Airport transit area. How a transfer flight works: description of actions, travel tips, reviews

Flights with transfers are generally cheaper than direct flights. A transfer is a good way to take a break from a flight, stretch your legs, have a bite to eat in a cafe, not to mention the fact that you cannot get to some cities and countries without transfers. By following simple rules and tips, you will know how to fly on a connecting flight, how not to be late for a connecting flight, and what to do if you are still late.

Why flights with transfers are cheaper

Flights with transfers are cheaper because airlines reduce the risk of non-full capacity. A connecting flight is usually carried out through the airline's hub airport, where passengers are unloaded and additionally boarded. For example, the Moscow-Amsterdam flight of AirBaltic will be operated via Riga. The airline will sell air tickets to those passengers who travel from Moscow only to Riga, and to the following passengers who need to go from Riga to Amsterdam. Thus, the aircraft will be filled and the carrier will make a profit.

Before buying tickets, pay attention to the number of transfers. One transfer reduces the cost of air tickets, but 2-3 does not. If an air ticket with several transfers is cheaper, then usually this is a small difference in price. Several transfers are tedious, long and expensive. However, for flights from regional cities, 2 transfers is a common situation, because there are no other flight options.

5 rules for connecting flights

Before you buy tickets for a flight with a transfer, read the 5 simple rules for connecting flights. A connecting flight might not be right for you. Considering the time, effort and money that will be spent during the transfer, a direct flight will turn out to be cheaper in the end.

1. One airline

If possible, buy flights with transfers from the same airline. The airline will be responsible for the connection, if the flight is late, then you will fly on the next one for free. Luggage can also not be received at the connecting airport, the airline will deliver it to the final destination.

2. Visa control

Carefully study the visa regulations of the transit country and find out about the availability and opening hours of the transit zone at the airport where you plan to transfer. If you are not going to leave the airport building, then most likely you do not need a visa. But it will be required to exit the transit zone - when it is necessary to receive and re-register baggage. Some countries, such as the US, Australia, and Canada, require a transit visa, whether you leave the airport or the transit area.

For visa control regulations in a particular country, check with or the international visa database maintained by airlines.

3. Baggage check-in

Baggage check-in rules depend on the airlines you fly with and the specifics of the connecting airports. If you bought one ticket and fly with one airline, then, most likely, the luggage will be delivered immediately to the final destination, the carrier will take care of it. Check this point when checking in your luggage at the first airport.

Those who carry items subject to declaration will have to collect their luggage at the connecting airport and check it in again for the next flight.

If you bought tickets from different airlines, take care of your luggage yourself. To re-register, you will have to leave the transit zone, outside it you may need a visa.

4. Transplant time

Pay attention to the transfer time. If it is not enough, for example, 50 minutes, then when boarding the plane at the airport of the first departure, warn the flight attendants that you are flying with a transfer. You will be helped to get off the plane first, this will save time.

Allow at least 1 hour for transfer. Moving "quickly" will not work. You will reach the airport 15-20 minutes after landing. Next - baggage claim, it's another 20-30 minutes. If the connecting flight is with the same airline or on alliance flights, then baggage is checked in for both aircraft at once. Not everyone has this service, so find out in advance.

After collecting your luggage, go to check-in, the journey to the departure area will take from 20 to 50 minutes. At large airports, the desired zone may be in another terminal, you can get there by service transport. Boarding starts 40 minutes before departure, so it's best to arrive at the check-in desk 1 hour in advance.

Remember that the flight ticket indicates the time of take-off and arrival. For a quiet transfer, you should have at least 2 hours.

If during a transfer you need to change the airport, then it will take from 4 to 6 hours to move from one airport to another. This is the “ideal” time, keep in mind that the first flight may be delayed or canceled, and luggage lost. Therefore, choose options "with a margin": it is better to wait than to be late.

5. Go out to the city during the transfer

If the connection between flights is less than 6 hours - do not risk it, stay at the airport. There is always a chance to get carried away, get lost, get stuck in traffic and end up missing the next flight.

If you are flying with a transfer, try to buy tickets from the same airline. This will save you from possible problems with luggage or flight delays. Allow at least 2 hours for a transfer and carefully study the visa control rules in the transit country.

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.

Air travel with a transfer, although it is less comfortable than a direct one, but a ticket for it is always cheaper. If waiting for a few hours in the lounge is not a problem for you, it is better to settle for such a comparative inconvenience as a transfer at the airport, but the money saved can then be spent on buying souvenirs or visiting a couple of additional attractions. We will tell you how the flight with a transfer works, as well as give some useful recommendations.

The essence of the air transfer is simple: from the starting point you fly to the transit one, and after a while (it can range from a couple of hours to several days) you go directly to your destination. Moreover, it is interesting that geographically the transfer point may not be located at all along the path between points A and B, but somewhere aside. Also, be careful when booking: the cheapest routes usually include up to several transfers.

