Lay over in SVO
 

hi there! I am planning a trip to Ukraine and could take a flight with a long lay over in Moscow's SVO. If I wanted to leave the airport between flights and shop or dine, do I need a Russian visa? Ukraine does not require a visa for US citizens. thanks for your comments

Depends on your nationality. Most (US, Canada, EU) will require a visa

Plenty of Duty Free shopping. Anything edible/drinkable in a Duty Free shop though CHECK THE DATES as much of it expired around a year ago. I find the food to be horrible and tend to survive off of the lounge food for free.

Didnt this change recently where Im not sure if its 24-48 or 72 hrs allowed w/o getting a prior Visa , as long as you are continuing on to another Country and are flying on a Russian Carrier? So if the OP flys on Aeroflot or Transaero then they should beable to go into the city w/o any problems at least if a US citizen

No, it didn't change. There was such a proposal, but I have no idea when the parliament (as this is a change to the entry law) will vote on it, and with the recent political developments the answer is probably 'not anytime soon'.

The proposal also required pax to fly Russian carriers. Therefore a flight on Delta or Singapore Airlines would not have qualified.

Nothing changed, but Americans should be thankful that we got the 3 year deal (well Russians as well) before everything went crazy. All of the EU countries have no such choice.

Lay over in SVO
 

I have a 7 hour layover in SVO to get to CDG from IAD. Do I need a transit VISA? I am not planning on leaving the airport. I will be with my family. We have US passports. Our return is a 5 hour layover.

No

I presume you are flying Aeroflot? In that case you will remain in terminal F, so you won't need a transit visa. Please check your tickets for the operating airline. If your connecting flight is with Air France (Terminal E), you won't need a visa either, as E and F are connected. Other airlines could arrive at or fly from different terminals, for which a transit visa might be required.

You do not need a visa, transit or otherwise and the Aeroflot agents in IAD know this [only SU on this route]. When you deplane in SVO, just follow the transit signs, go to the transit desk and they will sort you out by at least getting you through security and into the terminal where you can then get your boarding pass from another transit desk. I transit a few times a year in SVO and have not had a visa since around 2007.

That said, 7 hours with the family is a lot. I tend to stay no more than 4 hours. Duty free shopping is fine, but check the date on anything to eat or drink. It is often years past its date. The lounges are constantly fighting with other SkyTeam members, so they may not let you in or they may hold you to the 4-hour rule. Can be a little hit or miss. If you want to get the family in on one card, forget it now.