Sheremtyevo

[lee b 2]

Has anyone been there since they opened terminal E? I have always gone through Domo and this will be my first experience with Sheremetyevo. Also does anyone know if the new terminals are all connected and how easy it is to get from terminal f to d? Thanks guys for any help.

[slim 1,525]

Not sure. Last I heard they'd improved the terminal-to-terminal bus service tremendously so I'm guessing that means they're not connected.

[Neonred 3,562]

Have not been there in a few years, but you might look at the map on this page http://www.worldtravelguide.net/airport/245/airport_guide/Europe/Sheremetyevo-International-Airport.html

Looks like the major change is the new terminal and the relocation of various airlines to new/different terminals.

[lee b 2]

Thanks guys. I already have tickets for my connecting flight, but I have a 14 hour layover, but if I can get my bags, clear customs and make it to terminal D in less than 2.5 hours I can change my flight and avoid the ridiculous layover. My plan was to O.J. the terminals (run through not kill people)and not mess with the buses if it was possible. I guess I'll just have to take my chances when I get there and hope that 14 hours in an airport is more fun than I remember.

Does anybody know of a good place to grab a drink at Sheremetyevo while I sit in the seventh circle of hell?

[Neonred 3,562]

Thanks guys. I already have tickets for my connecting flight, but I have a 14 hour layover, but if I can get my bags, clear customs and make it to terminal D in less than 2.5 hours I can change my flight and avoid the ridiculous layover. My plan was to O.J. the terminals (run through not kill people)and not mess with the buses if it was possible. I guess I'll just have to take my chances when I get there and hope that 14 hours in an airport is more fun than I remember.

Does anybody know of a good place to grab a drink at Sheremetyevo while I sit in the seventh circle of hell?

I used to clear customs in terminal 2 and make it over to terminal 1 in much less than 2.5 hours in the old days including the bus or taxi ride. Looks like terminal D is much closer (they were building it last time I was there). I think you should make it without problems.

[elya 17]

I was hoping you could get some more up-to-date info - but for what it's worth, I was in Sheremetyevo in January of this year, construction was still underway to connect the two terminals (i don't remember the letters, but it was from the "old" terminal to the "new" terminal). So you had to walk outside a ways to get from one to the other, but it wasn't too far and you could easily navigate with a luggage cart. Signage is surprisingly good there, especially for Russia, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Sometimes checking in and getting through registration in the old terminal can be a hassle (especially if it's a busy time like holiday season) so my only tip would be to get in line ASAP, even before registration officially opens, if you have a chance. Also - dress light or in layers! They may have sufficient air conditioning in the new terminal, but I doubt it. And with these record temps...

If you do get stuck, definitely stay in the "new" terminal (I guess that would be E) for your layover time, it's much more comfortable and many more options for drinks/dining/shopping.

[sanuginz 0]

I just went there in June / July. It was the worst experience. All I knew going in was I had to go from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 or vice versa. I got on the plane in JFK and it seemed like I was the only American on the flight, which in hindsight is probably a bad thing because most likely you will not get help upon landing if this is the case. I landed and they had 2 passport lines - one for diplomat and one for Russian Union citizens. I'm not a diplomat so I waited in the Russian line and the customs lady was mean as all out to me for getting in the "wrong" line. My wife yelled something back to her and the policewoman just shook her head and stamped my passport. There was no line for customs after a long wait for luggage.- about 1 hour. Then as soon as I left customs there was 20-30 taxi "salesmen" trying to get our business. Yes, Moscow invented the profession taxi salesman because it is such a profitable enterprise to be a taxi driver there. We asked the Aeroflot desk (15 feet to the diagonal left of the customs exit) where we needed to go because there were no computer screens, no people to help at all. Within each terminal 1 and 2 there are subsets terminals A, B in 1 and D,E,F in 2 or something like that. You must tell the taxi driver what specific subset terminal you need which nobody on the forum informed me of and it would have helped because I really had no clue when landing. The aeroflot woman told us to go to terminal E I think. We got with a taxi salesman who agreed on $60 and he got on the cell and took us to his Buddie's cab. We went to terminal E I think which was rather modern looking and after going inside with 200 pounds luggage our flight was not on the computer screen. The Aeroflot lady not only didn't know what terminal for us to go to, she gave us outright the wrong info. We asked a security guard who just told us to go to Aeroflot customer service which we did. After waiting 10 minutes in line the Aeroflot help desk could not tell us what terminal to go to either. So then we had to get another taxi and take our chances on finding the right terminal. If you ask anybody in the airport they will not help or give you bad info. You cannot trust the employees, moscuvites, or security guards. Most will just shake there head and say I don't know. So I decided to follow the signs pictures of taxi cab which lead 2 floors downstairs again running with 200 lbs of luggage. The signs led to no taxis just a construction area and parked cars. What the F*. Now we are stranded with no one to help and only a 3.5 hour layover.

Then out of the blue a taxi salesman appeared and he charged $80, with him being the only one around we quickly agreed. He took us upstairs outside to the taxi and we said "you do this everyday take us to the terminal you think is right". He took us to some run down soviet era crappy terminal. There is no electric door and obtrusive curbs. Terrible to fit 3 50 lbs. bags through when in a hurry and stressed. It turned out to be the right airport which was total luck. We arrived just in time for takeoff and the check in people said 8 others missed the transfer flight coming from New York.

My flight coming was a completely different story. After landing and picking up luggage there were people dressed in black with no badges or description of who they are. They turned out to be airport employees and they are by far more helpful than Aeroflot employees. I was skeptical to trust the airport employees at first when they said get on the bus (in russsian of course) but my wife convinced me to try and I was thinking it's another wild goose chase. The bus took a shortcut and we were in the right terminal in 20 minutes for free! I had 2 completely different experiences and it is like taking a ####### shoot - you never know what you'll get. I can tell I will never transfer in Moscow Sherametyevo again unless I absolutely must. I hope this helps some.

[slim 1,525]

they said get on the bus (in russsian of course) but my wife convinced me to try and I was thinking it's another wild goose chase. The bus took a shortcut and we were in the right terminal in 20 minutes for free!

I've also heard this is the way to do it. If you "go with the flow" and get on the bus, you'll be fine.

[Steve S 2]

I have navigated the buses a couple of times between the old "1" and "2", and in January between the lettered terminals. I do think it is easier now, but the details escape me because it has been awhile and I was in a bit of a fog. Agreed, the experience is likely to be quite variable from one trip to another, and nightmare experiences like sanuginz's abound. Try to preserve a sense of humor and adventure through it all. You can get cocktails at TGI Friday's -- they have friendly service.

[EddieLovesLiana 1]

I am very worried right now. I just booked tickets for Liana's first flight in her life. She is flying on Aeroflot from Kiev to Sheremetyevo to New York with a 4 hour layover there. I hope she does not get lost. I should have bought a direct flight with Aerosvit!!! Please someone give this thread some more input, and hopefully positive ones. I am about to change her tickets if it is that bad. I assumed that having her fly on Aeroflot and transferring in Sheremetyevo would be easy because of the language, but this sounds like a nightmare.

[EddieLovesLiana 1]

We went to terminal E I think which was rather modern looking and after going inside with 200 pounds luggage our flight was not on the computer screen.

Are you saying that they won't automatically load baggage to the connecting flight there? Everyone has to pickup their luggage, go through customs, and then play a russian roulette with the terminals? Do Ukrainians need a visa just to get through the airport there?

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Are you saying that they won't automatically load baggage to the connecting flight there? Everyone has to pickup their luggage, go through customs, and then play a russian roulette with the terminals? Do Ukrainians need a visa just to get through the airport there?

Eddie,

Do not worry so much. For somebody who speaks Russian it will surely be a piece of cake. People in Sheremetevo like to take advantage of "innocent tourists." But if you show that you can handle yourself, they are actually helpful.

