Bi-Lingual Help at JFK

[Doug S]

Anybody out there married to a Russian woman, or speaks Russian and lives near JFK Airport in New York?

My Russian in-laws have to change planes at JFK at 4:00 pm, Thursday, August 24, on their way to visit us in California. They speak no English, but will have to go through JFK’s Immigration and Customs, get from the International terminal to the domestic one, re-check their luggage, get to the right gate for their connecting flight.

They only have one hour and 25 minutes between the time their flight from Kiev is scheduled to land and their connecting flight to LAX is scheduled to take off. (I bought them with my frequent flyer miles, where beggars can’t be choosers.) If they miss the connection there is another flight to LA about three hours later.

Also, the same thing in reverse on their way back to Ukraine a month later on Monday, September 25th, coming through JFK at 4:00 pm again.

Naturally, my wife, Olga and I are worried about them having to navigate this. We are hoping to locate some kind souls to help them through. Or, in the absence of kind souls; we are willing to pay for “VIP services” to this effect.

You can contact me or Olga privately at:

dougsalem@yahoo.com
olgasalem1@yahoo.com

[Bruce]

Just have them befriend some bi-lingual Russians on the plane.  They'll help them get through.  If they get around and talk to people I'm sure plenty will help them.

[KenC]

Just have them befriend some bi-lingual Russians on the plane.  They'll help them get through.  If they get around and talk to people I'm sure plenty will help them.

That has worked for my In Laws on all of their 6+ trips here.  I have also requested gate assistance from the airline and faxed a handwritten note to the In Laws (in English) requesting help to find their next flight should they need it.  It is also a good idea to give them a cell phone number to call you should they need help.  I know the first trip is full of anxiety for everyone, but it'll all work out.  (BTW the direct flight Moscow to LAX is very cool too.  But I know what you mean about availability)  Good luck,
KenC

[Doug S]

Bruce, Ken.

Thanks for the input.

This is not Mom & Pop's first trip. They came a year-and-a-half ago when the baby was born, but that time I bought them tickets on Aeroflot, Kiev to Moscow, Moscow all the way to LA. Can't afford that this time.

Yes, they will be able to befriend Russians on the flight from Kiev to JFK, but they will probably los sight of those Russians right after everybody gets through Customs/Immigration at JFK. It is unlikely they will find any Russians in the terminal who are going the same route as them (to a different terminal and onto a flight to LA). But you never know..

The airline is Delta. Their non-stop flight from Borispol Airport in Kiev to JFK is a new offering. Anybody out there taken it yet?

I redeemed frequent flyer miles I had with Northwest Airlines to get Mom & Pop's tickets. (More precisely, "World Perks" miles.) I have done this many times before - used Northwest frequent flyer miles to travel from LA to Kiev. The usual route is a Northwest flight from LAX to Amsterdam or Frankfurt, then a Lufthansa flight into Kiev.  The Northwest agent I was working with on the phone could not get me two seats on any of those flights during Mom & Pop's window of opportunity. In searching for an alternate route, they discovered that they (Northwest) had recently entered into a frequent flyer "partnership" with Delta, and that Delta would be rolling out that new flight from Kiev. Hence the Delta flights from Borispol to JFK then JFK to LAX.

(We are in Northern California now, but I could not get them into SF, so I used my United frequent flyer miles to buy tickets for Olga to fly down to LA and meet them, then all fly up to Sacramento. That was a whole other exercise in frequent flyer mile logistics, I'll tell you ;-(

Now back to the problem at hand.

Of course we know that nobody can help Mom & Pop until they emerge from Immigration and Customs at JFK.

And of course we realize that the odds of them making the connection inside 90 minutes are bad. (They are due to arrive at 4:00 pm. The flight to LA is due to depart at 5:30 pm.) But that's the only way Northwest/Delta would book the trip. We talked to them on the phone about it and they insist 90 minutes is an "acceptable" connection time according to their Ts & Cs. They also assured us that Mom & Pop will get on a later, 8:45 pm flight if they don't make the original connection. (But they won't book them on that 8:45 flight instead, go figure.)

Our hands are tied. That's what you get with "frequent flyer" miles, which are getting harder and harder to use practically these days.

But once they do get on the ground and out into "Ameerika," Mom & Pop will need to trundle their huge, bulging bags...

... packed right up to the weight limit with cheap Russian/Chinese non-FDA approved toddler toys for our little girl (and witch-doctor voodoo Russian medicines and ointments that they will somehow either get through customs or get stopped for, also for the baby, and which I will confiscate later if JFK Customs doesn't)...

...over to a different terminal, find the Delta counter, check-in for and re-check their bags onto, the correct Delta flight to LA. (And most likely get their tickets changed to the 8:45 pm flight because they missed the first one, and get pointed through the Security Checkpoint and on to the correct gate.

