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Ukraine and new world traveler
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Posted by: Dave1

I am looking at my first trip to Ukraine. I am not an experienced world traveler, so I have questions. The trip I am looking at has a lot of connections--U.S.A. to Germany to France to Kiev to Simferopol. It looks like the return trip has a 14 hour layover in Germany, so I might want to leave the airport .
My questions are: (1) how many times will I have to go through customs/immigration and such (i.e. will I have to do this leaving U.S.A. and entering Germany and entering France and entering Ukraine?)
And (2) How much time should I allow between each flight to make sure I don't miss my connection?
And (3) I understand a Visa is no longer needed for an American in Ukraine, will I need a Russian visa if my return flight goes from Simferopol to Moscow before leaving the FSU?

Thanks

Posted by: Pin Boy

where in the us are you? you can fly direct from NYC to kiev. then take a train once you're in the country to simferopol. from what ukrainians have told me, domestic flights in ukraine can be pretty hairy.

pb

Posted by: Dave1

Leaving from Amarillo Texas. From there I normally go either to D/FW or to Houston to get anywhere else.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1

I am looking at my first trip to Ukraine. I am not an experienced world traveler, so I have questions. The trip I am looking at has a lot of connections--U.S.A. to Germany to France to Kiev to Simferopol. It looks like the return trip has a 14 hour layover in Germany, so I might want to leave the airport .
My questions are: (1) how many times will I have to go through customs/immigration and such (i.e. will I have to do this leaving U.S.A. and entering Germany and entering France and entering Ukraine?)
And (2) How much time should I allow between each flight to make sure I don't miss my connection?
And (3) I understand a Visa is no longer needed for an American in Ukraine, will I need a Russian visa if my return flight goes from Simferopol to Moscow before leaving the FSU?

Thanks

Don't worry about traveling to the FSU. I was also a little nervous about this but never had a problem.

It sounds like you are taking the long way to the Ukraine. Catch a flight to New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, or maybe Boston. The last I knew, they all fly directly to Kiev.

You don't need a visa for the Ukraine but you do for Russia if you plan on leaving the airport. I've heard of some people getting harrased by the police if you don't have a visa for Russia, even if you don't leave the airport, so you might want get one. It isn't necessary to go through Russia though. I would check with a travel agent or go on-line to travelocity, expedia, or orbit.

You will go through customs when you leave the USA to go to a foreign country and once before you return to the USA. Remember to get your luggage at the first airport you stop at on your way back then check it in again. It is for security reason that you have to do this.

I would allow at least 2 hours between flights.

Posted by: Pin Boy

have you thought about trying to get to the east coast first, then heading overseas? france, germany and then ukraine seems like too much of a hassle.

good chance to spend a day in NYC too.

pb

Posted by: AkMike

IIRC there are some flights that Raspberry has told about that go directly to Odessa. From there a train ride or bus will get you to Simferpol w/o problem. But I'd suggest that you have your lady travel to Kiev, meet you at the Borispiol airport then see the sights of Kiev for a couple of days til you get over the jet lag. Then take the train south.

Posted by: Pin Boy

i may be wrong, but you're probably not going to be able to fly out of simferopol. you'd probably leave from kiev or odessa, especially heading to the US.

Posted by: azamuner

I flew from home to Frankfurt, then Prague, then Odessa on my trip 2 years ago. On the way back, I had to stay overnight in Frankfurt but that was ok.
The biggest problem I had was CSA and their terrible reliability with flight schedules. I've only traveled once but in the future I might stay away from CSA if possible. Check with other carriers like Luftansa maybe.

Landing in Odessa is unnerving too as the runway feels more like a sidewalk than a road.

Posted by: stevo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1

My questions are: (1) how many times will I have to go through customs/immigration and such (i.e. will I have to do this leaving U.S.A. and entering Germany and entering France and entering Ukraine?)

You don't have go through immigration when travelling between Schengen zone countries such as Germany and France.

Posted by: BluesTraveler

The shortest time wise is to go from
Amarillo, DFW, Frankfurt, Kiev
return
Kiev, Amsterdam, DFW, Amarillo

I would try a bunch of different routes for the cheapest, depending on when you want to travel. Try going through London, Munich, Atlanta, etc...

Posted by: Raspberry

Turkish Airlines is not as well-known in the US as the European carriers, but they do have a flight from Istanbul to Simferopol......but it does not operate every day of the week. And they also have Chicago-Istanbul.

But I'm trying to think, off the top of my head, if anyone flies between Amarillo and Chicago.........American might....

Other lesser-known alternatives.....

And I am not sure if there is a Amarillo-Atlanta flight, either but Delta seasonally has Atlanta-Athens......AeroSvit flies Athens to Odessa; Donbassero has ATH-Donetsk and Chernovitsy.

There are flights from New York airports to Budapest, Bucharest, Prague, and other places besides the "usual suspects"(London, Paris, Frankfurt, etc.) Some of these flights do have connections to Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, etc.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

where in the us are you? you can fly direct from NYC to kiev. then take a train once you're in the country to simferopol. from what ukrainians have told me, domestic flights in ukraine can be pretty hairy. pb

I took a domestic flight once in Ukraine, from Kiev to Donetsk on Donbassero.
This was on a Yakolev, which probably was late 60s or early 70s vintage. Really scary taking off. Fine once they got in the air. But I would not trust that type of aircraft in bad weather, as the radar/avionics is not advanced.
But those planes do have a lot of power.

However, some of the FSU carriers are getting better planes. In fact, Donbassero also has some A-320 airbuses. I did fly Ukraine International, between Odessa and Vienna, and their 737s are much better than some that Europeans and Americans have.....but then again, Ukraine International has its maintenance and training done by KLM and Austrian.

Odessa is indeed like a sidewalk. More concrete than asphault. Mariupol used to have a lot of holes in the runway, but these have since been fixed.

Most airports in Ukraine are air-stairs operations, and not jetways. Some are close to terminals and others are remote operations where you are bused.
Please be aware of that.

Oh, yes, Kiev has two airports......if you have domestic connections, please make sure you know where you are going. Granted, there are some domestic flights at Borispol, but the majority of them are out of Zhulhany.

Posted by: Raspberry

I neglected to notice this, but the flight on Singapore Airlines to Singapore from Houston stops in Domodedovo. I knew they flew to both, and thought that SIN was the first stop, but it turns out the flight goes in the opposite direction.

Upon looking at what kind of routes there are out of Amarillo, I was surprised to see there is nothing to Atlanta or Chicago or Memphis----or most other major cities.

In fact, one of the most difficult places to connect to international flights on the US mainland. (Substantially more difficult than Anchorage, even. At least ANC a half-dozen mainland US destinations)For all practical purposes, going out of AMA will involve a stop in Dallas or Houston.

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

However, some of the FSU carriers are getting better planes. In fact, Donbassero also has some A-320 airbuses. I did fly Ukraine International, between Odessa and Vienna, and their 737s are much better than some that Europeans and Americans have.....but then again, Ukraine International has its maintenance and training done by KLM and Austrian.

You clearly are the man that knows all about airlines here and good source.

I travelled from Australia to Odessa in Ukraine via Austrian airlines to Vienna and connecting flight to Odessa via Ukraine International and indeed it was smooth journey and did not even have to get my luggage out at Vienna for change of flights.

So the added information you explained about the maintenance and training done by Austrian arlines explains the ease of my journey. Cannot say the same for United Airlines on another trip overseas....
Nothing went wrong but I felt much more uncertain about my luggage and change of flights using United Airlines. If I go through USA again I think I will use QANTAS or Virgin Airlines if Richard Branson gets a service between Australia and USA.

Quote:

Odessa is indeed like a sidewalk. More concrete than asphault. Mariupol used to have a lot of holes in the runway, but these have since been fixed.

yeah, have to agree with the comments about the Odessa runway. It felt weird surface when it was taxing in. Not smooth at all to ride over but we were on the ground then so who cares...lol

Posted by: Raspberry

Many Australians travel via the California airports to get to Europe. Both LAX and SFO are a bit problematic and quirky-----I will write about that later.

But there is some good news for you Aussie travelers.....Air Canada has recently made the Sydney-Vancouver trip as a nonstop....previously it made a stop in Hawaii. Bypassing Honolulu, and making it a thru trip to Toronto with no plane change, makes a world of difference.

The best option appears to be SYD-Toronto on AC, and then Lufthansa to Frankfurt and then Kiev(or other FSU destinations). The LH flight arrives in FRA at about 740am or so...and makes good connections. So, only two plane changes and three stops...

Although there are flights on Air Canada and others to various Europe destinations in Vancouver, the wait time is long........therefore the arrival time in Frankfurt, Heathrow, etc....is later than riding it through to Toronto....
and less options on the other end to connect...

Posted by: blucatz

Raspberry, My flight to Moscow only has 57 min between flights at JFK, I am using Delta for everything, should I be concerned about only having 57 minutes?

Posted by: Raspberry

blucatz, I will check tomorrow at work about the DCT(Minimum legal connection time)at JFK.......50 minutes may indeed be true if it is Delta-to-Delta....but I can't say if it's true or not. Any other combination of carriers in different terminals would defintely need more time.

Now, I've got a question for you.....when did you buy your tickets? The reason I ask is that, for the past five years or so, airlines have been changing the schedules every three weeks....previously, the schedules lasted 2-3 months.

Granted, some of these are "nickel-and-dime" changes....but the differences sometimes add up. Case in point: for a short while, United moved the 6:00am Seattle-San Francisco trip to 6:15am....but at the same time, made the first SFO-Maui trip 20 minutes EARLIER.(UA eventually put the flight back at 6:00am, on the next schedule change)

So, no real choice but to try for it and hope for the best. Same for when Delta moved the JFK-Athens trip to 3:55pm.......no problem for the midwest and East Coast connections, but the West Coast people had way less than the legal minimum. Delta no longer sells Athens tickets from the West Coast via JFK, but had to honor the existing reservations---or reroute the passengers.

Just to cite a couple of examples.

Keep in mind, though, that international flights do NOT neccessarily have to DEPART from an international gate(but they do have to ARRIVE in one).
Which explains the difference in times ENTERING the USA, as opposed to LEAVING.

It could be a case where your flight may land at the same area where the international flight is leaving.

Posted by: sidney

i ALWAYS CHECK MY FLIGHTS THE DAY BEFORE. sOMETIMES THERE IS A FLIGHT/GATE CHANGE.
SID

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

blucatz, I will check tomorrow at work about the DCT(Minimum legal connection time)at JFK.......50 minutes may indeed be true if it is Delta-to-Delta....but I can't say if it's true or not. Any other combination of carriers in different terminals would defintely need more time.

Now, I've got a question for you.....when did you buy your tickets? The reason I ask is that, for the past five years or so, airlines have been changing the schedules every three weeks....previously, the schedules lasted 2-3 months.

Granted, some of these are "nickel-and-dime" changes....but the differences sometimes add up. Case in point: for a short while, United moved the 6:00am Seattle-San Francisco trip to 6:15am....but at the same time, made the first SFO-Maui trip 20 minutes EARLIER.(UA eventually put the flight back at 6:00am, on the next schedule change)

So, no real choice but to try for it and hope for the best. Same for when Delta moved the JFK-Athens trip to 3:55pm.......no problem for the midwest and East Coast connections, but the West Coast people had way less than the legal minimum. Delta no longer sells Athens tickets from the West Coast via JFK, but had to honor the existing reservations---or reroute the passengers.

Just to cite a couple of examples.

Keep in mind, though, that international flights do NOT neccessarily have to DEPART from an international gate(but they do have to ARRIVE in one).
Which explains the difference in times ENTERING the USA, as opposed to LEAVING.

It could be a case where your flight may land at the same area where the international flight is leaving.

I did talk to the Delta rep this morning and she told me I would not have a problem connecting with the flight to Moscow. But whe I asked if both flights were at the same general area of the airport, she could not answer as the gate numbers have not been assigned yet. She did tell me that I would not have to go thru a security check again since I had already went thru one in CMH and both gates are in a secure zone already. I am still a little bit concerned, one little delay out of cincy could screw everything up.