I am USC with basic knowledge of Russian. I have been in Sheremetevo many times (last one in July 2008 when I went to visit my now wife) and I have NEVER paid more than $35 for a taxi, even to downtown Moscow.

Four years ago I got stranded in terminal one at night, because my friend's plane was delayed and I waited past the time of the last Marchroutka to Rechnoi Vokzal, so I had to search for a taxi back to Moscow. All drivers wanted to charge the "tourist" (that's me with my broken Russian) up to 3,000 Roubles for the ride, but I set my limit at 1,000. It took patience until I found one who found a friend willing to take me for that much.

Tell your wife to speak Russian and be assertive, and she will have no problems. Last time I was there there were two buses from one side to the other. One bus is related to the train and the other to Aeroflot. As a "tourist" you can easily get the Aeroflot one, but you need to know where to get the corresponding ticket (a woman gives tickets at one of the counters). That is in addition to the normal city bus and the Marchroutka.

Your wife should find her way easily because she speaks Russian. Tell her to talk only to airport personnel and no to the taxi salesmen. She will certainly have to take her luggage, unless Aeroflot changed its procedures lately. As a Ukrainian there is no need for visa.

Did I say that I never had problems in Sheremetevo? I like it more than Domodedovo, where I did pay around $60 for a taxi. Domodedovo is too far. But now they are all connected to the city by Aeroexpress, a train that runs until midnight (that taxi time my plane was delayed past midnight, a common occurrence at Domodedovo). In Sheremetevo our landing has never been delayed. Only delays suffered have happened at take off.

[slim 1,525]

My wife made it through there with no problems on her way here.

[sanuginz 0]

I've also heard this is the way to do it. If you "go with the flow" and get on the bus, you'll be fine.

Actually "the flow" took their bags and went outside. Only 2 other girls went back up the stairs to the runways on the bus with us.

She is flying on Aeroflot from Kiev to Sheremetyevo to New York with a 4 hour layover there. I assumed that having her fly on Aeroflot and transferring in Sheremetyevo would be easy because of the language, but this sounds like a nightmare.

I heard that some Ukrainian flights do not require an airport or terminal change. Hopefully this is the case but there is no way to know absolutely for sure. Ukrainians do not need a transient visa.

Are you saying that they won't automatically load baggage to the connecting flight there? Everyone has to pickup their luggage, go through customs, and then play a russian roulette with the terminals?

No they will not change bags for you. In fact they started charging another $100 for your second checked bag upon departure even if it's not overweight. I still do not know how to find the proper terminal once you get off the plane. To me this is the worst part of the whole process going through Sherametyevo.

Eddie,

Do not worry so much. For somebody who speaks Russian it will surely be a piece of cake. People in Sheremetevo like to take advantage of "innocent tourists." But if you show that you can handle yourself, they are actually helpful.

I am USC with basic knowledge of Russian. I have been in Sheremetevo many times (last one in July 2008 when I went to visit my now wife) and I have NEVER paid more than $35 for a taxi, even to downtown Moscow.

Your wife should find her way easily because she speaks Russian. Tell her to talk only to airport personnel and no to the taxi salesmen. She will certainly have to take her luggage, unless Aeroflot changed its procedures lately. As a Ukrainian there is no need for visa.

Did I say that I never had problems in Sheremetevo? I like it more than Domodedovo, where I did pay around $60 for a taxi. Domodedovo is too far.

My wife speaks fluent Russian and all this bad stuff still happened. Others here have had the same scenario agree. I would worry because you want to be prepared for the worst. There is no guarantee. Don't "expect" to get a good price for a taxi. If it happens good luck for you, but don't "expect it. Trust airport employees first, then taxi drivers, then security guards, then average people, then aeroflot employees last.

[Terry&Tigger 4]

http://www.svo.aero/en/

http://www.svo.aero/en/between-terminals/south/