Connecting flight is a cheaper way to get to your destination

It is better to avoid a route that involves transfers of less than an hour, especially at large airports with several terminals. Firstly, air travel largely depends on a host of external factors: weather, wind direction and speed, the work of dispatchers, and so on. Delayed departure is not uncommon, so you simply may not be in time for the second flight, and airlines, as a rule, in such cases (since they are considered to have occurred through the fault of the passenger), the money for the ticket is not returned. Secondly, if the airport consists of several terminals, you may not have time to get to the desired gate, especially if it is located in another building. The optimal time for a safe transplant is 2.5-3 hours.

Read the information for your flight carefully. Do not assume that the transfer from plane to plane always takes place at the same airport. Often there are situations, mostly in Europe and Asia, when you arrive in one air harbor, and the second plane takes off from another. It is noteworthy that usually more time is allocated for such transfers, however, possible traffic jams or the time required to wait for public transport are not taken into account on the road. In addition, in this case, you will have to pick up your luggage yourself and check it in again at another airport.

Note! you must have time to re-register for a new flight and check in your luggage no more than 40 minutes before the departure time of the aircraft.

If you have a long transfer at night, think in advance where you will spend your waiting hours. Not every airport, namely, in the transit zone, has hotels for passengers, especially if the terminal is small. Most likely, after spending the whole night on a chair in the waiting room, you will never again want to fly with a transfer, especially with such a one. If a transfer is unavoidable, take care of a visa in advance so that you can leave the airport and spend the night in a hotel or hostel.

In order not to have to spend the night in the waiting room, take care of the visa in advance

Specify in advance whether you need a transit visa, how to apply for it, how much it costs. It's far better to have a good time than wandering around the airport aimlessly or surfing the internet on the airport's Wi-Fi. If time permits, go on a tour or just walk around the city.

How to get out of the city if you are flying with a transfer?

Many passengers are concerned about the following question: "Is it possible to leave the airport during a transfer?". Of course, no one can oppress your rights. And if you take care of a transit visa in advance (in those countries for which it is necessary to open it in advance), you can easily get to know the city.

In order not to be in an offensive situation, start preparing for the flight in advance. Do the following:

Check if you need a transit visa in the country where you are going to transfer.
Study the map of the airport and the map of the city, make a route. For example: first you will pick up your luggage at this place (if provided), then leave it in the storage room here, put down a visa Here(in countries where it does not need to be opened in advance), go to the bus stop here and then explore these sights and return to such and such time back to the airport.

If you have a long layover, use this opportunity to get to know the city

In countries such as Turkey or Egypt, there are no problems with obtaining a transit visa. You just need to go to the right window with the sign "Visa", pay the tariff and give your passport for stamping.

Note! If you have a transfer (and in some cases more than one) in Canada, the United States or the Schengen countries, a transit visa must be issued in advance at the embassy of the country where you will have a transfer.

Are you expecting a long transplant? This is a great chance to see a new city. Today we will take a closer look at this topic and tell you how to get out to the city during a transfer.

To get started, here is a small checklist so that you do not waste time in vain:

Check if you need a visa to enter the city. Read more about transit visas here, and a list of visa-free countries for Russians can be found here.
Study the map of the airport and find where the left-luggage offices are located.
Check in advance how to get to the city.
Create a detailed itinerary.

You arrived at the transfer point, what's next ?

In most cases, you do not need to collect your luggage and you have a boarding pass for your next flight.

To exit the “clean zone”, follow the signs “Exit” / “Exit”. Along the way, you will pass through passport control, where your visa will be checked (if needed) and then you will be taken to the arrivals hall.

If you have heavy carry-on luggage with you that you clearly do not want to take with you on a walk, find a luggage room and leave your things there.

Now it's time to find a public transport stop to get to the city.

How to find out the way from the airport to the city?

We wrote about this in a separate article “How to get from the airport to the city?” .

How do I know if I need to pick up luggage at a transfer point?

If you bought a through ticket, then in 99% of cases, your luggage will go to the end point of your trip. If you bought 2 separate tickets, then it all depends on the airlines:

Budget airlines- Always take your luggage.
Budget airline + scheduled- Always take your luggage.
Same airline all the way- you don't have to pick it up.
Airlines are different but belong to the same alliance- you don't have to pick it up.
The airlines are different, but there is a codeshare agreement between them.- you don't have to pick it up.
The airlines are different, they are in different alliances and there are no agreements between them- must be picked up.

See how many subtleties and options? The only sure way (if this is not a low-cost flight, everything is simple and clear with them) is to call the airline and check with them directly.

Where can I find information for planning a walk around the city?

There are many travel planning websites, forums and applications. Among the most useful are, of course, Vinsky's forum, sites such as tripster.ru, iknow.travel, Pinterest maps, which we wrote about earlier.