Posted by: Raspberry

No, you can't get the exact gate the exact gate assignment, but you can at least get a general idea of which one or two buildings your domestic flights.

I'm not sure(at least now) if your flight is an actual Delta flight or a Delta Connection commuter. Sometimes, at some airports, the commuter and RJ planes land in a totally different terminal than the same airline's "regular" flights.

San Diego is the first airport that comes to mind where that happens. Two buildings not exactly next to each other. And American at JFK is spread out, too, the last time I was there.

I'll have to check the map of JFK. But I suspect the time is probably good.

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

No, you can't get the exact gate the exact gate assignment, but you can at least get a general idea of which one or two buildings your domestic flights.

I'm not sure(at least now) if your flight is an actual Delta flight or a Delta Connection commuter. Sometimes, at some airports, the commuter and RJ planes land in a totally different terminal than the same airline's "regular" flights.

My Itinerary says the flight from CVG to JFK is Delta but operated by Chautauqua Airlines. Im not too worried about the distance between gates (I can run pretty fast for an old man), its the possible delay from CVG to JFK (the part I have no control of) that has me worried a bit.

31 days to Moscow and Egypt

Posted by: Dave1

I'm looking at that 1:25 minute layover at Kiev from Simferopol on the return flight and am somewhat concerned that it seems a little short. Have any of you had experience with that change before? Any idea where I can look to see where I will go through customs?
Thanks again,
Dave

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

31 days to Moscow and Egypt

Blucatz, sorry to not get back to you earlier, but the minimum legal connection time at JFK, Delta domestic to Delta International is 1:15. A 57 minute connection is something that they shouldn't have booked. But I think it is still do-able. Also, Aeroflot has another Moscow flight a few hours afterwards, if you miss it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1

I'm looking at that 1:25 minute layover at Kiev from Simferopol on the return flight and am somewhat concerned that it seems a little short. Have any of you had experience with that change before? Any idea where I can look to see where I will go through customs?
Thanks again, Dave

Entering Kiev from Europe/US/etc. should take longer due to customs. But since you are leaving Ukraine(no customs involved), and Kiev not being a mega-hub, 1:25 sounds about right. But if you want me to check, just let me know what carriers are involved, and I can find out.

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Fantastic, thank you, I was worried that if for some reason I didnt' make the Delta flight, that I would have to wait till the next day which would push back the Egypt flight.

Posted by: Dave1

Raspberry wrote:
"Entering Kiev from Europe/US/etc. should take longer due to customs. But since you are leaving Ukraine(no customs involved), and Kiev not being a mega-hub, 1:25 sounds about right. But if you want me to check, just let me know what carriers are involved, and I can find out."

Thanks Raspberry, I might save $800 if I can make that connection. The itinerary says the airline is Aerosvit on both ends of the layover, and that I will have to change terminals in Kiev. I am new to international travel--don't I have to go through customs when leaving Ukraine? I thought I had to show them that I wasn't taking out more money than I brought in or something? This won't be a problem if I can do it leaving Simferopol, but if I have to do it in Kiev with only 1:25 between the time my flight arrives from Simferopol and the time my flight leaves from Kiev, with a terminal change to deal with, I am a bit concerned.
This is the connection that I keep running into in trying to book my return trip; the site says I have to change terminals in Kiev:
Aerosvit Flight VV22 on a Boeing 737 (jet) in coach class
(snack)
Departs Simferopol, Ukraine (SIP) Fri, June 20 10:05a 1 hr 30 min
Arrives Kiev, Ukraine (KBP) 11:35a
Layover in Kiev 1 hr 25 min
Aerosvit Flight VV131 on a Boeing 767 (jet) in coach class
(lunch)
Departs Kiev, Ukraine (KBP) Fri, June 20 1:00p 10 hrs 25 min
Arrives New York, NY (JFK)

Thanks again,
Dave

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Many Australians travel via the California airports to get to Europe.

they must be the crazy ones...lol.... takes about 17 hours to get to North America from here. Going direct to Europe via Malaysia is much more direct, although going anywhere Nothern Hemisphere for us is a long flight to get to other large land masses.

