Long layover in Abu Dhabi: why couldn’t you save money? Long layover at the airport. Is it worth going out into the city? Overnight transfer at the airport

A new city along the way, an interesting airport, new airlines and low prices 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 private messages, in which it turned out that the topic is incomprehensible to many people and the basic concepts require explanation. Many are simply afraid to fly with a transfer, preferring to overpay for a direct flight; many, in principle, did not think that it was possible to leave the airport. Therefore, I decided to consider all the issues in a separate article.

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

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

1. A flight with a transfer is significantly cheaper than a direct flight, can you trust such a low price?

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 suspicious of a low price, this is standard practice.

However, be careful, according to the rules of the cheapest tariff, you must use all segments sequentially. If any segment is not used, the entire route will be cancelled! Those. you cannot “get hooked” in Kyiv on a flight to Geneva if the ticket was purchased from Moscow. However, on the way back you can check your luggage to the transit point and get off at the transit point; you don’t have to use the last segment.

2. What is the difference between a layover and a stopover? Or a connection from a transfer?

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

3. Rules for creating interesting connections yourself, consider two options:

Option 1:
You buy a single ticket Kyiv-Frankfurt-London. Both flights are included in one ticket, even if operated by different airlines! In this case, if the first flight was delayed and you missed the second one, then everything will be rebooked for you free of charge and the delays will be compensated according to the rules.

If the site sells you a ticket with a connection of 30-40 minutes, then the carrier guarantees this connection if the plane arrives on time. However, keep in mind that with very short connections and a slight delay of the first flight, you have a much better chance of transferring 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 airline's liability to you is only for each individual flight. If in Europe I choose connections with different airlines and different tickets, then I usually leave a gap between them of at least 6-8 hours, and better yet on different days.

4. What happens to luggage during an indirect flight?

Let's consider several cases:

Baggage WILL be checked in to your final destination:

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

Exceptions:

If the country’s customs rules provide for 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 collect your luggage at a transit point and then return it to a special transfer baggage counter.

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

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

Exception to the rule:

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

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

- Kyiv-Frankfurt-Toronto-New York:

One day last fall, I came across a great fare that included a segment on AirCanada via Toronto. Of course, I wanted to try a new airline. The connection on this route was only 1.5 hours, i.e. I didn’t even plan to get into the city, but I decided to check it out on Timatik. And it turned out that even for international (!) transit I definitely need a transit visa. The option is gone. But, if I hadn’t looked at Timatik and relied on the general rules that “I won’t even leave the transit zone,” I simply wouldn’t have been put on the plane in Frankfurt:

- Kyiv-Beijing-Hong Kong:

Since January 2013, visa-free transit for up to 72 hours has been available for Ukrainians and Russians (and other nationalities) in certain cities of China. An excellent 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.

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 from which you arrived.

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

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

However, if you have a flight from Kyiv to Dubai, and the next connecting flight is booked as a separate ticket, then you have every right to be denied boarding without a visa. Even if you have transit at the same airport! The argument about the possibility of purchasing a transit visa is not relevant, since the airline’s timatics and 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 an underground passage; they are located in one line. To T2 you need to take a bus. For transit between T1,3 and 2, a visa is not required; exit to the city is not provided. I wrote about how to get from T2 to T1-3 without connecting there.

SHJ - Sharj International Airport is an airport in Sharjah, a neighboring emirate. AirArabia flies here and sells connections on its flights. Booking systems sometimes write Sharjah (Dubai), keep that in mind.

DWC - Dubai World Central International Airport- located at the opposite end of the city, this is a completely new airport (previously it was only cargo), 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. Please note: WizzAir does not sell or provide connections to other flights. To leave the city and move to another airport you need a visa! By the way, Abu Dhabi is only 90 km from DWC.

All three airports are on airline websites, search engines, aggregators, etc. They often call themselves Dubai, but they have the right, since transport links are very simple, and Dubai itself is also quite large and stretches along the coast. DWC is closer to the residential area of ​​Dubai Marina or hotels on palm trees than others.

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

9. If you are not boarded 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.

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

Be sure to take written confirmation from employees indicating the reason for denial of boarding, so you can challenge the decision and receive compensation.

10. What interesting things to see while connecting 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 LJ! In this section I show what I visited during connections at different airports around the world.

Children and connections

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

And further:

In the comments to the previous post, an interesting argument was made - why watch something while connecting at a gallop in a couple of hours, because it is better to come to this place on a separate trip and spend 1-2 days, or better yet 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 the docking from all sides and see everything, it is enough to visit just one thing. For example, beer and 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 view. 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.

If you're flying overnight on one of the airlines on this list, be sure to get in touch and find out how to claim your free hotel.

Transfer airport: Ataturk, Istanbul (IST)

Conditions:

• (not necessary)
• international flights only
• connection at night for at least 10 (economy) or 7 (business) hours
• only for return flights

How to book: You need to write an email [email protected] indicating the reservation code and ticket number.

