgia from there, and if they haven't, well at least I'm not stuck! The cheapest way to do this is with Aeroflot via SVO and, by choosing the flight from Simferopol, that means I can fly the Il-86 up to SVO, but down to GYD only the first flight of the day is a Tu154, the rest are A319's - but fortunately one itinerary allows me to wait overnight and take the 154 next morning, which of course being an aircraft nut I'm willing to do if it's going to be possible!
Many thanks for any help people may have,
Dan
Edit: meant to add that I am aware of this thread, but did not want to hijack it, as there are certain differences between our questions.
Uzzzer From Ukraine, joined Dec 2006, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1716 times:
Have no doubts, fly to Tbilisi, than go ground to Baku. There will be no war. Kremlin's playing muscle before the Georgian parliamentary elections later this month trying to influence the outcome this way. It does not affect you if you fly or sea from Ukraine or Turkey.
Tbilisi is one of the most fantastic places on this planet.
The transit zone in SVO is no fun, the prices are outrageous. If choosing SVO I'd buy biz lounge right away. Be prepared that your ground bills will be compatible to your air ones.
You can choose a number of ways to get to Kyiv, Odesa or Dnipropetrovsk from Warsaw, then there are three or four carriers with daily flights to Tbilisi (usually under $200 OW). I'd advise PS.
My second bet would be flying via Istambul, but then your arrive to either place (Tbilisi or Baku) in the middle of the night.
Aeroflot777 From Russia, joined Mar 2004, 2957 posts, RR: 30 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1606 times:
Quoting PlymSpotter (Thread starter): However, according to my original plan, this means going through Georgia, which five months ago when I booked the trip seemed like a great idea, only now the situation between Georgia and Russia has 'developed' unfavourably, and my family (they worry about everything!) is asking me to re-think my plans.
Don't worry. Flights between Russia and Georgia have been resumed. You shouldn't worry. It's all silly games and outright stupidity on both nation's part. It's all good though now.
NG1Fan From Australia, joined Aug 2007, 446 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1529 times:
What about staying at the Sheremtyevo Hotel immediately outside the terminal? Apparently, there is a possibility to stay there without a visa. You surrender the passport and you floor is guarded so no 'escapes'. Not sure if that option is available for 'normal' transit or only of flights have been delayed/cancelled.
I asked a friend of mine who just did a SVO transit on his way to Vietnam ( Non-Rev Tickets) and he said that it was no problem at all. He sat down and was reading and listing to music. I believe he stayed at the airport for 8 hours and nobody came up to him during his transit.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11144 posts, RR: 63 Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1452 times:
Quoting Uzzzer (Reply 1): Have no doubts, fly to Tbilisi, than go ground to Baku. There will be no war. Kremlin's playing muscle before the Georgian parliamentary elections later this month trying to influence the outcome this way. It does not affect you if you fly or sea from Ukraine or Turkey.
Tbilisi is one of the most fantastic places on this planet.
I am equally sure that it's all just 'big words' between the two sides and that it won't come to blows, but if I've booked a flight around the 'problem' as my family see it, then they will not worry for the month I am away. I know I can just stand up and tell them that I'm doing it anyway, no matter what they think, but this way I'll keep the piece! I'm looking forwards to Tbilisi immensely, do you have any experience of traveling in the country as a whole, as I am aiming to get down into the South where there are some historic cave systems, but will be doing it solely by public transport?
Quoting Aeroflot777 (Reply 2): Don't worry. Flights between Russia and Georgia have been resumed. You shouldn't worry. It's all silly games and outright stupidity on both nation's part. It's all good though now.
Ah, that's good to hear - I saw them in Amadeus recently and didn't think that could be a mistake.
Quoting NG1Fan (Reply 3): What about staying at the Sheremtyevo Hotel immediately outside the terminal? Apparently, there is a possibility to stay there without a visa. You surrender the passport and you floor is guarded so no 'escapes'. Not sure if that option is available for 'normal' transit or only of flights have been delayed/cancelled.
That's worth looking into, so long as it's not too pricey - I'm doing the whole trip on a budget, so that means hostels or overnight trains for the most part. I would say that I'd stop off in MOW for a few days, but at the end of the year I'm planning on taking the Trans-Siberian, so I'll aim to see the city then.
Quoting OHLHD (Reply 4): I asked a friend of mine who just did a SVO transit on his way to Vietnam ( Non-Rev Tickets) and he said that it was no problem at all. He sat down and was reading and listing to music. I believe he stayed at the airport for 8 hours and nobody came up to him during his transit.
Thanks, that sounds re-assuring, I'll have to make sure it's a novel or something if I'm there for 17 hours
Quoting Codeshare (Reply 5): No need to be afraid, Russia is a normal country. The people are nice there. Just don't do any wacky stuff
Are you doing any spotting in WAW?
Not planning any wacky stuff, and I'm not sure about spotting at WAW. I'm only there for one day, fly in late on the 25th June then stay overnight and leave the following evening on the train to Kiev. Is the spotting good, or save LOT is it mostly Wizz/FR/EZY aircraft?
Do you need anymore reasons to spot?
I wouldn't mind siting on that observation deck the entire day.
as long as I continuously saw that fantastic scheme.
yes there are a lot of LCC at Warsaw.
you'll probably catch a charter too.
You might run into some trouble taking pictures.
guards patrol the whole airport and power trips is what they're good at.
I wouldn't recommend arguing with them, rather walk somewhere where they can't see.
Sukhoi From Sweden, joined May 2006, 371 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1297 times:
Quoting NG1Fan (Reply 3): What about staying at the Sheremtyevo Hotel immediately outside the terminal? Apparently, there is a possibility to stay there without a visa. You surrender the passport and you floor is guarded so no 'escapes'. Not sure if that option is available for 'normal' transit or only of flights have been delayed/cancelled.
My father and brother was looking for tickets to BKK from ARN and the cheapest ones was SU via SVO but with an overnight stop on the return flight the price for the hotel was €150 for one or two I don´t know but it´s possible to stay there without a Russian visa. They paid a bit more and flew with TG nonstop instead.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11144 posts, RR: 63 Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1233 times:
Quoting Flylot (Reply 7): Do you need anymore reasons to spot?
I wouldn't mind siting on that observation deck the entire day.
as long as I continuously saw that fantastic scheme.
True, the LOT scheme is rather beautiful, personally I think it's the best to have ever adorned the Il-62.
Quoting Flylot (Reply 7): You might run into some trouble taking pictures.
guards patrol the whole airport and power trips is what they're good at.
I wouldn't recommend arguing with them, rather walk somewhere where they can't see.
Thanks for the advice, I'll see what the weather is like, as I wouldn't mind seeing the city for a day, especially as I leave on the train and have no need to go back to the airport.
Quoting Sukhoi (Reply 8): My father and brother was looking for tickets to BKK from ARN and the cheapest ones was SU via SVO but with an overnight stop on the return flight the price for the hotel was €150 for one or two I don´t know but it´s possible to stay there without a Russian visa. They paid a bit more and flew with TG nonstop instead.
€150 Euro is my accommodation budget for about 10 days, if not more - so I think I'll take the floor of the terminal instead! It won't be the first terminal I've slept in and I doubt it would be the last.
Will book the flights later tonight, I'm still hoping to visit Georgia, but thinking about it I just can't turn down a ride on the Il-86 because I know it's soon to be retired by many airlines, the Tu154 is an added bonus. Total ticket price is just under $300, which is about a third more than flying direct to TBS, so not exactly extortionate.
Thanks once more for the help, very much appreciated!
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