To those about to fly to R/U/B

[Brad and Vika 129]

OK...latest update.

Alla's flight out was delayed from 7pm until midnight before it left. They DID tell her early enough that she got to enjoy a day in NYC. The plane was late arriving at JFK so she did not get stuck waiting in the airplane. Due to volcanic ash, the flight was delayed leaving Kiev to NYC.

Alla was re-booked on the late flight to Donetsk tomorrow night for no additional fee. seems that way anyway. She did get a seat assignment and boarding pass for the next leg of the trip on the late flight to Donetsk. I think the difference is that she is flying Aerosvit all the way. she is not taking the Delta flight to Kiev. The Aerosvit plane to NYC was delayed and the reason she was late leaving is bercause Aerosvit did not have a plane there.

At any rate, we will see what happens tomorrow, she is in the air now.

Safe travels to Alla - and party at Gary's house

[AKguy 1]

Dibs on the lamp shade!

[visaveteran 0]

Thanks for the tip. We'll have to try that cut in line for $20 bribe then StFU trick. LOL

I saw someone attempt to cut in line and he got the sh!t kicked out of him by some angry people. Everyone is tired and tempers are short. And there are no visible guards or police around to rescue anyone quickly. The passport control is no-man's land and very chaotic. Hard to tell one line from another. You can stand for 15 minutes thinking your in a real line and realize you're not. I'd be very careful cutting in line even for money. The people behind get no money and you're making them wait longer. I know I'd be angry.

Have fun!

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

I saw someone attempt to cut in line and he got the sh!t kicked out of him by some angry people. Everyone is tired and tempers are short. And there are no visible guards or police around to rescue anyone quickly. The passport control is no-man's land and very chaotic. Hard to tell one line from another. You can stand for 15 minutes thinking your in a real line and realize you're not. I'd be very careful cutting in line even for money. The people behind get no money and you're making them wait longer. I know I'd be angry.

Have fun!

The "VIP service" I am familair with does not cause anyone else to wait longer. It completely bypasses the customs process. It is nothing but a $40 bribe to be personally escorted around the line, through the office and back out into the baggage area. I sincerely doubt anyone else would even be aware it was occuring.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Dibs on the lamp shade!

I have a sombrero and road sign for you also.

Actually I stopped at the grocery on the way home from the airport...there is diet Pepsi in the frig, Tater Tots, Goober Grape, Arizona Iced tea (Pasha's) Italian sausage links (Yeeee Haaaa!) I threw out all the stinky fish! I left dishes in the SINK all night until this morning!!!!!!!!! No one died!!!!!!!!! We are making sub sandwiches for lunch and tonight we are going to PIG OUT at a Chinese BUFFET!!!!!!!

Don't tell Alla.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Safe travels to Alla - and party at Gary's house

I got an email that she is in Kiev and all is OK, she was booked for a 9pm flight to Donetsk, so she should be flying there now. No extra charge for the flight change BUT she did book her flight with Aerosvit from start to finish. She had flown a separate flight on JetBlue to NYC in the early morning. It was her plan to dump her baggage and spend the day in NYC, which turned into a very long day and I am sure she had a great time.

[shikarnov 7]

The "VIP service" I am familair with does not cause anyone else to wait longer. It completely bypasses the customs process. It is nothing but a $40 bribe to be personally escorted around the line, through the office and back out into the baggage area. I sincerely doubt anyone else would even be aware it was occuring.

I TOTALLY need to try this next time... I'd happily spend even $100 to bypass the lines at Passport Control... How does one go about this? Just approach a uniformed person and say "I'd like to get through the line faster. Can you help?" and hand over a Benjamin?

Edited May 16, 2010 by shikarnov

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

I TOTALLY need to try this next time... I'd happily spend even $100 to bypass the lines at Passport Control... How does one go about this? Just approach a uniformed person and say "I'd like to get through the line faster. Can you help?" and hand over a Benjamin?

You can try that. I the past I was approached by them. DO NOT tell them you will be happy to pay $100. The going rate in the past was $40 tops and that was on a busy day. IF you want to initiate it, do so with a $20. Go from there.

[Brad and Vika 129]

You can try that. I the past I was approached by them. DO NOT tell them you will be happy to pay $100. The going rate in the past was $40 tops and that was on a busy day. IF you want to initiate it, do so with a $20. Go from there.

VIP is $120 now.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

VIP is $120 now.

Oh, what the...

See what happoens when they say "I would gladly pay $100..." I never used it anyway.

