Although a flight with a transfer is less comfortable than a direct flight, the ticket is always cheaper. If waiting a few hours in the waiting room is not a problem for you, it is better to agree to such a comparative inconvenience as a transfer at the airport, but the money saved can then be spent on buying souvenirs or visiting a couple of additional attractions. We will tell you how a flight with a transfer works, and also give some useful recommendations.
The essence of an air transfer is simple: from the starting point you fly to a transit point, and after some time (it can range from a couple of hours to several days) you go directly to your destination. Moreover, it is interesting that geographically the transfer point may not be located along the route between points A and B, but somewhere off to the side. Also be careful when booking: the cheapest routes usually include up to several transfers.
A connecting flight is a cheaper way to get to your destination
It is better to avoid a route that involves a transfer of less than an hour, especially at large airports with several terminals. Firstly, traveling by air largely depends on a lot of third-party factors: weather, wind direction and speed, the work of dispatchers, and so on. A flight delay is a common occurrence, so you simply may not be able to catch the second flight, and airlines, as a rule, in such cases (since they are considered to be the fault of the passenger) do not refund money for the ticket. Secondly, if the airport consists of several terminals, you may not have time to get to the desired gate, especially if it is located in another building. The optimal time for a safe transfer is 2.5-3 hours.
Please read the information about your flight carefully. You should not assume that transfers from plane to plane always take place at the same airport. Situations often occur, mostly in Europe and Asia, when you arrive at one airport, and a second plane takes off from another. It is noteworthy that such transfers usually take longer, but the road does not take into account possible traffic jams or the time required to wait for public transport. In addition, in this case, you will have to pick up your luggage yourself and check it back at another airport.
Note! You must have time to re-check in for a new flight and check in your luggage a maximum of 40 minutes before the departure time of the plane.
If you have a long transfer at night, consider in advance where you will spend your waiting hours. Not every airport, namely in the transit zone, has hotels for passengers, especially if the terminal is small. Most likely, after spending the whole night on a chair in the waiting room, you will never want to fly with a transfer again in your life, especially with one like this. If a transfer is unavoidable, make sure you get a visa in advance so you can leave the airport and spend the night in a hotel or hostel.
To avoid having to spend the night in the waiting room, worry about your visa in advance
Check in advance whether you need a transit visa, how to apply for it, and how much it costs. It is much better to spend time usefully than wandering aimlessly around the airport or surfing the Internet via the airport Wi-Fi. If time permits, go on a tour or just walk around the city.
How to get out into the city if you are flying with a transfer?
Many passengers are concerned about the following question: “Is it possible to leave the airport during a transfer?” Of course, no one can oppress your rights. And if you take care of a transit visa in advance (in those countries for which it must be obtained in advance), you will be able to easily get to know the city.
To avoid ending up in an offensive situation, start preparing for your flight in advance. Do the following:
- Check to see if a transit visa is required in the country where you will be transferring.
- Study the airport map and the city map, make a route. For example: first you will pick up your luggage at this place (if provided), then leave it in the storage room here, affix your visa Here(in countries where it does not need to be opened in advance), go to the bus stop here, and then explore these sights and return to such and such time back to the airport.
If you have a long layover, use this opportunity to get to know the city
In countries such as Turkey or Egypt, there are no problems with obtaining a transit visa. You just need to go to the required window with the “Visa” sign, pay the tariff and give your passport for stamping.
Note! If you have a layover (and in some cases there are more than one) in Canada, the United States or Schengen countries, a transit visa must be issued in advance at the embassy of the country where you will have a layover.
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 to freeho [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 Asia 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
Can you sleep at all airports?
To be honest, you can’t sleep in any. But some airports are lenient with sleepers, while others close at night. It is better to clarify the operating hours of the airport where you may have to spend the night.And is it safe?
Not really. An airport is not a train station, but there are also plenty of thieves, scammers and people with unclean intentions. It is best to sleep where surveillance cameras are installed, or contact airport security, they will tell you a safe place.And I'm worried about my luggage. How to protect it?
Hide small items, money and documents under clothes. handcuff to an arm or leg. We're serious. Toy ones will do.What will be useful if I decide to spend the night at the airport?
- Air mattress or mattress, headrest. Airport seats are not designed for sleeping; you will most likely feel uncomfortable lying on them. Please note that in many airports, employees are especially unfriendly towards sleeping on the floor; resort to this method in the most extreme cases.
- Sweater (or blanket), wear a T-shirt under it. It is difficult to predict what temperature will be inside the airport where you will spend the whole night. Prepare for heat and cold.
- Earplugs or headphones. There is no need for boarding announcements and conversations from neighbors in the waiting room to disturb your sleep.
