If you can fly Aeroflot all the way you would not have any problem since Aeroflot does not use C/B anymore.

They don't use its gates but they do park their planes there sometimes and ferry people over to the D/E complex. Had that happen to a coworker flying from Delhi a few months ago.

My flight is an SU code share on Aerosvit and Aerosvit only gets to use C it seems. I just got this back from their email address online (very timely are they in answering these emails...even in the evening their time):


Для удобства транзитных пассажиров между терминалами курсирует комфортабельный автобус.

При любых затруднениях обращайтесь к персоналу, работающему с транзитными пассажирами. Этих сотрудников вы увидите сразу после выхода из самолета, а также найдете за стойками �Транзит / Transfer desk�, расположенными в аэропорту по маршруту движения пассажиров.

Всего доброго!
С уважением, Людмила Левчагова
Служба Информации Международного аэропорта Шереметьево.

So, I think it'll look a lot like the transit that used to run from the old SVO1 to SVO2 on SU. I'm sure hoping so. 3 hours is not a lot time for us.

Timatic seems to indicate that they would need a transit visa:

21JUL11 / 1331 UTC
National USA (US) /Embarkation Ukraine (UA)
Transit Russian Fed. (RU) /Destination USA (US)
ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW

[Visa Information - Transit] Russian Fed. (RU)

[Information For Normal Passports]
TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
Visa required, except for Holders of onward tickets for a max.
transit [[TIRULES/R32]] time of 24 hours.
- Not applicable if next country en-route is Belarus.
- If continuing to Belarus or if the airport of arrival is
different from the airport of departure within the same
Russian city (e.g. arriving at Sheremetyevo-Terminals B/C
and departing from Sheremetyevo- Terminals D/E/F in Moscow)
then a transit visa is required.


Not sure if this is the final truth but I guess this is what the check in agent would see.

I had such momentum building in my favor till I read your post. I do thank you for it though.

From another site I found online:

Иностранные пассажиры, не имеющие российской визы

Наличие визы стран СНГ позволяет безвизовый транзит через аэропорт "Шереметьево-1" и "Шереметьево-2".

Максимальный срок пребывания в аэропорту Шереметьево для пассажиров, не имеющих российской визы, составляет 24 часа.

Пассажиры остаются в транзитной зоне аэропорта или безвизовой гостинице при наличии заранее оплаченного ваучера.

При вылете багаж регистрируется до конечного пункта прибытия.

По прибытии в аэропорт "Шереметьево-2" пассажиры должны сразу же подойти к стойкам регистрации для транзитных пассажиров "Transit", зарегистрировать свой билет на продолжение полета, получить посадочный талон на последующий рейс и далее следовать указаниям диспетчера транзита.

Минимальное время стыковки между рейсами должно быть не менее 2,5 часов. Специальный автобус доставит зарегистрированных пассажиров в транзитную зону "Шереметьево-1" для посадки на стыковочный рейс.

The only thing about this that worries me is that the language is still SVO 1 and SVO 2 instead of Terminals D/E/F and B/C. I know the DEF/BC will be more fresh and relevant.

The note above says nothing about arrival at SVO-1 with departure from SVO-2 ... I note that even the SVO web site uses SVO-1 and SVO-2 as the designators for the two halves. The bus ride is rather cl if you're an aerogeek!

The map is using SVO-1 and SVO-2 to mark public bus stops, not to refer to the two halves of the airport. You can see the designations continue at other bus stops around the field.

This makes sense because Terminal B used to be SVO-1 and Terminal F used to be SVO-2, before any of the additional terminals were built (ok, and even for awhile after C and E were built...)

There is an updated bus map here:

http://www.svo.aero/between-terminals/north/

Or in English:

http://www.svo.aero/en/between-terminals/north/

That doesn't use the SVO-1/2 terminology anymore.

Woody, the one thing that would worry me about this in your situation:

The pages refer to the shuttle leaving from Terminal B, not C, which would require leaving the secure zone and passing through immigration.

