FlyerTalk Forums - Russia

SVO3 is open!

apoivre — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:51:09 GMT

Even though I've had no part in it whatsoever it still tickles me silly to announce that the first flight out of Terminal D, aka SVO3, left the gate 20 minutes ago.

I think this warrants a new thread where we can b*tch and moan.. oops.. exchange useful info, handy tips and so on.

This link to the flights transfer schedule (up to Feb 6) has already been posted elsewhere on FT. I'm still adding it here to keep all the relevant information in one place.

Two passport and Russia: am I over thinking this?

pred02 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:41:27 GMT

Ok,
I am a dual citizen of Serbia and the US and maybe I am over thinking this but I just wanted to double check.

I am flying from the US to St Petersburg via United and Lufthansa. I put in my US passport on the ticket. When at the check in desk of Lufthansa and if ask me for a Russian visa I will show my Serbian passport.

When I land in St Petersburg and go through customs I will enter on my Serbian passport. About 10 days later I will be departing Russia to go China via Aeroflot from Moscow. When purchasing the Aeroflot ticket I put the my US passport information as my Chinese visa is in the US passport. I will check in at SVO with the US passport but when exiting Russian customs I will show my Serbian one as I have entered Russia.

The reason I got paranoid is because every where - train tickets, plane tickets, etc they are asking for passport information (most other countries/airlines just care that the ticket matches the name).

I just wanted to make sure this is ok.

Thanks!

Yet Another TRANSIT VISA Question

waltinsocal — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:45:44 GMT

I have made phone calls, and have obviously searched in the wrong places on the internet. I have a couple of questions if anyone here can help. I am making a mileage run to Moscow and will be arriving there at 1030 on December 12. My return flight is on Sunday, December 13 at 1230. I want to get a Transit Visa, not a Tourist Visa, and my understanding is that a Transit Visa is generally good for 72 hours.

(a) If I get a transit visa, my understanding is that I can leave the airport and go to Moscow for the day. Is that true?

(b) In order to obtain a transit visa, my understanding is that I have to purchase my airplane ticket first. Is that true?

Thanks for your help.

St Petersburg / Moscow Visit (Visa & travel questions)

globalste — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:19:46 GMT

Will be going to visit some friends who will be working in Moscow for 6mths, thinking of going beginning of April flying to LED first and spending a few days there, then jumping an Aeroflot flight to DME and spending a few days there.

Should I be applying for the tourist visa, or the one where relatives/friends sign you off as we'll be most likely staying with them anyway?

Anyone flown Aeroflot domestic?

My visions of Aeroflot are the Hammer and Sickle, that A310 pulling a 4G turn before stalling and crashing into siberia or those quirky TU-154s - im certain someone on here told a story about tripping up on the carpet and the curtains not closing properly...

St. Petersburg to Moscow Train

pred02 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:19:22 GMT

Hi,
I need to take a train from St. Petersburg to Moscow at the end of November. I will either take a night train (9 hours) or an express train (4.5 hours). I am travelling alone and will have one regular piece of luggage plus one carryon style piece of luggage.

I am wondering what the recommendations are between the night and the express train. The drawback of the express train is that it leaves early in the morning so I might have to taxi it to the station, however the plus is that I presume its faster and safer than a night train.

How safe are the night trains? When travelling in company I usually get a sleeper car but now sharing a sleeper car (3 sleepers) with people I don't know is kind of weird. Also I don't know for documents, cameras, etc I easily doze off.

Not that this is a phobia that has to do with anything in Russia - I am just making assumptions knowing what the trains are like in Serbia.

Thanks!

Inexpensive lodging in Moscow

pred02 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:58:48 GMT

Hi,

I am looking for inexpensive place to stay in Moscow for a couple of days. I will be traveling alone and on a budget. Also - I will have 2 DME to SVO transfers where I will have to spend the night at a hotel at SVO and DME. I see there are two hotels near SVO but they are both kind of pricey $150-$200. Any alternatives?

Thanks!

Visa Invitation

davewill — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:05:00 GMT

I know it's a shot in the dark, but does anyone have any experience with the visa firm "Pravda" at ul 1-a Tverskaia Iamskaia, d 29/1 (www.rusvisas.ru)?