Many tourists, when planning a trip, do not even consider buying airline tickets for a connecting flight. This is a huge mistake! Today we will tell you about all the advantages of such flights and give answers to the most popular questions. Also, a lot of trouble and unnecessary worries awaits tourists at the airport, because they have to check in, check in luggage, go through passport control, etc. We will convince you that flights, even with a stopover, can go smoothly and comfortably.
Finding and buying a cheap plane ticket is a difficult task, but doable. We have prepared detailed instructions: How to buy a skyscanner ticket.
What are the flights
Flights can be international or domestic. They can also be with transfer and docking. Transfer and connection can be carried out from domestic flights to international and from international to domestic.
One more point: the entire flight can be performed by one airline, but it may also be such that first you fly on the plane of one airline, and at the point of transit you transfer to the plane of another airline and at the same time, you buy one ticket. This is called a connecting flight. Typically, both of these airlines are part of the same alliance or have an interline agreement. If you buy your own tickets from different places and from different air carriers, then this is a connecting flight.
How to return a plane ticket - a detailed life hack.
Advantages of air tickets with a transfer and connection
The biggest advantage is simply crazy savings. Often the price difference is not 3-5 thousand rubles, but reaches 50%. Excellent discount and best offer for budget travelers.
In addition to savings, such flights provide a unique opportunity to explore, albeit briefly, a new country. If you have thought of everything in advance, have issued a visa for a transit country, then you can safely leave the airport and go sightseeing. There are countries where a transit visa is not required. Just return to the airport in time to go through control. In the UAE, if you have a visa, you can also safely leave the airport. This can be done in any country, just be sure to specify in advance whether you need to get a visa.
[tp_calendar_widget origin = MOW destination = AER responsive = true]
Transit tourism is highly developed at many international airports. On the spot, you can order a sightseeing tour of the garden, you just need to indicate the return time. There are even night tours. Some airlines offer these services to their passengers absolutely free of charge. Isn't it cool?
If you suddenly lost your boarding pass, then in our article you will learn how to recover it.
Check-in and baggage drop-off
Check-in for a flight at the airport usually starts 2-3 hours before the flight and ends 40 minutes. We recommend not to be late to avoid unnecessary problems. You need to find your flight on the board, next to it there will be information at which counters you can check in. At the counter, you must present your passport (for international flights) and an air ticket (it can also be electronic if you made a purchase online). There is a special weighing tape near the counter where you need to put your luggage. After weighing it, the manager attaches tags to it and sends it on a "trip".
Since you have a connecting flight, you yourself can specify where you want to collect your luggage - at the connecting point or at the final point of your arrival. If the waiting time for the next flight does not exceed 24 hours, then feel free to name the destination. This is if the ticket was purchased at a time, that is, in one place and all your transfers are reflected in one ticket.
If you purchased tickets for different flights in different places, then there is no guarantee that these two air carriers are somehow connected with each other, which means that the baggage will have to be collected and re-registered during transit.
Now get your boarding pass with the departure time, flight number, seats on the plane and boarding gate number. It remains to go through passport and customs control, and you can enjoy your trip. Important! Do not be too lazy to take a few things in your carry-on luggage, because your luggage can get lost.
We also recommend that you read the overview - what can be carried in carry-on baggage.
Transit zone
When you arrive in the destination country, there is no need to panic. If in Russia you have been given boarding passes for all flights, then just get off the plane, go to the board, see which exit you need and follow the signs for Transit or Connection flights.
If you need a new boarding pass, proceed to the registration or transit registration counter. If you need to get your baggage, then pick it up and drop it again. If the check-in line is too long, and you are afraid of not being in time, then shout that you have a Short Connection and try to get to the counter first. If passengers with all their appearance show that they are not happy with this and do not allow them to pass, look for any employee and try to act through him.
If you are flying from Russia with a stopover in Europe, you will need to go through passport control and security screening. If you have water or alcohol purchased in Duty Free with you, then you will have to leave it all here. Important! Keep in mind that even if you are flying in transit, in many countries you need to apply for a visa (transit). Check the information on the websites of the Consulate or Visa Application Center of the country where the transfer will take place.
Before departure, we recommend that you study the airport map in advance, or rather print it.
How to buy a ticket for air sales: instructions, tips on our website.
Transfer time (transit)
Everything here is individual - from several minutes (40-50) to several hours, or even days. Many fear that they may miss their flight if the transfer is less than an hour. From personal experience I can say that it is quite possible to be in time. We checked in in Warsaw for a flight to Amsterdam in 45 minutes. Of course, they are very slow and I had to get nervous, but everything went smoothly. But it is better if the transit time is 2-4 hours. You should not refuse a long transit, even if the waiting time is 17-19 hours. We have already told you what you can do.
What to do if your flight is delayed (late for a connection)
If you did not have time to transfer to the next flight in the transit zone due to the fault of the airline (and you have the same ticket), then you should not even worry. They are required to put you on the next flight for free. If there are no necessary flights on that day, then you, again free of charge, will be provided with a hotel room. If there is still time for the transfer. But very little, then the staff will meet you at the plane and, without queuing, will lead you through control and other instances.
If you have bought tickets for flights from different airlines and in different places, then here all responsibility for both luggage and transfer falls on you. If you don't have time, you will have to buy a new ticket. Therefore, be sure to look, when buying, that the airport of arrival and the next departure is the same. Or book a decent connection time to get there.
Conclusions
- Flights with connecting and transferring are profitable and convenient, but when choosing, give preference to connecting flights. So you can get your baggage at the final point and not worry about flight delays. All responsibility rests with the airline.
- In order not to waste time on receiving and re-registering baggage, if it is impossible to send it immediately to the final destination, give preference to hand baggage. It's always best to carry your own stuff with you.
- If the connection or transfer is long, do not sit at the airport. Book a sightseeing tour or explore the city on your own. The main thing is to return to the airport on time.
Check in advance if you need to apply for a transit visa.
Successful flights and vivid impressions!
Don't know how and where to buy cheap flights? Read our life hack. We hacked the system!