Quote:

Both LAX and SFO are a bit problematic and quirky-----I will write about that later.

went threw LAX airport both to and coming back from Central America.

Don't recall any major problems except very long wait between flights... over 10 hours...

Quote:

But there is some good news for you Aussie travelers.....Air Canada has recently made the Sydney-Vancouver trip as a nonstop....previously it made a stop in Hawaii. Bypassing Honolulu, and making it a thru trip to Toronto with no plane change, makes a world of difference.

now that I like to hear. I want to see British Columbia and rest of Canada someday so that is the type of flight I would want to catch to get there.

But as for going to FSU countries for any aussies say from Melbourne or Sydney region, i'm sure the most sensible option is to go to Vienna via Austrian Airlines and get a connecting flight say to Odessa if going to Black Sea part of Ukraine like I did in 2006. That flight to and from Ukraine was no real problem for me. Had to wait about 4 hours in Vienna for connecting flight but that is to be expected when making international flights around the globe

Posted by: BluesTraveler

BluCatz: 1 hour between your connections at JFK may create issues for you. Chautauqua Airlines. arrives in terminal 3 normally. -- Delta Connection. You will most likely leave from terminal 2, Delta's main terminal.

Just so you know the terminals are not physically connected to each other you need to take the bus between terminals. Lots of running and fingers crossed that everything is on time.

http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTrav...ml/kennedy.html

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesTraveler

BluCatz: 1 hour between your connections at JFK may create issues for you. Chautauqua Airlines. arrives in terminal 3 normally. -- Delta Connection. You will most likely leave from terminal 2, Delta's main terminal.

Just so you know the terminals are not physically connected to each other you need to take the bus between terminals. Lots of running and fingers crossed that everything is on time.

http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTrav...ml/kennedy.html

According to the map from the site, terminals 2 and 3 are connected in the picture. Even the sign says "Terminals 2/3". Are these the only 2 terminals that Delta uses? If it is, then I can walk (very fast) to the other terminal.

26 Days to Moscow

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesTraveler

http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTrav...ml/kennedy.html

he he.. I had even bigger issues when my flight through New York had my connecting flight at a *different* airport... lol
Newark if i remember correctly... it was freezing cold on a late Friday night and had to catch the subway and the last train for the night closed at about 2am. I missed it by a few minutes...lol

the train that is... I thinkthe trains started up again just after 5am but an interesting experience seeing the subculture of New York on a weekend night..... arghhhhhhhhhhhh freezing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just glad to get out of this city... way too cold for this aussie

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

Qantas, at one time, had one of their Australia-LAX trips continue through to Heathrow. And Air NZ, I think, still has one of their Auckland-LAX trips continue to LHR, as well. And a lot of Australians go to Europe via Bangkok, as well. Sometimes you can't get seats to BKK in July/August, however. With Melbourne being the "other" capital of Greece, and no direct flights, those Athens-bound people need to change planes someplace--and usually BKK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

Don't recall any major problems except very long wait between flights... over 10 hours...

Mostly confusion about where to go, aside from the long distances. Some airlines code-share with each other, and a certain amount of people end up at the wrong airline. And people automatically assume Air New Zealand is at international(Bradley), where it is actually at Terminal #2. And, depending on the time of day, some United flights will clear customs at Terminal #6, while others clear at Bradley.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

now that I like to hear. I want to see British Columbia and rest of Canada someday so that is the type of flight I would want to catch to get there.

I am glad to be the first to bring you the good news!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

But as for going to FSU countries for any aussies say from Melbourne or Sydney region, i'm sure the most sensible option is to go to Vienna via Austrian Airlines and get a connecting flight say to Odessa if going to Black Sea part of Ukraine like I did in 2006. That flight to and from Ukraine was no real problem for me. Had to wait about 4 hours in Vienna for connecting flight but that is to be expected when making international flights around the globe

That is the best way for Odessa, from SYD/MEL, on Austrian. In fact, the best for Odessa for just about everybody is on OS via VIE. Some days they have a "second" flight, which is actually a flight on Ukrainian International, as a code-share.