UPD. In June 2017, an additional program for flights from Russia appeared: when flying to the North. and Yuzh. America, Asia and the Far East with a layover of more than 20 hours are given a free hotel. Regardless of whether there are flights in this interval or not!

Here is a complete list of destinations for which stopover is available: America (USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Cuba, Venezuela), Asia - Far East, Africa, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Malta, Israel, Prague, Vienna, Belgrade, Baku, Bucharest, Jordan, Croatia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, Hungary.

Economy class passengers receive free 1-night 4-star hotel accommodation with breakfast in Sultanahmet. Business class passengers receive free 5-star hotel accommodation with breakfast for 2 nights in Taksim.

Astana and Almaty – Air Astana

Transfer airport: Astana International Airport "Nursultan Nazarbayev", International Airport "Almaty"

Conditions: when docking for at least 10 hours; The class of the hotel depends on the class of the purchased air ticket. Stopover Holidays will take you to your hotel with breakfast included for a nominal fee of $1. And they will take you back to the airport. You can extend your stay for $65.

• . These conditions apply for a connection of at least 10 hours. Information at the office. website.

Casablanca - Royal Air Maroc

Transfer airport: Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca (CMN)

Conditions: transfer at night for at least 8 hours (if the transfer is from 4 to 8 hours, then you will be fed and taken to the lounge)

How to book: Go to the Transit Desk in the Arrivals Hall.

It is recommended to arrive at Casablanca airport well in advance. 3-4 hours before departure. Reviews on Google Maps often say that this is the worst airport ever.

Doha - Qatar Airways

Transfer airport: Hamad International Airport, Doha (DOH)

Conditions:

• there is no other flight to the final destination earlier in the schedule
• transit in Doha from 8 to 24 hours
• you are not flying from/to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH), Dubai (DWC or DXB), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) or Sharjah (SHJ)
• Not all booking classes can receive a hotel. Call the airline.

Dubai - Emirates

Transfer airport: Dubai (DXB)

Conditions:

• both flights in one itinerary receipt
• there is no other flight to the final destination earlier in the schedule
• connection of at least 8 (economy) or 6 (business) hours. No more than 24 hours.
• Reservations must be made on the website at least 24 hours before the flight

Addis Ababa - Ethopian Air

Transfer airport: Bole, Addis Ababa (ADD)

Conditions: connection from 8 to 24 hours.

Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver - Air Canada

Transfer airport: Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR)

Conditions:

• available only for Latitude, Premium Economy and Business booking classes
• Tango and Flex classes offer discounts starting at $49.
• connection from 6 hours.

Guangzhou - China Southern

Transfer airport: Guangzhou (CAN)

Conditions:

• Codeshare flights are suitable
• connection 8 hours or more (6+ for routes to Australia, New Zealand and London); connection with overnight stay 8-48 hours.
• may not be available for promotional tickets. Check with the airline after purchasing tickets.

Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Hangzhou, Shanghai - Air China

Transfer airports: Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Dalian (DLC), Hangzhou (HGH), Shanghai (SHA or PVG)

Conditions:

• The ticket number must begin with â999â
• Codeshare flights and mileage tickets are not eligible.

Xiamen - Xiamen Air

Transfer airports: Xiamen (XMN)

Conditions: provided by the hotel for layovers longer than 6 hours (even during the day). Even if there is another flight on the schedule earlier

Colombo - Sri Lankan Airlines

Transfer airports: Colombo (CMB)

• Transfer from 8 to 24 hours
• The ticket (without fees and taxes) cost more than $180 (one way) or $360 (round trip)
• there is no other flight to the final destination earlier in the schedule

It was not possible to find information on the site, but members of the Flyer Talk forum have used it more than once.

Possible/with conditions: Colombo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Seoul, Lisbon, Osaka, Tokyo, Kunming, Xi'an, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Singapore

• Osaka, Tokyo - Japan Airlines. The airline does not provide hotels, but the website states that "at its discretion, JAL may provide accommodations."

In the case of scheduled overnight connection on through services, JAL may, at its discretion, bear hotel charges. (JAL.com)

• Bangkok - Thai Airways. Only for passengers flying from Australia to Europe via Bangkok. .
• Biman Airlines provides a hotel in Dhaka when flying from Thailand to Nepal.
• On the websites of Korean airlines Korean Air And Asian Airlines Can't find information about conditions. But according to reviews on the Internet, the hotel is provided. Here is a blogger's report on getting a hotel from Asiana. Flyer Talk forum about Korean Air.
• Abu Dhabi - Etihad Airways. On the airline's website you can find offers with big discounts on hotels.
• Singapore - Singapore Airlines. There are transfer packages that include hotel and transfer. You can look it up on the website. There is evidence on the Flyer Talk forum that sometimes airlines provide free hotel accommodations.
• Helsinki - FinnAir. There are packages for long and short stopovers.
• Reykjavik - IcelandAir. The company offers stopover for up to 7 days. More details on the website

Air travel has long become quite commonplace for most people. And yet, someone has already plowed the expanses of the sky in all directions, and someone will have to cross long distances on a winged metal ship for the first time. For most, a significant priority when purchasing airline tickets is their price. And, as a rule, it will be less if you fly with a transfer. But sometimes you have to wait a very long time for the next flight. Is it possible to leave the airport during a transfer? We will try to give the most complete answer to this question.

