Transit flight: what you need to know about connecting abroad

Travelers who often use air travel know that the final destination can be reached both by direct flight
and with transfers. At the same time, the need for docking is not always dictated by the flight range.
Most often this is a way to save money on the ticket price.
At the same time, depending on the selected flight, there may be several landings and takeoffs. After
landing, the passenger is invited to change one aircraft to another. It is for this reason that novice
travelers have a lot of questions about transit flight, about what you need to know about changing
abroad. With all the subtleties of docking in foreign airports, let’s try to understand this material.
What is transit and types of transfer?
 Transit or transfer flight
 Connecting flight
 Transfer flight
 What else you need to know during a transit flight
 Transfer zone
 Is it possible to leave the transit (transfer) zone
 Transit visa – is there a need for it?
 Do I need to pick up my baggage?
 Tips for beginners
What is transit and types of transfer
Before delving into the essence of the issue, you should understand the basic flight terminology. For
example, when purchasing a ticket, you need to take into account the difference in concepts – docking
and transfer.

Transit or transfer flight

This is a flight that can be served by one or more airlines belonging to a common group. As a rule, such
flights do not require additional security or boarding passes at the connecting airport.
But situations are different, especially if international flights are made. Some air terminals require
passengers to undergo additional security and passport control.
All transit flights are divided into two types:

• docking;
• interchange.

Connecting flight

A connection is an air flight for which one ticket is purchased from a particular airline. That is, here the
carrier itself deals with all the nuances, since the landing-transfer will take place at the “home” airport.
The passenger receives a ticket that has no difference from the document involving a direct flight
without transfers. It just puts a mark on the number of flights.
Docking has the following advantages:
Obtaining boarding passes for all flights along the route;
Baggage check-in from the starting point “A” to the end point “B”, without the need for additional re-
registration at the docking point “C”;
There is no need to receive baggage and re-check it in. The luggage is on another airboard, which will
take it to the end point. More common is the option when the cargo is transferred from the first aircraft
to another.
When connecting, passengers should not leave the transfer zone. Each airport has special corridors that
allow you to make the transition from the arrivals hall to the waiting area. This rule applies if the docking
does not take much time.

Docking options

The following types of connection are used for international flights:
Single ticket. The flight is operated by one airline. This is the most comfortable and easiest way of air
travel. So, if the departure of the first board for some reason was delayed and the passenger does not
have time for the docking, he will definitely be put on board the same company. If the connection is
more than 8 hours, some companies include a hotel stay in the ticket price.
Codeshare or codeshare flight. A passenger may be very surprised that if you have a ticket, the company
“Aeroflot”, he suddenly after the transfer was on board the aircraft belonging to, for example, Air
France. In this situation, the carriers have concluded an agreement between themselves that allows
them to jointly operate flights on the same route. For passengers, codeshare allows you to choose more
convenient connections without changing your favorite airline. Thus, he continues to accumulate points
and miles. In this case, he also does not need to undergo additional check-in and deal with luggage.
Internet agreement. This is a special agreement between air carriers according to which one company
has the right to issue tickets for flights of another company. She, in turn, is obliged to accept them.
Usually, such an agreement is supported by an even more favorable tariff agreement, which allows
passengers to save a lot. There continues to operate through baggage transportation, convenient
docking and a single ticket.
Transfer flight

This is a flight that is planned by the passenger personally. In this case, he will have separate tickets for
different flights. Here is an example of a transfer flight. For example, a traveler decided to go from
Moscow to New York.
The passenger may be offered a direct flight or with a transfer. Aircraft changes can occur in London,
Paris,Helsinki, Berlin or another city. The traveler independently chooses the route based on saving time
and money. As a result, he has two separate tickets on his hands – Moscow- Transfer Point and Transfer
Point -New York.
This method of transportation has some disadvantages if you compare the flight with the connecting
one:
The passenger is responsible for his own luggage. That is, he needs to have time to get it, and then hand
it over for boarding the next flight.
It is necessary to go through the full registration procedure at the Transfer Point. It includes passport
control, security, communication with customs and security.
All of these moments can take a long time. Therefore, you can not take tickets for flights that follow
each other. You need to have enough time not to be late for another aircraft. When docking, this does
not happen. The airline takes care of all registration procedures, only in some cases, you have to spend
time on additional control, for example, upon arrival in Zurich.
What else you need to know during a transit flight
When a tourist first encounters such things, he has a lot of questions. What is the difference between
docking and transplanting turned out to be explained. But whether it is possible to leave the transit
zone, whether you need a visa, where to pick up luggage and much more, require more detailed
consideration.

Transfer area

This is an area designed to serve travelers who arrived at the intermediate airport on one air board to
continue the flight by changing to another aircraft. At the same time, flights can be serviced by one
airline, or different.
After leaving the aircraft, the transfer passenger is obliged, following the signs, to move to the transit
zone. This is the territory located behind passport and customs control. Usually, you can stay here
without a visa.
In the transit (transfer) zone there is a wait for the transfer (connection) of the flight. All the information
can be seen on the scoreboard.
This question worries many travelers who have more than 5 hours between two flights. It can be
answered in the affirmative if the passenger has a transit visa. It gives the right to walk around the
airport and go to the city for a certain time.

Without this document, it is forbidden to leave the transfer zone and even walk around the building of
the air hub.

Exception: Countries in which Russian citizens can be visa-free. Then the exit to the city is possible if
there is sufficient time between flights.

Transit visa – is there a need for it?
This important question should be asked when buying tickets for the right flights. There is no need for a
visa under the following circumstances:

The passenger does not need to leave the transit area and the arrival terminal;
The traveler does not need to receive luggage at the transfer point and undergo additional check-in.
But there are “special” air ports that require a transit visa, even if the above conditions are met. A
hapless passenger is simply not allowed to transfer to another board. This approach is distinguished by
the London airport.

Be sure to issue a transit visa in the following cases:

Transfer takes place at another airport, and the country is not visa-free;
Transfer to another terminal, and this involves going to the city or leaving the transit zone;
More than two transfers within the Schengen area, a visa must be issued for the first country of arrival;
Transfer in London. Or a long connection at any of the airports in the UK for a day or more.
The need for personal re-check-in of baggage and passing control, this occurs when transferring or
transporting things subject to declaration;
Connecting or transfer at any of the airports in Canada, USA, Australia. Here you need a visa, even if the
passenger does not intend to leave the transit zone.
Given the above, before choosing a connecting airport, it is necessary to find out all the legal subtleties
of being in it. There are a small number of international airports where you can apply for a transit visa
inside the building. This is worth knowing in advance.

Do I need to pick up my luggage?

Usually, through baggage check-in takes place for passengers using connecting flights. But, if the flight
conditions assume departure not from the landing airport, but from another, an air hub, even if located
in the same city, then the traveler needs to receive, pick up and independently transfer his luggage.

Usually, the passenger will have to spend additional time on the registration of luggage and pre-landing
inspection.

The area for receipt and issuance is located behind the passport control line, that is, the passenger will
have to leave the transfer zone. Such a transition implies the presence of a visa.

Owners of a single ticket should take into account one small nuance – if there are items in the luggage,
the declaration of which is required by customs legislation, then the entire cargo will have to be re-
submitted for inspection and registration at the point of departure.

The same situation with tourists who have several tickets for different segments of the way. How many
transplants, how many times you will have to receive and make out the luggage.