Information, tips, suggestion, advice on air travel US west coast to simferopol

[ksf]

Traveling from Seattle to Sevastopol looking for any, all information/advice about flights. I would like to make as few stops as possible.

Thank you in advance
KSF

[Hammer2722]

I believe some of the more cheaper flights to Simferopol can be had through the Russian airlines Aeroflot to Moscow then back to Ukraine. You should check them out. The only other option may be to Fly direct from New York to Kyiv and then purchase a separate ticket from Kyiv to Sim via Aerosvit or one of the other Ukrainian domestic companies. Good luck with the search.

[ML]

Cheapest flights within Ukraine are usually on WizzAir.  They also fly into Ukraine from several European cities.  Check out their website.

[calmissile]

KSF,
My last flights were from LAX direct Amsterdam on KLM.  Then Amsterdam to Kiev.  From Kiev to Simferopol.

I found it worthwhile to get the longest legs possible and it is not necessarily the cheapest flights, but the hassle factor was worth it.  As far as I can tell all flights to destinations inside Ukraine are via Kiev.

All flights I have taken connect in either Amsterdam or Zurich.  The direct flight from LAX to Amsterdam was awsome.  Slept many, many hours and had no jet lag on arrival.  The service was great.

As far as booking, my last flight was complicated in that I had to return first to Seattle in order to go to a class reunion and then come home to LAX.  After a lot of trouble trying to do it online, I followed someones suggestion and went to my local AAA office.  Within 1/2 hour they had several flight choices for me and I could not even find the same flights on line.  Also, they arranged the purchase of the required medical  insurance which is required by Ukriane.  I will probably have AAA do my future bookings as well.

Just my $0.02   Your mileage my vary.

[calmissile]

KSF,
Forgot one of the most important points to remember.  I learned the hard way....
Even if your airline checks your baggage all the way to Sim,  you MUST collect your baggage personally at customs in Kiev and take it to your domestic flight terminal.

United Airlines mistakenly checked my baggage to Simferopol and I assumed it would arrive with me.  When it was not picked up in customs at Kiev it was sent to Moscow.  I had to extend my stay nearly an additional week to wait for my bags which contained birthday presents, etc.

[LAman]

Is fewest stops most important? I look at layovers!!!
Seems you will have at least 2 stops. I prefer my first stop to be the longest flight (dislike east coast stops). May be easier to book flight to kiev then book separate flight to sim. Only problem is timing of connecting flight, with long wait times in kiev. If needed, you can walk over to Borispol airport hotel and get a room........ I use this is for early morning return flights.
I thought Wizzair flew out of  Zhulyany IEV on domestic flights?

[ksf]

Thank you all for the information... helps a lot! 
Ksf

[Wayne]

Turkish Airlines has flights from Istanbul to Simferopol. You buy the visa for Turkey at the airport when you land there. There are several direct flights from USA to Istanbul, as it is a major, modern airpot.
 
Going through Moscow will require a Russian visa.
 
Aerosvit has a direct flight from New York JFK to Kyiv. You can at the same time purchase the flight from Kyiv to Simferopol. There are new terminals at the airport in Kyiv. Yes, you have to transfer your baggage.
 
The airport in Simferopol is very small and outdated. There are domestic and international terminals.
 
Also, check out the Delta flights. They should be able to get you as far as Kyiv.
 
You should be able to purchase a ticket from Kyiv to Simferopol on the Aerosvit website.
 
You can also try the over night train from Kyiv to Simferopol.