What is a transplant?

To correctly understand whether it is possible to leave a transit airport during a transfer, you need to understand the essence of some terms. So, a transfer is a change of two or more planes when moving from point A to point B. That is, on the way, a person will have to board one plane and fly on it to some intermediate point (transit), transfer to another board, which will take him to a new transfer point or directly to his destination. The periods during which the passenger is in the air are called flight shoulders. When issuing tickets with transfers, there can be 2 or more. A direct flight is when there is only one flight leg on the route.

On a note! The transfer can last from several minutes to several hours. This means that there will be some time between flights, during which a person will stay and wait for the next flight. In certain cases, this time can be spent usefully and take a walk around nearby attractions.

Transfer and connection - what's the difference?

It is worth mentioning one more term that is often encountered by future passengers when purchasing a ticket. This is a docking. How is it different from a transplant? In essence, nothing, except that when connecting, all flights will be marked on one itinerary receipt, and when transferring, a person, as a rule, chooses other flights on his own. There is nothing wrong if the transfer is called a connection.

It is also worth familiarizing yourself with two more important terms - these are stopover and layover. The first means that the connection between flights will last more than 24 hours, and with a stopover it will be less than 24 hours.

On a note! To find the place from which another desired flight departs at the airport, you should navigate by the signs Transfer, Flight Transfers, Connecting Flights and the like. The designation Transit is less commonly used.

Video - Flight with transfer: types of connections

Transit flight rules

There is no need to be afraid of transfers - everything is extremely simple here if you understand and understand their essence. They go like this: a plane departing from point A lands at the airport of intermediate point B, where a person leaves the vehicle and goes to this airport. After a certain time, the passenger must go to the landing point at the same airport and board another plane. That's the whole transplant. But sometimes you have to wait quite a long time, which is why many people want to leave the airport and go for a walk around the neighborhood.

The complexity of the transfer will depend on how the flight is organized. For example, if a passenger flies on planes of one airline or on ships of partner companies, then everything is simple. If the flight takes place at the expense of different people, then it is important to pay close attention to all the intricacies of the trip - here you will have to answer for all the mistakes and errors yourself, whereas in the first case, even if you are late for the second flight, the carrier company will be able to help in some way. In the second case, you will have to rely only on yourself.

It is very important to always calculate the time correctly, since in certain cases you will have to go through customs control again, and passport control will not be avoided. At international airports these procedures usually take longer.

Attention! The transfer can take place at the same airport or at different ones. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly study your route and, if necessary, think about how to get from your arrival point to a new place.

The easiest way is if the transfer takes place within the same terminal. Here it will be enough to simply follow the appropriate signs to the boarding point or waiting room. There you need to find the second flight on the board, look at the departure data and go to the right exit at the right time. This is the fastest transfer option. You can find out where and how the change of planes will take place already at the stage of purchasing tickets or on the airline’s website using the flight number. Typically, this transfer option is provided at small airports.

Attention! Some small airports do not have a transit area. In this case, when flying internationally, it is important to familiarize yourself with the visa regimes of the countries you visit. For example, even when flying from Russia to a visa-free country via Tallinn, you will still need it due to the lack of a transit zone at the transfer point, because immediately after getting off the plane you will have to go through customs control again.

It is more difficult to transfer between different airports or terminals. Another question is how close they are to each other and whether there is enough time to move from point A to point B without missing the flight. Sometimes even from one terminal to another at the same airport you may need to order a taxi or travel by public transport.

On a note! If a change of airports occurs on the territory of Russia, then citizens of the country should not worry about having a visa. But in other countries this may become a problem. In some countries, even changing terminals may require a visa.

Is it possible to leave the airport?

Regarding this question, we can say that the answer will not be clear, since a lot depends on a certain kind of formalities. You can almost always leave the airport during a transfer, but to do this you must have all the documents necessary to cross the border. You can always go for a walk around the surrounding area if the plane change takes place in your own country with a connection. But upon returning to the airport, you will have to go through security control again - all liquids purchased during the walk will be taken away.

The need for a visa depends largely on the citizenship of the passenger and the rules for visiting transit countries. You can check whether you need a visa on the Timatik database website.

On a note! In certain cases, a transit visa can be obtained directly at the airport. But you should find out about this in advance on the institution’s website. Sometimes, without such a visa, you may even be denied boarding on another flight if the connecting flight is booked separately.

Baggage: does it need to be collected?

Baggage is a big and significant issue. What is his fate during transplantation? If the trip takes place on one ticket (you will have two or more boarding passes in hand, received on the first flight), then the luggage can be checked in to the very final destination and picked up at the final point of the trip, without lugging around the transit airport with it. The airline itself will take care of it; its employees will simply reload the bags onto another plane.

