Passengers of airliners are often faced with the situation when it is necessary to make a transfer in any country in order to reach their final destination. This situation may arise when there is simply no direct route along the chosen route, or in order to save money. In this case, the transit zone will come to the rescue.
What is a transit zone?
This is a dedicated section of the airport, located in front of passport control if you are leaving the plane, or behind passport control if you are entering the airport.
The transit zone at the airport is needed as a transfer point for passengers making transfers and traveling further. This situation can arise when there is simply no direct flight on the chosen route, you will have to stop at an intermediate international airport, or in order to save money, since tickets are often much cheaper with transfers.
Most international airports have a transit area, but the conditions for staying ineach country sets it independently, 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 a few hours or days - in each country differently. Passengers waiting for the next flight are prohibited from leaving the territory allotted for this in many states. If you can still leave the airport, then on your return you will have to go through passport control again.
How is it convenient?
It often happens that when planning a trip to a visa-free country, a passenger is forced to change trains in the Schengen area. In order not to burden yourself with the execution of unnecessary documents, a transit zone comes to the rescue, where you can stay without a visa, but only a boarding pass for the next flight, proving that you are passing through this country.
The important point is that there should be only one transit country in the Schengen area. That is, a passenger who left a visa-free country stops in Schengen, and from there flies again 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 the entertainment provided will brighten up the expectation of the next flight. If the flight was long and difficult, you are tired and are most interested in rest, there will always be a room at your service, a hotel or justrest room where you can sleep, take a shower, prepare for the next flight.
You can put your appearance in order by visiting beauty salons and spa centers. Passengers can warm up after a long flight in the gyms, and 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, sitting for several hours on an airplane without moving, can throw out all the accumulated energy on the playgrounds, thus giving their parents a rest.
Some nuances
The answer to the question of whether there is a transit zone at the airport where you will make a transfer should be found before departure. The fact is that not all countries give such a privilege to transit passengers. For example, no airport in the United States will allow you to avoid passport control, even if the city you arrived in is a transfer point, and you will be here for no more than an hour or two. These are the features of the immigration policy of the country. 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 transit visa is a document that allows passengers to transfer in a certain country. Issued for a maximum of 72 hours.
The required package of documents for obtaining a visa depends onrequirements of the country through which the transit passes. The standard set includes the following documents: passport, photograph, 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 solvency of the passenger.
Schengen visa type C, which was recently replaced by a transit visa, allows the passenger to stay in the country for five days.
When do I need a transit visa?
Let's consider situations in which a transit visa is required:
- passenger arriving at one airport flies from another, or you need to go to another terminal to transfer;
- you do not need a visa to the transit city of Berlin if you fly with Air Berlin tickets;
- passenger is going to make more than one transfer in the Schengen area;
- if the transplant is carried out in any city in the USA, Canada and Australia.
When is a transit visa not required?
Let's consider situations in which a transit visa is not needed:
- change in the Schengen area does not involve leaving the transit zone, and the time of stay in the state does not exceed 24 hours;
- transfer takes place in London, and the passenger needs to get to another airport. The length of stay must also not exceed 24 hours.
Sheremetyevo transit zone
At Sheremetyevo airport in terminal F there isa special area for passengers traveling in transit. The waiting room is very comfortable, here you can issue a boarding pass, as well as relax and take a shower. Passengers waiting to transfer from one international flight to another of the same kind are allowed to stay in the transit area for 24 hours. Baggage should be sent at the first airport to the final destination. You must have your 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 luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport and go to the departure terminal, bypassing the arrivals area.
Passengers transferring from an international flight to an international one must collect their luggage upon arrival, check in for the next flight, go through pre-flight control and go to the departure area.
If the arrival is carried out in one terminal, and the departure is planned in another, the passenger should receive luggage and, following the signs, go to the Sheremetyevo-1 or Sheremetyevo-2 interterminal crossing station. An automatic inter-terminal train departs 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 flight should inquire in advance if there are customs services at their destination. This will depend on the situation with the transportation of luggage. If there is a customs office in the city of arrival, the luggage will reach it automatically and you won’t have to pick it up atIstanbul. This is, of course, provided that it has been issued to the final airport of arrival. Otherwise, luggage will have to be collected at Ataturk Transit Airport and checked in to the next airport.
In order to get to the desired city in Turkey, which has a customs service, through Istanbul, check in at the airport of departure, check in luggage to the final destination in transit through Ataturk. Arriving at the transit airport, go through border control and go to the next departure terminal. If you have a second boarding pass, then immediately go through security. Otherwise, you must register. Arriving at the end point, go get your luggage.
The same procedure, exactly the opposite, should be carried out if the transfer occurs from a domestic flight to an international one. The transfer procedure is quite simple if the flight is carried out from one city in Turkey to another in transit through Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. In this case, you check in your baggage at the point of departure to the final destination. At the airport of arrival, you receive your luggage without customs check.
If you are flying from one country, transferring in Turkey and flying to another country, the procedure is also simple. Check in baggage in transit to the final destination. Arriving at Ataturk Airport, expect your flight in the transit area. You only need to go through passport control if you want to visit the city.
Transit via Frankfurt am Main Airport
At the airportFrankfurt am Main also has a transit zone. However, there are important nuances that you should definitely consider before departure.
If there is only one transit country during the flight (in our situation, Germany), and the time until the next flight is not more than twenty-four hours, there should be no problems. After passing through passport control, you can relax in the transit lounge and continue your journey.
If these conditions are not met (for example, there is more than one transit country, or you will have to wait more than twenty-four hours until the next flight), then you need to apply for a transit visa.
An important fact is the way tickets are issued. If you make out the entire flight with not one ticket, but two, you will also have to purchase a transit visa. This is necessary because in order to issue a ticket for the next flight, you will have to leave the transit zone. In this case, baggage must be collected at Frankfurt Airport and checked in for the next flight. The only exception for issuing a transit visa is the presence of a valid Schengen visa. If it is, then a transit visa is not needed.
Passengers are advised not to leave the Frankfurt transit area as they will have to go through customs and passport control again upon their return.
The airport is equipped with the highest class. While waiting, you can take a shower, relax in the lounges, hotel or inn, visit the spa and beauty center, gym, yoga room, prayer room, and evencasino, use free Wi-Fi, watch the takeoff and landing of planes from the observation deck.
