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Indirect flights
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Posted by: zaniac

My trip to Minsk (hopefully next month) will require taking an indirect flight. I have never done a journey which requires indirect flying before. What I may ask may look like a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyway

On an indirect flight, will I need to collect my luggage after the first stop and then hand it back it for the flight direct to Minsk?

I'm guessing the answer will be 'yes', but just want to confirm that it does not get moved onto another plane automatically.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaniac

My trip to Minsk (hopefully next month) will require taking an indirect flight. I have never done a journey which requires indirect flying before. What I may ask may look like a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyway

A couple of questions Zaniac

Are you flying with one airline or is it two?
What airport is your connecting flight from?
Did you book this as one complete booking or two separate bookings?

Most connecting flights will transport your baggage from one plane to the other for you, one reason so many get lost!! but it depends on who you are flying with, how you booked, if the two flights are run by the same airline even if one is a division of another etc etc

Chris

Posted by: GoeastLJ

Zaniac, the answer is no - I mean your assumption is wrong. When you fly from A to B to C, the airline will usually check your luggage through to C when you check in at A. They should also let you know when you check in at A. This is so because it may not be practicable to retrieve your luggage at B and check it in again. You will probably have to check in again yourself when you get to B but your luggage should normally be taken care of.

Posted by: waiting123

If you are flying into Moscow, on an international flight then continuing on domestically you are correct, you will have to pick up your luggage, take it to the domestic terminal and re-check your luggage.

But in all other countries I have traveled, they will transfer your bagge for you. Only with FSU experience have I had to take my baggage from terminal to terminal. Hope this helps.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoeastLJ

You will probably have to check in again yourself when you get to B but your luggage should normally be taken care of.

Unless you are flying with KLM and then they send it on holiday on its own for a few days before they let you have it back again!!

Posted by: zaniac

GoeastLJ - thanks very much for your input, I'll take it in mind.

Chrismc - I have not made any bookings yet, as an issue work related has come up and is something which may have an impact on whether I can go on holiday.

1. Are you flying with one airline or is it two?

It will be just one airline that I will be flying with. It will be with either Aitalia, Czech Airlines, Austria Airlines or LOT Airlines.

2. What airport is your connecting flight from?

With Aitalia,

Heathrow to Milan (MALPENSA APT) to Minsk (MINSK INTERNATIONAL)

With Czech Airlines ,

Heathrow to Prague (PRAGUE) to Minsk (MINSK INTERNATIONAL)

With Austria Airlines,

Heathrow to Vienna (VIENNA) to Minsk (MINSK INTERNATIONAL)

With LOT Airlines,

Heathrow to Warsaw (WARSAW) to Minsk (MINSK INTERNATIONAL)

3. Did you book this as one complete booking or two separate bookings?

It will be one complete booking.

Posted by: Chrismc

In that case your luggage should be taken care of then. I doubt you would have to touch it again after your first check in when you leave the Heathrow, until you get to Minsk.

Posted by: zaniac

waiting123 and chrismc - thanks. I guess now I won't be standing around waiting for luggage that never comes. Chris you KLM experience comes to mind, lol

Posted by: waiting123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

In that case your luggage should be taken care of then. I doubt you would have to touch it again after your first check in when you leave the Heathrow, until you get to Minsk.

I agree with Chris, your luggage should be ok and out of your hands until you get to Minsk.

Will you8 be staying in Minsk, or are you flying somewhere internaly?

Posted by: Ade

Hi Zaniac,

From recent advice from my travel agent, and internet searches (when I was looking at flight options for my recent trip to Azerbaijan), unless you are flying with one airline only, you won't get your luggage checked through - even if the trip is booked in one go via an agency. More airlines are saying you can't get luggage checked through if you use a second company.

Of course, if it's just the one airline, there should be no problem in getting luggage checked straight through without you having to get it in the middle.

Good luck,

Ade

Posted by: zaniac

Ade - thanks for your advice, it's very much greatly appreciated

waiting123 - I'll be staying in Minsk, probably at the Hotel Yubilenya, not far from the central area.

Posted by: EasyTarget

Zan:
if the prices are close to the same I would recommend Austrian Airlines over the other ones. Just my personal opinion.

Posted by: zaniac

EasyTarget - hi, thanks for the advice. Are they one of the better flight companies you have used in the past?

Posted by: EasyTarget

Zan:
I have always had good experiences with Austrian Airlines. Their customer service is great and their on time rates are better then the other airlines you listed.

Posted by: Raspberry

Yubleinaya has a really great location. Near the sports palace, steak house, cinema, etc. on Masherova. Two other hotels are nearby(Belarus, Planeta) which also have restaurants, disco, casino, etc. Center of city is about a 15 minute walk. Nyamiga and other metro stations are not far away.

Posted by: firemansam

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaniac

EasyTarget - hi, thanks for the advice. Are they one of the better flight companies you have used in the past?