Attention! If you are transporting items that are subject to declaration, you will still have to receive your luggage at the transit point and will need to re-check it in for the new flight.

You will also have to take care of your luggage yourself if the flight is made on different tickets. The transit airport will not be able to send it without the owner's knowledge. When flying on different airlines (without a partnership agreement), your baggage will also have to be collected and checked in again.

Table. Should I collect luggage when purchasing 2 separate air tickets?

The best option not to make a mistake is to get detailed advice regarding luggage from the chosen airline before planning your trip.

A little about boarding passes

Usually, even for flights with a transfer (simple), two or more boarding passes are immediately issued at the primary check-in counter - check-in is carried out for all boards until the end of the route. But if the transfer lasts more than 24 hours, then you will have to register for further flights yourself. Also, sometimes check-in for other planes will be immediately denied if one of the passengers is a child without a seat. Sometimes two separate tickets are sold and registration is always done independently.

Actions for those who want to leave

In order not to get confused and to correctly understand whether it is possible to leave the airport during a transfer and how to do it, there is a small list of tips.

To leave the airport, you need to follow the signs that say "Exit" or Exit in English. Next, each passenger is required to go through passport control, where a visa check will be carried out if necessary. After this, the person enters the arrivals hall. Here you can try to check in your previously received luggage to a storage room.

If possible, before leaving the airport, you can try to find out the gate number through which you will then board the new flight. But, unfortunately, this is not always possible, especially if the transfer is very long - the information board simply will not have information about the required flight.

How to calculate time?

Correct timing is the key to not having to gallop and jump into a plane that is already preparing to take off. It's important to remember that it will take about 30-60 minutes to find the exit, claim luggage and find the storage room depending on the list of procedures that need to be completed, the speed of work of the airport staff, as well as the size of the building itself. When calculating the time, it is worth remembering that you need to return to the airport at least 1.5-2 hours before the departure of the next flight.

The time spent waiting for a taxi, traveling to the city and back is also taken into account. It may vary depending on the distances, which can be found out in advance by looking at maps. The time spent outside the airport must be at least 3 hours, otherwise the outing will be pointless. In general, you will have to spend a total of at least 8 hours on the mini-excursion, taking into account the round trip and going through all the formalities before boarding. It is especially important to make a good supply of time for those who are going on such a trip for the first time.

On a note! In some cases, the road to the city from the airport will not take much time. In this case, you can have time to visit quite a few interesting places and buy souvenirs as a gift.

Video - How to overcome the fear of flying

How to endure long transplants. Instructions

For those who are frightened by long transfers, here is a small instruction on how to spend this time profitably.

Step 1. You should treat a long layover as part of an exciting journey. If possible and have enough time, it is recommended to leave the airport and go explore the nearby area. It's worth a walk, even if the whole area is just an airplane terminal. During such a walk you can gain invaluable and useful experience.

Step 2. If transfers are not interesting for a passenger, then the best option is to choose a flight with a minimum amount of time spent on this procedure.

Step 3. It is always useful to plan, including the transplant itself. You can organize this time in such a way that you have the opportunity to at least go shopping.

Step 4. You need to find out all the information about the airport where the transfer will be. Information about its size, the presence of cafes or restaurants, boutiques with goods, and entertainment complexes will be interesting. All this information is usually available on the institution's website. It is recommended to print out a map of the airport and put interesting places on it. It is also important to study information about storage rooms and their costs. If time permits, it is better to check in your luggage and walk around the city, if it is nearby.

Step 5. Some airports have VIP clubs where you can relax and unwind in a relaxed environment. Membership costs about $200 per year, but for frequent travelers, it can be a good option to wait out layovers. There are options for arranging one-time visits to such areas.

VIP area for passengers

Step 6. There is no need to check everything in as luggage, especially if the layover is long. It is better to leave a few things on hand that may be useful: phone chargers, a camera, cash, etc.

Step 7 It is recommended to ask airport staff for information about the departure of the next flight so as not to miss the plane. The same information may be indicated on the information board. This will help you navigate and plan your time.

Step 8 Sometimes you don’t have to wait the allotted time if there are earlier flights and empty seats on them. You can fly away without paying anything extra, in certain cases. You can get information from airline agents.

Step 9 If children are flying with passengers, then it is important to think about what you can do to keep them occupied during the transfer. Otherwise, the wait will turn into a nightmare. This is especially true for those who will wait the required time without leaving the airport.

Step 10 Reading has always been a good pastime. So you can pass the time with your favorite book.

Step 11 Walking and eating will help pass the time. Even if the walking place is small and limited to the airport territory. Sometimes inside the back there are interesting places - exhibitions or displays of paintings. There are also snack bars and restaurants at almost every airport.

