Long night wait for a flight to Xiamen. How does a connecting flight work? How it was

for novice travelers;
for those who encountered a transit flight for the first time;
for those who are worried that they may not have enough time for a transplant;

What type of transplant do I have?

The first thing to figure out when faced with a transit flight is what type of transfer you will have.

Transits are different. For example, you may have single ticket when the entire flight (including transfers) is served by one airline. This is the most convenient option, since the carrier in this case is responsible for delivering the passenger to his destination. And if, say, the flight was delayed on the first segment and you did not make it to the second segment, then you will be required to be put on another plane of the same company. If the transfer time exceeds 8 hours, some carriers (for example, Emirates and Qatar Airways) provide passengers with hotel rooms. Your luggage will also be checked in and delivered to your final destination. Additionally, you do not need to register with such a ticket.

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Another option is the so-called "code sharing", when you buy a single ticket from one carrier, but fly part of the way on a partner company’s plane. In this case, you will also be checked in with your luggage to your destination and a transfer will be arranged for you. The only difference is that in case of unforeseen situations (damage/loss of luggage, etc.), all claims must be submitted to the partner company. Please note: for this type of flight, the name of the additional carrier may not be indicated on the ticket.

There is also such a thing as interline agreement- an agreement between airlines in which one carrier recognizes the tickets of another. That is, one company can sell you tickets to another. The point is that this method allows you to buy a single ticket for more favorable price than if you bought several individual ones. There are often special fares on these flights.

Important! Tickets of this type always indicate all carrier companies. You will also be able to check in your baggage before the end of the flight, but you need to request this separately. Sometimes you need to get a ticket for the next leg of the journey when transferring - this is also worth keeping in mind.

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Well, the last option is several separate tickets. Many consider it the most inconvenient, since in this case you will have to pick up and re-check in your luggage at the transfer point, and also re-check in for the next leg of the route. If you miss your flight, you will most likely need to buy new ticket. And the price of such a combined flight is often higher than in other cases. Therefore, if you decide to fly this way, make sure that you have plenty of time for the transfer (it makes sense to play it safe and fly from the transfer point the next day).

But what to do with low-cost airlines? Let’s make it clear right away – low-cost airlines, in principle, do not have transfers. The routes that aggregator sites, including TripMyDream, offer you, are routes consisting of two or more separate flights. Therefore, in the case of low-cost flights, all responsibility for the safety of your luggage, and your arrival at your destination, is solely yours.

Transit visa. When is it needed?

We warn you right away - this point must be clarified before purchasing tickets. Typically, a transit visa is not needed if your next flight departs from the same airport and terminal you arrived at and if you do not need to claim luggage. Then you just wait for the next plane in the transit area of the airport, without going through immigration control.

But if we're talking about about transplantation in the UK, be on the lookout. Very often, travelers, tempted by low prices, buy air tickets with a transfer in London. For example, Ryanair always has a lot of flight offers to different cities Europe at the lowest prices with transfers in Stansted or Luton, and then they are simply not allowed on the flight due to the lack of a transit visa.

But a transit visa is issued if:

You are flying with a transfer and need to change airport.
When transferring, you need to change the terminal, and to do this, go out into the city (the departure terminal is located in a different area, for example).
You need to make two or more transfers in the Schengen area. In this case, a transit visa is issued at the embassy of the first country.
Your transfer will take place in the UK (provided it lasts 24-48 hours). Then you need to apply for a Visitor in transit Visa in advance. But if the transfer lasts more than 48 hours, you will need a regular Transit Visa.
You are flying on two different tickets (say, from to and from London to). Then you need a visa to claim your luggage and check in for your next flight.

Important! Some countries (for example, and) require a transit visa even just to stay at the airport in the transit zone.

Luggage is a different story, since it is received after passing through immigration control. Therefore, make sure that your suitcases are checked until the end of the trip, and that you yourself have the right to stay in the connecting country without a visa.