In the absence of a kind Russian-speaking soul, I guess we will just arm them with a letter about who they are, where they are going, and what flights they are supposed to be on.
 
Let that and my other little story about frequent flyer miles logistics be a lesson to any newbies who might be out there. The hard work does not end after you've landed your beautiful Russian bride.

A true cross-cultural marriage is a life-long commitment to extra hassle and expense, and finding creative ways to mitigate them.

Our having a child last year really put pressure on me to step up visits either to or from the in-laws. And I'm not about to take such a hard-won infant over to the land of rampant health & safety violations so early in the game. Nor am I a bottomless American money pit. Babies are expensive enough without the foreign grandparents.

Try explaining to a Communist-era Baba and Dyadushka why they should put their hard-earned and scarce Hyrvnias into the 528 plan I opened up for the child instead of all those things in their suitcases I described that will most likely put the kid's life in danger, and which I will (to Olga's horror and my extreme guilt) try to surreptitiously migrate into the trash can once the in-laws have gone back to Ukraine. It's like talking to a brick wall (or iron curtain).

They think I'm nuts.

Doug

[Bruce]

Dear Doug,

     I understand you are worrying.  Do not worry.  They will spend their whole time in terminal three, so they will not have to change terminals.

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jalmain.htm#D

Though they do not understand English they do understand numbers.  Tell them to look at the TV screens for their flight number.  Hopefully they understand "LA," which I suspect they do.  They can match their flight number and see which gate it connects to. 

I fly exclusively into and out of JFK.  I lately have only flown Delta flight 30 and 31 to Moscow and back.  Anyway, everyone usually gets through customs before the luggage even starts comming.  Sometimes there is a 20 minute wait after everyone gets through customs.  My experience has been that Americans get through within 5 minutes and foreigners within 15 minutes ie. the last foreigner is through 15 minutes from when all of them went through.  Luggage is the determining factor. 

Believe me, they will befriend people on the plane who will help them.  Russians / Ukrainians, especially older people always give help to each other in those situations.  The society, especially the older ones, are quite kind to each other in those situations. 

In a way, it may be helpful to them if they do get stopped after they retrieve their luggage and attempt exiting by customs because it should guarantee them a Russian fluent customs agent who will go through their stuff and then actually help them get to their next destination. 

I wish I could help you and in other circumstances I would, but I am returning the day before from Russia with my wife and daughter, after only a five day trip for myself so I can help my wife who is physically unable to carry our baby / handle the trip alone with a baby.  By the way, it is amazing how much cheaper flights are if you stay over a Saturday night - which the economic incentive of over 1000 dollars did for me.  I am sure I'll have my hands thoroughly full with my own situation so I can not be there.   

Never the less, I am confident they will do just fine.  Just emphasize the need for them to make contact with fellow passengers who are bi-lingual and able to help them.  I am sure there will be alot of passengers from Ukraine whose final destination will be NY who will have plenty of time, since it is their final destination and will feel sorry enough for them to help them.  What is it to a guy / gal whose final destination is NY anyway - 5 minutes out of the way. 

[Turboguy]

If I am reading your post right they are flying in Delta and out NorthWest so they will have to get from Terminal 3 to terminal 4.    If they have to do it on thier own the AirTran is the way to go.  It is a free train that runs about every two minutes.   They just walk past security and outside or follow the signs for Airtran.  They cross the roadway and the station is there.  They just look for which one to take to terminal 4, go one stop and get off.  Go in and look for Northwests screen with the gate assignments and follow the signs. 

I belive I was on the flight on time and had I not cancelled my trip I would have been flying back on it today.  From a time standpoint is is great and Delta sure beats Aeroflot.

It might be good if they have a paper with them with Northwest, Airlines, Terminal 4.  They could show that to anyone and they would point them in the right direction.

Good luck

[BC]

Maybe just send them a sim card that will work in their mobile phone? (if it's a tri band)

They'll likely not have too much problem, but if things get complicated they can always call you.

[Bruce]

Turbo, I guess I read it wrong - and they very well may have to check into a second terminal.  Unless they get help from a bi-lingual speaker and or get a lift in a car to the second terminal they very well could arrive in LA on the later flight.  

Turbo - I never used the air-train.  That sounds pretty doable as well.  Doug will just have to instruct his in-laws well.

[BC]

Doug,

Also tell your in-laws not to feel bad.. I can't understand a thing anyone says in NY either.

[KenC]

Doug,
I hear ya on trying to coordinate free trip miles!  I pulled my hair out for hours trying to get a decent price for a paid flight with a free one for my In Laws this past spring. 
 :hairraising:
Finally, I gave up and paid for them both.  I guess maybe my MIL will use her free trip sometime in the future.
KenC

[Doug S]

Hi guys,

Great. Keep it coming. Its all good information and these are all good ideas.