A walk is always good

Step 12 Wi-Fi, which is available in almost every airport, is also a great way to pass the time. So a transplant is an opportunity to hang out on social networks or work. The latter is relevant for freelancers.

Video – Connecting flights

Transfers are not as complicated and scary as they seem at first glance. Very often, this seemingly wasted time can be spent usefully. The main thing is to plan everything and, if possible, leave the airport and walk around the city.

If you've never flown on a transit flight, then you're probably nervous and have a whole bunch of questions on your mind. To stop worrying, let’s try to figure out how a connecting flight works. In fact, everything is not as scary as it might seem at first glance. Take some time to read this article, and then you will be able to take advantage of all the advantages of such flights.

• Firstly, Transit flights are often cheaper than direct flights - they really give you the opportunity to save a decent amount.
• Secondly, There are simply no direct flights to some places. This means that in order for a traveler to get to such places, he must be able to fly in transit.

Flight with transfer. How does transit happen?

So, let's figure it out from the very beginning. First of all, let's understand the differences between a direct flight and a transit flight.

What is a direct flight? This is a flight where you fly on one plane from the departure airport to the destination airport.

What is a connecting flight? This is when you fly to your destination on several planes, usually two. Otherwise, we can say that during your journey there is an intermediate stop at a transit airport, during which you transfer from one plane to another and continue your flight.

Now let's look at the details. The fact is that there are several types of transit flights. And when you buy a ticket, you should clearly understand what type of transfer you have.

Types of transit depending on what we are flying on

1. Flight on planes of one airline or partner airlines

All parts of the flight are operated by one airline or partner airlines that cooperate with each other.

• For example, you board the first Aeroflot plane and arrive at a transit airport, where you transfer to the second plane, which also belongs to Aeroflot.

• Another example. You fly to the transit airport on the first plane belonging to Aeroflot and transfer to the second plane belonging to Aeroflot's partner, Air Berlin. These airlines cooperate with each other.

Advantages such a transit flight is that it is not you, but the airlines that are responsible for your transfer: for example, they allow sufficient time for the transition from one plane to another. And if for some reason the transfer did not take place (for example, the first plane was late, but the second one had already departed), then the airlines will have to put you on the next available flight.

With such a transit, you have one itinerary receipt in your hands, which includes both of your flights.

2. Flying on planes of different airlines that are not connected to each other

How does a connecting flight work with this option and what is its main disadvantage? The first flight is operated by an airline that is not affiliated with the airline operating the second flight. In other words, these two flights are independent of each other, and airlines do not cooperate with each other on this route.

With this type of transit, you have two itinerary receipts in your hands for each composite flight separately.

Flaws such a transit flight is that it is not the airlines that are responsible for connections and transfers, but only you. Fortunately, as a rule, the search engine does not show such flights, but you can arrange it yourself if you wish.

Types of transit depending on “where we transfer”

We have dealt with the first very important point. Now let's try to figure out the second point - the type of transit. How the transplant will proceed in general depends on this.

3. Transfer at the same airport terminal

How does a connecting flight work in this case? Everything is simple here. You stepped off the first plane into the airport terminal. Now from the same terminal you board the second plane. Such a transplant requires little time.

4. Transfer to another terminal

This option is a little more complicated. You left the first plane at the airport terminal, but boarding the second plane takes place in another terminal, to which you still need to move. It will take a little more time to get your bearings and move (move) to another terminal. But in general, this option is quite common and well-established at airports.

5. Transfer to another airport

How does a connecting flight work with this option? The most difficult transit. To board the second plane, you will need to move to another airport. You need to budget a lot more time, and find out in advance in detail how to get to the airport, and ask how it works.

Types of transit depending on whether “to leave or not to leave the transit zone”

6. No need to leave the transit zone

To board the second plane, you do not need to leave the transit area. There are many advantages to such a transplant. Firstly, it takes less time to transfer. Secondly, you are not required to apply for a transit visa if you are flying through a visa country.

7. You are required to leave the transit zone

How does a connecting flight occur when leaving the transit zone? This case is much more complicated and requires special attention and preparation before the flight. This option is possible if, for example, you need to move from one airport to another airport. Do not forget that in addition to all this, you need to pay special attention to the visa rules of the transit country and, possibly, apply for a transit visa.

There are countries that have special transit rules. For example, in the USA, for any international transfer, passengers are required to leave the transit zone, for which they must have a transit visa.

General instructions for flights with a transfer

Unfortunately, it is impossible to write one instruction for all cases, because each specific transplant requires separate consideration. This depends on many factors: transit country, airlines, airport, connection time, etc. However, we can offer instructions that will help you figure out how a connecting flight works in your particular flight case.

So, you have found a temptingly priced ticket, but it includes a transfer. How to proceed now.

1. Determine who serves connecting flights

• One airline (Excellent).
• Partner airlines (Excellent).
• Airlines not affiliated with each other (Not the best option).

2. Determine how the transplant occurs

• In the same terminal (Excellent).
• In another terminal (Good).
• At another airport (Not the best option).

