Ways to get to Volgograd?
 

We've booked our first trip to Russia, and we need to go to Volgograd to begin with (there's a good reason :)). Hope some experienced Russian travelers can give us some advice.

1. We land at LHR. As far as I can see, our options are to fly direct to DME on BA, and then make our way to SVO-2 (is this right?) to get a domestic flight to Volgograd OR

We fly some other airline that lands at SVO-1. Are there any direct flights? All the airlines I've checked fly via a city in their home country, making the trip much longer than the BA one.

2. The BA flight we've looked at arrives at DME at 04:55 and there is an Aeroflot flight leaving SVO for VOG at 09:10. Is this sort of connection plausible i.e. clear customs and go DME-SVO in that time?

3. Are there any (decent) airlines that operate from an international destination direct to Volgograd? Trying to avoid Russian airlines!

4. Is Aeroflot decent? (and safe!) Do they operate new Airbus/Boeing metal?

Thanks for any help!

If you are flying into DME, then much more convenient than trekking across to SVO for a connecting flight would be to instead take an S7 Airlines (http://www.s7.ru/en/index.html) flight from DME to VOG. I've flown them on several occasions without any problems. According to the airport web site (http://www.mav.ru) there are no direct flights to Western Europe from VOG.

Thousands of people fly dozens of SU or S7 flights every day all over Russia without any problems (although not necessarily in the lap of luxury!!). Internally you are more likely to get a Russian aircraft than Boeing or Airbus, but they get the job done!! Personally I find a Tupolev or Ilyushin now and then make a nice change from the usual aircraft that get served up everywhere else ;)

You find a Tupolev or Ilyushin a "nice change?" From what, jumping off a cliff with a pair of wings strapped to your back? ;) Personally, I find it a refreshing sign of progress that Aeroflot seems to be keen on retiring out all of their Tupolev flying coffins in favor of Airbus and Boeing. Aeroflot is much better than they used to be. Once we get them on board with electronic tickets like the rest of the world, it will be even better.

In fact, it's the other way round - SVO2 is international and you can fly there direct from LHR on SU. SVO1 is domestic - that's where your SU flt to VOG would depart from.

It's barely doable - and pretty expensive as the trains don't run so early in the morning and you'll have to take a cab. Don't try it

Note that BA is not your only option. BD and UN fly from LHR to DME, too, and SU flies to SVO2. I'm not sure about UN (Transaero airlines) but both SU and BD are considered superior to BA on that route. See the Grrrr Moscow thread in the BA section of Flyertalk

S7 have two daily flights from DME to VOG. SU is way better, but the difference is not that great to warrant the trek from DME to SVO1. I'll second bcmatt - if the schedules cooperate, go with S7

No. VOG is a small regional airport and it's purely domestic. I don't really think they have more than 5 flights a day, most of these to Moscow.

If you'd wanted to start your Russian trip, say, in Samara - you could have taken Czech Airlines via PRG and then just take a cruise down the Volga to Volgograd from there. But VOG in itself is really awkward to fly to.

Yes on both counts. On international routes they are at least on par with any European or US carrier (and better than most, especially in short-haul J). They operate brand new Airbus 319/320/321 on short- and mid-haul but there are several old Tupolevs left in the service, including to VOG - it's not exactly their flagship route so it will stay with the Tupolevs for the rest of the year.

They've already implemented electronic ticketing across much of their network (incl LHR/SVO/VOG), with the rest to follow by the IATA deadline in a week from now ^

Moscow may be the center of Russia, but there are two other really good options here:

Petersburg - LHR-LED on BA or Rossija (or Lufthansa) then LED-VOG on Rossija. Service runs on Sundays and Fridays. LED-VOG is also possible on something called VolgaAviaEkspress. They run now 5 days a week.

Kaliningrad - LGW-KGD on KD Avia and KGD-VOG on KD Avia. Tickets can be purchased online easily on their site (which is in English and easy to use). They run every day of the week except Wednesdays on new, shiny Boeing 737s. You'll arrive in Volgograd at 3:20am, unfortunately. But the transfer will be easy and the company is pretty respectable. They even offer e-tickets! (A major WOW for Russia). The major downside for you is that they fly from Gatwick.

I suppose one might also look at flying from LHR-KGD on Lot or Lufthansa or something

Also, another option to possibly consider depending on your adventurousness is that crazy VolgaAviaEkspress. I've never heard of them or used them, but I'm intrigued by their flights to Volgograd. Unfortunately, their site seems to be only in Russian, but there is a number to call. Looks like they'd be around $250 one-way from Petersburg to Volgograd or about 3900 rubles ($170) from Domodedovo. They have between 3 and 4 flights a day DMD-VOG at 9:45am, 4:10pm, 9:00pm and 10:20pm.

Those are your options: my conclusions - Aeroflot is probably the first thing I would consider (esp since they are having a sale on Volgograd flight this summer). S7 is probably the second thing I would do (they are cheap and reliable), but there are other routes to consider.

If you want a true Russian experience, take the train :cool: