How to fly with a transfer. How to handle long transfers at the airport

Transit flight: everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

The ability to save money, stroll around the city or the thirst for adventure - there are a great many reasons why we choose flights with transfers. Here are just questions for those who fly this way for the first time, no less arise.

Who is this article for?

for beginner travelers;
for those who first encountered a transit flight;
for those who are worried that they may not have enough time for a transplant;

What type of transplant do I have?

The first thing to find out when faced with a transit flight is what type of transfer you will have.

Transits are different. For example, you may have single ticket when the entire flight (including transfers) is served by one airline. This is the most convenient option, since the carrier in this case is responsible for delivering the passenger to the destination. And if, say, a flight was delayed in the first segment and you missed the second segment, then you will be required to be put on another aircraft of the same company. If the transfer time exceeds 8 hours, some carriers (for example, Emirates and Qatar Airways) provide passengers with a hotel room. Luggage will also be checked in and delivered to the end point of the route. Additionally, you do not need to register with such a ticket.

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Another option is the so-called "code-sharing" when you buy a single ticket from one carrier, but fly part of the way with a partner airline. In this case, you will also be checked in with luggage to your destination and a transfer will be arranged for you. The only difference is that, in case of unforeseen situations (damage / loss of luggage, etc.), all claims must be submitted to the partner company. Note: For this type of travel, the name of the additional carrier may not appear on the ticket.

There is also such a thing as interline agreement- an agreement between airlines in which one carrier recognizes the tickets of another. That is, one company can sell you tickets to another. The bottom line is that this method allows you to buy a single ticket at a better price than if you bought several separate ones. Often there are special fares on these flights.

Important! Tickets of this type always indicate all carrier companies. Your luggage will also be checked in before the end of the flight, but you need to ask for this separately. Sometimes you need to get a ticket for the next leg of the journey when changing - this is also worth keeping in mind.

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Well, the last option is a few separate tickets. Many consider it the most inconvenient, since in this case you will have to pick up and re-register your luggage at the transfer point, as well as re-check in for the next leg of the route. If you miss your flight, you will most likely need to buy a new ticket. And the price of such a combined flight is often higher than in other cases. Therefore, if you still decide to fly this way, make sure that you have enough time for a transfer (it makes sense to play it safe and fly out of the transfer point the next day).

But what to do with low-cost airlines? Let's make it clear right away - in principle, low-cost airlines do not have transfers. Itineraries offered to you by aggregator sites, including TripMyDream, are routes that consist of two or more separate flights. Therefore, in the case of low-cost flights, the entire responsibility for the safety of luggage, and your arrival at your destination, is solely on you.

Transit visa. When is it needed?

We warn you right away - this point must be clarified even before buying tickets. Usually a transit visa is not needed if your next flight departs from the same airport and terminal as you arrived and if you do not need to collect luggage. Then you just wait for the next plane in the transit area of the airport, without going through immigration control.

But, when it comes to a transplant in the UK, be on the lookout. Very often, travelers, tempted by the low price, buy flights with a transfer in London. For example, Ryanair always has a lot of offers of flights to different cities in Europe at the lowest prices with transfers in Stansted or Luton, and then they are simply not allowed on the flight due to the lack of a transit visa.

But a transit visa is issued if:

You are flying with a transfer and you need to change the airport.
When transferring, you need to change the terminal, and for this you need to go to the city (the departure terminal is located in another area, for example).
You need to make two or more transfers in the Schengen area. In this case, a transit visa is issued at the embassy of the first country.
Your transplant will take place in the UK (assuming it lasts 24-48 hours). Then you need to apply for a Visitor in transit Visa in advance. But if the transfer lasts more than 48 hours, you will need a regular Transit Visa.
You are flying on two different tickets (say, from to and from London to). Then you need a visa to get your luggage and check in for the next flight.

Important! Some countries (for example, and) require a transit visa even just to be at the airport in the transit zone.

Luggage is a different story, since it is received after passing through migration control. Therefore, make sure that your suitcases are checked in until the end of the trip, and you yourself have the right to stay in the transfer country without a visa.

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Another important nuance concerns the transfer zones themselves. First, they are not available at all airports. Secondly, they do not always work 24/7, if you arrive late in the evening and depart in the morning, and the airport does not work at night, you will have to take care of a place to spend the night and arrange Schengen transit in advance. This is the most inconvenient option, so think over your plan of action in advance so that you don’t huddle on a bench later.

I arrived at the transfer airport. What's next?

If you are flying with a transfer for the first time, then the main rule is to keep calm and carry on. Do not be nervous, your gate and plane will not go anywhere and you will calmly fly further, do not even doubt it!

So, you have arrived at the transfer point. What's next? Firstly, your tickets and documents should always be with you in order to check the data in them at any time (time of flight departure, gate, terminal, etc.) with the airport information board and present them without delay before boarding.

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If you are flying on a single ticket, upon arrival at the transfer airport, follow the signs marked "Transfer" / "Transit" - you can easily find the transit area where you will wait for the next flight. Immediately find your flight on the information board and specify the departure time, gate number and other information (sometimes it can change). We also advise you to immediately find your gate in order to know where you will have to go for a landing, and only then go for a walk around the airport.

Please note that if you are flying to one of the Schengen countries, you will need to go through passport control immediately upon arrival. Those who fly with two separate tickets will have to go through a similar procedure, since in this case you are not included in the category of transit passengers. Upon arrival, you will need to collect your luggage, proceed to the check-in counters (the signs will help you!) and re-check in by rechecking your luggage.

Stop. Can you pick up your luggage or deliver it?

It depends on the type of ticket. If it's a single ticket, then you can check in your luggage to your final destination and not worry about it at all. But if you need to change the airport during a transfer, then you may need to pick up and check in your luggage again, even if you have a single ticket. Therefore, be sure to check this at the baggage check-in.

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Long transfer. Things to do?

If your transplant takes 3-4 hours at most, you can safely skip this step. But it happens that it takes quite a long time to wait for the next flight. If it is possible to go to the city and the airport itself is not so far from it, go for a walk. There is no better way to pass the time. Make a plan in advance with a list of places you want to see and calculate how long it will take you to get from the airport to the city and back, plus the time spent in the city, and add another half an hour to be sure. For sure!

Tatiana Andropova

flies about 15 times a year

Let's imagine a situation. You need to fly from one point to another. You go to the airline's website, look for tickets at a bargain price and understand that there is no direct flight. The airline offers you to make at least one transfer at an intermediate point.

Or another option. You didn't even need a direct ticket. You plan your own trip. Fly first with one flight, and then wait for the next.

Both examples have one thing in common. In both cases, you are making a transit flight, that is, one that is accompanied by a forced or desired transfer.

There are two types of transit flights:

Docking when you have one transit ticket and several boarding passes in your hands. It already includes all the necessary transplants. Usually there are no more than two.

Interchange (transfer) when you have several separate tickets in your hands. There can be an unlimited number of them, if the situation requires it.

In addition, there are a number of differences between flights:

General rules for transit flights

Despite significant differences, transit flights also suggest some similarities, expressed in the basic rules of flights.

Connection time between flights. In both cases, pay attention to the time that you will have to spend waiting for the next flight. It can be either 2 or 23 hours. Too short interval - there is a chance not to catch the plane, too long - you will get tired of waiting. By the way, connecting flights are devoid of the first drawback, and the second will have to be dealt with on their own. It is most convenient to use aggregators such as Aviasales. In this case, the search is performed on hundreds of airlines at once, which means it is more likely that there will be a transfer time that suits you.

Visa regime. Do not forget to find out if the country of arrival is a visa country or not. This rule is especially relevant for connecting flights. First, some countries require a transit visa to go from one terminal to another. Secondly, it happens that it is completely necessary to change the airport, which means going to the city.

Passage/change of terminals. Even connecting flights are not immune from the need to change terminals. For example, when combining an international flight with a local one. This should be clarified with the airline in advance and this feature should be taken into account when planning the connection time. Usually it is calculated under ideal conditions. In reality, a minute delay on one flight can lead to a delay on another.

Required documents. If you change terminals during the flight, and the ticket was bought online, and you have only one boarding ticket, then take care of additional documents confirming that you arrived at the airport to change flights, and not stay in this country forever. For example, a printed ticket, an electronic exit permit, confirmation of payment for a flight, and so on.

Luggage check-in. From the table above, it can be seen that the rules for checking in baggage during a connecting and connecting flight are different. However, there are exceptions to everything. For example, if you are flying within the United States, in any case, your luggage will have to be checked in before departure, received at the transit point, checked and checked in again for further transportation to the final destination. This feature is directly related to the calculation of the docking time. Therefore, before buying tickets, check with the airline if there is a need to check in and receive luggage at all points of the flight.

Flight delay. The most unpleasant thing that can happen during a flight is a flight delay due to weather conditions. It seems that you are not to blame, and the next plane was late. Or vice versa, it took too long to wait. First, if you did not board the plane due to force majeure, demand boarding on the next flight, despite the fact that the tickets were connecting, not connecting. Secondly, be prepared for the fact that the airline will not pay for the overnight stay.

Segment skip. Remember that if you decide to skip one of the segments and not fly, for example, from an intermediate point to a final one, then the ticket will be automatically canceled.

Transfer flight

Just in case, we emphasize once again: a connecting flight is when you have several tickets in your hands. If you have one common ticket, then this is not a transfer, but a connecting flight, which will be discussed later.

Peculiarities

A transfer flight is associated with some significant features.

Route planning. You decide at what point to make a transplant. For example, when flying from Moscow to Prague, you can choose Minsk as a transit point, or you can choose Helsinki. It all depends on the convenience, cost and availability (absence) of a visa regime.

Airline choice. You can use the service of one airline, but order two different flights (relevant when there are discounts on the day of departure from another country). Or pick up tickets from different airlines that are part of the same alliance. Or book tickets from different airlines. For example, a flight from Moscow to Minsk is cheaper with Aeroflot, and from Minsk to Poland - with AirBaltic.

Transfer to the next flight. The first option - transfer to another flight is accompanied by a change of terminal. Usually it is located on the territory of the airport, in exceptional cases you will have to go beyond it. The second option - a transfer to another flight is accompanied by a change of airport. Relevant for flights from major cities like New York.

Baggage. Whether you use the services of one airline or different ones, in any case, you will have to check in your luggage on departure, pick it up on arrival at the transit point and hand it over again, transferring to another flight. The need for such a procedure will be prompted by the presence of two (or more, if there are several transfers) itinerary receipts. Think in advance whether it makes sense to take suitcases at all or you can get by with hand luggage.

Advantages and disadvantages

the possibility of independent travel planning;
low cost of air travel;
the opportunity to explore the city while waiting for the next flight.

responsibility for the flight;
double registration;
responsibility for baggage;
double passage of passport and customs control.

How to act

Consider the full algorithm of actions during a connecting flight.

Passing inspection. Do this as soon as you get off the plane.

Receipt of baggage. Do not put off getting your luggage until the last moment and proceed directly to the points of issue.

Passport control. This is a mandatory procedure, during which they will check your documents, visa (if needed), tickets, find out the purpose of arrival and ask a couple of general questions. For a transfer with an exit from the transit zone in the Schengen countries, whether it be a terminal or another airport, a transit visa (if not a Schengen one) is required. If you need a visa, but you do not have one, then contact the airport staff to issue an exit permit.

Transfer to another terminal/airport. After passport control, you can safely go to the terminal from which you are boarding. The information is indicated on the ticket or scoreboard, where all flights are displayed. Follow the signs to avoid getting lost. If you need to change the airport, then go with your luggage to the one you need, having previously specified the road and transport by which you can get there.

Check-in. The registration procedure follows the standard scenario. However, if for some reason you were unable to leave the transit zone, contact the airport staff. They will help you check in online and direct your luggage to your destination.

To prevent your luggage from getting lost, make sure that special tags with the destination are pasted on it when checking in for a flight. Some airlines go towards the client and carry luggage within the same airport. In other cases, after receiving, it will need to be handed over independently.

What to consider when planning an itinerary

Make sure that the transfer point is at the same airport. This is at least convenient. The cheaper the airport, the farther from the city center it is located. And this means that you will have to take into account the time of the move, road traffic, lay the route and at the same time not be late for check-in and boarding. Why such difficulties?

If you do not have a visa, choose transfer points where it is not required. For example, China, Beijing or Singapore. Visa-free stay varies from one to three days. If this is not possible, take care to create at least a transit visa so that you can enter the city or move from one terminal to another.

Pay attention to the waiting time between flights. It can be either 3 hours or 20. It is preferable to choose the first option so as not to wait for the plane all day. Or, on the contrary, you can choose the second one to go out into the city and take a walk there. By the way, this option is called a stopover and we have it.

How to calculate the time between transfers

Receipt of baggage. Usually the procedure takes no more than 20 minutes, but there are some hitches. For example, if the delivery is delayed or the luggage is lost. If possible, try not to take luggage at all and limit yourself to hand luggage.

Passport control. It all depends on the number of passengers. Set the average to 40 minutes.

Check-in. It is best to check in for your flight online rather than on a first come, first serve basis. Even if you have luggage with you, it is checked in at a separate counter, which means minus one mandatory item and an additional 15-20 minutes of time.

Airport/terminal change. If you need to change the terminal, and you know for sure that it is located nearby, then add an extra 15 minutes. And if you have to transfer to another airport, see where it is, how to get to it and if there are traffic jams. If you travel by public transport, then ask what timetable it travels, and if you go by taxi, add an extra half an hour to call and wait for the car.

What to do during a transplant

During transfers lasting more than three hours, there is inevitably a desire to occupy oneself with something. If there is no desire and opportunity to go out into the city for a walk, then pay attention to the lounge. It is available in almost all airports and looks like a luxury lounge.

This pleasure is paid, but the more time you spend there, the cheaper the visit is. On average, it is 30-40 euros for 3 hours. The price includes free Wi-Fi, food, drinks, magazines and books, as well as comfortable chairs and couches in case you need to take a nap.

Lounge in Sheremetyevo. The cost of visiting is 3,500 rubles one-time

arrow_left Lounge in Sheremetyevo. The cost of visiting is 3,500 rubles one-time

Another option is suitable for World Elite MasterCard cardholders. It opens the way to the business lounges of most major airports. And this means that absolutely free food, drinks, magazines, TV, Internet, a workplace with a printer and the opportunity to take a shower will be provided for you.

For layovers lasting more than 10 hours, some airlines provide coupons for free lunches. All details can be found on the airline's website.

What to do if luggage is lost

The first rule is don't panic and don't leave the terminal until you figure out where your luggage is.

Rule two - keep a tear-off ticket for luggage. Present it to the airport staff and look for the loss together.

If the search is not successful, make two copies of the missing person's report and fill out a special PIR form. In it, indicate the flight number, your contact details, and describe what the suitcase looks like. You will be given a registration number by which you can track your luggage. Only then leave the terminal. If your suitcases were never found before departure, then the airline is obliged to forward them to you at the declared place.

life hacks

Study the plan of the airport where you need to transfer. So you will save time and effort on finding the right terminal, baggage drop-off point, check-in counter and departure area.

Immediately set your watch to the time zone of the country you are flying to. Upon arrival, you will not be up to it, and banal forgetfulness can result in incorrect timing and a missed flight.

Don't forget the scoreboard. It can happen that at the last minute the flight is rescheduled, the terminal or exit number is changed.

If you are late for the next plane through no fault of your own, but as a result of the delay of the previous flight, contact the information desk and ask to put a note on the ticket. Present this document to the airline whose flight you missed and wait for a replacement flight.

It happens that the number of the gate (exit) is not registered in the ticket. In this case, you can find it on the boarding pass or by looking at the scoreboard. In addition to the flight and time, the gate will also be indicated on it.

Do not buy drinks and other goods in duty-free before entering the city. You will be allowed to leave the airport, but you will not be able to go back. You will have to hand over everything purchased and re-pass control and registration.

Connecting flight

A connecting flight involves a transfer at the transfer point, but the entire route is not thought out by you, but by the airline. It is she who is responsible for which plane you will fly on, where the landing will take place and when the next flight will take place.

You have one ticket and several boarding passes in your hands. Their number corresponds to the number of transfers.

Peculiarities

There are several options for organizing a connecting flight.

Flying with the same airline. This means that if you flew from Moscow to the transfer point on Aeroflot, then on it you will continue to move to your final destination. This option is the most convenient, since you do not need to move from one terminal to another, and the transfer time is reduced to a minimum. Simply put, they got off one plane and moved to another.

Flight on aircraft of different airlines that are members of a single alliance. Here the situation is somewhat different. For example, you flew from Moscow to the transfer point by Aeroflot, and from there to the final point - by Air Berlin. In fact, these are different airlines, but they have the same requirements for the conditions and quality of transportation. Usually this method is used when docking with a local tour operator. This means that you will have to leave one terminal and transfer to another.

In the first example, the presence of a transit visa is not necessary - you do not cross the borders and are not in the territory of a foreign country. In the second example, a transit visa is a forced necessity. Terminals can be located outside the airport, which means you find yourself in the territory of a foreign country.

There is another, border view. We will single it out separately - a flight under an interline agreement. This means that one airline company recognizes the tickets of another, although they are not part of an alliance. Thus, some of the conditions coincide with the conditions of the connecting flight (for example, the time and place of the transfer are calculated for you), and some of them coincide with the connecting flight (for example, double baggage check-in).

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of connecting flights are obvious. You do not need to think over the route and worry about the calculation of the transfer time. If one flight is delayed and you are late for another, this is not your miscalculation. The airline will make every effort to ensure that you arrive at your destination on time. You also don't have to take care of your luggage. It is enough to pass it at the starting point, and get it at the end.

There is only one minus. If you want to stay for another day and walk around the city, then all tickets will be canceled.

How to act

The algorithm of actions during a flight with a connecting flight is extremely simple.

You check in once - before departure at the first point. There you will be given boarding passes. They will become proof of the flight and a guarantee of landing on the next plane.

If you do not leave the transit zone, then you need to find your flight on the scoreboard, remember the gate number and departure time. After that, go through the inspection, it is mandatory on any part of the route. Then look for signs that say Transit and go to the transit zone. Wait for the plane to arrive. In cases where you did not find your flight or did not find your boarding pass, please contact the information desk or the transfer passenger check-in desk. There you will be helped to obtain the necessary information and, if necessary, print a coupon.

If you leave the transit zone, then go through passport and pre-flight control. The presentation of a transit visa is mandatory. After that, go to the terminal and continue registration according to the standard scheme.

Remember that you do not need to pick up luggage. You will receive it at the end point of the journey. Exceptions are flights to the US or Mexico. There you will have to collect your luggage, and then re-check it in for customs control.

The airlines themselves set the connection time: usually not less than 50 minutes and not more than 1.5 hours. Don't be late and don't delay. Check the scoreboard to learn about upcoming changes in a timely manner and orient yourself.

What to do if the flight is delayed

Flight delays are not a problem at all.

Go to the counter of the carrier whose flight was delayed and ask to put a special mark on the ticket. It will become proof that you missed the next plane due to the fault of the air carrier.

After that, go to the counter of the airline whose flight was missed, present a ticket with a mark and ask to be assigned to the next plane.

If the next flight is possible only on the next day, then arrange for free accommodation and meals. In most cases, airlines value their customers and provide all the necessary conditions for a comfortable flight.

What to do if luggage is lost

Don't worry if your luggage is lost. The responsibility lies entirely with the carrier. As with the connecting flight example, approach the airport staff and ask them to document the loss. As soon as the luggage is found, it will be delivered to the declared place or directly to the hotel.

We go to aviasales.ru and fill out the search form. Enter cities, dates and information about passengers.

Or we don’t go anywhere, but fill in this data right here:

Let's say you want to fly from Moscow to Los Angeles, and the system gave you the following results:

There is a direct ticket, and the only cheaper option is a flight with a total duration of 25 hours and 40 minutes with two transfers. It costs only 419 rubles cheaper. Obviously, it makes more sense to book a direct flight here.

Another example is a flight to Singapore. We got it like this:

The cheapest option is with a change in Doha. There are also direct flights, but they are much more expensive. In this case, it makes sense to choose a flight with a transfer, the savings are quite large.

If you want, you can immediately set the desired number of transfers in the filter on the left:

In this case, the search results will only display flights with the number of transfers you specified.

When you have made your choice, click on "Buy", and then the system will direct you to the website of the agency or airline for booking and payment.

If your plans include getting from point A to point B by any means, then the option described above is suitable. And if you have special wishes for cities and dates, then on the main page you can create a complex route:

In the same way, click "Find tickets" and select the appropriate flight.

Results

So, for a transfer (transfer) flight, you yourself draw up a route, organize transfers, choose an air carrier and buy tickets. For a connection, you name the starting point and the end point, and the airline itself selects the place and time of the transfer for you.

Keep in mind some features of transfer flights:

You check in at each leg of the flight and go through passport control by presenting your boarding ticket.

Apply for a visa (for countries with a visa regime) to move freely between terminals and go outside the airport.

You check in your luggage at the point of departure, receive it at the transit point, go through customs control and hand it over to the airport again.

For connecting flights, the landing rules are different:

You check in once at the airport of departure and receive boarding passes instead of tickets.

Check in your luggage once and pick it up at the airport of your final destination. Only in certain countries, such as the United States or Mexico, there are screening rules at connecting points.

You can apply for a visa only if you leave one transit zone and go to another. For example, if you change terminals.

If your flight is delayed due to the airline's fault, keep your tickets, boarding passes and peace of mind.

Contact the representative of the airline whose flight departed with a delay, so that he puts the appropriate mark on the ticket or boarding pass.

Upon arrival on the next flight, go to the representative of the airline whose plane you missed and present documents with a mark on the flight delay.

If you know travel hacks or have useful information to share, please contact us. We are always glad to new authors in our magazine!( [email protected])

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A little about transplants and how to make them comfortable. For starters, the basic things.

It is best if your connecting flights are issued on one ticket. This is possible if both airlines you are flying with are members of the same airline alliance (SkyTeam, SkyAlliance, OneWorld, etc.). In this case, if the first of the connecting flights is delayed or canceled, your chances of getting to the final destination without loss will increase significantly.

Do not neglect airline loyalty programs - sooner or later the accumulated miles will be able to turn into a free ticket, and when you receive an "elite" status, all kinds of business lounges will become available to you, which will make your life at the airport much more comfortable. In addition, airlines are more loyal to loyal passengers, which again increases your chances with all sorts of overlays.

Well, now about the transplants themselves.

1–2 hours - enough time to warm up a little at the airport, have a snack, smoke a cigarette (although this is not allowed everywhere).

3-4 hours is the most inconvenient time. Too little time to go to the city, but enough to get bored.

5–10 hours - if you have a visa of the country in which you are transferring - you can go out and walk. Heavy bags can be left in the storage room. Note how long it will take you to get from the airport to the city center and allow this time +30 minutes for the return trip. If there is no visa, you will have to explore the airport.

12 hours or more - Some airlines (such as Qatar) provide a free hotel for passengers with long layovers. Others give coupons that allow them to enter a special room where you can have a bite to eat. Check all available options on the airline's website before departure.

My favorite airports:

Schiphol (Amsterdam). Probably my favorite airport in Europe. Huge, but very comfortable, with perfect navigation. By and large, it makes no sense to leave it, everything is inside. There are two hotels (regular and capsule), several spas, a library, a children's playroom and countless shops, cafes and other duty-free entertainment. Among other features, there is an excellent cheese shop and a smoking room in the Irish Pub where you can combine bad with bad. Although, if you have a Schengen visa open, you should still break out into the city at least for a while. If you're not stupid, then from the plane to the central station Amsterdam Centraal can be reached in about 40 minutes.

Hamad (Qatar). The old terminal in Qatar was rather gloomy, but the new one is simply amazing. It seems that there is everything you can imagine here, and this "everything" is created with an oriental scope and a corresponding level of luxury. In the central hall there is a monumental modern art - Lamp Dog” by Urs Fischer, in the arrivals hall “Oryx” by the Dutchman Tom Claassen. Hiding somewhere are the works of Hirst and other dear contemporaries. Everything here is designed for comfort - "Quiet rooms" in abundance, where you can rest, "TV rooms" with huge plasma panels, smoking rooms, showers, prayer rooms, and an incredible variety of premium lounges. With a silver card, a hall with cozy sofas, light snacks and a shower cabin becomes available, with a gold one - already personal cabins for relaxation and an unlimited selection of alcohol. Some halls (Oryx Lounges) are allowed for money - the pass costs about $60. There is also a hotel at the airport, and if you have a long transfer, the airline often provides a hotel in the city and a free round-trip transfer.

By the way, Qatar Airways miles (part of the OneWorld alliance) can be spent right at the airport. You can pay with an airline card at any of the numerous Duty Free. So if you do not plan to save up for an award ticket, then miles for one round-trip flight are enough for a bottle of good whiskey.

And one more life hack from the same airport - in Qatar they ignore the rules of the ban on carrying liquids in hand luggage. Apparently, being in the heart of the Muslim world, they are not particularly afraid of terrorists. So you don’t have to worry about expensive sunscreen in your cosmetic bag and an unsealed Duty Free bottle bought at the previous airport. They won't take it :)

My next favorite airport is not built yet, but I already want to go there. After all, the new terminal in Beijing was designed by one of the greatest architects of our time, Zaha Hadid. You can see the layouts right now at her exhibition, which is taking place in the Hermitage, and the pictures - .

Anastasia Richter - Content Director of a marketing agency

Long transfer - plus one checkpoint on the route, and this is always interesting. Sometimes it seems that there is simply no strength for walking between flights. Then I think about the fact that our life is rather short, and the planet is too huge to miss the opportunity to see a new place. So, for example, I first visited Kyiv 6 years ago. Arriving after Kazantip at 5 am, it was super-difficult for me to make a choice in favor of a walk. But a double espresso gave me back my sanity and I spent seven hours walking around this beautiful city. This time was enough to take the funicular to the Upper Town, walk along Andreevsky Descent, where I almost bought a gramophone, along the historical district of Podil, wander through the dungeon of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, meditate on the eternal in the local rose garden and be stunned by the architecture and sky-lilac colors of St. Michael's Cathedral. She completed the picture with a gastronomic must-have - Ukrainian borscht with donuts and vodka. Then there were several more transfers in the Ukrainian capital, and in one of them I took advantage of a two-hour flight delay and drove to Maidan.

Once, on the way from Rome to Moscow, my friend and I had a great walk around Vienna, which we chose as a transfer to visit the famous Vienna Opera. But we mistakenly bought tickets to the folk, and not to the state, so we decided to take a walk. For 6 hours we visited the Christmas market opposite the Karlskirche, reached the symbol of the city - St. Stephen's Cathedral, which, like in a horror movie, pierced the heavy foggy sky and dined on classic Viennese cuisine at the Plachutta restaurant ... By the way, we still saw the interior of the opera.

There was also a 17-hour overnight transfer in Riga and a morning walk through the historical center in search of a bank - we needed currency to buy at least water.

And very soon I will have an overnight transfer in Berlin after Ibiza, and as a cherry on the “Vacation” cake, I will definitely go to CDV (Club der Visionäre), meet my friends and dance well.

One of the most frequently asked questions by those who like to travel by air is: "How does a transfer flight work?". This is really interesting, because every second tourist has encountered flights with a connection in his life. What you need to know, what subtleties exist in such flights? Let's dive in and find out all about transit flights.

What does a connecting flight mean?

A connecting flight means an intermediate point between the airport of departure and the final destination. For example, you need to get from St. Petersburg to Orenburg. First, there is only one direct flight. You can choose it and fly with the Rossiya airline, but the problem is that the ticket costs 2 times more than for flights with transfers.

Transit flights

There are different. Consider two possible scenarios:

All flights are operated by the same carrier or partner airlines. In this case, you can receive all the necessary information from them. For example, when buying an S7 ticket online, on the official website you will see information about the minimum connection time that you will need to know. It is S7 that takes responsibility for flight delays. If you do not have time for a transfer, you will not be left in trouble: they will offer you to stay at the nearest hotel and put you on another plane on the next flight.
Flights are operated by different airlines. How does a transfer flight work? Baggage, check-in, the consequences of late aircraft - in this case, everything lies with you. If you miss your plane for any reason, you will have to buy a ticket for another flight again.

Always think ahead of all possible circumstances and situations that can happen to you. If the transfer is made at another airport in the city, do not forget that you need at least 2 hours to complete the transfer. Consider traffic jams (if it is a metropolis or a large city), accidents and more.

Advantages of transit flights

Many tourists choose flights with transfers. Reviews about them are different, both positive and negative. Let's take a closer look at what is good about people who often fly connecting planes.

Transfer is cheaper

One of the main advantages of transit flights is the affordable price.

For example, you want to get from Moscow to Seoul. A direct flight to Incheon airport costs 22,000 rubles. We study the prices of flights with transfers:

Transfer at the airport "Tolmachevo" in Novosibirsk. S7 Airlines (Russia). Ticket price - 17 thousand rubles.
Transfer in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines (Turkey). Ticket price - 17500 rubles.
Two transfers: in Belgrade and Abu Dhabi. Air and Etihad Airways (United Arab Emirates). Ticket price - 18900 rubles.

As we can see, even with two transfers, flying to Seoul is cheaper than taking a ticket for a direct flight.

Availability of an alternative

What to do in the situation with Orenburg if there is only one flight to your destination? People are used to the alternative. Tourists want to choose a ticket based on the time of departure and arrival, the presence of luggage and hand luggage, the airport, the air carrier, and the price of the ticket. And here again it is transit flights that help us out.

Only decision

Sometimes it is not possible to buy a ticket to the city you want to visit. For example, because it is too far away. Then transit flights come to the rescue.

For example, you want to get to Sochi from Nizhnevartovsk in autumn. But direct flights in this direction are carried out only in the summer.

How to get to Sochi from Siberia with transfers?

Flights from Nizhnevartovsk to Moscow are carried out by several airlines at once: Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Yutair, and Severny Wind.
Now you can fly to Sochi at any time. Flights from Moscow are operated regularly.
You can also fly to Sochi from Tyumen, arriving there from Nizhnevartovsk. The flight is operated by UTair.

Transit flight differences

There are connecting and transfer flights. Let's see what is the difference between them:

On a connecting flight: You get one transit ticket and multiple boarding passes. Check in once (at the first airport of departure). You do not need to go through passport control again (at the transfer airport), you will not leave the transit zone. You do not even think about the luggage, it will definitely be carried to another plane. If you are required to provide food and lodging, as well as put on another plane departing later in the same direction.
On a connecting flight: You are holding two (or more) separate tickets. Check-in takes place at each transfer airport. It is necessary to go through passport and other controls several times (meaning at each airport). You pick up and drop off your luggage yourself. In the event of a flight delay, the entire responsibility lies on your shoulders.

Knowing the difference is very important so as not to get into an awkward situation when buying a ticket.

Baggage on a connecting flight

Probably, every person is interested in what to do with luggage. How does a transfer flight work in this case?

If you have a single ticket (flights are operated by one air carrier, this is a connecting flight), then you need to check in your baggage to the final destination, being at the first airport of departure. Then it will be delivered to the next plane. You will not need to pick up your suitcase.
In the event that you need to change the airport for a transfer, you cannot leave luggage. It should be taken away.
You will only need to collect and check in your baggage if you are carrying items that need to be declared.
If you have two or more tickets, you need to take care of your luggage yourself.
Also, the airline may refuse to carry luggage on the plane and offer you to do it, but only if the airport does not have the necessary equipment.

How does a transfer flight work? Aeroflot warns that if your luggage is checked in only to Moscow, then you need to collect it yourself and check it in again to your final destination.

Visa for transit flight

This is a very important point related to documents. You need to clarify it before the start of the trip. So, do you need a visa for a connecting flight?

If your flight is from the same airport you arrived at, or at least the terminal, then you do not need a transit visa.
Also, you do not need a visa if you do not need to collect luggage.

You are just waiting for your flight to You do not go through immigration or any other control, which requires a visa.

When is a transit visa required?

If you are on a connecting flight and need to change airports.
If you have two or more transfers in the Schengen area. How then does a flight with a transfer take place if there is no visa? Issue it at the embassy of the country hosting the first transplant.
If the terminal that serves your next flight is located in such a way that you must go outside to get into it (it may be in a different area), then you need a visa.
The transfer will take place in the UK. If its duration is from 24 to 48 hours, you need to apply for a Visitor in transit Visa. If from 48 hours - you will need a regular transit visa.
If you are flying on two (or more) different tickets. For example, from Kazan to Riga, and from there to Milan. You need a visa to collect your luggage and check in for another flight.
If the country of arrival is the USA, Canada, Australia. In these countries, a visa is required even if you are just in

Transfer time

It is extremely important to remember that transplantation can sometimes take a long time. Moreover, your first plane may be delayed. In order not to worry whether you will have time for a connection or not, we advise you to choose the right tickets:

The best option if you are flying with one company is to have a ticket with a transfer lasting at least two hours.
Consider the human factor: you may be tired or confused due to excitement.
Many airports have poor navigation. Not all tourists can easily figure out for themselves where to go.
Don't forget about the time you spend going to the gate and then on board.

