I remember Tim H explaining about transfers from terminal 1 to terminal 2 at Moscow airport but I can't find that old thread. Marina sent me instructions but they are confusing. What is the best way to do this and more importantly how much time is needed to make the transfer without missing a flight?
That whole airport makes me nervous for some reason.
If Marina cannot meet you there, it might be worth the peace of mind by hiring someone local to help you.
Alexander should be able to refer you to someone or some agency that provides that service.
Isifaddag, who is getting from airport Sheremetevo 1 to airport Sheremetevo 2? you? where are you flying from? custome takes time, take taxi, it is about 30 min, depend on traffic.
Oleg
I will be traveling. I will be arriving from JFK New York. I think that it will be about a 2 hour layover but it depends. Just trying not to get ripped off by the taxi drivers that is all. I remember reading somewhere here that they will try to charge $100 American.
before I choose my flight I want to make sure there is enough time to get from one terminal to the other.
How to make fast transfer from airport to airport in Moscow:
You will need to make taxi reservation. http://www.allotaxi.ru it is in Russian. ask your lady to make reservation for you. so, taxi driver will wait for you on the exit from the custom with your name tab. they will charge you their real rates. and provide great service. ask Marina, to request imported car. so, you will enjoy a Mercedes or something with a air conditioner. when you get out of the plane, take luggage helper immediately. he will take you through the custom to the taxi faster. even if you have a small bag. take a luggage helper. then you will minimize time delays. that is the only way to not be ripped off by a taxi.
Thank you Oleg.
Marina also mentioned baggage. I don't understand this. I will have a through ticket it covers the whole journey. I should not have to worry about luggage except my hand luggage. I tend to travel light. I will look up the website you have suggested but Marina has mentioned a minibus outside the airport which is about 20 to 50 rubles. Apparently they run every 15 mintes. That might be a simpler answer. I really appreciate your help.
I meant to take a guy, who will put your hand (or big) laggage on the card and give you a ride over the line in custom and will take you to the taxi. it is like 3$ service. you can take a bus. I would take a taxi:) what are you trying to save here? 10 $... and smell neighbor in the bus?:)
I have made the transfer between the two terminals several times. The first time I made a taxi reservation using gotoru.com because it was much cheaper than the rip off at the airport. You can talk them down a little but it is a real pain. Then I discovered the mini buses for about 20 Rubles. Take mini bus 49 I think...or 48. You can ask at the information desk as they speak English there. I also understand there is a free bus run by Aeroflot between the terminals, but I haven't figured that one out yet. Last time I went the mini bus driver charged me extra because my bag took up an extra seat, but I didn't argue as it was still a great deal. The terminals are across the runway from each other, but the trip to the end of the runway and back down is about 2 1/2 miles. A BIG TIME rip off to pay the mafia taxi drivers $55 or $65!! A 10 or 15 minute trip. Plan on at least a half hour getting thru passport control and getting your bag. I always get thru passport control quickly and have to wait for my bag. I always use the green line (nothing to declare) and just walk thru. You can exchange money immediately to the left of where you exit customs.
What ever option you take izi, be prepared to run the Mafia gauntlet. As soon as you exit they swarm you. I have on the 3 occasions ended up using them. 1st time they could tell I was a little stressed and needed to get to other terminal pronto, cost me 1200rubles. Last 2 time I just kept walking with the idea of getting the bus that Neon mentions and the price got that low I ended up taking the Taxi option. The blokes seem god sorts once they got you hooked, and I am sure they are safe. Last time I got taxi for 600. If you don’t have your luggage they might not attack you quite as severely and you wont have problems with mini bus cause big suit cases can be a pain if bus full.
Thanks Maxi and Neon.
The minibus is the way to go I think. I will not be encumbered by my suitcase. It gets checked in at Fort Lauderdale and I won't see that again until I arrive at Ekaterinburg. I'll just have my small backpack which is no trouble at all. It also has wheels and a carry handle on top. I have found it is the best thing for traveling. Sometimes that is all I take.
Therefore why spend 600 rubles when I can spend 20 for the same thing. It is the bus for me. I am going to have 5 hours between fights both coming and going. Plenty of time. If the bus is super full I'll wait for the next one. Marina says they run about every 15 minutes. No rush.