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Another important nuance concerns the transfer zones themselves. Firstly, not all airports have them. Secondly, they do not always work 24/7; if you arrive late in the evening and fly out in the morning, and the airport is not open at night, you will have to take care of a place to stay overnight and arrange Schengen transit in advance. This is the most inconvenient option, so think through your plan of action in advance so that you don’t have to huddle on a bench later.

I arrived at my transfer airport. What's next?

If you are flying with a transfer for the first time, then the main rule is keep calm and carry on. Don’t be nervous, your gate and plane won’t go anywhere and you’ll fly on calmly, don’t even doubt it!

So, you have arrived at your transfer point. What's next? Firstly, you should always have your tickets and documents with you so that you can check the data on them at any time (flight departure time, gate, terminal, etc.) with the airport information board and present it without delay before boarding.

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If you are flying on a single ticket, upon arrival at the connecting airport, follow the signs marked “Transfer” / “Transit” - using them you can easily find the transit area, where you will wait for the next flight. Immediately find your flight on the information board and check the departure time, gate number and other information (sometimes it may change). We also advise you to immediately find your gate so that you know where you will have to go to board, and only then go for a walk around the airport.

Please note that if you are flying to a Schengen country, you will need to go through passport control immediately upon arrival. Those who fly with two separate tickets will have to go through a similar procedure, since in this case you are not included in the category of transit passengers. Upon arrival, you will need to collect your luggage, proceed to the check-in counters (signage to help you!) and re-check in by re-checking your luggage.

Stop. Should I pick up my luggage or will it be delivered?

It depends on the type of ticket. If it's a single ticket, then you can check your luggage to your final destination and not worry about it at all. But if you need to change airports during a transfer, you may need to pick up and check in your luggage again, even with a single ticket. Therefore, be sure to check this at baggage check-in.

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Long transfer. Things to do?

If your transfer takes at most 3-4 hours, you can safely skip this point. But it happens that you have to wait quite a long time for the next flight. If you have the opportunity to go to the city and the airport itself is not so far from it, go for a walk. The best way There's no way to pass the time. Make a trip plan in advance with a list of places you want to see, and calculate how much time it will take you to get from the airport to the city and back, plus the time you will be in the city, and add another half hour to be sure. To be sure!

New city on the way interesting airport, new airlines and low price- all these are amazing benefits of indirect air travel! Last week I touched on the topic of interesting points that you can look around Schiphol Airport between flights, after which I received a lot of questions in the comments and in private messages, in which it turned out that the topic is incomprehensible to many people and the basic concepts require explanation. Many are simply afraid to fly with a transfer, preferring to overpay for a direct flight; many, in principle, did not think that it was possible to leave the airport. Therefore, I decided to consider all the issues in a separate article.

What is the difference between a layover and a stopover? Or a connection from a transfer?
- Where can I see the fare rules?
- Do I need a visa? Can I get a transit visa at the airport?
- What happens to luggage during an indirect flight?
and other questions with examples.

As usual, your experience is welcome in the comments, the post will be supplemented with interesting facts...

1. A flight with a transfer is significantly cheaper than a direct flight, can you trust such a low price?

This is a common practice when airlines focus primarily on transit passenger traffic. For example, a Moscow-Kyiv-Geneva flight will almost always be cheaper than a direct Kyiv-Geneva flight with UIA. Do not be suspicious of a low price, this is standard practice.

However, be careful, according to the rules of the cheapest tariff, you must use all segments sequentially. If any segment is not used, the entire route will be cancelled! Those. you cannot “get hooked” in Kyiv on a flight to Geneva if the ticket was purchased from Moscow. However, on the way back you can check your luggage to the transit point and get off at the transit point; you don’t have to use the last segment.

2. What is the difference between a layover and a stopover? Or a connection from a transfer?

There are several definitions of these concepts on the Internet, sometimes confusing each other. A layover is a connection at an airport lasting up to 24 hours, a stopover is a connection between flights for more than 24 hours. A connection is a route option when all flights are within one itinerary receipt, and a transfer is when you select 2 or more flights yourself.

3. Rules for creating interesting connections yourself, consider two options:

Option 1:
You buy a single ticket Kyiv-Frankfurt-London. Both flights are included in the same ticket, even if they are operated different airlines! In this case, if the first flight was delayed and you missed the second one, then everything will be rebooked for you free of charge and the delays will be compensated according to the rules.

If the site sells you a ticket with a connection of 30-40 minutes, then the carrier guarantees this connection if the plane arrives on time. However, keep in mind that with very short connections and a slight delay of the first flight, you have a much better chance of transferring to the next flight than your luggage!

Option 2:
Kyiv-Katowice, Katowice-London.
In this case, you choose two separate flights. Even if they are operated by the same airline, the airline's liability to you is only for each individual flight. If in Europe I choose connections with different airlines and different tickets, then I usually leave a gap between them of at least 6-8 hours, and better yet on different days.

4. What happens to luggage during an indirect flight?

Let's consider several cases:

Baggage WILL be checked in to your final destination:

A) If you are flying with one airline on one ticket (itinerary receipt):
In this case, most likely, you will not have problems and at the initial destination you will be asked “Do you want to check your luggage to your final destination?” - you answer “Yes”
B) If you are flying with different airlines on the same ticket.
There shouldn't be any problems here either.

Exceptions:

If customs regulations countries provide for the mandatory declaration of prohibited items for import or passage through the green corridor. For example, when flying through the USA or Mexico, you always need to collect your luggage at a transit point and then return it to a special transfer baggage counter.

If the airport does not provide direct transfer between flights of even one airline. For example, UTair Kyiv-Vnukovo-Russia: you need to collect your luggage and drop it off at a special check-in counter

If there is no agreement between partner airlines or technical feasibility. For example, UIA-S7 Kyiv-Domodedovo-Russia: luggage must be collected and returned again at any S7 check-in counter. And S7- S7 Kyiv-Domodedovo-Russia: luggage is checked in to the final destination without problems, however, at the counter in Kyiv I confirm that I do not have items in my luggage that require declaration according to the laws of the Russian Federation.

Exception to the rule:

Please note that WizzAir, when booking a Kyiv-London ticket, warns that TWOV does not apply to its passengers, and you will not be put on the plane without a visa:

Play timatic, you can find a lot of interesting and non-obvious things :)

- Kyiv-Frankfurt-Toronto-New York:

One day last fall, I came across a great fare that included a segment on AirCanada via Toronto. Of course, I wanted to try a new airline. The connection on this route was only 1.5 hours, i.e. I didn’t even plan to get into the city, but I decided to check it out on Timatik. And it turned out that even for international (!) transit I definitely need a transit visa. The option is gone. What if I hadn’t looked at Timatik and hoped for general rules, that “I won’t even leave the transit zone,” they simply wouldn’t put me on the plane in Frankfurt:

- Kyiv-Beijing-Hong Kong:

Since January 2013, visa-free transit for up to 72 hours has been available for Ukrainians and Russians (and other nationalities) in certain cities of China. An excellent opportunity to take two separate tickets Kyiv-Beijing + Beijing-anywhere (to a third country) and see Beijing within 72 hours without a visa, saving $150.

There is also a free 96-hour visa-free transit in Singapore.

Be careful, "transit" means that your next flight will be to a third country other than the country from which you arrived.

8. Can I get a transit visa at the airport?

You can purchase a transit visa at some airports. Find out about this opportunity in advance on the airport website.
For example, at Dubai airports you can purchase a transit visa for $150 (50 for visa, 100 for services).

However, if you have a flight from Kyiv to Dubai, and the next connecting flight is booked on a separate ticket, then you have every right to be denied boarding without a visa. Even if you have transit at the same airport! The argument about the possibility of purchasing a transit visa is not relevant, since the airline’s timatics and rules are extremely clear and precise.

Airports in Dubai:

DXB - Dubai International Airport is the main international airport in Dubai. Terminals 1 and 3 - main ones international terminals. Terminal 2 serves FlyDubai and several other companies. Between T1 and T3 you can walk along an underground passage; they are located in one line. To T2 you need to take a bus. For transit between T1,3 and 2, a visa is not required; exit to the city is not provided. I wrote about how to get from T2 to T1-3 without connecting there.

SHJ - Sharj International Airport is an airport in Sharjah, a neighboring emirate. AirArabia flies here and sells connections on its flights. Booking systems sometimes write Sharjah (Dubai), keep that in mind.

DWC - Dubai World Central International Airport- located on the opposite end of the city, it’s completely new airport(previously it was only cargo), the passenger terminal was opened only yesterday and the first flight was operated by WizzAir from Budapest. Wizz has already started flying here from Kyiv. Please note: WizzAir does not sell or provide connections to other flights. To leave the city and move to another airport you need a visa! By the way, Abu Dhabi is only 90 km from DWC.

All three airports are on airline websites, search engines, aggregators, etc. They often call themselves Dubai, but they have the right, since transport links are very simple, and Dubai itself is also quite large and stretches along the coast. DWC is closer to the residential area of Dubai Marina or hotels on palm trees than others.

Be careful and pay attention to the three-letter airport code when booking your ticket!

9. If you are not boarded on a flight, although Timatic allows boarding:

Well, when we talk about Europe, everything is clear there. But if we are talking about remote countries, where your passport is most likely seen for the first time.

Advice: if you have a difficult connection, especially in countries very remote from you, be sure to study Timatic in detail and print it out.
During flights with three to four segments in countries Central America and the USA, airline employees always checked the visa requirements for travel and transit according to my citizenship, asked again and clarified them, once I showed a printout.

Be sure to take written confirmation from employees indicating the reason for denial of boarding, so you can challenge the decision and receive compensation.

10. What interesting things to see while connecting between flights?

Even the Travel Channel has a program with the same name Layover:

And even a beautiful but useless iOS application:

But of course, read my LJ! In this section I show what I visited during connections in different airports peace.

Children and connections

Just an example: fly to Amsterdam in the morning, get to The Hague by train (30 minutes), and there is a stunning park there - the miniature world of Madurodam - just perfect place for holidays with children. And in the evening - the next flight or an overnight intercontinental flight. After all, it is much better to spend the day efficiently and interestingly at a transit point, and then the children will sleep sweetly on a long night (!) flight.

And further:

In the comments to the previous post, an interesting argument was made - why watch something while connecting at a gallop in a couple of hours, because it is better to come to this place on a separate trip and spend 1-2 days, or better yet a whole week, then the impression will be much more complete.

I categorically disagree with this statement, I do not set a goal to look at something during the docking from all sides and see everything, it is enough to visit just one thing. For example, beer and sausages in Munich will be much more appropriate than jogging around the city and trying to photograph all its monuments. But here everyone has their own taste and their own view. The world is huge, the number of places is endless, but the time resource is very limited, so I advise you to use every opportunity.

It is always better to travel in comfort; hardly anyone will argue with that. And sometimes comfort is possible where many are not even aware of it.
Those who travel a lot, especially over long distances, often face the inevitability long transplant when you have to spend the whole day or night at the airport. But some airports and airlines offer their clients a free hotel during transit and even breakfast!
There are few such companies, and there are also certain conditions for providing the service, but if they offer it, then why not use the service.

I’ll warn you right away: keep in mind that almost all airlines provide free hotel services when connecting only if both flights are on the same itinerary receipt, i.e. as part of a linked ticket, rather than two purchased separately.
So, the most interesting hubs for traveling from Russia:

Turkish Airlines
Airport transfers and: Ataturk (IST), Istanbul

Turkish Airlines offers business class passengers with layovers over 7 hours and economy class passengers (over 10 hours) free accommodation, transfers and meals in Istanbul. The offer applies only to international flights, and provided that the duration of the connection is determined by the schedule (it is impossible to fly earlier).
If you wish, instead of accommodation, you can choose a free city tour (with a 6-24 hour connection).

Booking: Go to the Hotel Desk after customs.

Emirates
Transfer airport: Dubai (DXB)

If your flight with Emirates includes a long layover in Dubai, the airline provides free hotel accommodation, meals, transfers and visas.
The service is available for first class and business class passengers with a forced connection of 6-24 hours and economy class passengers with a connection of 8-24 hours.
Dubai Connect may be offered in other circumstances. Additional rules may apply depending on the date of booking, fare, selected flight from the origin and the first available flight from the connecting point.

