kvolvo

I'm flying alone with three kids on Aeroflot JFK-TLV, with a 90 min connection in SVO. I speak Russian, so communication won't be a problem, but wondering if the 90 min is not enough to transfer - it seems as if their SVO to TLV flight departs from a different terminal. Anything I can do to speed up the transfer? I'm a bit nervous making that connection (my older kids travel a lot, so they won't be a problem, though they are still kids; but the baby in the stroller may delay us).

FaBSy

Arrival at Teminal E/F and next flight at Terminal D or the other way around?
90 min connection is more then enough. The terminal change is possible airside with a stroller maybe 15 minutes.
As there is no immigration there may might be only another security check (I don't know about that) but that shouldn't be a problem.

kvolvo

Thanks, FaBSy. I think I arrive into D and leave from F. Hopefully there isn't immigration - we don't have a visa, and they may suspect I have a Russian citizenship (which I don't), which could start questions if we were to pass immigration.

TLVtraveler

Whenever you make an international connection at SVO you encounter 2 points that might slow you down.
1. Immigration: regardless of your visa situation you will have to stand in the immigration line to present your passport (not stamped or checked for visas, just a glance).
2. An immediate security check when you disembark your first flight and before going to your connecting flight. Most of the time it's quick but sometimes at night a lot of the stands are closed and you will have to find an open stand at a different exit from your gate which may take more time than you think (Once I made a PEK-SXF connection and almost all security stands were closed and I had to walk for 10 minutes to find someone).

Personally I will be comfortable with 90 minutes at SVO as it's plenty of time, the most you will need to walks from two points of the terminal would be around 20-25 minutes.

TLVtraveler

Also, when you disembark your first flight take a look at the departure board as SU sometimes mixes up the gates. it's well worth the extra 1-2 minutes to avoid running to the wrong gate.

FaBSy

That is correct, but as far as I remember there are different immigration boxes for international transfer then the "normal" immigration. (Never connected internally only on domestic flights). But I must admit sometimes the immigration in terminal D takes a lot of time. In terminal E/F there was never a queue for me, but in D always a lot of people (many chinese).

kvolvo

An update here. Due to weather delays in JFK, missed my flight SVO-TLV. My connecting ticket got "lost", took them another hour to "find" it. Finally connected 6 hours later with exhausted kids. Now bags have been missing for 3 days and no attempt to find them by either delta or aeroflot. Oh well, at least I'm with family

JRF

I am flying JFK SVO TLV and back.

Does anyone know if I need a travel visa (US passport) and if I have to change terminals at SVO?

hessbo