Aerosvit Kiev to JFK

[tbirdjoy]

I need a little info on Aerosvit's flights from Kiev to NY.  My wife is going to be flying home in late March for her first visit.  She'll be doing the Delta connection (out of Los Angeles) to Aerosvit at JFK to Kiev.  My questions have to do with her returning from Kiev to JFK.  I've never been through JFK.  She'll have about 2 hours once she lands at JFK to get through customs and catch her Delta flight to LA.  Is passport control and customs fairly efficient in getting folks through and on to their connecting flights?  Is there a place right in customs where she'll return her luggage for her connecting flight?  I'd appreciate any advice any of you have that have or have had wives fly through JFK on the return trip.  Thanks.

Mark

[tbirdjoy]

... in response to Aerosvit Kiev to JFK, posted by tbirdjoy on Oct 27, 2003

Thanks for the responses.  I've changed her from JFK to LAX to the 10 pm flight.  She'll have 5 hours between connections now.  She was much more comfortable with this.  If Aerosvit is anything like Aeroflot I don't trust them to arrive on time and her having to go through customs and then get over to another terminal for her Delta flight home.  This way she won't worry and she'll have plenty of time to jump through all the hoops.  I'll worry though until I see her get off the plane in LAX.

The price of the tickets and the connections work out really nice with Aerosvit.  LAX to Simferopol (JFK connection and through Kiev) ran only $845 with no overnights required in Kiev.  Aeroflot would have required her spend the night in Kiev coming and going due to missing connections going and coming from Simferopol.  

Mark

[jrm]

... in response to Aerosvit Kiev to JFK, posted by tbirdjoy on Oct 27, 2003

Two hours is cutting it close but if everything (papers) are in order,and she is not bringing a buncha crap back, no problem. Customs, can be a real headache, and Boneland Security, only adds to a very longggg day.BEst of luck!

[jrm]

... in response to It depends.., posted by jrm on Oct 28, 2003

biggest unknown is Aerosvit's inability to depart and arrive on time.

[RickM]

... in response to Aerosvit Kiev to JFK, posted by tbirdjoy on Oct 27, 2003

Arrival "to" JFK...Important she has greencard (or advance parole) "plus" copy or origional of marraige license... (airline tickets can be in either her married name or in her old passport name)...

She'll arrive and take her own luggage from passport control carousel "through" customs "herself" (rent-carts are available,not many russian speaking people though...

Once through customs and allowed "into" the airport she'll have to find her airline window and re-check her baggage...(If not too far,I always like to check it right at the gate where I'll be boarding to hopefully avoid any confusion and lost luggage)...

2 hours should be a "breeze" for her...