Passengers of airliners often encounter a situation when they need to make a transfer in a country in order to reach their final destination. Such a situation may arise when there is simply no direct route to the selected route, or in order to save. In this case, the transit zone will come to the rescue.
What is a transit zone?
This is a special part of the airport terminal, located in front of the passport control, if you leave the plane, or at the passport control point, if you go to the airport.
The transit zone at the airport is needed as a transshipment point for passengers making a transfer and departing further. Such a situation may arise when there is simply no direct flight on the chosen route, you have to stop at an intermediate international airport, or in order to save money, since with transfers, tickets are often much cheaper.
Most international airports are equipped with a transit passenger area, however, each country sets its own conditions of stay in it, in this regard, before the flight, you should carefully study all the rules and nuances regarding transit flights. Some countries require a transit visa.
Stay in such a zone is limited to several hours or days - in each country differently. Passengers awaiting the next flight are prohibited in many countries from leaving the designated area. If you can still leave the airport, then upon returning you will have to go through passport control again.
Why is this convenient?
It often happens that when planning his trip to the country of visa-free entry, a passenger is forced to make a transfer in the Schengen area. In order not to burden yourself with paperwork, a transit zone comes to the rescue, where you can be without a visa, but only a boarding pass for the next flight, proving that you are traveling in this country.
An important point is that the transit country of the Schengen zone should be only one. That is, a passenger who has left a visa-free country stops in Schengen, and from there he again flies to a visa-free country. Otherwise, you must have a visa.
Comfortable stay for passengers
Modern airports offer a wide range of services, including a transit area. Here you can feel at home, and waiting for the next flight will brighten up the provided entertainment. If the flight was long and difficult, you are tired and most interested in rest, at your service there is always a room in a hotel, hotel or just a rest room where you can sleep, take a shower, prepare for the next flight.
You can tidy up your appearance by visiting beauty salons and spa centers. After a long flight, passengers can warm up in the gyms, while yoga and meditation rooms will help to relax and gain energy. Countless cafes, restaurants, canteens, fast food chains will not let you stay hungry.
Little fidgets, who have sat for several hours on the plane without movement, can throw out all the accumulated energy in the playgrounds, thereby giving parents a rest.
Some nuances
The answer to the question of whether there is a transit zone at the airport where you will change, should be found before departure. The fact is that not all countries give such a privilege to transit passengers. For example, not a single US airport will allow you to avoid passport control, even if the city you arrived in is a transfer point, and you will not be here for more than an hour or two. These are the features of the country's immigration policy. A similar situation occurs in Canada and Australia. It must be remembered that in some countries the transit zone does not work at night. This option must be foreseen in advance.
What is a transit visa?
A visa in a transit zone is a document allowing passengers to transfer in a particular country. It is issued for a period of not more than 72 hours.
The necessary package of documents for obtaining a visa depends on the requirements of the country through which transit passes. The standard set includes the following documents: passport, photo, application form, plane ticket, insurance policy. However, in the consulates of some countries, such a set is not enough. In some cases, it is necessary to present a document confirming the financial viability of the passenger.
A Schengen type C visa, which has recently been replaced with a transit visa, allows the passenger to stay in the country for five days.
When is a transit visa necessary?
Consider situations in which you need a transit visa:
- a passenger arriving at one airport departs from another, or for a transfer you must go to another terminal;
- You do not need to get a visa to the transit city of Berlin if you fly on Air Berlin tickets;
- the passenger is going to make more than one transfer in the Schengen area;
- if the transfer is carried out in any city in the USA, Canada and Australia.
When is a transit visa not necessary?
Consider situations in which a transit visa is not needed:
- transplantation in the Schengen zone does not imply exit from the transit zone, and the time spent in the state does not exceed 24 hours;
- The transfer takes place in London, and the passenger needs to get to another airport. The length of stay should also not be more than 24 hours.
Sheremetyevo transit zone
There is a special zone for passengers traveling in transit at Sheremetyevo Airport at Terminal F. The waiting room is very comfortable, here you can arrange a boarding pass, as well as relax and take a shower. Passengers waiting for a transfer from one international to another same flight are allowed to be in the transit zone for 24 hours. Baggage should be checked in at the first airport to the final destination. You must have a boarding pass with you.
Passengers transferring from an international flight to a federal one and from a federal to an international one must collect their baggage at Sheremetyevo Airport and go to the departure terminal, bypassing the arrival area.
Passengers transferring from an international flight to an international flight must receive baggage upon arrival, check in for the next flight, undergo pre-flight control and exit to the departure zone.
If the arrival is made in one terminal, and the departure is planned in another, the passenger should collect baggage and, following the signs, go to the Sheremetyevo-1 or Sheremetyevo-2 inter-terminal crossing station. An automatic inter-terminal train leaves every 4 minutes. Upon reaching the second station, you must go to the departure terminal indicated on the ticket.
Ataturk Transit Zone
Passengers transferring from an international flight to a domestic one must know in advance whether there are customs services at the destination. The situation with baggage transportation will depend on this. If there is customs in the city of arrival, the luggage will reach it automatically and it will not have to be received in Istanbul. This, of course, provided that it was issued to the final airport of arrival. Otherwise, baggage will have to be collected at Ataturk Airport and checked in at the next airport.
In order to get to the desired city of Turkey, which has a customs service, through Istanbul, check in at the airport of departure, check in your luggage to the final destination in transit through Ataturk. Arriving at the transit airport, go through the border control and exit to the terminal of the next departure. If you have a second boarding pass, then immediately go for inspection. Otherwise, you must register. Arriving at the end point, go get baggage.
The same procedure should be carried out exactly the opposite if the transfer takes place from a domestic flight to an international one. The transfer procedure is very simple if the flight is carried out from one city of Turkey to another in transit through Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. In this case, check in baggage at the point of departure to the final destination. At the airport of arrival, you get baggage without customs clearance.
In case you fly from one country, transfer to Turkey and fly to another country, the procedure is also simple. Check in baggage in transit to the end point. Arriving at Ataturk Airport, expect your flight in the transit zone. Passport control is necessary only if you want to visit the city.
Transit through Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport also has a transit area. However, there are important nuances that must be taken into account before departure.
If there is only one transit country during the flight (Germany in our situation), and the time until the next flight does not exceed twenty-four hours, there should be no problems. Passing passport control, you can relax in the transit passenger hall and continue the journey.
If these conditions are not met (for example, there is more than one transit country, or it will take more than twenty-four hours to wait until the next flight), then a transit visa must be issued.
An important fact is the way tickets are issued. If you issue an entire flight not with one ticket, but with two, you will also have to purchase a transit visa. This is necessary because to issue a ticket for the next flight you will have to leave the transit zone. In this case, luggage must be collected at Frankfurt Airport and checked in for the next flight. The only exception for a transit visa is a valid Schengen visa. If it is, then a transit visa is not needed.
Passengers are not recommended to leave the transit zone of Frankfurt, as they will again have to go through customs and passport control upon return.
The airport is equipped with the highest class. While waiting, you can take a shower, relax in the lounges, hotel or hotel, visit the spa and beauty salon, gym, yoga room, prayer room and even a casino, use free Wi-Fi, watch the take-off and landing of planes from observation deck.