Posted by: BluesTraveler

Terminal 2&3 are connected -- sort of, but they are separate buildings.

Most of the international flights arrive / depart from terminal 1 or 4. Depending on origin of the plane - turning around at JFK from Moscow, or if it came from an inland location, i.e. Atlanta, will determine what gate they will use.

So....you will have to check the big board to see what kind of luck you are having.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1

Thanks Raspberry, I might save $800 if I can make that connection. The itinerary says the airline is Aerosvit on both ends of the layover, and that I will have to change terminals in Kiev. I am new to international travel--don't I have to go through customs when leaving Ukraine? I thought I had to show them that I wasn't taking out more money than I brought in or something? This won't be a problem if I can do it leaving Simferopol, but if I have to do it in Kiev with only 1:25 between the time my flight arrives from Simferopol and the time my flight leaves from Kiev, with a terminal change to deal with, I am a bit concerned.

You may have to do some paperwork when exiting Ukraine, that's for sure. But not a full-on customs where you have to pick up your checked luggage(if you have any), and have to go for an inspection.

But also keep in mind that in Kiev and Odessa, there are "remote" operations on some flights. It's one thing where you just walk up a jetway. Another if you walk outside and take the stairs. But this third scenerio is where you wait for a bus to take you, across the tarmac to the plane. Aerosvit may or may not have this---I am not all that familiar with their operation. But be aware of that possibility.

Posted by: blucatz

How many days before the flight do they assign gates? I have been checking every couple of days to see if the gates have been assigned. I leave for Moscow in 25 days.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Usually the day of the flight. Sometimes only a few hours before take off. At least that has been my experience in the past year. Overseas countries post earlier.

Posted by: Spakoyna

Been awhile since I flew. But I would say at least 1/2 the times the gate assignment had changed when I arrived...especially in Frankfort!

Posted by: blucatz

According to the website, Delta only fly's into and out of terminals 2 & 3, if thats the case, then as long as my flight from cincy is close to the correct time, then I should make the Moscow flight because there are no security checkpoints between the two terminals, at least according to the map.

Posted by: BluesTraveler

No worries Blucatz! you will make it. You will just need to run / walk quickly. I have made it from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 in less then 35 minutes. Got lucky with the buses, but I did it. Just make sure that you have your boarding pass in hand for the JFK - Moscow leg, when you get on in Cincy.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spakoyna

Been awhile since I flew. But I would say at least 1/2 the times the gate assignment had changed when I arrived...especially in Frankfort!

Alaska Airlines always prints the connection gate on boarding passes. Problem is, in Seattle, they are at FOUR different terminals. Your flight may have changed from your original assignment even in the 45 minutes that you flew between Spokane and Seattle, to cite and example. Alaska mostly flies out of "C" and "D" gates......but they do have flights out of the "N" concourse, as well as some DOMESTIC flights leaving from INTERNATIONAL.

Frankfurt LH-to-LH is not as bad as Seattle AS-to-AS, but it is still notorious for gate changes. Also, in Munich, many of flights to FSU(except Moscow/LED/Kiev) are remotes. Lufthansa will close the gates early due to the fact you need to get on the bus that goes to the end of the tarmac.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

Usually the day of the flight. Sometimes only a few hours before take off. At least that has been my experience in the past year. Overseas countries post earlier.

3-4 hours before departure is usually the normal posting time at most major international airports.

Posted by: blucatz

I just called Delta, according to the representative, Delta fly's out of terminal 2 & 3 only, plus she had my gate numbers because there was an exact same flight today. Arrive at gate 23 and leave at gate 5, 2 different terminals but at least they are connected by a walkway and are next to each other, plus, as an added bonus, I don't have to do the security check again.

She also said that if there is a delay due to some fault of Delta's that they will put me on another airline to Moscow. But, if its due to weather or heavy airline traffic, I wait till next day

. So everyone pray for good weather on May 11th

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

She also said that if there is a delay due to some fault of Delta's that they will put me on another airline to Moscow. But, if its due to weather or heavy airline traffic, I wait till next day

. So everyone pray for good weather on May 11th

Ironically, I was scheduled to come home from Ukraine on the 11th....but got two extra days off so I am coming back on the 13th.