After looking at that page the part that worries me is:

Attention! You can not use the free shuttle bus to get from Terminal C to Terminal D, E, F.

They are talking here about the shuttle bus across the airfield and not the bus that runs around the southeast side of the airport right? If this is the across the airfield bus then there's my answer. It's NO!

Well, if you are already all boked and set, then print out this lovely note you've got from Sheremetyevo and have it on you when travelling. If (or rather when) lovely guys at the transfer desk in C will start giving you hard time re you transferring to a different terminal, show the note to them and ask for a supervisor. Hopefully you are travelling on weekday and they are able to fetch you someone who can take a decision.
It is anecdotal but they claim there were cases when people were shuttled from SVO-1 to SVO-2 in mini vans under similar circumstances (LHR flight arrived in C, as all gates in F were busy and a bunch of guys connecting to India was shuttled to F in a biz class van).

That implies that they've made it as far as SV. I think there is a high probability that the airline won't let passengers board the flight to SVO if they don't have a transit visa. The agent will likely refer to Timatic, the data from which is posted above.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. We send people to KBP through SVO and from KBP through SVO with no visa all the time since DL pulled their JFK to KBP flight but that entails a rather painless transfer through SVO D/E/F. The law allows it but it seems the facilities don't. A friend is checking with VV on the ground at SVO today. The mystery continues...

Hi there

First time I transit via SVO and first time I fly Aeroflot so I think I'm in need of some serious help here

My plan...

SU0596 HKG to SVO arriving at 17:05 at Terminal F
... connection options...
1 - SU0353 Departs at 18:35 from Terminal D, or
2 - SU0115 Departs at 23:10 from Terminal D

Questions...
- will 90 mins transit be OK to catch SU0353 ?
- if I need to go for option 2 - being a 6 hours layover - I have a Priority Pass allowing me to use Classic Lounge and Amber Lounge both at Terminal F - will I be able to access the lounges (they are both airside)?

The transfer desk, especially in Terminal F, is prone to back ups. I'd be a bit nervous about a 90 minute transfer time. If it were 30 minutes more, a full two hours, I'd probably do it without hesitation, but 90 minutes seems close to me.

The terminals are now connected via secure passages airside, so after you clear the transfer desk you should be able to get back to F. That being said, neither of the two lounges you list is anything to write home about. The new Aeroflot lounges in D are very nice, but the F lounges are extremely dated.

Thanks for the quick reply - unfortunately I will be flying Y and I have no status with Aeroflot so the F lounges (PriorityPass) are my only option

Sounds like it's going to be a long time to kill...

I believe 90 minutes is enough to catch your next flight, provided your first flight arrives on time. Since you won't be clearing immigartions (and this is where seriously long delays tend to happen), clearing security check shouldn't take you long: 5-10 minutes for that (unless you are unlucky to arrive after SU Shanghai flight lands; then it could take good 20-25 minutes). Walking between terminals is 10-15 minutes depending on your pace.
So with 90 minutes connection time and your flight arriving on shedule you will be at the gate 50-40 minutes before departure time (or 20-30 minutes before they open the gate). Quite enough to check out one of the infamous lounges in F.
On a positive note Wifi is free across Sheremetyevo and there are a couple of decent cafes; so if I were you I would spend $20 they charge for lounge access for a pint of ale in TGIF (in D) and sip at at the table as I surf Flyer Talk communities.

UPD: I have just realized you have an option of accessing Galaxy Lounge in E. Terminal E is halfway between F and D, so it could be a better option for you since (a) it is closer to your departure gates and (b) it is a nicer facility.

So, could woody125 please let us know what's happened at the end to your transfer ?

I'm going to arrive at at Terminal C at SVO from Simferopol/Ukraine and I need to take my Delta Air Lines flight at Terminal D at SVO.

I hope a transit visa is not needed.