Booking: Pre-registration is required at least 24 hours before flight departure to Dubai and is subject to availability.

Qatar Airways
Transfer airport: Hamad (DOH), Doha

For transit passengers with a long connection in international airport Hamad (Doha) Qatar Airways provides hotel accommodation, registration entry visa, organizing transfers and meals.
This service is only available if there is an emergency connection (no other Qatar Airways flights with a connection less than 8 hours) and if the airport transit time is between 8 and 24 hours. Not provided if departure or arrival is from the following cities: Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH), Dubai (DXB), Dubai (DWC), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT), Ras Al Khaimah ( RKT) and Sharjah (SHJ).

Booking: either at least 72 hours before departure, or directly at the airport.

Air China
Transfer airports: Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Dalian (DLC), Hangzhou (HGH), Shanghai (SHA or PVG)

Air China provides passengers with an overnight layover of less than 24 hours a 24-hour shuttle service to the hotel, breakfast and comfortable rooms. The offer applies to both international and domestic flights, and operates at five airports.
This offer is not valid for the following categories of tickets and passengers:
- tickets whose starting numbers are not 999
- combined flights
- tickets for unaccompanied children
- tickets purchased in exchange for miles
- passengers with a free ticket

Booking: on the website or at the airport; Passengers departing on overnight flights who have booked an Air China transit hotel in Beijing can find the Air China transit service counter at Gate B on the 2nd floor of the terminal.

China Southern
Transfer airport: Guangzhou (CAN)

Passengers on China Southern flights connecting to Guangzhou will now be able to enjoy one night's free accommodation at a variety of hotels, including five-star hotels.
The benefit applies to passengers traveling on China Southern or codeshare flights.
Connection time:
- connection without an overnight stay of 8 hours or more (6 hours or more for routes Australia, New Zealand, London);
- connection with overnight stay 8 - 48 hours.
Free accommodation is not provided in case of purchasing economy class air tickets at a deep discount, air tickets purchased using miles, and in the case of free tickets for staff.

Booking: On the official website (6 months and up to 24 hours before arrival in Guangzhou) or at the airport transit counter.

Royal Air Maroc
Transfer airport: Mohammed V Airport (CMN), Casablanca

If you are traveling to Africa, North America, Brazil and Cape Verde on Royal Air Maroc's own flights with a transfer in Casablanca of more than 8 hours, the airline provides hotel accommodation for no more than one night. There is a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. If the layover is 4-8 hours, then you will be taken to the lounge and fed.
Hotel accommodation is only provided if there is no earlier flight to your destination.

Booking: early booking hotel is not possible, to receive an accommodation voucher you must contact the Services d’hebergement/Accomodation desk, presenting a printout electronic ticket, which indicates the route.

It's no secret that flights are not always direct. Very often, passengers have to fly from one country to another with a transfer in a third country: for example, in January 2018 we flew from to ours in this way hometown Samara with a transfer at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul

We go to any air ticket search service, for example, Skyskanner and enter the desired direction. For example, we are looking for tickets from Tbilisi to Samara. Enter the departure date, departure and arrival cities and click “Search”. We see several options for flights with a connection in Istanbul, we choose the most suitable one: so that the transfer is a day and as long as possible:

It is worth knowing that Pegasus airline planes arrive at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (and then fly out from there), and Turkish Airlines planes arrive at Ataturk Airport. In fact, the only difference is in the time it takes to get to the city center: from Ataturk you can get there in just half an hour (from there the metro goes to the city), while it will take an hour and a half to travel from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to the city (depending on traffic jams). We talked about how to get to the center of Istanbul from Sabiha Airport. Therefore, if you are flying with Pegasus, we recommend choosing longer connections. (UPD from April 2019: Ataturk Airport in Istanbul was closed, and instead, the world's largest airport far from the city), so getting to the center of Istanbul has now become more difficult.