- Water and cookies. At night, most shops and cafes close. The remaining coffee shops can charge such a price that an overnight stay in a hotel with dinner included will be cheaper.
- Book. You may find it difficult to fall asleep in a new and not very peaceful environment. The book will help pass the time.
- Tee. There are few chargers at airports, and there may not be enough for everyone. In order not to wait for a colleague at an overnight stay to charge all his equipment, invite him to charge together using a tee.
- Wet wipes. There is a lot at the airport. And dragging with all your luggage to the washstand before dinner is not entirely convenient.
- Cash and credit card. You need to anticipate situations in which an airport employee will demand a bribe to go to the toilet or you will have to pay for Wi-Fi.
How to behave?
The rules are simple. Do not disturb others, do not make noise, do not attract unnecessary attention to yourself and try to behave as appropriately as possible. Having allowed you to spend the night at the airport, its employees have already met you halfway. Respect their kindness. If the airport workers are not very enthusiastic about your idea of spending the night in the terminal, try to placate them - it works.Will I sleep through the plane?
Quite possible. Write on a piece of paper a request to wake you up before departure, indicating the time (preferably in English). Typically, airport visitors are willing to wake up travelers. But it’s better to additionally insure yourself with an alarm clock.What to do if you can’t spend the night at the airport?
If sleeping at the airport is not possible, here are the simplest options: rent a hotel room or a place in a hostel near the airport. In some countries, it is cheaper to rent a car for a day and sleep in the parking lot. Some airports offer sleeping boxes right in the terminals. Always have a backup plan. Spending the night at the airport is far from a 100% reliable undertaking.Air travel has long become a fairly 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 the majority, a significant priority when buying tickets for liners 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. Can I leave the airport when transferring? 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, transfer is a change of two or more sides of aircraft 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 intervals during which the passenger is in the air are called flight shoulders. When issuing tickets with transfers, there can be 2 or more of them. A direct flight is when there is only one flight leg in the route.
On a note! The transplant can last from several minutes to several hours. This means that between flights there will be some time period during which a person will be and wait for the next flight. In certain cases, this time can be spent usefully and take a walk around nearby attractions.
Transfer and docking - what's the difference?
It is worth mentioning another term that is often encountered by future passengers when buying 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 in one itinerary receipt, and when transferring, a person, as a rule, chooses other flights on his own. There is nothing wrong if the transplant is called docking.
It is also worth familiarizing yourself with two more important terms - this is 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 where another desired flight departs at the airport, you should navigate by the inscriptions Transfer, Flight Transfers, Connecting Flights and the like. The notation Transit is less commonly used.
Video - Transfer flight: types of connections
Transit rules
You should not be afraid of transplants - everything is extremely simple here, if you understand and delve into their essence. They go like this: a plane taking off from point A lands at the airport of an intermediate point B, where a person leaves the vehicle and goes to this airport. After a certain time, the passenger must pass at the same airport to the landing site and board another plane. That's the whole transplant. But sometimes you have to wait a lot of 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 by planes of one airline or by ships of partner companies, then everything is simple here. If the flight takes place at the expense of different people, then it is important to carefully consider all the intricacies of the trip - here you will have to answer for all the misses and mistakes yourself, while in the first case, even if you are late for the second flight, the carrier company will be able to help. 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 you will not be able to avoid passport control. 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, consider how to get from the place of arrival to a new place.
The easiest way is if the transfer takes place within the same terminal. Here it will be enough just to follow the appropriate signs to the place of landing or the waiting room. There you need to find the second flight on the scoreboard, read 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 aircraft will take place already at the stage of buying tickets or on the airline's website by the flight number. Typically, this transfer option is provided at small airports.
Attention! Some small airports do not have a transit zone. In this case, for international flights, it is important to familiarize yourself with the visa regimes of the countries visited. For example, even when flying from Russia to a visa-free country through Tallinn, it will still be needed due to the lack of a transit zone at the place of transfer, because immediately after getting off the plane, you will have to go through customs again.
It is more difficult to transfer between different airports or terminals. Another question is how close they are relative to each other and whether there is enough time to move from point A to point B so as not to miss 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 the change of airports takes place on the territory of Russia, then citizens of the country should not worry about having a visa. But in other countries this can be a problem. In some countries, even changing the terminal may require a visa.
Is it possible to leave the airport?
Regarding this question, we can say that the answer will not be unambiguous, since a lot depends on a certain kind of formalities. You can almost always leave the airport during a transfer, but for this you must have all the documents you need to cross the border. You can always go for a walk around the neighborhood if the change of planes takes place on the territory of your country with a connection. But upon returning to the airport, you will have to go through security control again - all liquids bought on a 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 the need for a visa on the website-database "Timatic".
