Got a question for the forum. You guys that have flown into Kiev and then onto other cities. I'm scheduled to fly into Kiev Terminal B. Then onto Terminal A to catch a flight from Kiev to Odessa. My questions are:
1. Should I get the passport stamped in Kiev or Odessa?
2. Do I have to take out my luggage after arriving in Kiev and recheck it for the domestic flight to Odessa?
1. Go through immigration(stamp), pick up luggage, then customs right after getting off international flight in Terminal B.
2. You recheck luggage in Terminal A for domestic flight. I think for Aerosvit weight is <21kg.
Hope you have at least 1-1.5 hours between flights....just in case. If you have extra time, there is an internet cafe near area for departures(terminal B). Is it early afternoon flight?
Just act like you're entering Kiev - straight out the front door of terminal B, luggage in hand - turn right and follow the building to terminal A (fighting your way through the taxi driver gauntlet the whole way, of course :P) It's a two minute walk (tiny airport!)
Last few times I went, there was a luggage check for domestic flights through terminal A, actually in terminal B (just after customs), but it only seems to be for flights leaving in a relatively short timescale. My flights are always about 5 hours apart so my second flight is never on screen for this option. I'm not sure I'd trust it anyway - the organisation in terminal B isn't great, so I try to trust them with as little as possible.
I second beemers advice on having enough time between flights. About 50% of my flights through Borispol have been delayed (some considerably). Once in terminal B, I'm absolutely sure they FORGOT about the flight!! (until I went and asked at the desk). Give yourself time to 'adjust' your plans on the go.
Enjoy the view of Odessa on your approach, though. The sea and all the palm trees look great from the plane window :)
Not sure if you are traveling from U.S. on Aerosvit, but if you are changing carriers and are in London, Ukrainian Airlines has a good deal from Gatwick to Odessa. You'll still transfer in Kiev, but the ticket to Odessa is cheaper than the ticket to Kiev.
Thanks for the help!! I'm more comfortable going thru Kiev now. In the past I've only used LOT airlines and flown from Chicago thru Warsaw onto Odessa. Muzzy, my flight delay is 5 hours as well.
1. You get your passport stamped whenever you go through customs.It's the same anywhere in the world. i.e at terminal B. Terminal B is the main entry airport.
2. Take your luggage with you to Terminal A. (How are they supposed to know what flight you are going on next?)
Aerosvit has a desk inside Terminal B if you want to check the status of your flight to Odessa.
You'll need an address in Odessa to show where you are going. Have it written down on a piece of paper to show anyone who asks.
If your American I think they still ask you to fill in some bullshit piece of paper before landing in Kiev. Some kind of visa thing...its all very professional.
Kirkland, are you referring to the landing card (passport number, flight number, home address, destination address etc.)? Most countries require one at entry these days. The only major difference is that in Ukraine you have to keep half for the trip back. I find this better than other countries (for instance Australia) where you have to fill out the same details on two different documents - one coming in, one going out.
Muzzy; that's the very one. IMO you could write practically anything on it.
I'm sure the geezer at customs wouldn't have a clue if you're travelling on to a town 500 miles away.
I traveled to Kharkov and during the domestic flight back to Kiev, we were inspected by customs and I was challenged for not having a destination on the entry card. Turns out the agent questioned my lady rather intently as to our relations. When we left the inspection area, she said that the agent had asked for a "Gift". I think we might still be there before she was handing over a kopec.Make Some agents in Kiev want a destination address, some do not. It is not clear if the destination address is for business travel and a firm's address.
If you're talking about Kharkov then between Kharkov and Kiev there shouldn't have been any customs involvement as it's a non international flight, more likely to be the police.
An American friend of mine, and his FSU (but not Ukrainian) wife, once flew Vienna to Kharkov, she became detained at the airport for hours over claims that she hadn't declared her wedding ring, my friend wasn't accustomed to Ukrainan corruption but it was obviously a load of bullshit for the police to get their 'gift', I wear a ring but have never declared it and I'm sure 90%+ of travellers to Ukraine wear rings without declaring them and without hassle, it seems Kharkov airport police pick on the weaker individual(s).
