Back from my pseudo Delta mileage run to Moscow and wanted to pass along a big thanks to everyone here who helped me and my buddies out.

Being a first-time traveller to Moscow this is going to horify some of you for sure --- but by the end of our 72 hours we had "hitchhiked" all over the city (we caught on to the "hold your arm out" bit) --- went all over the city for about 150 rubles per ride (or less).

Made it into 6 of 11 clubs (face control was a bit tight at 5 of those)...met a nice Russian student that worked at the Norweigen Embassy -- she took us to several sheesha bars on Tverskaya and out towards People's Friendship University.

When we did use the Metro it was a breeze...but I think you need a healthy sense of direction and basic understanding of the route layout --- that's what pre-trip planning is for.

(even got abused by birch branches at a bath house).

CRAZY city after 11PM. We are already planning the next "mileage run".

It's not hitchhiking. It's hailing a taxi

Moscow certainly is fun. I'm glad to hear you had a good time. I hope to get back there next summer

Glad you had a good time!

I am not at all horrified--in fact I'm pretty impressed that you managed this w/o Russian language capability. This is how everyone gets around town--totally standard, but most tourists would be unwilling/unable to do it! Kudos to you!

Same here -- tell us more!

It was a tad nerve racking at first, but we had our college friend show us the ropes on the first few trips --- she held out her hand, and quickly several cars would line up -- she told us to:

Scan the car, get a feel for the person.
Only tell them the address and ask how much.
Negotiate up from 100 RUB and typically settle around 200.

She gave us all of the phrases translated from Russian Cyrillic so that we could "recite" them effectively. We even negotiated one fare with an "official" taxi.

The speed at which these guys drove was a bit sketchy, and it was snowing on one of these days, but we rolled with the punches.

Good to hear that you had a great time.
Crazy Moscow after 11pm is what makes it fun.

Actually those are the "gypsy" taxis where you hail with your hands. One word of caution, Never get in if there is another passenger already in there.

BTW, hows SVO3 coming along ?

...and never let them stop to pick up anyone else!

I think we should start a definitive when SVO3 will open thread. Anyone wanna join me?

As of Monday, the 12th of November, according to the STAR lounge lady at SVO2 it is not slated to open until fall of 2008 which is a full year behind the "original" open date. I've heard March of 08 on this board and that continues to be the most optimistic date I've heard. The lounge lady saying fall of 08 was a shock to me. I did not think they were that far behind.

So, according to some on the board here - March of 08.

According to the lounge lady at SVO2 - Fall of 08.

Anyone else heard anything differently? I'm not back again till February so I won't have a chance to ask before then.

Feel free to start such a thread. I also wonder when the train will actually start service. Based on what I've heard I can't believe the EOY 2007 date is possible.

I suggest we use this thread for all things SVO.

The party line is Terminal A will open in the first half of 2008/by "the start of the summer season". So that's pretty much in line with March, 30 which some Russian trade media put as the date when SU transfers all of their operations to SVO3.

I'm trying to keep tabs on the situation. Will probably interview someone about it in a couple of weeks and will post on FT.

Sounds good. I'll go there now and suggest a format for updating what we hear. Gotta be honest...I trust apoivre more than what I read in any magazine or hear from any airline. Your input and opinions and resources have proven to be very accurate in all that I've read. Thanks so much!

If you can see SVO3 from SVO2 then I can not imagine them having it ready by March 08. From the construction I saw it looked like it will be fall of 08.

The two things are basically side by side. SVO3 is to the left of SVO2 (facing the runways). Here's what it looked like on November, 7. And the white things in this pic (same day) are supposed to be jetbridges - I wouldn't think anyone gets those ready a year before they plan to finish the works.

EDIT TO ADD: Note that I don't claim to know anything about construction. And I haven't flown out of SVO2 for almost a year now so I only get glimpses of the site from SVO1 across the runways whenever I fly to StPete. I know they are also building a connecting gallery between the two terminals which is supposed to be ready later than SVO3. Could that be what you saw?