So it's getting right down to it. Less than two weeks away, and we still don't have a concrete plan. A whole bunch of "what ifs?" are floating around, but what it's looking like is this:

I'll put a plane ticket for her on my credit card, then send her some cash via Western Union that she'll use to get around and pay for the hotel or whatever accomodations she can come up with. (Still awaiting news on possible homestays in Moscow.)

Now, my question here is:

Can I call up (or reserve online) Aeroflot and pay for a ticket for her using my credit card, and if I do that, can she just pick it up at the local office (Vladivostok) or at the airport (VVO)?

I would rather put it on my credit card (to get miles and to avoid the cash advance fee) than send her cash.

How did you guys get your girl to Moscow? Or, were you fortunate enough to have a fiancee with enough money to get herself there? (Or maybe one that only lived an hour or two away by train?)


Also, any other tidbits of knowledge concerning the whole logistical process of the visa interview would be appreciated. (Well, all except START EARLIER STUPID!!!! That one I know already! But thanks anyway. Constructive criticism is great!!!)

I heard you can reserve your ticket over the phone, pay over the phone with the credit card, and have your fiancee pick up the ticket at any local Aeroflot office for a nominal fee. I don't know the details on how this is done, so you'll have to investigate or talk to Doudis2, he was successful at doing this.
Also your fiancee might want to talk to Aeroflot in Russia, they might be able to accept her payment with your credit card.
I got my girl to Moscow by purchasing her a ticket along with mine and flying together. Back then Siberia Airlines still had a "youth" rate (under 24) so I got a great deal.

You should be able to purchase the ticket for her via telephone. Aeroflot's New York City # 212-944-2300; and Moscow # 495-753-5555. The rep's can provide what information you'll need for her to check in. Aeroflot doesn't fly to many cities in the USA, so you'll have to use another airline too. It seems I read that Delta now has a partnership with Aeroflot, and so you might call Delta at 800-221-1212 and ask if they can book it for you, or at least help you. And it might be that you'll simply decide for her to fly on Delta from Moscow.

I'm departing Little Rock for Moscow on the 18th and will return on the 2nd. I usually fly Delta round trip to Moscow.

Hope this helps...

I sent a paper ticket via Fedex - this got there fine.

Galina ended up missing her flight, so she bought herself another
ticket (with cash) at the airport on Finnair for the next day. Depending
on how much more a changable ticket is, it might be a good idea.

Either way works fine, I guess.

It is probably better to buy a ticket in Russia if your travel
will start there.

You can buy a ticket via credit card for someone else in
another country by phone (at least with Delta). They will
probably do this for a fee - about $100. They call this a
"pre-paid" ticket.

Keep in mind, the cost of doing this may be more than
Fedexing a paper ticket, though it is more convenient.

Your best choice is probably to buy the ticket in Russia
with cash.

I sent my lady money for her to purchase the ticket to Moscow for her interview. For our flight back to the US we used Delta. I purchased our reservation over the phone and it was not difficult. They sent me an e-mail with her flight info and I forwarded it to her and printed it out to carry over. Delta never even wanted to see it as all they really need is the name and ID. The reservation is on their computer and with the name info they print you the boarding pass and you are ready to go.

hope your ol'lady gets here ok!!

hello guys,
my fiance is already purchased one way tickets for me and my son to US on British Airways from Kazakhstan
do you have any idea leaving FSU country without any problems at airport ,
do you know anything about one way flight on K-1 visa from countries of former soviet union

thank you in advance,
alma

A one way ticket is fine. There is no requirement for a round trip ticket for a K-1 visa holder.

thank you NEONRED for the information
i am little worry about it,if i need any exit OVIR visa or not
best,
alma

My Irina will be flying to the US from Moscow. Delta will not book from Moscow to US (Atlanta) on their website, so you must call them, but I found that Expedia will book on the internet from Moscow to the US and they gave me abetter price. If fact, better than direct with delta although it is only $10. I booked round trip as it it is at least 50% less than one-way. I also found out that it was cheaper by $75 to book her all the way to Charlotte, NC, thru Atlanta, that just Moscow to Atlanta. I will never understand this! ! ! ! I will pick her up in Atlanta though and just let her baggage go to Charlotte, if necessary. It is only a 4.5 hour drive to Atlanta for me and I would prefer to meet her there! ! ! !

