How do you guys get there?

[wallm]

I live on the East coast and can fly out of JFK, EWR, PHL etc. Thinking of LOT Polish to Warsaw and Kiev. Probably Ukranian Airlines non-stop out of JFK. What do you guys do when you fly? No, I don't want to fly via Paris, FRA, LHR, etc. Airports like that make me feel unsafe. Would love to fly Singapore Airlines (best airline I had ever flown) to FRA and then Lufthansa to Kiev but will not do it because of FRA. Call me paranoid but I refuse to fly any American airline across the pond. With threats of terrorism and all that, I am extra careful these days.

[ML]

We always look for lowest price for a convenient departure time and fewest stops or plane changes.

The airline itself is not of great importance.

We cannot predict the next terrorist attack or mechanical failure.

French and German airports have had frequent strikes the past several years which causes us to want to avoid them if possible.

[alex330]

I flew LOT once, it was decent. Most trips I flew into Istanbul and then to ODS via Turkish Air. Like ML says, best price, shortest route and I avoid CDG because it is a mess.

[BillyB]

Call me paranoid but I refuse to fly any American airline across the pond. With threats of terrorism and all that, I am extra careful these days.

Whether or not the planes are at risk for terrorism depends on the security at the airports, not the airlines. I'd say security at American and European airports are very good so the terrorists choose to blow up the airport since they'll have a difficult time getting on the airplanes. Flying through Turkey seems to be the cheapest option these days but the country is experiencing a lot of terrorism and the country borders Syria.

Thinking of LOT Polish to Warsaw and Kiev.

If it helps you sleep better, that is probably your best option to get to Kiev. It's the lowest risk of getting blown up and falling out of the sky.

[southernX]

Not going to help you much 
But we fly emirates or singapore airlines usually long haul with one stop in dubai
brings it back to a 19-22 hour trip one way , fastest i can find

SX

[BC]

If you goto http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do you can enter the destination airport and get a good idea where direct flights are flying in from.  Look for deals to one of these airports for the overseas portion.

For Kyiv, below is a representative list you can use to try and drill down airlines and prices.  Try to pick airlines that are in the same group, like skyteam that serves alitalia, delta, aeroflot etc.. this way your baggage can be booked to destination and you are usually well covered if a flight is cancelled etc even if you have separate bookings.

One thing I always suggest is to not depend on the internet alone.  I have often found better deals by calling the airlines directly.  Also if looking online try using another computer or mobile phone in anonymous mode, even using another ip address as most of the booking companies track your interests and will propose prices that are favorable to them, not you.  Also some use little tricks like asking you to pay for baggage when the airline itself already includes a checked bag.  Sure, it can be a bit complex and time consuming but you can often save a few hundred bucks if not more shopping around.

Athens
Vienna
Warsaw
Amsterdam
London
Berlin
Frankfurt
Paris
Stockholm
Munich
Zurich
Rome
Milan
Geneva
Brussels
Barcelona
Istanbul
Talinn
Prague
Riga
Belgrade

If you want to visit Europe, you can do something like fly cheap to London, spend a day or two there, then get a very cheap hop with ryanair or other low cost carriers to Frankfurt for the final hop to Kyiv.  Just make sure your travel insurance (often provided by credit card companies) is up to snuff and covers any delays/missed flights.  Also breaking up the trip lets you catch up on good sleep, adjust a bit to the new time zone and arrive very fresh.

[wallm]

thanks for the replies. I am not concerned about cost of the flight but safety. I would love to stop over in Paris or London but not the way things are these days. Moreover, looking at the TSA geniuses here in the US Airports, I am hardly confident. Perhaps I am paranoid. 

[HoundDaddyLee]

thanks for the replies. I am not concerned about cost of the flight but safety. I would love to stop over in Paris or London but not the way things are these days. Moreover, looking at the TSA geniuses here in the US Airports, I am hardly confident. Perhaps I am paranoid. 

Seriously? You have a better chance to win the Power Ball than to be a target of terrorism. I recommend Ukrainian Airways direct from JFK to Kiev. Or Turkish Air through Istanbul. You will be safe in Istanbul, the terrorist attacks were external to where you will be. The airport is Istanbul is one of my favorite layover spots. Another of my favorites is flying Austrian Air through Vienna. Vienna airport is very nice and has a couple of outstanding (for airports) restaurants.


If we, as Americans, become overly paranoid, the terrorists win. Look at a thread I wrote about a month ago. A woman reported that on olive skinned man was writing in Arabic in the seat next to her. The flight was delayed and she was put on another flight. Oh, what was the man writing? He was an Ivy League economist writing differential equations.


Go on your trip and have fun. Don't be paranoid!


HDL

P.S. I don't want to hijack this thread with worries of terror, etc. I will create a new thread later today to discuss why people should not changing any travel plans due to media enforced paranoia.

[ML]

A woman reported that on olive skinned man was writing in Arabic in the seat next to her.  Oh, what was the man writing? He was an Ivy League economist writing differential equations.

Yes, but what about his olive skin ?

[Jumper]

 Fly out of Chicago so LOT is a decent choice since flight LOT1 and LOT 2 is the return . Ohare- warsaw kiev.

I've also flown united  Lufthansa /allied alliance etc
 thru Munich, Frankfurt,Zurich Amsterdam, Heathrow, Prague,etc etc.
and Austrian air thru Vienna.


Prefer Lufthansa when/if available.

[HoundDaddyLee]

Yes, but what about his olive skin ?

Turns out he was of Italian origin, but of course he could have been using the equations to compute the yield of the IED in his pocket protector. 


HDL

[Faux Pas]

Fly out of Chicago so LOT is a decent choice since flight LOT1 and LOT 2 is the return . Ohare- warsaw kiev.

I've also flown united  Lufthansa /allied alliance etc
 thru Munich, Frankfurt,Zurich Amsterdam, Heathrow, Prague,etc etc.
and Austrian air thru Vienna.


Prefer Lufthansa when/if available.

I've been on a lot of flights over the years and two of the worse airlines I've flown were LOT and Lufthansa . I am referring mostly to delays and bad service overall from the ticket counter to baggage claim. Of course your mileage may vary but I've flown them numerous times and no trip would I ever classify as pleasant. My wife actually likes Lufthansa

wallm if you have no price concerns there is a Singapore Air direct from Houston to Moscow and from Moscow you can reach most any FSU destination. The flight is not overly expensive itself but using it can be. I.E. getting to Houston and limited flights from Moscow to where ever. I'm with you Singapore is the best airline out there

[wallm]

So much for the Turkish Airlines with the coup, etc. Who wants the such uncertainty. They do seem to offer most connections via Istanbul though. I think I will fly Singapore Airlines to FRA and then Lufthansa to Kiev. Love Singapore Airlines. Divine compared to our airlines. And those air hostesses are really easy on the eyes too. 

[BillyB]

When you do finally get to meet the girls, don't talk to them about what we talked about here that you're worried about safe flying. Those girls need to know you'll step in front of a freight train for them.