In the following article we will show you some of the airports in Russia, we will discuss the rules to carry luggage as well as the tips to book your flight.
1. International and national airports in Russia
If you are going to Russia, you should know that there are more than 200 airports working in the territory of our country. 70 airports from them are of international importance.
The largest one in the first half of 2013 was the Domodedovo airport in Moscow, which received almost 14 million passengers. That increases passenger traffic by 12.6% compared to 2012. Slightly behind it, is the Sheremetyevo airport with 13.4 million passengers. Although according to the results of international air transport, took the first place, having accepted 8.55 million passengers. The Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg was in third place with 5.6 million passengers.
Three airports in Russia, some of which greatly increased the number of arriving tourists, included airports in Blagoveshchensk, Belgorod and Chelyabinsk. The latter is the second in terms of air traffic in the Urals after Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg.
One of the most modern airports, in addition to the Moscow city and St. Petersburg city, is Koltsovo Airport. There are shops located at the airport, which offer tourists products such as jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones, as well as original memories of birch bark, wood and even bones.
The biggest airport in East Siberia is the Irkutsk airport, which also serves tourists from neighboring cities. In addition, it is a spare airport for flights from Asia to Europe and North America. Due to its equipment, it can accept any type of aircraft.
The Nizhny Novgorod airport dates back to 1922. It is one of the oldest airports in Russia. Currently, the airport is actively updating and modernizing, till 2021.
2. Development prospects
Some airports in Russia need to be updated to meet international standards. Global events play an important role for that.
Today, Gumrak Airport is not fully equipped, but for the next global sport event, it would be. Also it is expected complete reconstruction of the terminal complex and the construction of new terminals for passengers.
In 2014, at the Murmansk airport opened a duty free shop.
3. Places of interest of the airports in Russia
Many airports in Russia have interesting objects on their territory, which allows tourists to spend interesting time waiting for departure. Therefore, the Irkutsk airport will be appreciated by Orthodox Christians: there is a small chapel on its territory.
Domodedovo Airport is recognized by the World Airport Awards as the best in Eastern Europe. On its territory, in addition to all duty-free shops and lounges, there is also a spa.
Those who believe in God also do not forget Domodedovo: there was built the chapel of Archangel Michael and for Muslims – the Safar mosque. At Sheremetyevo Airport you will find two chapels and the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
Tourists who are waiting for their departure at the airport of Nizhnevartovsk can walk along the Avenue of the Aviation team.
4. Baggage rules on flights
This is such a worrying and delicate thing, as the struggle with the earth’s gravity, every little thing matters. What can be said about the most fundamental factor? The weight of the aircraft, with this seriousness of struggle. As it is known, it consists of several components: the actual weight of the aircraft with the technical “filler”, the total weight of passengers and the weight of items taken on board by the passengers: luggage, in all its varieties. This is the last thing we’ll talk about.
It is clear that it is impossible to take with you on the board “pictures, baskets, boxes …” and without determining the weight and dimensions. The weight of the transported cargo must strictly comply with the capacity established by the manufacturer, otherwise there is a risk that everything will happen, as in the well-known joke: “Now with all this we will try to take off.”
a) Two concepts
There are two systems in the world for determining the quantity and weight of the transported luggage. The weight standard is the most common. It is used by the overwhelming number of airlines on the absolute majority of flights. It is based on the total weight of all luggage carried by a passenger on board in the cargo compartment of the aircraft and its cabin. As for the quantitative rule, it is used mainly on transatlantic flights and includes the number of pieces of luggage carried by the traveler. Truly, there is an important warning: each piece of luggage should not exceed 32 kg in weight, that is, the weight also is still taken into account.
b) Weight standard
From the point of view of determining the baggage allowance, airlines tend to follow their policies. As a rule, without an additional payment for a passenger and a child over 2 years old, you can bring:
- The first class: 40 kg
- The business class: 30 kg
- The economy class: 20 kg.
However, there are exceptions to the rules: for example, Turkish Airlines allows transporting 30 kg of luggage in economy class on separate flights, and during Istanbul shopping festivals this type usually tends to increase to 40 kg. The standard of free baggage allowance for a child under 2 years old without providing a separate seat is 10 kg. The standard of free baggage allowance is always indicated in the electronic ticket in the “Bag” column.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account the size of luggage, one thing is to take books on board (20 kg is easy to “take out” in a small suitcase), and the other is the weight of down pillows of the same size: a giant suitcase is needed. Therefore, airlines have also imposed restrictions on overall dimensions, which are the sum of the three dimensions of their suitcas – in the first and business class: 203 cm and in economy class: 158 cm.
In the passenger cabin of the aircraft, luggage of no more than 115 cm is allowed. You can determine whether the bag is suitable for you in a special “calibration device” of a metal form. The rules for handling it are simple – if your bag fits in a “frame”, then the bag is of an acceptable size.
