FlyerTalk Forums - SVO Transit

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Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingwish

I am looking at a ticket JFK-SVO-DEL for late Dec. '06 where JFK-SVO sector is on DL and the connection SVO-DEL is on Aeroflot with a connection time of about 5 hours each way. If I do not leave the airport, do I still need a transit visa? I read thru the threads and some say that I will still need a transit visa. Any recent experiences? Thanks.

I'd avoid a 5 hour transit at SVO if I could at all help it. Aeroflot will routinely not give your boarding pass at SVO until about 3-4 hours before departure time. And even then you may not be entitled to lounge access for more than 2 hours before boarding time. :eek:

A US citizen transiting SVO and staying airside the entire time does not need a transit visa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingwish

Have you considered SU instead of DL on the JFK-SVO leg? The SU flight arrives about one hour later, which would shorten the layover. Having used both DL and SU for JFK-SVO in 2006, I am indifferent between them, perhaps with a slight edge to SU because of better passenger-crew dynamics. I expect that SU is likely to have a lower load factor, which if in Y may be ore comfortable. The SU Y seats also seemed to be more comfortable (or at least reclined more). IFE in Y is better on DL, solely because SU did not work at all (both are main cabin screens, with no individual screens).

From experience, I would not recommend a long SVO transit. I arrived at SVO at 0445 hrs, got BP pretty soon but was told that I can get a lounge card only 2 hrs before my HKG flight. So I had to hang out in SVO transit area for 3 hrs which is not a pleasant experience.
The LHR-SVO service was pretty good, but SVO-HKG below par (both in C).

SVO 2 to SVO C and back

I am flying fromParis to Moscow SVO-2 (on Aeroflot) and then, 3 hours later I will be off to Kazakhstan on Air Astana, leaving from SVO-C. Any experience, tip or horror story reagarding this type of Tranfer? Will I need a transit visa, and local currency? My return trip will follow the reverse path....

Thanks for your help! :confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vjullien (Post 7756634)

Welcome to FT!

Are both legs on the same PNR/ticket? If yes, contact SU for an airside transfer to Terminal C (they do it to Terminal 1, which is adjacent, so Term C should work as well but who knows?). If not, you'll need a Russian visa to do the transit portside. Just board any bus going to SVO1, it's about 15 minutes away. You will need some roubles to pay the fare (R15 or so, less than a $1) - there are ATMs all over SVO2 where you can get some locall currency

Don't forget to come back once your trip is over and share your experience of the new Terminal C. You will probably be the first to do it.