Transiting through Europe

[katie & sifa 25]

Hi all,

I'm looking at flights for my fiance to come to the US at the end of February. I had found a great deal on British Airways but have been told by the British High Commission in Kenya that although a transit visa is NOT required for him by the government in the UK, British Airways most likely won't let him on the plane without one. Since it would be a pain for him to go back to Nairobi and go through the process (plus pay over $100!) to get a transit visa for the privilege of sitting in Heathrow for a few hours, I was wondering if anyone had any experience transiting through either Zurich or Paris. Did you have to pay for a transit visa coming from an African country?? Any issues when boarding the plane without one?

The flights would either be SWISS to Zurich or Kenya Airways to Paris.

[joej 0]

We did not go through Zurich or Paris, rather we do go through Amsterdam, and neither of us need a transit visa.

[katie & sifa 25]

That is normally what I do too, on KLM, but KLM wants to charge me close to $3000 for a ticket originating in Nairobi and I refuse to pay that when I can get a one way flight through Zurich for $1300.

We did not go through Zurich or Paris, rather we do go through Amsterdam, and neither of us need a transit visa.

[joej 0]

That is normally what I do too, on KLM, but KLM wants to charge me close to $3000 for a ticket originating in Nairobi and I refuse to pay that when I can get a one way flight through Zurich for $1300.

Wow that is alot. I hear Ghana has direct flights to JFK directly from Acra. Any chance he can fly to another African country first?

[katie & sifa 25]

Wow that is alot. I hear Ghana has direct flights to JFK directly from Acra. Any chance he can fly to another African country first?

Possibly. For some reason I can't get the Kenya Airways website to go through for me here at work to check on flights to Accra...I'll have to check from home. Thanks for the idea!

Anyone else with transiting experiences?

[reeses16 8]

Ethiopian Airlines files directly from Addis Ababa to Dulles airport in Washington DC (Well they refuel in Rome, but passengers do not exit the plane). This might be another option if you choose to have him fly out of another African Country.

I'm a bit confused, is he in Kenya still? I would guess it would be cheaper to just pay the $100 fee for a transit visa (certainly cheaper than a flight to Ethiopia or Ghana).

[katie & sifa 25]

Ethiopian Airlines files directly from Addis Ababa to Dulles airport in Washington DC (Well they refuel in Rome, but passengers do not exit the plane). This might be another option if you choose to have him fly out of another African Country.

I'm a bit confused, is he in Kenya still? I would guess it would be cheaper to just pay the $100 fee for a transit visa (certainly cheaper than a flight to Ethiopia or Ghana).

Yes he's still in Kenya. I'm going to book him on a flight with Swiss Air. The consulate and airline and everything I've read online said he won't need a transit visa to go through Switzerland. The flight is pretty much the same price as the BA flight.

My issue with getting the transit visa for the UK isn't the cost, it's just that it's more hassle. My fiance doesn't live in Nairobi and won't be back there until about a week before his flight. He could make a special trip, but he has other things to do now that he'll be moving here, and it's an 8 hour bus ride to Nairobi for him! I'd like to avoid making him do that if at all possible.

Thanks for the help everyone