[Brad and Vika 129]

VIP is $120 now.

A little further explanation,now that Vika isn't hanging over me asking when we are going to run errands

VIP is a prepay service in most airports in Eastern Europe. I swear by it, and use it most of the time when flying solo. In Odessa and Kiev, the service is around $80 if you pay direct, and $120 if you pay a transport service or rental agency in conjunction with your ride in from the airport. They have a separate waiting area, and VIP employees actually get your boarding passes and check your luggage (or fetch your checked bags on arrival). There is a separate passport control and customs office, and the questions and inspections are minimal. Here is an example of a company in Odessa that does VIP, rents apartments, has an English speaking staff, and provides airport transport supposedly free Odessa Exec. Suites.

In Kiev, you may also be approached by an airline or airport employee that offers VIP check in service for $20-$40. This is not the service I described above, but simply a line cutting for a bribe scheme. As mentioned above it does work, and yes it does irritate the rest of the line. We used it.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Brad and Vika

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

A little further explanation,now that Vika isn't hanging over me asking when we are going to run errands

VIP is a prepay service in most airports in Eastern Europe. I swear by it, and use it most of the time when flying solo. In Odessa and Kiev, the service is around $80 if you pay direct, and $120 if you pay a transport service or rental agency in conjunction with your ride in from the airport. They have a separate waiting area, and VIP employees actually get your boarding passes and check your luggage (or fetch your checked bags on arrival). There is a separate passport control and customs office, and the questions and inspections are minimal. Here is an example of a company in Odessa that does VIP, rents apartments, has an English speaking staff, and provides airport transport supposedly free Odessa Exec. Suites.

In Kiev, you may also be approached by an airline or airport employee that offers VIP check in service for $20-$40. This is not the service I described above, but simply a line cutting for a bribe scheme. As mentioned above it does work, and yes it does irritate the rest of the line. We used it.

I think you told me about this Brad. I never used it but I have been approached by "officials" in Kiev and offered to avoid the line for $40. I never did it, but I watched people that did and the guy took them through an office off to the side and then I saw the people coming out the other side into the baggage area. They didn't seem to hinder anyone else and if you didn;lt know what was going on you would never even know it happened. I guess I have never been in that much of a hurry to get through customs so I never tried it.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I think you told me about this Brad. I never used it but I have been approached by "officials" in Kiev and offered to avoid the line for $40. I never did it, but I watched people that did and the guy took them through an office off to the side and then I saw the people coming out the other side into the baggage area. They didn't seem to hinder anyone else and if you didn;lt know what was going on you would never even know it happened. I guess I have never been in that much of a hurry to get through customs so I never tried it.

Gary, the VIP service in Odessa has separate doors, and a separate building. You won't see the clients after they get into the VIP van for the ride to the VIP terminal. Some one fetches your bags and brings them to you while you fill out the declaration. I even lost my declaration receipt once, and they just laughed and told me to be more careful next time. Same treatment when I brought four bottles of whiskey once. No questions, no hassles. And we talked about the HUGE hassle I had my first time through. It isn't the speed, but the no-hassle entry that I like.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Gary, the VIP service in Odessa has separate doors, and a separate building. You won't see the clients after they get into the VIP van for the ride to the VIP terminal. Some one fetches your bags and brings them to you while you fill out the declaration. I even lost my declaration receipt once, and they just laughed and told me to be more careful next time. Same treatment when I brought four bottles of whiskey once. No questions, no hassles. And we talked about the HUGE hassle I had my first time through. It isn't the speed, but the no-hassle entry that I like.

Never used it and never paid attention to it. I rode the bus into the terminal and waited while the cocker spaniels sniffed my bags for a place to pee. I never had any problem bringing anything into Ukraine and never had my bags checked or any hassels, ever. I don't think I have ever been so much as asked a question. I brought all kinds of stuff, including computers for Alla and Sergey and never had a question asked. I did cause a near riot in Istanbul once for having two bottles of vodka (gifts) in my checked bag. They took it from me Brad! Two bottles of the finest Ukrainian potato vodka you could buy for 8 Hryvnia! And THAT was when the Hryvnia was worth something!

[Brad and Vika 129]

The only problem I have had in VIP was that time I left with two pounds of Turkish Delight in my bag. Apparently the candy looks like explosives when scanned Lots of hassles in the regular customs area though. I must have one of those weak looking faces. Lots of trouble around currency - and had to take my money out - count it, declare it, etc. even when it was always well below the legal limit.