And don't forget the two major holidays......Labor Day 5/1 and Victory Day(pobyed/perimoga)on 5/9.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesTraveler

Most of the international flights arrive / depart from terminal 1 or 4. Depending on origin of the plane - turning around at JFK from Moscow, or if it came from an inland location, i.e. Atlanta, will determine what gate they will use. So....you will have to check the big board to see what kind of luck you are having.

The Moscow flight on Delta USED to originate in Seattle. But I am not sure where it originates nowadays.

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

And don't forget the two major holidays......Labor Day 5/1 and Victory Day(pobyed/perimoga)on 5/9.

Are these Ukranian holidays or for all of FSU?

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Ironically, I was scheduled to come home from Ukraine on the 11th....but got two extra days off so I am coming back on the 13th.

Since I am dropping Akmike a beer in Ukraine when we fly over on our way to Egypt, would you like me to toss you one down also?

25 Days to Moscow

Posted by: Raspberry

The Holidays are for all the FSU.....

And yes, please drop me a beer!

Posted by: Spakoyna

LMAO here! I R Not an Eskimo!

I R in the SE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Posted by: Raspberry

I was just giving the most extreme example, to illustrate a point......and we have at least one Eskimo that posts.....right, eh?

Posted by: Dave1

I've another question on the "Ukraine and the new world traveller" subject: Money. I am going to Yalta and Simferopol next week and am planning on taking some cash, but relying primarilly on ATM's. For purposes of exchanging U.S. dollars for hryvnia, are $100 bills okay, or will I need smaller denominations. I anticipate exchanging a small amount ($100 would be just right) at the Kyiv airport, then using banks/official moneychangers for whatever I need that ATM's don't provide. I prefer $100 bills because they are less bulky than smaller denominations.
Thanks again.

Posted by: Texas Proud

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave1

I've another question on the "Ukraine and the new world traveller" subject: Money. I am going to Yalta and Simferopol next week and am planning on taking some cash, but relying primarilly on ATM's. For purposes of exchanging U.S. dollars for hryvnia, are $100 bills okay, or will I need smaller denominations. I anticipate exchanging a small amount ($100 would be just right) at the Kyiv airport, then using banks/official moneychangers for whatever I need that ATM's don't provide. I prefer $100 bills because they are less bulky than smaller denominations.
Thanks again.

There are ATM all over the place... and a number will give Grivna and US dollars... I never tried to exchange any... they usually took dollars...

Posted by: Raspberry

If you are bringing bills, be sure to bring crisp ones. Many of the exchange places won't take them. And $20s/$50s are OK. ATM's are the best way to go. Some even put them in a package of various denominations.......it is really surprising seeing all that difference in color. But not all ATMs.

Posted by: Dave1

The Yalta trip went well.
Now I am looking at goint to Kiev (Egypt actually, but that's not part of this post). I found what looks like a good itinerary except for a one-hour and 10 minute connection in Paris. Has anyone done the Kiev to Paris to Houston route with the 1:10 connection in Paris? How did it work out? Do you have to collect your luggage and re-check it in Paris? Passport control? Customs? On my Yalta trip I found the 1:25 connection in Kiev pretty tight, but that was primarilly because of collecting my luggage and finding and going through passport control. I don't speak or understand any French other than "ya ne punimayo Francaiski"

If it's any help, I am looking at the connection from Air France
Flight 1153 to Air France Flight 36.

Thanks

Posted by: EasyTarget

The 1:10 minute connection time is very TIGHT. I didn't check my bags so I didn't have to collect them and go on. I was able to RUN and I do mean RUN to catch my flight. You do have to go through airport security again. And that was what made it almost impossible. I know enough French to be able to skip ahead a few people, but the line was very long.

Once I got through security I was home free.

The other annoying thing was that Kiev wasn't able to issue me a boarding pass for my CDG to ATL flight. I had to stand in line only about 4 people, so I could get the boarding pass then make the mad dash to security, then to the gate. It was very tight.

Posted by: Dave1

Thanks E. T., that's exactly what I needed to know. I think I'll go with a different route.