If you are flying with two companies that are not partners, then the ideal connection time is at least three hours. Add time for baggage claim, check-in, checkpoints.

Would you like to fly in an airplane for 18 hours? Or would you choose the option of a connecting flight?

The longest non-stop flight was made by Singapore Airlines. Tickets for the flight are on sale from May 31, 2018.
Flight New York - Singapore is non-stop and lasts 18.5 hours. In the opposite direction (Singapore - New York), the travel time is 17 hours 50 minutes.
A plane ticket can be bought for $1,130 (74,315 rubles).
The route itself will open on October 11, 2018. It will become regular.
Today it is the longest flight in the world.
This airline already had such a flight, which was closed in 2013 due to the fact that the aircraft serving flights was withdrawn from the fleet (Airbus A340).
Previously, the New York-Singapore flight was operated by the same Singapore Airlines, but with a connection in Frankfurt.
The flight will now be served by an ultra-long-range Airbus A350 aircraft. Business class accommodates 67 seats, economy - 94 seats.
The distance between New York and Singapore is 16,700 kilometers (9,000 nautical miles).

Would you dare to fly on this ultra-long-range aircraft, covering almost seventeen thousand kilometers in eighteen and a half hours?

Buy a transfer ticket with one ticket. Then you do not have to worry during the flight whether you will be on time for the next flight or not. Why ruin your flight experience? Enjoy it and don't think about anything else.
Think carefully in advance how long it will take you to transplant. Especially if you are flying this way for the first time.
Learn about the details of your itinerary. Do I need to move to another terminal? Maybe even to another airport? Learn how to get there. Especially often other airports or terminals in Paris and London are assigned for transfers.
Think in advance what you will do during the transplant. If the connection lasts about 3-4 hours, take books or a tablet with you in your hand luggage. They will help you deal with boredom. If your transfer lasts more than four hours, it would be wise to spend all this time in the lounge area. This is a superior room where you can be served food, drinks and Wi-Fi. The more hours you stay there, the less you pay for the service.
Think about where you will sleep in case of a long night layover. You can book a room at the nearest airport hotel.
Check in advance whether you need to apply for a visa for a transplant. Even if not, you can make it at least to walk around the city.

Take into account these tips, and your flights will be as comfortable as possible.

Conclusion

So, today we have learned with you how flights with transfers are made. We found out how things are with luggage, what transit flights are like. Now you know exactly how to organize the perfect connecting flight. Travel more!

A new city along the way, an interesting airport, new airlines and a low price are all amazing benefits of indirect air travel! Last week, I touched on the topic of interesting points that you can look around Schiphol Airport between flights, after which I received a lot of questions in the comments and in a personal message, in which it turned out that the topic was incomprehensible to a lot of people and the basic concepts needed to be explained. Many are simply afraid to fly with a transfer, preferring to overpay for a direct flight, many, in principle, did not think that they could leave the airport. Therefore, I decided to consider all issues in a separate article.

What is the difference between a layover and a stopover? Or docking from a transplant?
- Where can I find the fare rules?
- Do I need a visa? Can I get a transit visa at the airport?
- What happens to luggage on an indirect flight?
and other questions with examples.

Traditionally, your experience is welcome in the comments, the post will be supplemented with interesting facts...

1. An air flight with a transfer is significantly cheaper than a direct one, can such a low price be trusted?

This is a common practice when airlines focus primarily on transit passenger traffic. For example, a Moscow-Kyiv-Geneva flight will almost always be cheaper than a direct Kyiv-Geneva flight with UIA. Do not be distrustful of the low price, this is standard practice.

However, be careful, according to the rules of the cheapest tariff, you must use all segments in sequence. If any segment is not used, the entire route will be cancelled! Those. you can't "get hooked" in Kyiv on a flight to Geneva if the ticket was bought from Moscow. However, on the way back, you can check in your luggage to the transit point and get off at the transit point, the last segment can be omitted.

2. What is the difference between a layover and a stopover? Or docking from a transplant?

There are several definitions of these concepts in the network, sometimes confusing each other. Layover is a connection at the airport lasting up to 24 hours, stopover is a connection between flights for more than 24 hours. A connection is a route option when all flights are within the same itinerary receipt, and a transfer is when you pick up 2 or more flights yourself.

3. Rules for compiling interesting connections on your own, consider two options:

Option 1:
You buy a single ticket Kyiv-Frankfurt-London. Both flights are on the same ticket, even if operated by different airlines! In this case, if the first flight is delayed and you do not have time for the second, then you will be rebooked free of charge and compensated for the delays in accordance with the rules.

If the site sells you a ticket with a 30-40 minute connection, then the carrier guarantees this connection if the aircraft arrives on time. However, keep in mind that with very short connections and a slight delay on the first flight, you are much more likely to transfer to the next flight than your luggage!

Option 2:
Kyiv-Katowice, Katowice-London.
In this case, you choose two separate flights. Even if they are operated by the same airline, the liability of the airline is transferred to you only for each individual flight. If I choose a connection in Europe with different airlines and different tickets, then I usually leave a gap between them of at least 6-8 hours, and even better on different days.

4. What happens to luggage on an indirect flight?

Let's consider several cases:

Baggage WILL be checked in to final destination:

A) If you are flying with one airline on one ticket (itinerary receipt):
In this case, most likely, you will not have any problems and at the starting point of the route you will be asked “Check in your luggage to the final destination?” - you will answer "Yes"
B) If you are flying with different airlines on the same ticket.
There shouldn't be a problem here either.