I used Austrian and have nothing but praise for their service.
Funny thing was leaving Kharkov, I had to overnight in Vienna and I had to ask specifically to get my baggage back for the stopover, otherwise it would have just been forwarded on for me and I would not have seen it till arriving back home!
Would defiantely fly with them again. As long as they can stop the pillows catching on fire.. hahahaha

Posted by: Happyguy

zaniac

I just got back from Minsk about a month ago and to get there i was in 4 differrent airports.Also i used 2 different Airlines.Bolth of which were members of the star alliance.I never had to touch my stuff until i got to Minsk.On the way back was a different story.When i got back to Canada i need to change planes for a domestic flight.At that point i need to pick it up and go through customs.I notice the airline i used was not on your list.Lufthansa.I will be using them again for my next trip in January.

Posted by: zaniac

Sorry for the delay in responding.

Thanks for your responses ET, Raspberry, firemansam and Happyguy - I appreciate anything you guys can provide. A big boost yesterday, as my company has finally given me the go-ahead to take the holiday - what an effort it was!

I am now double checking the flights, just to get an update. Thanks Happyguy for pointing out Lufthansa to me. I had seen them when I initially was checking for flights, but cannot remember why I didn't list this as a flight company under consideration.

I was kind of tempted to go for the Minsk hotel, but for me I thought it looked a little expensive for what the hotel really provides. Hotel Yubleinaya looked like a good alternative. I checked the google hybrid maps of Minsk and as Raspberry mentioned, the hotel has a good location and I get the impression the big square building on the other side of the road (next to the river) is the Sports Palace.

Posted by: Ade

Hi Zaniac,

Further to my earlier post, and prompted by the post of others, I'd like to add that the Star Alliance gang are good at transfers - and Lufthnasa are the big players there; but check...I think it's down to no-one wanting to take responsibility if luggage is lost in transit.

Top and bottom is, if you are with one airlines and they are happy to transfer you, they will transfer your bags.

Star Alliance should be able to offer this, but check.

Any other way, assume not.

Good luck, and here's to a happy TR!!!

Ade

Posted by: Raspberry

The choices aren't many when it comes to Minsk. Star Alliance is the way to go, as you have three of them(LOT, Lufthansa and Austrian)there. Between the three of them, and their other partners, chances are you will have some combination that would be workable to get to Minsk.

Other carriers that fly into Minsk include Belavia(the national Belarusian carrier), Aeroflot, carriers from other FSU countries, and El-Al. Turkish Airlines might be flying there now, but I haven't checked lately. SAS used to fly there from Copenhangen years ago, but has long decided to give the business to their Star Alliance partners.

Occasionally, there will be charter services to/from an odd assortment of places to Minsk.....including Dublin, Thessaloniki, Larnaca, Cairo, Tianjin, Harbin, Sochi to name a few. But no real regularity on these services.

No word yet on the status of Minsk-1 airport. The remodeling, and improvements to accomodate customs is supposed to happen soon. The Belarusian government is going to allow SOME international flights into what is an otherwise domestic airport. But the bulk will still be out of #2.

Please verify with your airline which airline you will be flying into. Most likely you will still be at #2. But check anyway, just in case. #1 is closer to the city, in the south, and #2 is east and further out. "MHP" is the city code for #1 and "MSQ" is the code for #2. If you check bags, make sure your bags are tagged with the correct code.

Posted by: Chrismc

Yes Zaniac

The Star Alliance fly from London Heathrow to Minsk. Probably worth checking them first for prices.

They use Lot Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, BMI, Swiss International etc.

Chris

Posted by: Spakoyna

Overall I was very happy with Luftansa. I used them everytime I went over. I always connected in Frankfort. Always had a tight schedule catching the Frankfort-Moscow leg(1 hour). My baggage always came on the next flight which was 2 hours latter. This was not a problem for me but could be for others. My real gripe was 1 time on my flight to Frankfort(the long 10 or 11 hour part) my seat was broken and would not recline.

The whole flight with the persons seat in front of me relined all the way. They did offer me a bottle of wine at the end of the flight. BAH HUMBUG was all I could say!

Posted by: zaniac

Thanks once again guys your responses are very helpful and informative. I have sent an email Belaviva to see if they can be of any use to me. I checked their website's timetable, but it expires on the night before my planned trip, lol

I'll let you know how I get on.

Posted by: zaniac

Praise the lord!!!!!!!!!

The reply from Belavia

"Belavia flies twice a week to Minsk on Wednesdays and Sundays.This is the direct flight form Gatwick Airport-South terminal.

B2 852 3 LGW S MSQ 1155 1650 735 2:55
B2 852 7 LGW S MSQ 1400 1855 735 2:55

The flights have to be purchased 2 weeks in advance, so please give us a call to make the booking."

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