3. How many route receipts will you have on hand?

• One, in which two connecting flights are registered together (Excellent).
• Two. Each connecting flight is listed on a separate receipt (Not the best option).

4. How will your luggage be delivered to your final destination?

• We have included questions regarding luggage in a separate article.

5. We contact the airline that operates the flight to clarify details: how a flight with a transfer occurs specifically for this flight

• In order to find the coordinates of the airline, you need to click the “Buy” button in the line with information about the ticket you selected, which the search engine gave you. After which you will be redirected to the airline's website. If the seller is an agency, then it is wise to call them. Typically, the agency cannot give you information about connecting flights, but you can ask them for the phone number or email of the airline operating the flight.
• The airline staff will tell you in detail how the transfer process will take place and what your actions should be.
• We recommend that you write down all the necessary information about the flight, as well as the questions you want to ask, on a piece of paper before the conversation so as not to miss anything important.

For those who want to fly in transit for the first time, please be sure to read our recommendations.

• For the first time do not choose difficult transit flights. Start with simple transfers: for example, do not consider flights where you have to move from one airport to another on your own. Over time, you will get the hang of it, gain enough experience and be able to plan difficult routes yourself.
• For the first time, To ensure peace of mind, only consider flights where parts of the flight are fully operated by one airline or partner airlines. In fact, most of the transit flights returned by the search engine are just like this.
• For the first time only consider flights with sufficient time between connections. For example, look for ones where the transition takes more than two hours. And if you are still worried, then look for those that have a break between flights of three or even five hours.
• For the first time, for example, only consider transfers in countries where you do not require a visa, or you are absolutely sure that a visa is not required for your transfer.

If you choose an indirect flight, this means that you will have to fly with a transfer. For those who are still afraid of transplants or don’t know everything about them, I’ll try to sort them out.

If you're on a connecting flight, you're moving from city A to city B, landing in a completely different city on the way to point B. In this case, you get off the plane, enter the airport, and then board another plane. Naturally, the total flight time when flying with a transfer increases. But the ticket, as a rule, becomes cheaper.

And it is simply impossible to get to some places in this world without a transfer. Therefore, if you are going to fly on planes at all, you should know as much as possible about transfers in advance.

A "transfer" may also be called a "Connection" or a "Transfer" (rarely a "Transit"). In addition, at every airport in the world there will be an inscription in English, by which you can understand where you need to go to get a connection, and not accidentally leave the airport - look for the inscriptions “Transfer” or “Flight Transfers” or “Flight Connections” or "Connecting Flights" (or rarely - "Transit").

Once again about terminology.

A transfer is a change of board during a flight from one point to another using 2 or more flight legs.

What is flight leverage?

A flight leg is a part of a route carried out without the aircraft landing. Accordingly, if your ticket has only 1 leg, it is a direct flight. If 2 or more, then you are flying with a transfer (after all, the plane lands and you get off the plane).

Important points about transfers:

Everything is simple here. For example, you arrive at Sheremetyevo Airport (Terminal F) and depart from Sheremetyevo (Terminal F). In this case, everything will be easy and simple. After getting off the plane, you will need to follow the "Transfer" signs and the like.

These signs will take you either to the general departure hall or to a special area for transit passengers. There you will need to find a board/screen that shows flight departure times, flight numbers and gates. Next, go to the desired gate (you found the gate number on the board/screen) and wait to board your flight.

This type of transplant takes the least amount of time.

You should find out whether the transfer takes place at the same airport/terminal either when purchasing an air ticket, or find it in the form of the air ticket issued to you. If the departure terminal is not indicated on the ticket, during the day before departure you will need to go to the website of the airport where the transfer is made and look at the arrivals and departures board (or enter the flight number). Of course, both flights need to be checked. Because you must make sure that the arrival of one flight and the departure of another flight takes place in the same terminal.

If your transfer takes place in a small city/airport, then most likely there is only 1 terminal at this airport. Such airports are, for example, in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn.

*small and cozy Tallinn airport

But there are pitfalls here too. There are small airports without a transit area. For example, the same Tallinn airport.

This means that if you are flying from Russia via Tallinn to a visa-free country, you still need a Schengen visa, since you will have to go through customs control immediately upon leaving the plane.

This is neither good nor bad. Simply, if you do not have a transit country visa, when purchasing an air ticket you need to check at which airport the transfer is taking place and whether there is a transit zone there. Such information for any airport can be easily found on the Internet.

2. Transfers occur in different terminals and even different airports

Things are more complicated if you find out that the ticket at the airport or arrival and departure terminal in the city of your transfer indicates different values.

Let's take Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport as a first example:

In Moscow Sheremetyevo you can arrive, for example, at Terminal F, and fly out from Terminal D. They seem to be different terminals, but when you go to the airport website and look at the official airport diagram, you will immediately understand that no problems will arise. In this case, the terminals, although different, are located in the same place, are one group of buildings and are interconnected. Therefore, in this case, you will simply have to spend some time walking from one terminal to another. And, most likely, you will have to go through security again.

