Author Topic: Tips and tricks for stopovers in Russia (Read 13883 times)

arch · « **on:** January 26, 2015, 02:30:24 PM »

Hey, I will be traveling with my family from JFK to TLV on Aeroflot with a very short stopover (1:40) in Moscow. I would like everything to go as smoothly as possible. Are there any tips, or tricks that I should know of?
Is Aeroflot generally on time? How is the Airport, and are the locals helpful? Since I will be travelling with small children, I am interested if anyone who has done this with kids has any input.
Thanks!

cw · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2015, 02:34:27 PM »

If anyone can advise on their Transaero experience, it will b greatly appreciated as well. I have a 4 hour (app) stop each way and flying with little kids as well. And looking for any tips to make the experience a good one.

ual902 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2015, 02:41:32 PM »

Quote from: cw on January 26, 2015, 02:34:27 PM

If anyone can advise on their Transaero experience, it will b greatly appreciated as well. I have a 4 hour (app) stop each way and flying with little kids as well. And looking for any tips to make the experience a good one.

Never flown with Tansaero, but my guess is load up your SmartPhone/Ipad/Laptop with loads of Movies and entertainment and bring your own food, Eyeshades, Ear plugs and a good pair of head phone such as Bose etc. Don't rely on TransAero for Entertainment or food options.

Emkay · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2015, 02:43:10 PM »

i would say that in order to have a good time in a russian airport you have to be drunk

jordan21 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2015, 03:18:44 PM »

Quote from: Emkay on January 26, 2015, 02:43:10 PM

i would say that in order to have a good time in a russian airport you have to be drunk

lubaby · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2015, 03:37:49 PM »

Quote from: Emkay on January 26, 2015, 02:43:10 PM

i would say that in order to have a good time in a russian airport you have to be drunk

..When in Rome..

yissymo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2015, 04:11:55 PM »

Quote from: cw on January 26, 2015, 02:34:27 PM

If anyone can advise on their Transaero experience, it will b greatly appreciated as well. I have a 4 hour (app) stop each way and flying with little kids as well. And looking for any tips to make the experience a good one.

I flew Transaero by myself a few years ago, really wasn't bad at all. Now with little kids, make sure you have entertainment, because from what I remember, there isn't much to do in the airport in Moscow.

Chapshnell · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2015, 10:30:13 PM »

you need a visa to exit the airport.. just sit tight & youre going to board anyways your next flight within the hour...

iggyray · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2015, 07:24:13 AM »

1. Aeroflot is good, Transaero is not so much.
2. Moscow has 3 airports: Aeroflot flies to SVO, which is modern and nice, Transaero to VKO which is quite dated and Soviet style.
3. Holders of Israeli passports don't need visas to exit in Russia.
4. Not much to do as in any airport, get a card that gives you a lounge access, if you have a long layover. VKO options are extremely limited.
5. As for bringing your own food - unless you need kosher or special food, I don't see the reason to bring anything with you. These are modern airports that have everything. It's not Uganda.

Nothings different from any European airport, I reckon.

Emkay · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2015, 07:44:29 AM »

Welcome to the forums

Quote from: iggyray on January 27, 2015, 07:24:13 AM

1. Aeroflot is good, Transaero is not so much.

you get a seat and a toilet, cant expect more at that price.

Quote

2. VKO which is quite dated and Soviet style.

to say the least

Quote

4. Not much to do as in any airport, get a card that gives you a lounge access, if you have a long layover. VKO options are extremely limited.

it would help if the airport was climate controlled. and VKO has 0 options

Quote

3. Holders of Israeli passports don't need visas to exit in Russia.

but for the rest of the world and most people here, its a time consuming hassle and expensive

Quote

5. As for bringing your own food - unless you need kosher or special food, I don't see the reason to bring anything with you. These are modern airports that have everything. It's not Uganda.

these are NOT modern airports, and i would rather have a stopover in uganda than VKO

Quote

Nothings different from any European airport, I reckon.

light years apart

iggyray · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:27:29 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on January 27, 2015, 07:44:29 AM

Welcome to the forums you get a seat and a toilet, cant expect more at that price.to say the leastit would help if the airport was climate controlled. and VKO has 0 options but for the rest of the world and most people here, its a time consuming hassle and expensive these are NOT modern airports, and i would rather have a stopover in uganda than VKO light years apart

You are just being extremely negative. Have you flown SU recently? Have you been to SVO? I travel extensively, and the SVO facilities are on a par with a modern European airport.
And compared to JFK or EWR, it is a great place to have a layover.