Tune in in advance that you won’t have time to see everything. If you are in the city for the first time, then it is better to take a short sightseeing tour of the city, so you will see all the main sights. The ideal option is a tour by bus, there are such in every major city. You can buy tickets in advance or find an individual guide on the Excursiopedia or Sputnik8 website.

How to calculate the time and not miss the plane?

If the plane arrives without delay, then it will take you about 30 minutes - 1 hour to find an exit, a left-luggage office and go through all the procedures (customs and passport control). On the way back, you should also arrive at the airport 1.5-2 hours before the plane's departure.

We already have 3 hours. Add to this the road from the airport to the city and back. Most often it is 40 minutes - 1 hour each way. Total for 5 hours.

Amsterdam is a notable exception. From the airport to the city center can be reached in just 20 minutes by train, which runs very often. Amsterdam is an ideal city for a long layover, there is always something to see both during the day and in the evening.

Allocate at least 3 hours for a walk around the city. Thus, on average, in order to get to the city without haste and nerves, see something there and return to the airport, the connection should be at least 7-8 hours.

If you are an experienced traveler, or have already been to this city, then less time will be enough for you, but if you are doing this for the first time, then it is better to play it safe.

What to do and where to go when you are back at the airport?

If you bought a single ticket, then you already have a boarding pass for the next flight. Therefore, you do not need to approach the registration desk. Immediately go to the security screening and then to the gate from where your flight departs.

Please note that you will be going through security again, which means that liquids larger than 100 ml. will be withdrawn. Therefore, shop in duty free at the transfer airport, after passing through security.

05 Jun 2014 Anna Lump

Flights with connections are most often chosen because of their budget, and if such flights are not uncommon for experienced travelers, then a number of questions immediately arise for those flying in this way for the first time.

What type of transplant do I have?

You may have single ticket when the entire flight is served by one airline. This is the most convenient option, since the carrier in this case "leads" the passenger to the destination. And if, for example, a flight is delayed, you will be required to be put on another plane of the same company. If the transfer time exceeds 8 hours, some carriers (for example, Emirates) provide passengers with hotel rooms. 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.

Another option is the so-called code share ”, 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.

Is there some more 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.

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.

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. Often the cost of tickets for the entire route is higher than in other cases.

Do I need to apply for a transit visa for a transplant?

This point must be clarified 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.

Some countries (for example, the USA, Australia and Canada) require a transit visa even just to be at the airport in the transit area.

What to do upon arrival at the transfer airport?

Your tickets and documents should always be with you in order to check the data in them at any time (time of flight departure, terminal, etc.) with the airport information board and present them without delay before boarding.

Download the free flight search app now!

The best prices in the app.
Tickets are always at hand!

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 check the departure time and other information (sometimes it can change).

True, all of the above applies only to those whose destination is not included in the Schengen area. But if you are flying to one of the Schengen countries, you will need to go through passport control immediately after arrival. At the same time, you must have all the necessary visas.

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 desks and check in again by rechecking your luggage.

Do I need to collect luggage when transferring?

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.

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 (sometimes half a day). Then the lounge zone can come to the rescue.

There is another life hack that few people know about. Some major airports in Europe provide free access to the business lounge for World Elite MasterCard premium card holders. In particular, such a service is provided at Franz Liszt Airport (Budapest), Henri Coanda Airport (Bucharest), as well as at Schwechat Airport (Vienna), Vaclav Havel Airport (Terminal 1, Prague) and Sheremetyevo (Terminal E). To get into the business lounge, you need to notify the staff that you have such a card and present it. In return, you will get wireless internet, food and drinks, newspapers and magazines, a workplace, a printer with TV and even a shower! And all this is completely free.

Alternatively, if you have a transit country visa, you can leave the airport and explore the city.

If the transfer takes more than 10 hours, some companies will accommodate their passengers in a hotel for free or provide coupons for a meal in a special hall. In any case, be sure to explore all possible options on the carrier's website for a long transfer.

Plan your route with time to spare. It is better to take at least 3-4 hours for a transfer in order to calmly navigate at the airport, find your gate, etc. But if you also have to pick up luggage / check in, then you will need at least 4 hours.
Sometimes it happens that the ticket does not indicate the gate number. Do not panic, just find your flight on the arrivals / departures board - the gate will be indicated there as well.
If during the flight you cross different time zones, be sure to rearrange the clock, because the time on the tickets is local!
Before the trip, you should familiarize yourself with the plan of the airport (airports) through which you will fly. You can even print them out and take them with you. Save a lot of time later, trust me!
If you arrive late in the evening, and the next flight is only in the morning, check in advance if there is a hotel in the transfer zone at the transfer airport, and in general, if the airport is open at night. It is likely that you will have to look for accommodation in the city, and this may require a visa.