Visa needed for transfer from BA to S7 at DME??
Jan 29, 2018, 7:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 4
Visa needed for transfer from BA to S7 at DME??
I am thinking of getting a BA return flight saver from LHR to Moscow DME, transferring to S7 on a separate booking from DME to either Urgench or Ashgabat (both direct flights). Assuming the connection time is less than 24 hrs can I do this without a visa for Russia? Reading around, this may depend in part on whether flights from Moscow to former Soviet republics are considered as domestic or international, something I have not been able to find an answer to.
Jan 29, 2018, 8:12 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,644
Off the top of my head, you shouldn't need a visa, as long as you remain airside and in the international transit section. You'll not be able to check bags through, as BA won't do it for you in LHR, and you won't be able to go to arrivals to collect and recheck without a visa. I don't think Russia has a Chinese style TWOV for a day or two allowing you to leave the airport. I think the only CIS country treated as a domestic is Belarus.
Jan 29, 2018, 8:22 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,387
Welcome to FT!
Former Soviet republics control their own immigration laws. (I think there might be special rules for Belarus, but even there probably not for foreigners.)
In general at DME, you don't need a visa for airside transit. You will also have to convince the check-in / visa check desk in LHR to let you on the plane, so their view of the rules (they use a system called TIMATIC) is what counts.
Personally I woudln't try it without a visa except for same-day airside transit unless I was given very concrete written information otherwise and a print-out from someone with a TIMATIC subscription.
Hope that's some help.
Former Soviet republics control their own immigration laws. (I think there might be special rules for Belarus, but even there probably not for foreigners.)
In general at DME, you don't need a visa for airside transit. You will also have to convince the check-in / visa check desk in LHR to let you on the plane, so their view of the rules (they use a system called TIMATIC) is what counts.
Personally I woudln't try it without a visa except for same-day airside transit unless I was given very concrete written information otherwise and a print-out from someone with a TIMATIC subscription.
Hope that's some help.
Jan 29, 2018, 8:42 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA; SQ; Hyatt; Hilton
Posts: 422
I have tried this once (understanding it to be possible), albeit a few years ago, and it was not possible in practice, as the transfer route was closed and when I asked (showing my ticket) I was directed to immigration. Not a problem for me, as I had a Russian multi-entry visa, so I guess it may have been possible to get it opened if I had not had a visa and had therefore pushed it.
Jan 29, 2018, 8:51 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,577
Jan 29, 2018, 10:23 am
#6
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,427
Straight from the horse's mouth
Russia Visa Information in UK - Visa Types - Transit
Only you can decide if you meet the criteria.
(I did not bother, but I was transferring from BA to S7 with hand luggage only for my flight to Moldova)
Russia Visa Information in UK - Visa Types - Transit
Only you can decide if you meet the criteria.
(I did not bother, but I was transferring from BA to S7 with hand luggage only for my flight to Moldova)
Last edited by bhbloke; Jan 29, 2018 at 10:52 am Reason: Typo
Jan 29, 2018, 10:30 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I have also done this before on a flight to Moldova and back. I had some challenges on the first leg, firstly with convincing BA that I didn't need a Visa and that Moldova was not in Russia. I then had some more challenges in Moscow and eventually got an Immigration Officer to escort me to the transfer desk to convince the woman to let me through. I didn't have any issues on the return leg and would risk it again, but I also seem to remember looking at the domestic gates and seeing some destinations which are not strictly domestic (can't remember if this was just occupied Ukraine and other territories).
Jan 29, 2018, 11:06 am
#8
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Welcome to Flyertalk ncpcross. I can't advise much here, since I've haven't been to Urgench (but I am familiar with Ashgabat), but I can welcome you to the forum and I hope you have an interesting, rather than necessarily good, trip there. Welcome to the BA Board. Turkmenistan is very, very painful on visas, Uzbekistan considerably less so, in fact visa free for Brits on tourism. But in your shoes I'd be going HBO and so long as you had the right visa for your end point you should be OK. Istanbul frankly is easier as a transit location.