But if you arrive, for example, at Terminal C, and depart from Terminal D, then everything becomes more complicated. As you can see from the diagram, the terminals are located on different sides of the runway, which means that you will need to somehow get from one terminal to another. And this will no longer be just an easy walk.

I would like to note right away that there are quite a few airports in the world where you need to get from one terminal to another by public transport or taxi.

In the case of Sheremetyevo Airport, a bus runs from Terminal C to Terminal F every half hour. It takes 10-20 minutes. That is, you need to budget at least 2 hours for such a transfer.

At some airports, such as Frankfurt am Main, a mini-train runs on a monorail between terminals. In any case, different terminals mean that, firstly, you need to find out how to get from one terminal to another (this information can be easily found on the airport website or on various forums), and secondly, that your transfer should last at least couple of hours.

But that's not all.

Things are even more fun if your transfer involves a change of airport.

For example, again, it’s easy to take the Moscow aviation hub, which has as many as 3 major airports. And all are located on different sides of Moscow. If you arrive in Vnukovo, and your next flight is from Domodedovo, then your transfer time should be at least 4 hours. In general, this will not create any additional problems for you. Only time costs. If you are a citizen of Russia.

But again, if you are a citizen of Russia, and your transfer at different airports will take place in another country. This is a good reason to check the visa rules of a given country.

Let's imagine that you are flying from Moscow to Rio de Janeiro with a transfer in Frankfurt. If the transfer takes place within this airport, then you do not need any visas.

Now let’s imagine that you wanted to save money and found cheap air tickets to Rio with a transfer in Madrid, and suddenly it turned out that you were arriving at the Girona - Costa Brava airport, located 90 kilometers from Barcelona, ​​and flying to Rio from the airport " El Prat Barcelona". This means not only that you will have to travel about 100 km for the transfer (which, by the way, is very easy to do, in just 2 hours with one bus transfer), but also that you will have to obtain a Schengen visa for such a transfer. And this can both neutralize your savings and complicate your trip due to the need to obtain a visa.

Google can easily find routes from one airport to another by public transport:

If you already have a visa, then there are no problems.

By the way, about the airport "El Prat Barcelona".

Even if you have a transfer only within this one airport, but in different terminals... you will still have to get a visa, since the terminals of this airport are located on opposite sides of the runway (almost like in Sheremetyevo) and are connected by a free bus message. This means that you will have to leave the airport, which means step onto Spanish soil, which is the territory of the Schengen agreement :) So again you need a Schengen visa.

It is possible that in these examples everything seems complicated. And yet, everything is much simpler. I'm looking at different examples. In your situation, you will only need to check one air ticket. Preferably before purchasing :) And if you are satisfied with the transfer conditions, buy a ticket. Or choose another ticket.

If a difficult transfer is found in an already purchased ticket, we simply look at what needs to be done for such a transfer, find on the Internet how to get from one point to another and voila! :) Everything is simpler than it seems. And in any case, such situations are always easily resolved. Although it requires additional body movements, I don’t deny it :)

But independent travel initially requires your body movements :) That’s why it turns out cheaper and more interesting!

In addition, transfers at different airports are not always difficult and hard.

After all, such a transplant could be the beginning of a good thing or. In the same example about Girona and Barcelona - for some it will be an exhausting transfer, but for others it may be 2 additional beautiful Spanish cities on the way to Brazil. It all depends on your tastes and wishes.

3.Boarding pass

Almost always, at the check-in counter at the very first airport of departure, you will be immediately checked in for the rest of your route and given boarding passes for all flights.

You may not be checked in for onward flights if your connection lasts longer than 24 hours. If a child is flying with you without a seat, you may also not be checked in for further flights. If you bought two separate tickets, if the transfer takes place in different terminals or different airports, you may also be checked in only for the first flight.

That doesn’t stop you from going through online check-in yourself for each flight separately. If this cannot be done, then there is no problem. Just go to the check-in counter at your departure airport after your transfer and check in as usual! That's all :)

Yes, it's that simple.

By the way, some budget airlines do not sell transfer tickets even for their own flights. That is, they can only sell 2 separate tickets. This is what WizzAir does, for example, when it flies from Moscow to Hungary. And they also do not provide transit halls. That is, their tickets must be used to cross the border in any case, present a Schengen visa and check in again for the second flight at the check-in counter. Even if you fly through Budapest to visa-free Georgia.

If you are not flying with a budget company and have a transfer within the same terminal or at a small airport, but you are still checked in only for the first flight, then during the transfer go to any airport employee, to the information desk or to the transit/transfer passenger counter - and there You will be issued a boarding pass.

Everything is simple here.

4. Transfer time.

Even if you are not going to organize for yourself or, you still need to be attentive to the transfer time.
Taking into account the above, your transfer may sometimes require collecting your luggage and checking it in again, or moving from one terminal to another. In this case, you may not have enough time if the transfer lasts only 30 minutes or even an hour and a half. And if the transfer involves changing the airport, then, as I already wrote, the transfer may take several hours.