Exceptions:

If the customs rules of the country provide for the mandatory declaration of items prohibited for import or passage through the green corridor. For example, when flying through the USA or Mexico, you always need to receive baggage at a transit point, and then check it in again at a special transfer baggage counter.

If the airport does not provide a direct transfer between flights even of the same airline. For example, UTair Kyiv-Vnukovo-Russia: you need to get your luggage and check it in at a special check-in counter

If there is no agreement between partner airlines or technical feasibility. For example, UIA-S7 Kyiv-Domodedovo-Russia: baggage must be collected and checked in again at any S7 check-in counter. And S7- S7 Kiev-Domodedovo-Russia: luggage is checked in to the final destination without problems, however, at the counter in Kiev, I confirm that I do not have items in my luggage that require declaration under the laws of the Russian Federation.

Exception to the rule:

Please note that WhizzAir, when booking a Kyiv-London ticket, warns that TWOV does not apply to its passengers, and you will not be put on a plane without a visa:

Play with timatic, you can find a lot of interesting and non-obvious things :)

- Kyiv-Frankfurt-Toronto-New York:

Sometime last fall, I came across a great fare that included an AirCanada segment via Toronto. Of course, I wanted to try a new airline. In this route, the docking was only 1.5 hours, i.e. I didn’t even foresee an exit to the city, but I decided to check it in Timatica. And it turned out that even for international (!) transit, a transit visa is required for me. The option is gone. But if the timatic hadn’t looked and hoped for the general rules that “I won’t even leave the transit zone,” I simply wouldn’t have been put on a plane in Frankfurt:

- Kyiv-Beijing-Hong Kong:

Since January 2013, for Ukrainians and Russians (and other nationalities) in certain cities of China, there is a visa-free transit of up to 72 hours. A great opportunity to take two separate tickets Kyiv-Beijing + Beijing-anywhere (to a third country) and see Beijing within 72 hours without a visa, saving $150.

And there is also a free 96-hour visa-free transit in Singapore.

Be careful, "transit" means that your next flight will be to a third country other than the country you came from.

8. Can I get a transit visa at the airport?

At some airports, you can purchase a transit visa. Find out in advance on the airport website about this possibility.
For example, at Dubai airports, you can purchase a transit visa for $150 (50 visa, 100 services).

However, if you have a Kyiv-Dubai flight, and the next connecting flight is issued with a separate ticket, then you have every right to refuse boarding without a visa. Even if you have transit at the same airport! The argument about the possibility of acquiring a transit visa is not relevant, since the timatic and the airline's rules are extremely clear and precise.

Airports in Dubai:

DXB - Dubai International Airport is the main international airport in Dubai. Terminals 1 and 3 are the main international terminals. Terminal 2 serves FlyDubai and several other companies. Between T1 and T3 you can walk along the underpass, they are located in one line. In T2 you need to go by bus. For transit between T1,3 and 2, a visa is not needed, access to the city is not provided. How to get from T2 to T1-3 without docking in them, I wrote.

SHJ - Sharj International Airport is an airport in Sharjah, a neighboring emirate. AirArabia flies here, it sells connections for its flights. In booking systems, they sometimes write Sharjah (Dubai), keep in mind.

DWC - Dubai World Central International Airport- located at the opposite end of the city, this is a completely new airport (before it was only a cargo one), the passenger terminal was opened only yesterday and the first flight was operated by WizzAir from Budapest. Wizz has already started flying here from Kyiv. Attention: WizzAir does not sell or provide connections with other flights. To enter the city and move to another airport, you need a visa! Abu Dhabi is only 90km from DWC, by the way.

All three airports on airline websites, search aggregators, etc. often call themselves Dubai, however, they have the right, since transport links are very simple, and Dubai itself is also rather big and stretched along the coast. In the residential area of Dubai Marina or hotels on palm trees, DWC is closer than others.

Be careful and pay attention to the three-letter airport code when booking a ticket!

9. If you are not put on a flight, although timatic allows boarding:

Well, when we talk about Europe, everything is clear there. But if we are talking about remote countries, where your passport is most likely seen for the first time.

Tip: if you have a difficult connection, especially in countries very remote from you, be sure to study the timatic in detail and print it out.
During flights with three or four segments in Central America and the USA, airline employees always checked the visa requirements for movement and transit according to my citizenship, asked again and clarified, once I showed a printout.

Be sure to get written confirmation from staff indicating the reason for denied boarding, so you can challenge the decision and receive compensation.

10. What is interesting to see during a connection between flights?

Even the Travel Channel has a program with the same name Layover:

And even a beautiful but useless iOS application:

But of course, read my livejournal! In this section, I show what I visited during connections at different airports around the world.

Children and docking

Just an example: fly to Amsterdam in the morning, take the train to The Hague (30 min), and there is a stunning park - the miniature world of Madurodam - just an ideal place to relax with children. And in the evening - the next flight or night intercontinental flight. After all, it is much better to effectively and interestingly spend the day at a transit point, and then the children will sleep sweetly on a long night (!) flight.

And further:

An interesting argument was made in the comments to the previous post - why watch something during galloping docks in a couple of hours, because it’s better to come to this place on a separate trip and spend 1-2 days, or better a whole week, then the impression will be much more complete.

I categorically disagree with this statement, I do not set a goal to look at something during docking from all sides and see everything, it is enough to visit just one thing. For example, beer with sausages in Munich will be much more appropriate than jogging around the city and trying to photograph all its monuments. But here everyone has their own taste and their own opinion. The world is huge, the number of places is endless, but the time resource is very limited, so I advise you to use every opportunity.