What you can see in Istanbul during a layover

If your transfer takes place in Ataturk airport and you arrived on Turkish Airlines, then you are very lucky. Because in this case you are entitled to a free city tour (we will talk about it in detail in the next paragraph).

If you arrived in Sabiha airport and want to arrange a city tour on your own, it is important to calculate the time accurately. You need to allow 3 hours for the road from the airport to the city and back (read our article about that), plus another hour to check in for the next flight. In total, you need to subtract 4 hours from the transfer time. You can devote the remaining time to a walk around the city. If you did not fly with Turkish Airlines, then the plan self-guided tour may be the same as described below, but the journey from and to the airport will need to allow 2 hours instead of 4.

All the main attractions of Istanbul are close to each other, so it should take no more than 2 hours to explore them. This is subject to only an external inspection of the places, because you can inspect the Topkapi Palace alone with a harem inside for 2-3 hours:

Pierre Loti Hill and view of Istanbul

And if you want to see the best sights not only of Istanbul, but of all of Turkey, we recommend visiting. There you can enjoy the best creations of man and nature that exist on the territory of the Turkish state.

If your layover is in Istanbul, and it’s too cold to walk around the city for so long, we recommend visiting several non-trivial places where you can warm up and have an interesting time:

Free tours of Istanbul for transit passengers from Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airline transit passengers are entitled to a free city tour.

By the way, this airline provides its transit passengers and free hotel for layovers in Istanbul of more than 10 hours (for economy class passengers) or 7 hours (for business class passengers). This service is only available if the airline does not have a flight to your desired destination for 10 hours. If there is a flight, but you did not choose it (for example, because it was more expensive), then you will be provided with a hotel.

But let's get back to free excursion. It is provided to all transit passengers whose transfer in Istanbul is no less than 6 hours and no more than 24 hours. Your flight must be international and all segments of the flight must be operated by Turkish Airlines. And one more thing: the transfer must be during the day; no excursions are conducted at night.

To book an excursion, you need to go through passport and customs control on the Hotel Desk (it is located near the Starbucks cafe). You must register for the tour no later than 30 minutes before it starts.

In total, Turkish Airlines offers 5 types of city tours:

Tour 1. Time from 8:30 to 11:00. The tour includes visits to the following attractions:

Yedikule Fortress,
Old Armenian Quarter Samatya (Old Samatya Armanian District),
Walls of Constantinople,
Eminonu district,
photo stop on the Galata Bridge (10 minutes),
Dolmabahce Palace (20 minutes of free time are given for external inspection),
Taksim Square,
Galata Tower,
Golden Horn Bay,
Aqueduct of Valens,
Yenikapı port.

Tour 2. Time from 09:00 to 15:00. The tour includes free breakfast and lunch. Attractions:

Blue Mosque,
Topkapi Palace,
Hippodrome Square,
German fountain,
snake column,
Obelisk of Theodosius.

In addition to the excursion itself, the tour package includes entrance fees to the museum and meals.

Tour 3. Time 09:00 to 18:00.

Everything is the same as in tour 2, plus the Basiliqua Cistern and the Grand Bazaar.

Tour 4. Time from 12:00 to 18:00. Lunch is included in the tour.

What attractions does this include:

hill and cafe Pierre Loti
Sultan Eyup Mosque and Eyup Square
Byzantine city walls
burials of the sahabah in Ayvansaray
Vlaheran Church of the Virgin Mary
walk through the Jewish quarter of Balat
St. Stephen's Church
Ahrid Synagogue
Greek Orthodox School "Great School of the Nation"
Constantinople Orthodox Church

Tour 5. Time from 16:00 to 21:00.

The excursion includes only external sightseeing:

Yenikapı port,
Beyazet Square,
University,
Beyazet Tower,
Old book market
Grand Bazaar,
Chorlulu Ali Pasha Mosque,
Tomb of Mahmud II,
Column of Constantine,
Hippodrome Square,
German fountain,
Egyptian obelisk,
snake column,
Obelisk of Theodosius,
Blue Mosque,
Saint Sophia Cathedral.

After visiting these attractions, guests will have dinner and return to the airport.

All excursions are conducted in English.