But even if you don’t need to pick up anything, and you don’t need to change the terminal or airport, surprises may still await you :)

For example, at Dubai International Airport (DXB) I walked from one gate to another for about an hour :))) This was very unexpected. I could not even imagine that the airport could be SO gigantic. It’s good that my transfer took several hours! It turned out that on the way there we were simply unlucky with the departure of the arriving plane and the departure of the departing plane from the transfer. They ended up at different ends of a huge airport, built in the shape of a long sausage :)

This is what the airport looks like:

On the way back the transfer was only 45 minutes. And I thought that everything was lost :) As a result, on the way back, they didn’t even take us off the plane! We just sat and waited for 45 minutes until the plane was refueled and additional passengers were brought on board. Apparently, the airline knew that we would not have time to change planes during the transfer :) In general, also look carefully at the size of the airports when choosing long transfers.

In Tallinn, for example, I managed to change trains in half an hour, taking into account passport control :)

5. It varies. Lateness and delays.

However, in the same Tallinn I had a 20-minute transfer. And I didn't have time anymore :)

But my ticket was sold for both flight legs of the same airline - in this case, Estonian Air. And both flight legs were sold as part of a single ticket. This means that the airline is responsible for my connection, and if I don’t make it in time, then by law they... must come up with something to solve the current situation :) I was checked in for the next flight in the same direction, departing 2 hours later , and were given a food voucher worth 10 euros.

There are different coupons, for example:

Photo sources: vm.ru and ru-travel.lj.ru

If I was flying in the evening, and the next flight was only in the morning, then I would be provided with a hotel. These are the rules in the European Union.

If you have a short layover in a non-EU country and you're worried you might miss it, then before (or after) purchasing, look for something like "[Country] flight delay policies." All countries in the world should have regulations describing the behavior of airlines in such cases.

In general, if one company sold you a single ticket with a short connection, and you did not have time to change seats during this time, then you must be transferred to the next flight and this is considered as a flight delay due to the fault of the airline.

If you bought two separate tickets, then you are responsible for the transfer yourself. This means that if you don’t make it in time, you will have to buy a new ticket at your own expense.

If you bought one ticket, and at the same time two flight legs are carried out by different airlines, then there are already discrepancies.

How do you know if the airline is responsible for the transfer or if all the risks are on you?

This is the most hidden information on the Internet, but I’ll tell you especially for you. It's actually simple:

The airline under whose code the ticket was issued is responsible. If the codes are different, then the responsibility is on you.

Airlines can be completely different, but at the same time they can be part of the same aviation alliance and there can be a special codeshare agreement between them. This means that they can fly on different flights under the code of the airline that sold the ticket (even if in fact the flight is operated by another airline).

As an example, I found a copy of a real ticket on the Internet. Here is an example of such a ticket:

Three airlines are participating! FlyBe, FinnAir, Bangkok Airways - as many as 2 transfers in each direction.

But pay attention to the Flight column - “AY ****” is written everywhere there. "AY" is the airline code. In this example, FinnAir is responsible for all connections and flights.

If the codes were different, then the responsibility would already lie with the passenger. For example, the first flight would have code SU2401, and the next one AY2502 - then the connection between these flights would be your concern.

6. Other

At the very beginning I wrote: "... so that you do not accidentally leave the airport." So, if you accidentally did not make a transfer, but left the airport, then do not despair.

Firstly, if you cannot leave the airport for visa reasons, then they will not let you out :) In this case, they will politely tell you where to go to get to the transfer.

If you have a visa and you can get out... and at the same time you got out, but didn’t want to... then you can always and easily come back with a ticket or boarding pass. You just need to go through security again.

7. Transfers with visas.

Not everywhere you can make a transfer without thinking about anything.

For example, in Australia, the USA or Canada, in order to make a transfer even at airports with a transit zone, you still need to get a visa! Yes, they even have a special transit visa for these cases. And for such a visa you also need to collect documents and spend money on its registration.

Take into account such nuances and always check whether the country of transfer requires a transit visa.

On the other hand, in some countries where you need to obtain a visa, you can not only make visa-free transit at the airport (as in EU countries with airports that have a transit zone), but you can even get the right to free visa-free transit for 2-3 days!

Such rules for visa-free 2- or 3-day transit exist, for example, in many large cities in China and in Singapore. Thus, when flying through them to a third country, you can visit new places completely free of charge and without any hassles. But in such cases, it is transit somewhere further that is taken into account. If the ticket is round-trip, for example, Moscow-Singapore-Moscow, then you will no longer be allowed in without a visa.

About baggage on transfers I'll tell you separately. Otherwise there is already too much information for one article :)

If you have questions, objections or additions, I will be glad to see them in the comments. Your comments will be especially useful if I made a mistake somewhere. Yes, I'm not perfect :)

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So you don't miss my next travel articles. - Press