Got your visa? That means it’s time to buy a plane ticket to the USA! Of course, you can also get to the USA by ferry, however not everyone is happy about the prospect of spending 5–7 days in the Atlantic Ocean. Plus, everyone has seen the movie “Titanic” and remembers how DiCaprio’s character drowned. In general, this material is for all those who got a visa, chose a trip from Columbus-Chocolate, are going to buy plane tickets and finally go on a trip!
From Ukraine you can get to the USA in two ways — by a direct flight and by a flight with a connection somewhere in Europe.
Pros of direct flights
The beauty of these flights is that once you get on them at the departure point, you will get off already in New York.
If you fly economy class, then you will not notice, in principle, any difference regarding the quality of your trip. Of course, all this is individual. Some people like the food and service on European airlines more… I, for example, if I fly with a connection always choose Lufthansa, because they have my favorite cocktail Campari Orange on the menu, with a glass of which on the plane I symbolically celebrate the beginning or the end of my trip!
If you do not know English, then flying together with your compatriots is a big plus. You can ask for advice on filling out the customs declaration or even ask them to fill it out for you, find out some information about traveling around the USA.
Cons of direct flights
On UIA planes you do not have a personal TV. There is one shared TV, on which nothing can be seen or heard. Enduring 10 hours without preparation is very difficult. Therefore, take books with you, music, download a couple of films to your computer or tablet. Here it is worth adding that Aeroflot planes have TVs.
Also, many people really do not have enough legroom or the seats turn out to be very narrow for them and it is uncomfortable to sit. In this regard, of course, planes of European airlines are much more comfortable.
And the last minus is service. I did not fly Aeroflot, but I flew direct UIA several times, as well as various European and American companies Lufthansa, United, Delta Airlines, KLM and Air France and I cannot say that the service on UIA is terrible or significantly different from the service on foreign companies. But I heard, unfortunately, a lot that is not very cheerful.
Flights with a connection
If you fly to New York, then your connection will most likely take place somewhere in Europe. If you fly somewhere further, for example, to Chicago, then your connections will most likely take place in Europe, and then in New York.
ATTENTION: Do not buy tickets with a double connection in Europe if you do not have a Schengen visa. What does this mean?
For a Kyiv–Paris–New York ticket you do not need a Schengen visa. You arrive in the transit zone, board the plane and fly to America with your American visa.
But for a Kyiv – Paris – Amsterdam – New York ticket you will need a Schengen visa. Because, despite the fact that your destination is New York and you have a ticket to America with you, in this case you are traveling within the Schengen zone, and therefore must have a Schengen visa. Take this very seriously, because in my life there was a case when three different airline managers, during an Air France strike, without checking whether I had a Schengen visa, issued me a ticket New York – Paris – Amsterdam – Kyiv. And it all ended very unpleasantly. In Paris at the control point the police simply took me away, put me in a cell at the airport prison, took all my belongings, money, documents and phone and for three hours interrogated me why I was going to Amsterdam without a Schengen visa. And then there was a night in a shelter for illegals with representatives of very poor Asian and African countries, breakfast under the supervision of the shelter guards and a visit to the toilet under escort of a police officer.
Therefore, do not be afraid and fly if it is convenient for you with connections in Europe. Just make sure that if there is no Schengen, then you have only one connection, and if you have two connections, then you have Schengen.
Pros of flights with a connection
Sometimes it seems that the flight went faster, although in fact it is not so. That is, when you fly a direct flight, you sit for 10 hours in the same place. When you fly with a connection, first you fly on one plane, get to know the neighbors, then you go out at the airport, drink coffee, look into Duty Free, make a connection, board a new plane, get to know the neighbors again…
On all European and American transatlantic flights, all passengers have personal TVs with a very decent selection of the newest movies, music, shows and other entertainment.
On foreign flights they treat you to good alcohol and feed you deliciously.
Cons of flights with a connection
Because of the stupidity of the company’s employees you can end up in prison (but this definitely will not happen to you now, you now know everything well and will not make a mistake)
Although it seems that the flight went faster, in fact you spend more time.
There is a chance to go broke in European duty free
Sometimes you have to wait for the connection for 5–7 hours. This is especially inconvenient when you arrived in Europe at the time when night began in America, you terribly want to sleep and you have no choice but to huddle on the seats in the terminal. At the same time, connections can be super short and you will have to run through numerous airport terminals somewhere in Frankfurt or Paris to make the connection.
Baggage
UIA
You can take 1 bag weighing 23 kg, and also 1 carry-on bag weighing 7 kg. If you are a member of the UIA club, your carry-on can weigh 12 kg.
Specifics of UIA baggage inspection
If very many airlines pay attention only to the weight and size of baggage, then UIA, as a real Ukrainian company, pays attention to the weight and size of carry-on baggage. If your suitcase does not fit by at least a couple of centimeters into a special metal construction that determines whether your suitcase meets the carry-on parameters, or the weight of your suitcase is 1 kg more than allowed, be ready to pay extra for overweight a little more than 100 dollars!
Life hack how not to pay extra
put on everything heaviest on yourself — heavy shoes, a knitted sweater that weighs several kg, etc.
take something out of your carry-on, weigh your baggage and get a sticker that everything is ok. And after that, you can add even plus 10 kg, the main thing is that they fit into your suitcase.
Sorry UIA!
European and American airlines
On flights of European and American companies you can take 1 checked bag weighing 23 kg and 1 carry-on bag weighing 10 kg. The nice news is that no one will measure or weigh your carry-on, as in the case of UIA. It seems to me that in 2015 my carry-on weighed at least about 20 kg and was veeeery large… However, I managed to get on the plane without any extra charges.
Arrival
UIA arrives at Terminal 7. Besides UIA, LOT, British Airlines and just a few more companies arrive at this terminal. Because of this, passport control takes a passenger from 1 to 7 minutes, which for the airport of New York City is simply nothing!
European and American companies arrive at different terminals (depending on the company) and the line at passport control can take from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
At the same time, in the passport control area it is not allowed to use phones, computers, etc… although phones are still used. Therefore, take a little book or a travel companion with you just in case, so that you have something to occupy yourself with for several hours.
Flying further
If you arrive at the first point in the USA, but fly further (for example, you have a connection in New York, and you are flying to San Francisco), in any case you go through passport control at New York airport and only then go to the domestic flight. When boarding a domestic flight they check only your passport (no one pays attention to the visa anymore), and upon arrival at the destination point (for example, the same San Francisco), you simply get off the plane and pick up your baggage.