I’m thinking of booking a flight on Aeroflot from JFK to Mumbai, India with a layover in Moscow Sheremetyevo (Terminal 2).
Looking around the intarweb, I’ve seen tons of reviews of Sheremetyevo that range from simply inconvenient (overpriced food, having to go through customs and collect your baggage, then recheck your baggage) to downright scary (stolen luggage, items stolen from luggage, tourists being arrested so as to collect a bribe). If it matters, I don’t speak Russian (except a few choice words that wouldn’t help my situation).
Hopefully someone on the board has flown into Sheremetyevo, and perhaps only done so as a layover. Should I spend the extra $500 per ticket to avoid this place? Going to India involves a 9 hour layover, the return is only 1 hour.
TIA.
I’ve flown both to and from Sheremetyevo. Didn’t spend more time there than I had to, but I didn’t have any bad experiences.
Now, the security is excessive, and the bureaucracy is a quagmire, but those two things go for Russia as a whole. Ditto for hassling tourists for bribes. Not speaking Russian is hardly a plus either. However, if you’re American, you should be all right. Keep your passport with you and if the police or security officers ask, just make it clear that you are American. If you’re hassled, call the American embassy. They will back off.
“Neh panimaya” means “I do not understand”. “Jeh no gavarú paruski” means “I do not speak Russian”. You might find the phrases useful.
All in all, I would never ever spend $500 to avoid Sheremetyevo.
I’ve never been near the place (although as I type this I realise my sister has). I’ve been browsing for flights to Hong Kong (to visit another relative), and ignored without any question anything which involved Aeroflot or Moscow. Unfortunately, Priceguy’s description of Sheremetyevo makes me think I’m doing the right thing. Would I rather a connection in Schipol or Dubai for the extra cash? Damn right.
It’s been over ten years since I had the pleasure, so I suppose my impressions are out of date. If it is still undergoing renovations, that’s a sure sign of something or another.
After having gone through dozens of US airports and eight European ones, I still rank Sheremetyevo as the #2 most confusing airport I have ever been in (SFO is #1).
Also, the vodka at the duty-free shop was not even appreciably cheaper than anywhere else.