Emkay · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:40:49 AM »

Quote from: iggyray on January 27, 2015, 08:27:29 AM

You are just being extremely negative. Have you flown SU recently? Have you been to SVO? I travel extensively, and the SVO facilities are on a par with a modern European airport.
And compared to JFK or EWR, it is a great place to have a layover.

Yes I am being extremely negative, Though out boils down to a simple algorithm.
Negative experience=negative review
Positive experience=positive review

And I was referring mainly to the other Russian airports

iggyray · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2015, 08:47:13 AM »

I thought the specific question was about Moscow's SVO and VKO, and not "Russian airports" in general.
I don't intend to start a flame discussion about it. Thank you for your attention. My feeling you're looking for negative points intentionally, I don't know the reason or the background, and for the purpose of the core topic it is irrelevant.

chff · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2015, 09:04:16 AM »

Quote from: iggyray on January 27, 2015, 08:27:29 AM

And compared to JFK or EWR, it is a great place to have a layover.

Only Uganda can be worse then the NY airports

Emkay · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2015, 09:25:34 AM »

Quote from: iggyray on January 27, 2015, 08:47:13 AM

I thought the specific question was about Moscow's SVO and VKO, and not "Russian airports" in general.
I don't intend to start a flame discussion about it. Thank you for your attention. My feeling you're looking for negative points intentionally, I don't know the reason or the background, and for the purpose of the core topic it is irrelevant.

I am referring to VKO
And staying on topic is not a DDF trademark

iggyray · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2015, 09:56:02 AM »

In any case the person was asking for tips when having a connection in either SVO or VKO.
They won't cancel the sub $400 Transaero tickets to TLV regardless, will they?

I personally would pay a bit more, but fly a much nicer Aeroflot, get skyteam miles, and connect at modern SVO, rather than regional VKO which is totally on par with let's say Berlin's Tegel, and much much better than Schoenefeld, Bergamo, Naples or any other regional European airport.

SVO is a great modern airport where the transit passengers have everything they need at a normal price now, due to the depreciated local currency.

iggyray · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2015, 10:01:15 AM »

As an idea, getting a Ritz Carlton card might be a good idea. You pay $400, and you get a $300 credit for your airline incidentals during the year (luggage, inflight entertainment, inflight food etc) plus loungeclub (loungeclub.com) access - JFK, SVO, and TLV lounges are included, and you can bring guests.
Yeah, and also 140k Marriott points, which is also nice.

arch · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2015, 11:25:44 AM »

Thanks!
How far are the gates from each other? What would happen if my flight from jfk was delayed? What are my options? I don't want to be stuck in Russia for shabbos!

susiem · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2015, 06:17:27 AM »

I just returned from a trip to Israel via VKO. Yes, the airport is very outdated. There are a limited number of stores all of which are very overpriced. Don't expect to find places to buy drinks,.The only place to buy soda is in the duty free liquor store. There are some charging stations but very hard to find. None of the people in the airport speak English which made it very difficult. The airport is under construction and looks like it's trying to modernize. As far as the flight, most of the videos did not work. There is plenty of kosher food. 30% of the passengers on my flights purchssed because of dansdeals.

AharonInIsrael · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2015, 06:22:11 AM »

Quote from: iggyray on January 27, 2015, 07:24:13 AM

1. Aeroflot is good, Transaero is not so much.
2. Moscow has 3 airports: Aeroflot flies to SVO, which is modern and nice, Transaero to VKO which is quite dated and Soviet style.
3. Holders of Israeli passports don't need visas to exit in Russia.
4. Not much to do as in any airport, get a card that gives you a lounge access, if you have a long layover. VKO options are extremely limited.
5. As for bringing your own food - unless you need kosher or special food, I don't see the reason to bring anything with you. These are modern airports that have everything. It's not Uganda.

Nothings different from any European airport, I reckon.

Thanks for the detailed info!
I was unaware of the fact that Israeli passport holders don't need a visa.