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What to bring?
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Posted by: joelunchbox

I can't find this addressed anywhere on the site, yet....
Surely RW's bring more than two suitcases and a carryon with them. What is the best way to ship the rest of their stuff here?? My ex's shoes wouldn't fit into two suitcases and a carryon.....

Posted by: j_c

Joe,

My wife came with one suitcase and a carryon! I thought I was lucky at the time!!!

She then went a small spending spree to kit herself out with new clothes , underwear and make up etc....it added up to a few quid.

But what I realised on one of our more recent trips home was that the excess luggage charges are extortionate, and buying the stuff here probally saved quite a bit of money.

If you are talking about furniture and stuff like that, sell it and buy new where you are, shipping is also expensive.

Best advice is to take the ssentials and leave the rest , you can always bring it back on the frequent Trips home you will have.

Regards

JC

Posted by: ConnerVT

This one has the most definitive answer:

http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/...ght=suitcase%2A

In short, your options are limited:

-- Postal Mail (which, BTW, is contracted to DHL)
slow, but usually works;

-- Air Freight Carriers (DHL, FedEx, Etc.)
Very expensive;

-- Container Freight (full or partial)
Less expensive, watch for hidden costs, slow.

-- Airline Baggage (take it with you)
Free if you are traveling, fast, usually arrives with you.

As I said in the thread above, she needs to give serious thought of what she wishes to bring with her. There is no need to bring things that can be purchased here (most kitchen stuff). Electrical devices wont work, so don't bother bringing them. PAL format VCR tapes don't work either (without spending more money than you will wish). Shoes, although bulky, are not very heavy (fill the biggest suitcase you can, and it won't weigh 70lbs). She probably won't need all of her heavy winter clothing in Ga, either.

Other things to consider:
If you travel to escort her back to the US, you also have 140lbs. you can bring (take only what you need in your carry on). Then you will be there to help her through immigration, and you get to show your manliness by lugging many heavy suitcases! Bring several big suitcases with you -- they are cheaper and better priced here than in the FSU.

Also, I guarantee there will be future trips back home (her alone or both of you together). There will be opportunity to haul more suitcases across 8 or more timezones.

Posted by: elvis1

[QUOTE=ConnerVT]
Other things to consider:
If you travel to escort her back to the US, you also have 140lbs. you can bring (take only what you need in your carry on). Then you will be there to help her through immigration, and you get to show your manliness by lugging many heavy suitcases!

This is what my wife and I plan on doing at the end of October. I will be taking the biggest suitcase I have and a carry on, both empty except for the things that i will need.

Also another thing to consider is that the cost of my travelling there to be with her at the embassy and bring her home will me much less costly than the shipping and customs charges which will be applied to any shipped boxes.

Andrew

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by elvis1

Also another thing to consider is that the cost of my travelling there to be with her at the embassy and bring her home will me much less costly than the shipping and customs charges which will be applied to any shipped boxes.

There are no Customs charges or duties on household items or personal items.

Posted by: Leprechaun

Im also a newbie to getting bags shipped from Russia.

Irina flew yesterday, she was charged 80 euros extra by KLM for an extra
6 KG, she also had to leave some bags behind as they wanted 310 euros.......
she was threatened with not being allowed to fly if she did not pay up.....
The girl on the KLM desk was very rude, weird how my bags were overweight 4 weeks ago and nothing was said to me.
Im currently waiting for a reply from KLM on this and many other issues regarding their service (or lack of)

Oh and they lost Irinas bags too (like they did all my wedding guests last month) im waiting for her case to arrive as i write.

It only costs 60 euros too ship a big box from Russia by an Irish company.
there are some russian shipping services on the net but they are a rip off too,
it seems better to organise with a smaller shipping company in your own country but as i said, im a newbie on this matter too.

KLM, I vow never ever to fly with them again and i regret ever booking with them in the first place.

Go figure.

