Travel Recommendations Request

[Vaughn]

I haven'r flown overseas since '06 and consider myself in need of current tips.

Searching airfares: We plan on visiting in mid-July to early/mid August. I know
that's the most expensive time - but we're happily stuck with it. I've checked
ConnerVT's "IATA" link, Travelocity, Delta dot com, Aeroflot dot com. Where
else should we be looking? Any live travel agents you prefer? We need 3 RT tickets,
steerage, non-refundable is fine. No frills, just get us there ~

Tourist Visa - always did my own - not this time. What is the difference between
gotorussia dot com and gotorussia dot net? Others you prefer? We plan to stay in
our own apartment (owned by my wife). Don't want to do the Homestay Visa. In
my past experience, the invitation letter simply read "Renting a flat" locally and
it was never questioned. Glitches these days?

Registering the Tourist Visa - post office? OVIR? Services available? We will land
at SVOII and almost immediately depart by train. All travel documents in good order
except for my visa.

Thanks,  Vaughn

[kievstar]

Where are you flying to and flying from?

I just booked tickets for August and dirt cheap. USA to Ukraine for under $900. 

[Vaughn]

THAT's the kind of deal we would welcome, kievstar...

Charlotte, NC --->  SVO II

We also have the option of searching JFK ---> SVO II and making our own way to JFK
via Jet Blue at $177 RT each. We'd rather not make the 11 hour drive.

It'd be cheaper by hundreds each if we lived near Orlando. Charlotte is a US Airways
hub - and they charge plenty for the privilege.

[Faux Pas]

Vaughn

What is your final destination?

[philb]

The two gotorussia sites are one and the same company.  I have used them for things in the past and they did a good job.  They used to be able to register your visa.  I don't know if they still provide this service.

My wife is in Kiev now and I will be headed there in a couple weeks.  When I was looking the airline websites were as cheap as any of the travel web sites.  I use bookingbuddy.com to search for fares.  I like it just because you can search multiple sites at the same time.

I don't know which airline you typically fly into Moscow.  If United is an option they now offer a credit card that provides you with free economy plus seating for you and a travel companion.  I am 6'2" and the extra leg room sure is nice.

[Faux Pas]

It's been almost a year since I last traveled to Russia but for my visa I used Travisa. They can do it all and with pretty good customer service. I have used gotorussia as well. In fact I once bought an invitation from gotorussia and the visa from Travisa and saved a whopping $15 bucks. IIRC there is only 3 companies qualified to obtain a Russian visa in the US. Visas now have to be walked into the consulate. If you can't do it yourself you have to use one of the 3. (That number may have increased since last year).

Vaughn why the absolution to flying into SVO2? The number of US based airlines flying into DME have been decreasing but, still possible to find one. Also, look for Singapore Air Houston to Moscow

[Vaughn]

What is your final destination?

Yoshkar Ola. We usually fly into SVOII late AM, early afternoon and make our way to Kazansky
station. The train departs Kazansky late afternoon, around 4:30. We missed the train once and took
the next train to Cheboksary and by private car (70 minutes) from there.

No airline preferences. We flown Aeroflot and Delta transatlantic, never a bad experience on either.

philb, thanks - I'll check out that bookingbuddy provider..

Faux Pas, I appreciate the options. We're open to just about anything at this point. DME, SVO ~
it's all MOCKBA to us. No matter.

[ECOCKS]

I'm needing a one-way from Kyiv to US in mid-July (FINALLY!) if anyone stumbles across a good one. Possibilities are NY, Boise or Seattle for destination.

[minn-uk]

Has anyone used asaptickets.com ????    I just searched a flight from Charlette NC to Moscow July 19th to Auugust 10th and here are some of the prices.

$920.19
$993.35
$1000.35
$1040.69

You have to call them after the search .... If they are good I wish to use them in June.  They have very cheap flights.  I will be flying from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Kiev and then taking a train to Kharkov ... flights from Kiev to Kharkov seem to add $500 to $600 o the flight and a flight from Kiev to Kharkov alone is $250.

I would be interested if anyone has information that will help.

We are awaiting an interview appointment ... soon to know.

[Faux Pas]

Vaughn
July/August is too far in advance for buying without getting soaked. Planning well in advance is to be commended but not for buying airline tickets. Buy them in the 22-28 day window before departure for the lowest rate. You'll pay several hundred extra bucks buying them now. If you want to see what actual costs are now, price your tickets in that window from today. There may or may not be a lot of difference in July/Aug without another shift in the economy.

I would advise using the ITA search engine to identify your possible flights/airlines (routes) then cross checking it on the airline sites and several international search engines (Kayak comes to mind). If you are not buying in the 22-28 day window you are not getting the lowest price from the airlines. It really isn't as risky as it sounds. Especially to Moscow. There is a dozen ways daily to get there. I mention Singapore because it is a top notch airline and they make 4 or 5 Moscow-Houston- NY-Moscow trips every week. Not the cheapest but very reasonable depending on your day.

