Category:Airlines and Airports

From Moscowiki

AIRPORTS

Moscow has several air terminals, each servicing various domestic and international locations. The main international terminal is Sheremetyevo-2, located northwest of the city center, although the newly remodeled and more modern Domodedovo air terminal. There is also a less used terminal vnukovo
In general, when getting to and from the airport in Moscow, it is advisable to take a taxi. While this can be the more expensive option, the overly crowded public transportation makes it all but impossible to negotiate with a lot of luggage. A taxi from the center of the city to Sheremetyevo-2 should run you roughly 500 rubles ($20), while a taxi from the airport to the center can run you anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on the hour of your arrival and your willingness to haggle with drivers. You can also ask the information desk at the airport to order a taxi for you. However, if you are traveling lightly, public transportation is a great option and will cost you about $1, though it will require using a combination of a bus and the metro. Look outside of the arrival areas for marshrutki, which are small shuttle vans that run between the airport and the nearest metro stations. In addition, public buses also run to and from the airport.
Check-In Procedure at Sheremetyevo-1 differs from what you may be used to in other airports. First you have to proceed through Security Control. The Number of the Security Control Channel assigned to your flight is announced only in Russian and will appear on the Indicator Boards. Since all the Channels are located adjacent, it's best to ask someone else in the line which city this is for, example "Ufa?" Once you have cleared Security Control, you will be directed to the correct Check-In Desk. It's strongly advisable to ask at the check-In desk where to wait for boarding.

GENERAL NOTES ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS WITHIN RUSSIA

1) Your baggage limit is strictly imposed at 20kg and there is no discretionary limit. You will be charged Excess Baggage for even 1kg above your limit, and this will be collected in the most bureaucratic, time consuming way imaginable. It is strongly suggested that you try not to travel with more than your baggage limit if you want to avoid wasting time and_money.

2) Some domestic flights still have Unreserved Seating, which often results in pushing-and-shoving battles to get onto the plane first. You may have to participate in order to get your chosen seat.

3) You MUST KEEP YOUR BAGGAGE RECEIPT. You will only be allowed to reclaim your checked baggage in your destination if you can show the baggage receipt (usually printed on a piece of card) that you were given at Check-In.

4) Most domestic flights are non-smoking. Very few have any entertainment (music, film etc) during the flight- even on very long trips. It's wise to bring your own book, CD player, etc.

5) Many flights to distant or less-visited destinations now operate as "hub-and-spoke" from Moscow - you will change planes in another city en-route, very often Novosibirsk (Sibir' Airlines) or Krasnoyarsk (Kras-Air). Your baggage must be reclaimed and re-checked at the transit airport, as it will not be tagged through to your end-destination. Kras-Air's staff at Krasnoyarsk Airport participate in a scam to overcharge you on baggage, by claiming that your checked baggage allowance is 15kg inclusive of your carry-on bag. This is an on-going problem that seems to operate with the collusion of the airline's management at Krasnoyarsk Airport, and there is almost no way to avoid it, although a VERY severe argument and a lot of shouting has been known to work. In fact throughout Russia's provincial airports foreigners are seen as an "easy target" for over-charging on fake accusations of "excess" baggage, and you should assume that they will attempt to over-charge you, so prepare for this situation.

6) Forget any notion you had that you are a "customer". On Russian domestic flights, passengers - along with their views and their custom - are seen as slightly less important than hunks of meat, and are treated very much the same way, despite the high price charged for tickets.

Listed below are the main air terminals located in Moscow, along with the telephone numbers of their respective information desks and public transportation routes to each terminal.