Posted by: Chrismc

Sorry to hear about your problems with KLM Lep.....I am flying with them in 2 weeks so I hope I don't have the same problems.

Chris

Posted by: Leprechaun

The thing is if you start off on a wrong foot it only can get better.

=o)

Oh and the food on the plane stinks,

the tiny sandwich roll is hot and the pasta is cold, Irina found this very funny
after spending 550 euros with KLM I dont see the funny side.
and theres no strong =o))) drink either.
just a tea or coffee.

BA is the best by far, and Czech air (budget) a very close 2nd.

I think I need to start another thread on this.

Posted by: Chrismc

So you are saying take your own food? Maybe I'll ask Gate Gourmey to make me something up

Posted by: Leprechaun

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

So you are saying take your own food? Maybe I'll ask Gate Gourmey to make me something up

SCAB!!!!

hehehehe

Posted by: elvis1

is also supposed to be true here in the Uk Conner but when I returned from living overseas and shipped my belongings back UK customs applied charges to everything which had to be paid before I could even receive these items.

After several phone calls I then had to provide a detailed list of everything that I shipped overseas and receipts when asked for and anything not on the list was still charged for. 4 years down the line I still have not received everything which is why I want to avoid all this crap with my wife as everything will be hard enough for her without all this B/S.

Andrew

Posted by: Leprechaun

Did you get legal advice?

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leprechaun

Irina flew yesterday, she was charged 80 euros extra by KLM for an extra
6 KG, she also had to leave some bags behind as they wanted 310 euros.......
she was threatened with not being allowed to fly if she did not pay up.....
The girl on the KLM desk was very rude, weird how my bags were overweight 4 weeks ago and nothing was said to me.

The airlines rules and policies are well defined. That you got lucky, and weren't charged a fee has nothing to do with Irina's experience. Her bags were over the allowed limit. There is a fee for that.

As for rude airline personnel (and in Russia, no less!), who would ever think of such a thing!

Posted by: Leprechaun

Her bags arrived 30 hours late, can i charge a late fee? hehehe

the fact that there is one rule for one rule for another has everything to do with Irinas expeirience. It was the same company, in the same airport, at the same desk, with the same staff, on the same flight, the only thing different was the date...... with 2 different sets of rules for the exact same situaution, how can you say no difference?

Id hate to live by the rules all the time, thats for suckers.

They should have an excess charge for obese people too if thats the case (pun intended)

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leprechaun

the fact that there is one rule for one rule for another has everything to do with Irinas expeirience. It was the same company, in the same airport, at the same desk, with the same staff, on the same flight, the only thing different was the date...... with 2 different sets of rules for the exact same situaution, how can you say no difference?

Then you should have insisted that they take the fee for your bags being overweight. After all, if being fair is important to you, why should others be charged, while you do not get to pay?

I have the solution. Send me a check for the amount that KLM would have charged you, and I'll make sure to get it all straightened out. You'll sleep better at nights...

Posted by: Leprechaun

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConnerVT

Then you should have insisted that they take the fee for your bags being overweight.

*Leprechaun coughs loudly*

I sleep better at nights now Irina is here

Posted by: mikeT

My own experience carrying luggage on Delta (Moscow - Atlanta - Portland) was very pleasant.

I popped into the ternminal with three suitcases weighing, respectively, 32 kg, 34 kg, and 17 kg; and a carry-on weighing about 20 kg, for a grand total of about 230 lbs. They charged me $50 for the third suitcase, and $25 for the two heavier ones I was also told that the 34 kg suitcase was over the legal limit by 2 kg, and would be rejected unless I swore never again to take a suitcase that heavy onto Delta (no problem taking an oath on that one!). All my suitcases arrived with me in Portland.

I took two of the suitcases with me and bought the third one in Moscow for about $100. It's huge, and it has wheels and a retractable handle, which was enough for me.

Hopefully not all of you will need to bring phonograph records back with you.