I found these really cheap fares from the U.S. to Ukraine on the "Best Travel Store" website. Does anyone have any experience with this website? Are they reliable? Thanks
I just checked the same site on a date I might be interested in in the future and found the ridiculously low fare of $519 - not including airport fees and taxes, on United Airlines. It was the only option, which made me especially suspicious since United doesn't actually connect with the small regional airport that I requested a departure from. (American and Northwest do however.)
When I clicked on this low low fare - I was told that I would have to call them and request the lowest fare. Sounds like a scam to me to geti inquiries anyway. A sort of bait and switch most likely.
I used best travel store, they have great rates and i flew to the PI in september with them, the only problem i had was that they rerouted my return flight. (no big deal though i got back to at the same time.) I just bought a ticket with them to return to southeast asia 2 weeks ago for a trip in January. I give them a thumbs up !!
I used BT store several times, usually have great prices. Check with them about 6 weeks to 8 weeks before you fly out, seems there are lowest around that time period. Must have some deal with United/Lufhtansa, those were the best pricing. Last time got LA to Kiev for $780.
beemer,
Presuming that BT indicates you are a Brit then try www.kelkoo.co.uk then click on 'Flights'. Whatever best results come up then go directly to the airline website to, normally, achieve a better price.
1. If you're going to book with ebookers or travelbag then get yourself a Sainsburys Nectar card first to use with your booking, a 1% 'kickback', or:
2. If you're going to book with lastminute then don't, get yourself a Tesco Clubcard, again a 1% 'kickback', and go to www.tesco.com and click on 'More Online Stores' and then 'Travel' where upon you get redirected to 'Tesco's' lastminute site.
I just bought some tickets thru best travel store and had a terrible experience. My return date was Jan 06,2009 from poland when i booked, but it seemed they took it upon themselves to change my return date to Jan 12,2009. That sucked cause i could not be there that long. Anyway they gave me a hard time so I just canceeled the wole trip and they charged me $100. extra for there mistake.
their not so bad I flew to africa for the last three years with them, best bargins various flights and prices, if you need to save then save, if you want comfortability that got that too. what I am saying is they rank a little better then a lot of the 3rd parties agencies:
BH
$580 !!!!!
Wow - you chaps are lucky B'sss. That’s great prices.
I just wish Aerosvit would relax their prices on their Bangkok - Kiev price.
We came up through Seoul and Moscow, got an overnight free in Seoul on Korean Air which broke the trip, but still a long haul - AND - dear I mention Moscow - bloody place, its unreal. But - they are about to open the new terminal late August - so I pray they DO NOT take the old staff with them !!!!
Lena and I where in fits of laughter - if we didin't laugh we would have cried.
Can someone with intelligence please tell me WHY TF some international terminal transit zones scan you and your carry on luggage as you get off the plane ??? Just been on a bloody plane for 9 hours and they scan you for what - fu~~kn plastic forks that you got given to eat you meal with !!!!!!!!
Its got me beat - cant for the life of me work that one out.
The women at the Transit Entry scan point in Moscow was 5.5 high - 5.5 wide and spoke like head of Gestapo, she treated everyone like - I cant explain - I have never seen anything like it b4 - AMAZING intro to Russia for those that haven't been b4 !!!!!!!!!
If you want cheap Aerosvit flights join meridian and they give special discounts. For those in southern hemisphere there are some good prices ex Dubai or Bangkok.
If you fly via dubai suggest you get a diners club card to get free entry to nice lounge.
Emirates have been offering good points bonuses on there frequent flyer program so apart from getting good aircraft and entertainment you can pretty much get a free flight after two or three trips. Also it is worth upgrading on some flights to get a nice nap and Ive had a few freebies with them as well which you dont often get with other airlines.
Turkish have some good fares to Kiev ex Singapore.
be careful to check your connecting flights. i thought i had the perfect 2 hr connection in london. until after i received the tickets, i realized that i needed to go to a different airport in london to catch the next flight.
Yes Aerosvit is difficult to connect to in the states if you do not live on the east coast. Their flight comes in at almost 5 PM and if you leave time to go through customs there are very few flights to catch going west without changing airports.
GD
Thanks for that info
The New Zealand - Dubai is very expensive - but the Dubai to Kiev is good price.
Can you explain more about the Meridian membership ???
Do you mean I would get better prices on Aerosvit flights ??
San Diego to Moscow on Expedia or Bts is about 700 dollars round trip total. Varies by changing dates and usually 2 weeks in advance. Then purchase separate tickets from Moscow to multiple destinations and you can see 3 0r 4 cities in the Ukraine for less than 400 dollars. nearly all the cities connect through Kiev. Flying direct to cities other than Kiev can be very expensive and it is still less expensive to fly through Moscow to Kiev, but maybe not worth the trouble
And if you're transitting via Moscow SVO airport then you're likely to need a double entry Russian transit visa which makes an airfare via Moscow not so competitive after all!
If you do not leave the airport no visa is needed. Flights from the carriers I looked into flew into SVO and connecting flights through KBP also originated in SVO. It is not neccesary to change airport. I have called the Russian embassy to verify. Having boarding passes for connecting flights was enough to satisfy customs. Still when it comes to any government or official the rules are what they say at the time and the first one to take position may well be supported by their superiors. Regardless flying direct to Simferopol is about 3000 dollars round trip and 1000 dollars through Moscow
At SVO there are 2 terminals, SVO 1 and SVO 2. If one needs to transfer between terminals (most, if not all, internal FSU flights operate from the different terminal to, other, international flights) then one needs to enter Russia to transfer between terminals, it's something like a 30 minute journey by road between the 2 terminals, thus transit visas are required.
Different at Moscow DME airport however as everything there is in the same location.