USCGamecock

Probably not since it is a hassle to get a visa and costs $100 + FedEx + photos + high hotel rates..........

GUWonder

I am thinking transiting Moscow airside.

That would be less hassle and be cheaper.

Flaflyer

I can't wait for the first MR Trip Report thru Moscow. After reading the dealings MRs have with immigration in places like LHR, who out there wants to be the first to explain the concept of a MR to Boris from Motherland Security Department?

Boris: No visa? Why you come to Russia?
MR#1: So I can leave in three hours.
Boris: Why you fly for 10 hours then leave and fly another 10 hours?
MR#1: Because I want to.
Boris: Why you spend $600 to go nowhere and end up at home?
MR#1: Because I can.
Boris: No one that crazy. Not Russian, not even US capitalist. Admit you CIA courier. Who is your contact here in the airport? Back room, this way. . .

Looking forward to your My Unexpected Side Trip to Siberia trip report. ^

jimrpa

Even more amusing, try explaining to John from Homeland Security Department why you left your beloved United States of America for 20 hours
Perhaps we'll have an opportunity to enjoy the delights of that tropical socialist workers paradise just south of Florida at US Government expense

GUWonder

But airside transit = no clearing immigration in Moscow, right?

avflyer

This June, I need to fly out of NYC to the UK for a trade show. Another distributor has been trying to get me to do a training in Russia and the only time I could squeeze that in would be prior to the UK show.

Flying to and from the UK out of NYC has always been tricky. Yes I could do CO but with Virgin offering MQMs, I was looking at flying them. I even kicked around the a JFK-SVO flight with a LGW-ATL-LGA return figuring I would have to fly BA from SVO-LHR gaining me no MQMs. I never considered fly Aeroflot because, well the thought did not appeal to me (I could be wrong here).

So the question is, can I fly JFK-SVO on DL, SVO-LHR on Aeroflot, and LHR-JFK on Virgin, pay a descent coach fair, use miles to upgrade and garner MQMs on all legs? Would I need to book each flight independently? My firm will pay for an upgradable coach fare (providing it isn't too obscene) but not an I fare or FC ticket.

chalf

Let's not speculate as to what "special control" might involve and what "services" might be offered.

RSSrsvp

Perhaps the "special control" comes with a shot of vodka?

Vulcan

I seem to remember another thread that said this was NOT possible. Perhaps bring this topic up in the Travel and Dining Forum: The World. There is a section for Russia.

woody125

I did this last week actually. You need only to show your outbound ticket and for the return to be no more than 72 hours later than when you entered the country. I confirmed this with a very nice (actually) immigration officer leaving the country a few days before trying this. It worked perfectly. Just don't expect them to respect an eletronic ticket. That is still a foreign concept to many there. Best to show a paper ticket.

Just go to the transit hall when you arrive. It is at the top of the stairs at SVO2 just before you go down into the ever improving (seriously) Arrivals Hall. There is someone there for every incoming flight to meet anyone transitting. Obviously, you are not actually transitting but you know what I mean. It should not be a problem. My father in law, a DL retired employee, has done this many times actually for reasons other than a MR.

lewinr

nevertheless, there could be problems with the carrier that brings you into Russia. They always inspect my passport to ensure I have a visa before they allow me to board. Of course if you are leaving in 8 hours (or even 70) you dont NEED a visa, but I would not be surprised if someone would attempt to deny you boarding because you have no visa. You would have to argue with them that you dont need a visa, and you would be right, but they might insist on following some rule that they cannot let you board without a visa.

GUWonder

Nowadays plenty of Americans and EU member country nationals transit Russia on Aeroflot without a visa. No one I know to have flown Aeroflot and done an airside transit has been denied boarding on the basis of not having a visa when the rules permit them transit without a visa.

If Indians don't have problems with airside transits of Russia without a visa as long as departing within 24 hours, I cannot see Americans having any more problems doing an airside transit. A problem would be more the anomaly than the norm.

nomad1974

Ehm... sure you're not confusing this with US Immigration?!

chalf

That would be Guantanamo. And unlike in the Russia scenario, a $50 bill would not be likely to get one out of it.

As a technical matter, I expect that many Russian capitalists do far crazier things with their money than spend $600 to fly ten hours in each direction to spend three hours at Sheremetyevo.

herzmeh

Somehow I don't like this "special control" thing... I guess I'm just associating it with TSA's SSSS.