To get her to Moscow and pay for all the Visa related expenses (hotel, medical, visa, DHL train, etc.) I gave her some cash when I was there for the New Year. But I have previously sent her a check card and told her on the phone what the PIN number was and if she needed some cash, I would put just enough in the account for what she needed and just before she would take it. This works really well, but it is subject to bank employees finding out the info. I have a friend that his account was tapped by someone other than the person that had the card. So, just do not have much money in the account.

Good luck! ! ! !

Airlines usually base their fares between certain city pairs on a few things, the biggest being what their competitors charge. If you need to change planes, the fare is usually LOWER, since most people are willing to pay more for a nonstop flight. Kind of a paradox, since each connection costs the airline more money. No wonder all but one major has gone bankrupt in the last few years.

The low-cost carriers (Southwest, JetBlue, RyanAir, etc) tend to operate point-to-point routes (no hubs). Thus, their cost is lower (no connections), and their fares are lower on the nonstop routes most people want. The majors benefit from their hubs by filling more seats on their (profitable) international routes. They lose money on most domestic routes, except the northeast shuttles (very profitable). In my opinion, the airlines (and their analysts) worry too much about revenue per seat mile, and aircraft utilization (hours in the day the plane is in the air). International flights always look profitable with these metrics, since A) fares are higher since they are mandated by government and the planes are in the air 15+ hours per day, with less money-losing time on the ground

In the past, there was a big advantage of making connections with one carrier. If they cause you to miss a connection, it is thier problem to get you where you are going. These days, it doesn't matter much. If you miss a connection, the major carriers will do very little to help you. They generally won't book you on another airline. Even if it is their fault, you won't usually get a hotel either.

( I was flying back from Europe last year and missed a connection in Atlanta. Delta's helpful service? "Sorry, we can get you on a flight to Florida in 10 days. Or, you can buy a ticket on American now..." It was their fault anyway, flight crew had been scheduled for too many hours)

Never, ever, buy your Delta tickets through Aeroflot. Expedia.com did that to me and I had BIG problems getting my tickets changed the last time I went to Russia (Volgograd via Moscow)!! Aeroflot said it was Delta's problem. Delta said it was Aeroflot's problem.

Next time, I'm booking them separately! Much less hassle for me. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

If you can, just avoid Aeroflot entirely. Galina missed her flight (road to airport closed due to snowstorm). She was still at the airport well before her flight left (several hours). "Sorry, buy another ticket." "Not our problem." "No refund for cancelled flight."

DME is a better airport, and no Aeroflot, and the train goes straight there for $3 in 30 minutes.

Perhaps this is all true, but I had a good experience with Aeroflot leaving Moscow. I bought the ticket well beforehand through travelocity. The only real problem I had was the less then helpful Aeroflot ticket agents who did not want to explain to me where my gate was. Typical Russian service there.

The flight was very nice and relaxing. LAX was easy to get through and I have heard it is a good POE for K1 visa holders.

DME is a good option if you need to to through Moscow. The train is a nice little trip. I picked up Elena at DME and we rode the train back to the city center together. Then, we took the Metro to the apartment. I think for both of us to get from DME back to the apartment it cost maybe $7. It was much easier than trying to get from SVO to the city center. (Which my buddy and I paid $30 for a taxi.) It is possible to take the bus from SVO to the Metro, but the train at DME is much more convenient.

Aeroflop is the best to call them . But I can't find a better price on our tickets.

Make sure you have locks on your bags as they go through Moscow, I always have a 10 hour lay over and the 1st time they went through my bags and stole things and opened presents. You need to buy the TSA coded locks so they will not cut them in the US and stay locked on your bags.