Flights / Travel Question

[XMan]

The positive news is that I think I now have very good reason to travel again. 
I'm somewhat surprised, as I had become at best skeptical. 

The bad news is that the travel is particularly difficult from where I currently reside. 

I'm looking at 3 flights to get to Kiev.  I spent about 6 hours searching every possible day/time/airline combination through several sites (including bookingbuddy, which is quite handy, I think).  24 hours minimum of flight / airport time.  No big surprise there, though.

The tough part is getting the internal flight from Kiev to Chernovtsy.  I've already done the travel by car scenario from Kiev to Chernovtsy.  9 extremely unpleasant hours each way, and very expensive ($250 each way).  I don't know if all roads in the Ukraine are of the same quality, but imagine the worst road you've ever driven on, fly over it and drop miniature cluster bombs along the entire length, then go back and drive on it.  Good times.  Travel to Kharkov by car was almost as bad, though shorter travel time.  Fortunately when I left Kharkov I was able to get a flight out.

Back to the flight.  I found one from Amsterdam (this only works on Saturdays from a scheduling standpoint) that, assuming it is on schedule, gets me to Kiev 2 hours prior to the next flight.  Getting off the plane, through customs, getting luggage, walking to the other terminal, etc., hopefully enough time. 

If I book the round trip to Chernovtsy online, it's a whopping $3,200.  Less than half if I book strictly round trip to Kiev, then buy a second ticket from Aerosvit for about $280.

I have flown back to Kiev from Kharkov, but not internally from Kiev to anywhere else in Ukraine.
Anyone purchase directly from Aerosvit in the past? 
Does the 2 hour window between arrival in Kiev and departure time sound like enough? 
Does one provide one's passport information online when getting the ticket from Aerosvit for an internal flight such as the Kiev to Chernovtsy flight?
Other "gotcha's" I should be aware of?
I miss that flight from Kiev to Chernovtsy and I'm stuck 24 hours in Kiev, which is no fun on a number of levels.

I tried checking out an alternative, like flying to Lviv, which would be a shorter trip by car to Chernovtsy.  But it's cost prohibitive, at least from where I live.

Thanks.

[BillyB]

The tough part is getting the internal flight from Kiev to Chernovtsy.  I've already done the travel by car scenario from Kiev to Chernovtsy.  9 extremely unpleasant hours each way, and very expensive ($250 each way). 

Did a Google search and found this site. I typed in jan 9 and from Kiev to Chernovtsy is $165. Cheaper and faster than a car. Contact them at a Ukrainian or American number to ask questions if you need.

http://www.ukrainefare.com/flights.php

[remiel6]

Yes I have flown internally in the Ukraine several times. Once the flight was cancelled and the other time it went off without a hitch. They seemed fine to me. As for the 2 hours. I think it is enough time, if the planes are on schedule. The Kiev airport is small. Keep in mind that the international terminal and the Domestic terminal are in separate buildings, but you can walk from one to the other in about two minutes. The Customs at Kiev is fairly quick IMO. I think you would be fine, of course don't quote me on that.
Have you tried the train? Its not as quick or fast as Euro trains but more comfortable than the roads are.

[RussianWind]

I would also advice to try a train, not even because it's much cheaper but because it's much more comfortable for a long journey. You can take a luxury cabin for $40-50 or so (I guess)

[OlgaH]

Kiev - Chernivtsi Train Schedule.

http://travel-2-ukraine.com/transportation/train-schedule.php?id=7&city=Kiev

[XMan]

Thanks all. 
I appreciate it.

[johnichka]

Xman,

Not sure what roads you took from Kiev to Chernivtsi, but I have not had the same experience. I have done that trip about 4 times round trip.  The roads were in pretty good shape.  The timing was anywhere from about 7 hours in the summer to about 9 hours in the winter. You are correct on the price at $250 in a private car or a taxi.  My now wife and I met in Chernivtsi, she is from Yaremcha.

I have taken the flight from Kiev to Chernivtsi.  It is a quick easy flight, when it leaves on time.  The last time I did this was December 2007 - had an E ticket, which the folks at the local airport would not take. It was from Aerosvit. Now granted, the ticket was booked for departure out of KBP, but on the day of departure, they moved the departure to the "city" airport.   We transferred by bus to this airport from KBP to the city airport.

Upon arriving at the city airport, they would not acknowledge my E ticket and I then I had to buy another ticket, otherwise I was stuck.  Aerosvit did refund my original purchase.  

Upon arrival in Chernivtsi, your bags were literally thrown out of the airplane onto a wooden wagon pulled by a tractor.  The tractor pulled out to a fenced in area where people were waiting for the folks from the flight.  You simply took your bags and left.

You did not state from where you are from, so I cannot advise you on flights.  If possible, I would encourage you to go to Lvov - much, much easier to get to Chernivtsi from there than Kiev.

Customs at KBP is easy to get through.  

How did you meet your lady in Chernivtsi - I have many friends in Chernivtsi.

Good Luck

[XMan]

Xman,

Not sure what roads you took from Kiev to Chernivtsi, but I have not had the same experience. I have done that trip about 4 times round trip.  The roads were in pretty good shape.  The timing was anywhere from about 7 hours in the summer to about 9 hours in the winter. You are correct on the price at $250 in a private car or a taxi.  My now wife and I met in Chernivtsi, she is from Yaremcha.

I have taken the flight from Kiev to Chernivtsi.  It is a quick easy flight, when it leaves on time.  The last time I did this was December 2007 - had an E ticket, which the folks at the local airport would not take. It was from Aerosvit. Now granted, the ticket was booked for departure out of KBP, but on the day of departure, they moved the departure to the "city" airport.   We transferred by bus to this airport from KBP to the city airport.

Upon arriving at the city airport, they would not acknowledge my E ticket and I then I had to buy another ticket, otherwise I was stuck.  Aerosvit did refund my original purchase. 

Upon arrival in Chernivtsi, your bags were literally thrown out of the airplane onto a wooden wagon pulled by a tractor.  The tractor pulled out to a fenced in area where people were waiting for the folks from the flight.  You simply took your bags and left.

You did not state from where you are from, so I cannot advise you on flights.  If possible, I would encourage you to go to Lvov - much, much easier to get to Chernivtsi from there than Kiev.

Customs at KBP is easy to get through. 

How did you meet your lady in Chernivtsi - I have many friends in Chernivtsi.

Good Luck

It was late March / early April of this year.  Truly a terrible road experience, but I could not tell you the route (that was up to the driver).  9 hours.  Similar to riding in a Conestoga over the Great Plains. 

Sent you a P.M.

Thanks.