[kievstar]

You can get deals now, 3 weeks, and 1 day in advance.  Best option is to figure out what you want to pay and if a good price now take it.  If you wait it can be expensive or cheaper.  Your gambling it will go lower but generally 22-28 window does work but what if planes are sold out.  This does happen.

I liked the under $900 flights to Ukraine I just booked months in advance - actually USA to Kiev to second city in Ukraine.  I doubt I will find a flight less than $900 in July. 

I always search airgorilla first (never buy from them).  Than call or look on line for the carrier. Sometimes cheaptickets.  Prices can change daily as well. 

I have noticed many flights fully booked to Europe already for summer as the crisis is over for Corporate America.  Crisis remains for the people to be left behind.

[Faux Pas]

I've bought months in advance before after long and thorough research to insure I was getting the best flight at the most least expensive price and felt pretty good about it. Until someone told me different and they were right. The airlines cheapest rates are in the 22-28 day window. It's a pricing strategy used by most airlines. They'll stick it to you buying too far in advance or buying too late. I checked it a couple of years ago after my habit of buying well in advance and it chapped my ass, I paid almost $400 too much for a trip to Moscow. Maybe I have some Hebrew in me but I can't stand to pay too much for anything.

Kiev, rarely is it too late to book at 3 weeks. I'm sure it happens on occasion but that would be the exception instead of the rule. $600-$800 direct flights to Moscow are possible.

[ECOCKS]

I noticed that the flight from Kyiv to Boise is approximately $500 cheaper when you come into Baltimore from Kyiv, then start a new ticket from Baltimore the rest of the way.

Experiment if you are really into the cost-cutting quest.

[Vaughn]

Has anyone used asaptickets.com ????

Never have, nor have I known anyone who has...  I did read a few reviews which claim that more
times than not, the phone call results in a higher fare than the "hook" rate posted on site.

Ed, I've searched creatively, building the legs ourselves, alternate airfields, flex-dates - everything
but a duck boat. We're going to exercise patience and wait them out - at the risk (I know) of
getting shut out (or fleeced later) but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Should my wife begin to show
signs of anxiety development, BOOM - I'm buying.

One thing I've noticed - Delta seems to have shut down its Atlanta-Moscow flight for keeps.

[ECOCKS]

I noticed the Baltimore situation when I had a whim to check the possibility of meeting my wife there and taking a week to do DC while she is en route back here.

Seattle is the same price as home but more and more I am thinking about surprising her with an Alaskan cruise. Rates seem generally a bit more arbitrary than usual but maybe its my anxiety.

Delta also seems to have shutdown their Kyiv-New York run permanently as well.

Bummer, I liked Delta's service but at least they still code share with Air France and a couple of others for building up those FF miles.

Ed, I've searched creatively, building the legs ourselves, alternate airfields, flex-dates - everything
but a duck boat. We're going to exercise patience and wait them out - at the risk (I know) of
getting shut out (or fleeced later) but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Should my wife begin to show
signs of anxiety development, BOOM - I'm buying.

One thing I've noticed - Delta seems to have shut down its Atlanta-Moscow flight for keeps.

[philb]

Delta also seems to have shutdown their Kyiv-New York run permanently as well.

It is still available.  My wife flew it this past Saturday. 

[ECOCKS]

Hoooray! Added back for the spring/summer season!

TY

[Vaughn]

Ed, I've searched creatively, building the legs ourselves, alternate airfields, flex-dates - everything
but a duck boat. We're going to exercise patience and wait them out - at the risk (I know) of
getting shut out (or fleeced later) but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Should my wife begin to show
signs of anxiety development, BOOM - I'm buying.

I kept my promise. Things were getting a little edgy here as of two weeks ago when I decided it
was more important for my wife to tell her Mama, "Yes, we booked flights and here are our dates..."

I should have preached Faux Pas's and kievstars' advice with more relish and confidence - our fares
just fell as of today and we are out $400. As I said way back - it's a risk I'm willing to take, but
flushing $400 kinda rubs me the wrong way.

There's good advice all over this RWD board. Even OMBs like me have to be as discerning as we are able.

[Faux Pas]

I kept my promise. Things were getting a little edgy here as of two weeks ago when I decided it
was more important for my wife to tell her Mama, "Yes, we booked flights and here are our dates..."

I should have preached Faux Pas's and kievstars' advice with more relish and confidence - our fares
just fell as of today and we are out $400. As I said way back - it's a risk I'm willing to take, but
flushing $400 kinda rubs me the wrong way.

There's good advice all over this RWD board. Even OMBs like me have to be as discerning as we are able.

Vaughn, it can be a difficult thing to especially, as your situation with your wife and daughter traveling too. You don't want to look like a Gomer that couldn't do something as simple as buy some airline tickets. Rarely, are flights going to be full 3 weeks out and it's a play on the psyche to wait. The airlines know this, They want you buying them early or late.