If the weight of the luggage exceeds the standard of free transport, “extra” kilograms are paid according to the airline’s tariffs.
Important point: low cost airlines (so-called “low-cost”) establish their own baggage allowance, which differs from those generally accepted in the smaller part. Some carriers do not have a free fee transportation at all, any luggage must be paid additionally. In charter flights the rate is determined by the charterer of the aircraft, as a rule, not less than 20 kg, and in some cases whole 30.
c) Quantitative rule
On transatlantic flights, a passenger of any type has the right to carry 2 pieces of baggage free of charge, each of which does not exceed 32 kg. If the suitcase turns out to be heavier than this standard, you will have to pay extra for the advantage, even if the second suitcase weighs less than 32 kg. The sum of the three dimensions of each place is identical to the sum in the standard weight: not more than 203 cm for the first and business class and not more than 158 cm for the economy class.
If you need to carry big luggage, you must agree in advance with the airline company, preferably at the stage of booking the ticket, before it is paid. In popular tourist destinations, light weights are used for certain types of luggage, for example, you can easily take a surfboard to the Seychelles and go skiing to Courchevel.
d) What can you take in the cabin for free?
- Woman’s purse
- Plastic bag
- Bouquet of flowers
- Scarf or blanket
- Umbrella
- Small video or photo camera
- Binoculars
- Laptop
- A book for reading
- Baby carriage
- A small bag with food
e) Non-standard luggage
Particularly valuable, fragile and unusual big luggage has to be transported in the cabin of the aircraft with the mandatory purchase of a separate ticket (and, at normal prices, without discounts and special offers).
However, by agreement with the airline company, such baggage can be transported in the cargo bay of the aircraft, it all depends on each specific case.
f) List of prohibited items and substances
A complete list of prohibited items and substances can be found in the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. In general, it is forbidden to take with you on board:
- Firearms and gas.
- Explosives and explosive substances.
- Compressed and liquefied gases.
- Flammable liquids.
- Flammable solids.
- Poisonous and narcotic substances.
- Other substances, objects and dangerous goods that may be used to commit an act of unlawful interference.
The rules for confiscating these items and substances from a passenger are summarized below. If the possession of this item or substance is not prohibited by law, it is confiscated from the passenger with the relevant law and transferred to the accompanying passenger at the airport. If the possession is illegal, the passenger is removed from the trip and, together with these items or substances, is transferred to the law enforcement organisms.
5. How to book flights?
There are convenient systems for quick search of airline tickets around the world. Some even work with more than 700 airlines, agencies, and booking systems, at no extra cost or service charges. The advantage of buying airline tickets is a great selection of flight options and the best prices. From Moscow to St. Petersburg or to the islands of Reunion in Madagascar, no matter which direction you choose, some are guaranteed to find a flight at the best price.
A simple instruction will help you find easily the right airline ticket via Internet in this case.
We recommend you a flight search site www.momondo.com
Fill the form
You will need to fill in the form you are requesting with the necessary data according to the airline used.
A little bit of waiting
The system is looking for the air ticket you need. So you have to be patien.
Search results
Here you can find the best offers on the tickets and the necessary route.
You will see the “Low Price Calendar” – and the most favorable rates for each day in the selected month of your trip. A great way to save money on flexible travel dates.
Later you should open the list of airports located near the search.
Choose the best price
Everything is simple here, the most profitable option will usually be the first one. Pay attention to the airport and the departure time, as well as the duration of the flight, if available, and choose the most convenient option. Now you must “buy” the one that you have already chosen. In some occasions, the price of the plane ticket may differ slightly from the original one. This happens if during the time of our thinking someone had bought it. In this case, they will offer you another option.
Air ticket booking
You are on the company’s website, from where you will get an air ticket. Here you have to fill in the details of passenger (or passengers), choose the payment method and provide contact information such as a phone number and email address. This address must be valid, since in the next few minutes you will receive a reservation confirmation with all the details of the order and the contacts of the airline ticket seller.
If the confirmation letter did not come, look in the “Spam”, perhaps, without merit it fell into the “trash” folder.
Along with the air ticket, you can buy an insurance policy against lost luggage, flight delays or accidents – for this you need to check the related information.
Booking confirmation
You have checked your email and you have found a confirmation email. It is worth to check once again the data specified in it. If everything is correct, the task can be considered successful. If you have found some inaccuracies, be sure to contact the agency where you have bought the plane ticket, specifying your contact information in the letter.
Pay the air ticket
You can pay for your ticket in several ways. The most common way is to do it with a bank card. Visa or MasterCard, as well as special virtual cards of various systems designed for online payments. In the appropriate fields, enter the card number, the expiration date, the name of the owner (Latin letters as indicated on the card) and the CVC code (3 numbers on the back of the “plastic”).
Congratulations! The payment was successfull.
