Russia - 16 hours in Sheremetyevo - routines

Hey all,

Due to the ash clouds my flights has been changed and as of this change I have to wait for almost 16 hours instead of just 1 hour in Sheremetyevo airport. My flight arrives at Terminal D and my connecting flight leaves from Terminal F.

I heard that Terminal F is not the most plesant place to stay and as I'm a girl I really don't want to get into any type of trouble.

What routines do they have regarding the transfer between terminal D and Terminal F? Because I heard that Terminal D would be way more pleasant to stay at and would like to stay here as long as possible. Do they have a transit area in Terminal D, can I stay here instead of Terminal F?

The information I got is that I should just follow the signs for transit and once I passed that I should go to the aeroflot transit counter so they can escort me onboard the buss to Terminal F.


I will not have enough time to get a visa and the novotel's transit rooms are already fully booked, so there is no other option than just waiting in the airport.

I haven't been to Terminal D, but I'd guess that the arrivals area there has not much in terms of facilities - probably you won't be able to enter the departure area where cafes etc would be.

16 hours is long - I'd suggest to proceed to Terminal F, on the second floor there are several cafes/bars/restaurants - not great but not in any way dangerous.

I haven't been to Terminal D, but I'd guess that the arrivals area there has not much in terms of facilities - probably you won't be able to enter the departure area where cafes etc would be.

16 hours is long - I'd suggest to proceed to Terminal F, on the second floor there are several cafes/bars/restaurants - not great but not in any way dangerous.

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll be heading up to the second floor then.

If someone still have any other ideas, please share them with me, as I'm still worried.

I definitely would not want to be stuck for 16 hrs in Terminal F without lounge access or a hotel room (the smoky terminal, dirty facilities will already drive you mad). See if you can stay in Terminal D longer when you're there.

For the Novotel issue, go check again later or at the airport.

Hope this isn't too late.

Good luck, hotels are expensive.

You can rent sleeping pods all the way up to hotel rooms at the AeroExpress Terminal just in front of SVOF. There's a Starbucks there with some of the best customer service you'll find in all of Moscow and I am 100% serious. Sleeping pods are cheap and offer a bed (and a room just big enough for the bed), toilet and shower. Very quiet, fully protected, and very clean. 4th floor of the AeroExpress terminal. Take the elevator up, turn left and you'll see the entrance.

Now that I read the whole post...I see the visa issue. There is, air side, at SVOF, a consular department which I have to assume has the ability to issue visas in pinches like this. I've wanted to stick my head in there to see but have thought better of it. It might cost $250 (I paid that back in 2000 for my 15 month old son who had an expired visa) or more to get one but it would allow you to head to the train terminal, get a $20 Caramel Macchiato, and enjoy some much better scenery. 100% safe over there. The sleeping pod above the Starbucks remains an option that way.

Wanted to add - don't forget a good book! Not sure about Wifi options (didn't use it for some time because I now have 3G in my notebook), but I recall that it was a pain to buy Wifi access cards airside ... I think for some time Wifi was free, but not sure if it still is. Good news is that power plugs can be found in Terminal F.

Wanted to add - don't forget a good book! Not sure about Wifi options (didn't use it for some time because I now have 3G in my notebook), but I recall that it was a pain to buy Wifi access cards airside ... I think for some time Wifi was free, but not sure if it still is. Good news is that power plugs can be found in Terminal F.

Right around the Starbucks by the end of the Aeroexpress Terminal there is free wifi. I had a flight delayed six hours recently and the Starbucks and the free wifi were really a life saver.

There is also free wifi (or there was in March) by the gates in Terminal F.

FWIW, wifi should now be free throughout Terminal F (but I haven't checked yet)