Actually it not a 'landing card'.....it is an immigration card with one section for arrival and other for departure. I always keep a couple extra with me and fill out ahead of time. Only once was I asked by an official about where I am staying in ukraine( line10, it does ask for a name and address), I told him I was not sure of address but I knew the street...guess that was enough.
To be honest, I don't think it matters much what you put on this line....just put info on which company your renting apt from.
Try filling out one from russia....ALL in russian language.....
I hope that it was customs, if the American media finds out that I might have been detained by the local police, they would likely call for a military intervention.
Fsu is so anal about everyone having documents to travel. I guess it’s a throwback from the communist era when you couldn’t fart without documents in triplicate from your neighbours.
Not having the correct destination address on your travel document is hardly a threat to national security.
A European national travelling throughout Europe will never be detained for more than 5 seconds at customs. You might be asked “business or pleasure” but they only ask you as a matter of course…they’re not interested.
Fsu officials are only interested to know if they can screw a little beer money out of you.
At least the taxi drivers are regulated by the Mafiosi to not take the piss out of tourists.
I’m sure if the British or American Embassies were aware of the treatment of their nationals when entering Borispol (for example) they would have something to say about it.
All went well with travel thru Kiev. There were plenty of English speakers in Terminal A. It's very interesting looking at the Ukrainins bull rush the plane. Normally you're called by rows to board a flight out of New York. As soon as the flight opened up everyone sitting in the waiting area rushed the door. The flight was delayed for about 4 hours leaving NY with perfect weather. Perhaps the ash cloud?? The bigges complaint is no beer wine or any spirits available in the international flight.
The weather in Nikolaev is perfect. It's cool at night and just a bit warm during the day. Lots of activites going on right now. There was a concert at the end of Sovietska street next to Lenin's statue. Ukrainian rock concert. My wife and I went resturant and bar hopping last night. Someone once said on this board that if you smile at these people they'll smile back. True statement!! I started treating them the way I would in the US and behold, that cold russian stare turns into a nice smile. Wish I would have tried that 4 trips ago...
ps: The only problem in Nikolaev right about now is the pollen from the flowers that are falling from the trees. Looks like snow. Very beautiful though. Bring your alergy medicine!!
"I'm sure if the British or American Embassies were aware of the treatment of their nationals when entering Borispol (for example) they would have something to say about it."
I don't quite see what the problem is ... the only bad treatment I experience at KBP is from taxi guys who physically block my path out of the terminal, which infuriates me. A few days ago, I finally just shouted at them (in Russian).
My country (USA) requires every person entering, alien or citizen, to give their address in the US. US Customs lets most people through quickly, but a small percentage are detained for some time with questioning and searching.
And yesterday, a US passport control officer at Kennedy airport gave me (a re-entering citizen) the 3rd degree (a bunch of probing questions, for those who don't know this expression).
It's pretty much the same everywhere, and I don't see an issue either. Most western countries expect tight controls on immigration (lest the 'foreigners' take all our jobs, or so the political mantra goes). In the UK, poor immigration controls were a key election issue recently. Given that we expect our national border agencies to know where all the foreigners visiting our countries are, I don't see how filling out a piece of paper when visiting another country is a problem.
BTW, when it comes to travelling between KBP terminals, I usually have my headphones on and am walking at pace. I don't hear the taxi drivers, and they can tell from the walk to stay out of the way. I think the fact that I don't look like a 'lost tourist' can bring down the number of offers, too.
Don't ever fly thru Odessa :) ... the taxi drivers there knock spots off their Borispol counterparts, I transitted for 4 hours in Odessa airport one time, it reached the stage I was afraid to continue stepping outside the terminal for a cigarette, every bl00dy time they just wouldn't leave me alone!
Odessa was my 2nd Ukraine airport - went there last year. Would you believe my pre-booked taxi got there late so I was stuck outside looking lost and forlorn!? :)
From my p.o.v, they're pussy cats. When you live amidst drug dealers & prostitutes, over-eager taxi drivers just look cute :)
I rode the train on my first opportunity because it was cheap and it I don't have much experience with trains, even in the USA. I wasn't disappointed. It gave me a chance to experience the Ukrainian people. I did get lucky. There was one and only one person on each trip that spoke English in the whole car. Also luckily, he was on my cabin.