She's finally coming here.. flights, visa questions

[iceshaft07]

Hey guys, I wanted your thoughts on flights to Boston from Odessa.

My fiancee just got her visa approved (Yay!) And we are looking at flights to get her here.

I am going there to have a small wedding, and then we are flying back.

Turkish airlines has a really good flight from Boston, to Istanbul, to Odessa, but it's out of the price range due to summer pricing.

Has anyone tried Aeroflot?

I'd have to fly from Boston to NYC to Moscow to Odessa.

On the way back, there is a 3 hour layover. Is this enough time for the fiancee visa as well as make our next flight?

Also, I'm a little nervous flying a Russian airline, and being in Moscow given US-Russian relations...And given the geography, I'd probably be flying over do Donetsk too.

What do you guys think? 3 hours enough for the fiancee visa?

[Larry1]

Hey guys, I wanted your thoughts on flights to Boston from Odessa.

My fiancee just got her visa approved (Yay!) And we are looking at flights to get her here.

I am going there to have a small wedding, and then we are flying back...

On the way back, there is a 3 hour layover. Is this enough time for the fiancee visa as well as make our next flight?

... What do you guys think? 3 hours enough for the fiancee visa?

I'm not following you.  Your fiancee got her visa approved. You're going there to have the wedding? Where are you going to have the wedding? I don't understand your question as to whether a 3 hour layover is enough time for the fiancee visa.

A fiancee (K1) visa requires you to get married here in the US.  Am I missing something here?

[jone]

Are you talking about getting through the immigration lines?  The answer, typically, is Yes.  Shouldn't take more than 30-40 minutes to get through immigration

[iceshaft07]

A few of those TV shows I've seen where a guy marries a russian suggested it took 2 hours.

[jone]

I recently landed with a group of Russians on a flight from Russia, at LAX.  The immigrants with Visas were out at almost the same time I was out.  Which was less than 15 minutes.  We actually beat the baggage to the carousel.

[Faux Pas]

There is a myriad of variables depending on your entry airport into the US. My wife entered at IAH Houston the first time and it took almost 1.5 hours. We barely made our connection. We compared with some Russians we know that entered at JFK and they both said it took less than 30 minutes. Numerous international flights land in the same time frame as my wife's. I'd say 3 hours is plenty even in the worse circumstance.

Aeroflot isn't a "bad" airline and the US/Russian relations are of no consequence. Aeroflot is as close to a no frills as it gets but, I've flown them numerous times without incident. Usually great to reasonable rates and relatively as good as the others for being on time. They did lose my wife's luggage once but it arrived a week later to our door

[BillyB]

Has anyone tried Aeroflot?

Also, I'm a little nervous flying a Russian airline, and being in Moscow given US-Russian relations...And given the geography, I'd probably be flying over do Donetsk too.

How much is Aeroflot going to cost you over the other airline? In the FSU sh!t happens a lot. I've got screwed by Aeroflot before and had to buy another ticket to my final destination. I would avoid them. Politically things could get worse after today and that can mess up your plans and things could get real expensive.

[TagUrIt898]

Hey congrats on getting your visa. I like a lot people are a little confused about your plans though.  Do you plan to get married "officially" in the U.S. or in Odessa?  If you're planning just a ceremony-type wedding to indulge her family and friends, than by all means go for it. If you have a K1 visa approved, you have to get married in the U.S. no if ands or buts about it.

As far as Aeroflot goes, I flew with them on my first trip to Ukraine.  I managed to snag a flight to Odessa for only $650, very rare I know.  The flight itself was fine.  It was an 8 hour flight and I had a layover in SVO.  Note if you do fly into SVO, you have to stay at the airport unless you have a visa. I would also look at Google Flights, they give really good fares and show you a calendar of when is the cheapest time to fly. Little known secret, Orbitz has direct flights to Kiev from JFK, not sure if that's an option for you.

Good luck and please come back and clarify for us what your trying to do.


Tag

[Rick4G]

In 3 weeks flights from US to Ukraine are going to go down 30% as summer season ends.
a Boston to UA should realistically be about 950-1100 round trip for flights departing after August 22
just looked that up on Delta's website although they dont fly to Odesa.  But the VIP bus is 40 bucks and
comfortable and serves alcohol

[iceshaft07]

Hey!

Yes, I am flying out there for a celebratory wedding. Nothing official. Our wedding will happen in the U.S. I'm also a little worried since this is her first time flying, and I want to accompany her.

Yes, I seen flights round trip for about $1100.it seems to me the best price I've been able to get is about $2200 for everything. That's about a $600 flight out, and two $800 flights back.

I'm not seeing any rapid decreases in price either... I checked. I was hoping maybe in September prices would come down, but they didnt.

When I flew to Odessa in November, and again in March, a round trip was $600 through Istanbul. I'm shocked at the prices right now, nearly triple the price (turkish airlines is $1400 round trip right now)

[TagUrIt898]

1600 for you both to fly back is not that bad.  Are you prepared for what to do when she arrives in the U.S.?  In regards to arriving at the airport, immigration etc. Obtaining a social security number.  Does she need English and or driving lessons?  Will she work?  Forgive me if you and your beloved have already discussed these things. I'm just asking the obvious questions 😝

I think it's great that you're having a ceremony in UA btw. My fiancé and I.....well she'll be my wife by then plan to marry in the U.S. and have a wedding ceremony in her home city.

Congrats again and best wishes 🎉🎉🎉


Tag

[iceshaft07]

Funny you should mention that... (see my other post :-) )

[BillyB]

I am flying out there for a celebratory wedding. Nothing official. Our wedding will happen in the U.S.

Don't let anybody in passport control know you did that before coming to America. K-1 is not intended for a wife to enter America to be with you.

I'm also a little worried since this is her first time flying, and I want to accompany her.

How does your fiancée feel about what Russia's doing to her country. If I bought my wife tickets on Aeroflot, she wouldn't step on the plane. How do you and your fiancée feel about that airplane MH17 flying eastbound getting shot down? Sure you want to go east before heading west?

[ML]

Aeroflot prices were cheapest we found for Ochka's last flight . . . by a couple hundred bucks.

But she wasn't about to associate with anything Russian.

[iceshaft07]

Don't let anybody in passport control know you did that before coming to America. K-1 is not intended for a wife to enter America to be with you.



How does your fiancée feel about what Russia's doing to her country. If I bought my wife tickets on Aeroflot, she wouldn't step on the plane. How do you and your fiancée feel about that airplane MH17 flying eastbound getting shot down? Sure you want to go east before heading west?

Thanks. Good point about passport control, I hadn't thought of that. IL make sure to tell her.

I honestly don't know how Olga feels about Russia. I want to know, but she seems to dodge the question every time. I think she is afraid to tell me. I've been excited to ask her again when she comes.

She speaks Russian. She does, or did, speak Ukrainian too. And she lives in Odessa. Her dad was part of the Russian military as a career. I know his opinion. But Olga hasn't stated one way or the other. I think she likes Poroshenko and Obama.

But as far as the flights go, we decided to go with turkish airlines. But, I bought tickets last week, before the kurds attacked the U.S. Embassy. And yes, we spent the extra money to avoid Donetsk.

Pretty much, flying to Odessa right now, there isn't a good way to get there. And while I'm in Odessa, there is always the risk of separatist terrorism. They have not been targeting people yet. It's  only been signs that say things like "One Ukraine", or train tracks, or Ukrainian donation centers when no one is inside. Still enough to make me nervous though.

[Chicagosenso99]

I flew Aeroflot last week from LA to Moscow, then to Kaliningrad.  The planes were clean and new, the food was good, and zero safety issues.  Each seat had a small TV on the back to watch movies and shows.  Overall it was a great experience.

[mendeleyev]

Aeroflot is part of the SkyMiles family and we don't mind flying them as they have improved over the years. Plus, I use my Delta number and accumulate Aeroflot miles inside my Delta mileage account.

I just checked on a flight via Aeroflot in late December from SVO to LAX, round trip, for under $700 per person.

Yes, I am flying out there for a celebratory wedding. Nothing official. Our wedding will happen in the U.S. I'm also a little worried since this is her first time flying, and I want to accompany her.

Congrats on her approval! I am not certain what is a celebratory wedding, unless it is the dinner party (what we'd term as the wedding reception) which many FSU ladies term as "the wedding," and use the ZAGS/RAGS label to describe the ceremony. Unless you are Orthodox it is unlikely to be a religious ceremony, and the ZAGS ceremony is the legal ceremony done at a marriage palace. It would be interesting to know what she arranges for this.

It is nice that you are flying with her. That will likely make her entry go a little faster, too.

[ML]

I flew Aeroflot last week from LA to Moscow, then to Kaliningrad.  The planes were clean and new, the food was good, and zero safety issues.  Each seat had a small TV on the back to watch movies and shows.  Overall it was a great experience.

Very good of you to lend economic support to Russian terrorists and fascists, and those supporting same.

[tfcrew]

Compare airlines.......................................................


http://www.farecompare.com/flights/Boston-BOS/Odessa-ODS/market.html?c2=merQ3cf&utm_expid=269851-22.xzEN7czpT9G96gC7rFDaJQ.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com#quote

[Rick4G]

     Pretty much, flying to Odessa right now, there isn't a good way to get there. And while I'm in Odessa, there is always the risk of separatist terrorism

First on the terrorism thing,  situational awareness!   Always be aware of your surroundings and whats going on but do not let fear dictate.  Odesa is fairly safe place but just as in any large US city, always go in groups of 2 or more.  I used to always walk alone at night in Ukraine but 3 years ago 2 Russian guys tried to rob me in a taxi but gladly it only ended badly for them.  Since the war started there are alot of desperate and also crazy people around now, especially with the influx of people from the east.
just use common sense.

Regarding Odesa,  it is not uncommon for flights to be $200 or more than to Kyiv.  As I said before there are nice VIP buses that go between Kyiv-Odesa for about 40 bucks.  They also have the little tv in the seat and very comfortable reclining seats

[jone]

I like the choo choos better, but have done both.  Agreed that it is both cheaper and more convenient.

[BillyB]

And yes, we spent the extra money to avoid Donetsk.

REALLY??? Were some of the choices you had were flights to and through Donetsk? The airport was bombed 50 times over. Hard to believe some of the flights go through there.