Overnighting in Moscow

[juio99]

What is the scoop on overnighting in Moscow when your arriving flight is too late to make flight out to another location and you have to wait until the next day?

I would be connecting in Moscow to go to another country, not to another city in Russia.

I see there is a 72 hour transit visa, but I also saw (but info wasn't complete) that you could stay in a 'transit hotel' at or near SVO without getting the transit visa.

Anyone no the complete and up to date story?  I would just as soon not pay for the transit visa, and stay at the transit hotel . . . I think.

Also, I suppose you would need two transit visas if the same situation occurs for return flight.  i.e. need to stay overnight in Moscow again.

Thanks,

JR

[juio99]

... in response to Overnighting in Moscow, posted by juio99 on Feb 9, 2003

1

[Charles]

... in response to Overnighting in Moscow, posted by juio99 on Feb 9, 2003

You need to get the visa and if you plan to return through Moscow you will need a double-entry visa.  I believe the cost for this visa is $120, but check the Russian embassy website.  You also need to make copies of the visa to give to to the passport control officer.  I am not aware that staying in one of the hotels near SVO allows you to avoid the visa.  I think Rags' post accurately states that your "transit hotel" may be some guarded holding area at SVO.  So I would not try to cut corners on the visa.  You might consider getting a flat for your overnight stay(s) in the city center area.  If you're going to be in Moscow for the first time, you might want to see some of the sights.  Rags' Motel 6 description is pretty much on the mark about the SVO area hotels, so you may wish to consider other alternatives.

[Rags]

... in response to Re: Overnighting in Moscow, posted by Charles on Feb 11, 2003

You are correct about the $120 processing fee for a "two week" turnaround at the Consulate but you also have the cost of three more passport style photos, photocopies of your airline tickets, Fedex return envelope (required by the Consulate), and of course getting the documents there by registered mail. All told you'll put out about $160-180 and have to trust the USPS/Fedex/Consulate not to lose your precious passport (three more weeks of wondering).

[Rags]

... in response to Overnighting in Moscow, posted by juio99 on Feb 9, 2003

All I can relate is what has happened to me flying Aerof%#!.

IF YOU HAVE A TRANSIT VISA, they will put you up at Novotel (ajacent to the airport) which is a very expensive hotel with Motel 6 rooms and provide you with meal vouchers and a new ticket for the next day. You have to go to the "office" (more like a cubicle) which is upstairs on the departure level on the far left if you are facing the big flight status board. It doesn't have any signs indicating what it is but it is next to the vet office and men's head. You may be able to tell where it is by the people screaming at the obnoxious folks behind the counter :0

If your flight is not too late and you are going to Kyiv, you may (as my fiancee did with much crying and screaming) be able to bully them into getting you a flight out on Aerosvit which leaves about 30 minutes later that their flight. They will tell you that they can't of course, but be persistant AND LOUD!

DO NOT let them tell you that you don't need to have your visa extended. YOU MUST! Yes, the visa CAN be good for 72 hours BUT, the Russian Consulate will issue it based on the dates of your tickets. (I believed them and spent another wonderful day in Moscow while my fiancee waited for me at Borispol.) Check the dates on your visa. If it says that you are suppose to leave that day, it won't get you out the next. You will spend about two hours with passport control being interogated as to why you overstayed your visa even though I'm sure that this occurs everyday for the same reason. If you are on the late flight when you arrive the Consulate office at the airport will be closed so you will have to go back to this Aerof$&! office at least 90 minutes early the next day to get it changed (they will run it down to the Consulate for you).

After you get your new tickets for the next day and I would suggest that you insist on the FIRST flight out the next day (in case you run into hassles with your visa), you must go to the Aerof..K office which is in the center of the kiosks between the exit doors going outside (I think it's got a "transit" sign) to get your hotel voucher and ride.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TRANSIT VISA, I assume that you will have a very, very uncomfortable night and day waiting in the gate area of SVO 1. They will bus you across the tarmac (under guard) and you will stay in the secured area until your flight. How you will get your new fight coupon, I don't know.

Of course your baggage will make a different flight or be "lost". Then you will have the pleasure of dealing with the Customs baggage department at your final destination.

Is it worth saving a few bucks (it will cost you about $180 and 2-3 weeks wait for a double entry/exit transit visa if you do it yourself) to get a better fare? I don't think so! IMO, if you can avoid it don't travel through SVO.

I think that Aerosvit now has direct flights to Kyiv from NYC now. I will be taking NW/KLM from the West Coast from now on. It's a little longer with the layovers and connections (SFO-Detroit-Frankfurt-Kyiv / Kyiv-Amsterdam-SFO) but you get there on time and mid afternoon not late at night.