Experience Transiting Through a European Country with a Russian Passport?

[P3ACHY 35]

Hey group!

Has anyone recently transited through the international zone of a European airport without a Schengen visa? We'll be flying from outside Europe to the US on a single ticket and won’t be exiting the international transit zone.

From what I’ve read on most websites, this should generally be fine at most airports (like Frankfurt, Vienna, etc.), but I’ve also heard of people being denied boarding, especially on Polish airlines transiting through Warsaw. Still, I read one case of someone being denied boarding because of a transit in Vienna.

 

Just wanted to hear anyone's experiences!

Edited July 14 by P3ACHY

[Boiler 47,456]

I believe Istanbul has direct flights.

[Dashinka 25,845]

Curious as to which carriers are flying from Russia into the EU?  Lufthansa?  I do know Turkish airways and some Middle East carriers are flying back and forth into Russia, and possibly some airlines into Serbia.  I know if my wife decides to go back anytime soon, she will most likely fly through Istanbul given the direct flight between there and Detroit.  The last 2 trips (2022 and 2023) were through Dubai, but that was before the Turkish Air flight to Detroit came into being. 

[P3ACHY 35]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I believe Istanbul has direct flights.

We're flying from Armenia and Istanbul is a poor option - only self-transfer options, I would need a visa as an American to self-transfer. It would be more expensive.

57 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Curious as to which carriers are flying from Russia into the EU?  Lufthansa?  I do know Turkish airways and some Middle East carriers are flying back and forth into Russia, and possibly some airlines into Serbia.  I know if my wife decides to go back anytime soon, she will most likely fly through Istanbul given the direct flight between there and Detroit.  The last 2 trips (2022 and 2023) were through Dubai, but that was before the Turkish Air flight to Detroit came into being. 

I understand Istanbul if we're flying from Russia. But we're flying from Armenia and the best options are through Europe.

[Dashinka 25,845]

8 minutes ago, P3ACHY said:

We're flying from Armenia and Istanbul is a poor option - only self-transfer options, I would need a visa as an American to self-transfer. It would be more expensive.

I understand Istanbul if we're flying from Russia. But we're flying from Armenia and the best options are through Europe.

Fair enough.  I can confirm at least for US passport holders, that transiting through Paris required no passport control, but we did have to go back through security.  I was there most recently in June, and I did not see anyone transiting being routed through passport control.

[P3ACHY 35]

5 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Fair enough.  I can confirm at least for US passport holders, that transiting through Paris required no passport control, but we did have to go back through security.  I was there most recently in June, and I did not see anyone transiting being routed through passport control.

Thanks Dashinka.

 

I think for France he would need a transit visa (though it says if a Russian has a valid US visa, then the transit visa isn't required). I just hope airport officials know their rules and don't give us a hard time!

(As an aside, I just checked and Americans don't need a visa for Turkey anymore since last year. 🤐) Though the Istanbul options are still expensive. Unfortunate that Armenia and Turkey don't get along.

[P3ACHY 35]

Just wanted to write a little update for this: We passed through Frankfurt without a problem!