The price of the ticket is brutal though. Another $300 since last November. Previous trip was purchased 29th Nov 04 for total $1073. This time it was $1379.
It is worth it though.
I am just glad things worked out in the end. We seem to be doing better each day.
She told me that old saying "that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger" and she was right. Now we seem to have cleared a lot of debris out of the way. That coupled with this infighting bullshit she is experiencing at war, sorry work, really seems to have helped smooth things out. Anyhow I'm happy I'm going no matter what.
You're very lucky to have your bag checked all the way thru to E'burg. I didn't know that it could be done. I know when I fly back to the US thru New York I have to retrieve it in New York and pass thru customs there and take it to be checked for my next flight. I suppose because I travel on two different tickets to my destination in Russia I have no choice (Delta and then Aeroflot)
I am traveling over again in May and in June. Lucky they are both freebies with my skymiles! And great connections too.
I didn't know about this guys. I will get the ticket, it should arrive in a day or so and then make a phone call or two. When I went in March I flew 2 different airlines going. It was Miami to Frankfurt and then Ekaterinburg. United flying as Lufthansa and all the rest was Lufthansa. I never touched my checked bag. Maybe it is different with Aeroflot. If this is so it sucks. Dragging a dirty big bag over to another terminal isn't fun. Now I know what Oleg was talking about. Maybe a taxi is the best way.
Oh shit! I just checked. If I have to get my bag from the flight from Fort Lauderdale and then check it in with Aeroflot I am screwed! There is 59 minutes between flights!! There is no way I will retrieve that bag, line up at Aeroflot and then make it to the plane. I remember the line in Miamia for Lufthansa. It took over an hour and a half to book in.
Holy Crap!!
I am prety sure that you will only claim your bags in the destination country to clear customs. Any others you are just passing through. I wouldn't think that you will have a problem checking through to Moscow. I check through from LA to Kyiv without any problems. But when I get to Kyiv customs wants to see my bags.
When are you going Izi? I'm going in 2 1/2 weeks, and then again in June. Delta has a new direct flight to Moscow from Atlanta. No more NYC connections (and delays) for me. Don't think I have ever left JFK on time. The flight is at 5:45, I think, and there is so much air traffic then that we are usually held on the runway for way too long. Then again Atlanta is even busier so.....
Neon,
I will be flying on Friday July 1st. I will land back in FLL Sunday 17th.
Yes I saw the Atlanta connection. That is great but believe it or not the JFK one is quicker for me. Fingers crossed I don't run into any problems. According to you guys and Marina I am going to have to collect my baggage off the carousel at SVO 2 and dragit all through security and then over to SVO 1 and recheck it in. I think that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I mean whether it is checked at Moscow or Eburg it is the same thing. I can't fool with it.
Incidentally, how did you do with ticket price? I paid $300 more than last November.
Izi,
I didn't pay much attention to prices as I was able to use my Delta sky miles and just have to pay about $50 for some taxes. I figured I'd better use them as God only knows how long before any airline, including Delta will go belly up! That's 2 free trips, and well on my way for the third.....one perk for using that credit card on all business expenses. Still need to buy my ticket leaving SVO1.
My May trip goes thru JFK and my June trip thru Atlanta. Going over I only save an hour an a half, but on the return I save nearly three hours, and the best part is I get back to FL at 8:00PM instead of after 11:00PM.
I have done the SVO2-SVO1 shuffle many times, and have tried each way. I don't mind the mini bus, and I guess I am cheap as I just HATE giving up $55 (maybe more now) to have some guy drive me 3 miles...If you want to take the taxi, I suggest you pre book. I have done it with gotoru.com before and saved about 1/2. I only take one carry on and one regular suitcase, so it is not too difficult to put on the mini bus. You catch the mini bus just outside of the arrival area, ground floor.
Oh, watch your suit case and carry on weight! When you check in at SVO1, they will weigh both, and if combined weight is over 22 (or is it 24?) kilos you will have to pay. I travel light and I still always have to pay. I have always tried to hide my carry on, but the ladies are wise to that trick. Also...good luck finding a place to sit down in the old SVO1. So many people and so few seats.