Bruce, Turbo. The connecting flight to LA is also on Delta. They have to go to Terminal 2. Hopefully the "Air Train" is not like an air guitar and really works.

Olga is working on getting Mom & Pop a SIM card for the phone we left with them on our last visit.

Ken, back in the time when I was shappy-go-lucky and single I would just use those miles for a single ticket to Cabo or the Islands, and I had the flexibility to take whatever dates and times were available. Of course, I'm much more fulfilled now :-) My life is complete, etc. (As corny as it sounds, its true.) 

[Turboguy]

I think they are really flying Song.   Yes that is the name of an airline.  It is also one very connected with Delta.   All Delta flights arrive and depart at terminal 3.   Song and Saudi use terminal 2. 

I have used 3 & 4 and some others but never terminal 2.  It looks like you can walk from 3 to 2 without going through security and that it is closer to terminal 2 than it is to the AirTran station.   Looks like a few hundred feet.

Here is a map you can look at.  That green snake looks like a connector to me.   http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jtframe.htm

I think it will not be real hard for them.

[BC]

I think it will not be real hard for them.

Millions in the same predicament transit JFK each year so yeah will be a breeze.

[Bruce]

I've taken Delta Song to West Palm Beach, Florida.  A very pleasant experience.  Yes, it is from terminal two.  I agree with Turbo that they could walk it, but it is tough to walk at JFK so I think it would be worth taking the fairly new air-tran.

[Turboguy]

I am pretty sure I walked to terminal 2 just exploring when I had a long layover.  I did not even realize I was in a different terminal.   It is not more than a 150 foot walk and saves going through security.   They just need to make a left turn at the gate and walk up a little way and there is a passage way that is not more than 100 feet long and drops you right in the middle of terminal 2.   For any other terminal I would recomment the Airtran.  I think they would save 10 minutes or more by walking.  It is closer to terminal two than it is the the Airtran.

[Doug S]

Hi Turbo,

Thanks for this information. It kind of confirms a picture that has been forming with all of the replies I have been getting from a lot of different people. It sounds like they will never come out from behind "Security" unless they go out the wrong door after Customs/Immigration. Therefore, it would be useless to try and have anybody from "the outside" meet and guide them.

In addition to writing them a letter of introduction/explanation in English, and some English-Russian flash cards; Olga is going to pass your "behind Security" directions to Terminal 2 0onto her peeps and we will just hope for the best.

The time draws near. The whole in-law thing is bitter-sweet, isn't it? And my experience has been that's amplified times 10 when your wife is Russian.

Doug

[Doug S]

I want to thank everybody who offered advice and information regarding my Russian in-laws making their connecting flight in JFK.

They ended up Bonsai ’ing it, with no assistance; however we did arm them with letter in English outlining all of the tasks they needed to accomplish, and big, English-Russian flash cards to help them through any one of those tasks.

Incredibly, they made it through Immigration and Customs and to the gate for their connecting flight in only 50 minutes.

But they had the benefit of an unforeseen cheat. At Borispol they got upgraded from economy class to business class because the economy seats were over-booked. (Their tickets were purchased under my name using frequent flyer miles, and I am an “elite” member or whatever they call it. Those are the ones that usually get upgraded.)

This enabled them to be the first ones off the plane in JFK, and the first ones in the Immigration line for non-U.S. citizens. They used the flash cards to get them from Customs to the place where international bags are re-checked onto domestic connecting flights, and to get someone to point them to the terminal for their connecting flight.

They said that to get to the terminal they had to ride up an elevator that put them outside of the ‘Security’ area. Concerned about that, they used another flash card to make sure they were still going the right way. The reader of that flash card pointed them through a Security checkpoint. And a flashcard at the Security checkers got them pointed to the correct gate. The security checkers even penned the gate number very large with a Sharpie on their flash card.

They got to the gate 20 minutes before the flight boarded.

They’re here now.

Mom & Pop say that they may not have made it had they not got the head start the business class seats gave them, so I’m not sure I would recommend these flights to others. (Borispol to Los Angeles via JFK). However, a member of another discussion group’s wife, who speaks English, was on the same flights two days earlier (presumably in economy class), and she also made the connection.

Again, thanks to all. The flash cards were a great idea.

DS

[Son of Clyde]

Doug, if there is any way they could take a flight to Dulles airport next time it would be much easier to find their way through. Dulles is an international airport and when I returned from Ukraine the lines were long but very organized. At JFK there seems to be total chaos and rude employees.

[username33]

This is not Mom & Pop's first trip.

So it wasn't a problem getting them a tourist visa? What's the secret? I'm hoping my wife's parents will be able to visit in the future, perhaps a year or two. And I'd march on Washington if they were denied and we had a baby.

I'm in LA now, but was in Davis and Lake County before. Marin County raised for a time too. Where you?