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 website of the institution. Sometimes, without such a visa, they may even be denied boarding on another flight if the connecting flight is issued separately.
Baggage: Do I need to pick it up?
Luggage is a big and significant issue. What is his fate in transplants? If the trip takes place on one ticket (there will be two or more boarding passes received at once for the first flight), then luggage can be checked in to the very final destination and picked up already at the final destination of the journey, without dragging it around the transit airport. The airline itself will take care of it, its employees will simply reload the bags onto another plane.
Attention! If things subject to declaration are being transported, then you still have to receive baggage at the place of transit and you will need to re-register it for a new flight.
You will also have to take care of your luggage on your own if the flight is made on different tickets. The transit airport will not be able to send it without the knowledge of the owner. When flying on board different airlines (not having a partnership agreement), luggage will also have to be picked up and checked in again.
Table. Can I collect luggage when buying 2 separate tickets?
| Flight Features | Pick up or not? |
|---|---|
| One airline all the way | Pickup not required |
| Different airlines, but members of the same alliance (partners) | Pickup not required |
| Low cost airline | Baggage claim required |
| Different airlines, but with a codeshare agreement | Pickup not required |
| Different airlines without any agreements | Baggage claim required |
| Transfers from low-cost airlines to regular ships | Baggage claim required |
The best option is not to go astray - before planning a trip, get detailed advice regarding luggage from the selected airline.
More about boarding passes
Usually, even for flights with transfers (simple), two or more boarding passes are immediately issued at the primary check-in counter - check-in is made on all boards until the end of the route. But if the transfer lasts more than 24 hours, then you will have to check-in for further flights on your own. Also, sometimes other planes will be immediately denied check-in 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 get out
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. Further, each passenger must go through passport control, where a visa check will be carried out if necessary. After that, the person enters the arrivals hall. Here you can try to check in the luggage received earlier in the storage room.
If possible, before leaving the airport, you can try to find out the gate number through which the next flight will be boarded. But, unfortunately, this is not always possible, especially if the transfer is very long - the information board simply will not contain information about the desired flight.
How to calculate time?
Proper timing is a guarantee that you will not have to gallop and jump into a plane that is already preparing to take off. It is important to remember that it will take about 30-60 minutes to find an exit, get luggage and find a luggage room depending on the list of procedures to be completed, the speed 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, getting to the city and back is also taken into account. It may be different depending on the distances that can be known in advance by looking at the maps. The time spent outside the airport itself must be at least 3 hours, otherwise the sortie will be meaningless. In general, you will have to spend a total of at least 8 hours on a mini-excursion, taking into account the round trip and overcoming all the formalities before boarding. It is especially important to make a good reserve of time for those who go on such a trip for the first time.
On a note! In some cases, the road to the city from the airport does not take much time. In this case, you can have time to visit enough interesting places and buy souvenirs as a gift.
Video - How to overcome the fear of flying
How to handle long transplants. Instruction
For those who are afraid of long transplants, there is a small instruction on how to use this time to good use.
Step 1. It is worth treating a long layover as part of an exciting journey. If there is an opportunity and enough time, it is recommended to leave the airport and go to explore the surrounding area. Worth a walk, even if the whole area is just an airplane terminal. During such a walk, you can get an 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 Planning is always useful, including the transplant itself. You can organize this time in such a way that you have the opportunity to go shopping at least.
Step 4 It is required 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 website of the institution. It is recommended to print a map of the airport and put interesting places on it. It is also important to study information about storage rooms and their cost. If time permits, it is better to check in your luggage and take a 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 a year, but for those who travel frequently, it can be a good option to wait out the transfer time. There are options for designing one-time visits to such zones.
VIP area for passengers
Step 6 You do not need to check everything in your luggage, especially if the transfer is long. It is better to leave on hand a few things that may come in handy: phone chargers, a camera, cash, etc.
Step 7 It is recommended to ask the airport staff for information about the departure of the next flight in order not to miss the plane. The same information can be indicated on the information board. This will help you navigate and plan your time.
Step 8 Sometimes you can not wait for the allotted time if there are earlier flights and empty seats on them. You can fly away without paying extra, in certain cases. You can get information from the agents of the airline.
Step 9 If children are flying with passengers, then it is important to think about what you can do with them during the transfer. Otherwise, the wait will turn into a nightmare. This is especially true for those who will wait for the right 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 territory of the airport. Sometimes there are interesting places inside the back - exhibitions or expositions of paintings. There are also eateries and restaurants in almost every airport.
Walking 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 - Transfer flights
Transplants are not as complicated and scary as they seem at first glance. Very often, this seemingly wasted time can be put to good use. The main thing is to plan everything and, if possible, leave the airport and take a walk around the city.
