If you are traveling to Kiev, Ukraine for the very first time, it will be an experience. Break through the clouds and you will notice a land of abundance nature and beauty. A landscape of trees covers the countryside. The abundance of rainfall and annual snow makes Kiev a wonder of forests, lakes, rivers and pristine landscapes.
The main international airport hub is Boryspil. It services all domestic and international flights in and out of the Ukraine. Boryspil has a very large runway for all types of aircraft. During soviet times, Boryspil International Airport was used only for military aircraft. Later when the Ukraine claimed independence, it was renamed and converted into a civilian airport.
There are only a few carriers that are allowed to use the tarmacs. All other planes must park away from the terminals. Buses are provide to take passengers from their plane to the main international terminal B.
You will quickly be greeted with an old style soviet passport control center. Be prepared to wait for up to two hours as lines are long and customer service is not a priority. It is critical to have all your paperwork filled out and ready. Not being prepared will cost you more time. In the seven times I have been to the Ukraine, I have only waited two hours one time. After that bad experience I always booked my flight to arrive very early in the morning or late at night. 9 am to 2 pm are peak hours at Boryspil Airport.
When in the passport control line be polite and patient. Joke around with the Ukrainian passport officers is not appreciated. Be respectful and answer all questions fully. Officers will speak to you in English if you do not speak Ukrainian or Russian.
Once you make it through passport control, you will see the baggage claim area. Digital readouts will tell you where your baggage is located. It is a small area and impossible to lose track of your baggage. Boryspil is like all airports. There is not much difference in their baggage claim area.
If you cannot find your baggage, there is a lost baggage office that will assist you in finding your luggage. Now in seven times of traveling to the Ukraine, I have only had to use this service once. Surprisingly, this office was very helpful, spoke very good English and immediately was able to track down my luggage. The representative called New York for me and found my luggage. Apparently my luggage never made the flight.
I had my luggage the next morning after being lost the day before. I had to pay a nice tip to the person that retrieved my baggage. For your information, everything in the Ukraine functions on tips. Hand out a tip that is too small and Ukrainians have no problem in showing you your mistake. Normal tip fair for getting your baggage reclaimed $6.00. Taxi trip to get back to the airport to retrieve your baggage $55.00. Knowing that you paid the right tip and avoiding the embarrassment of getting screamed at for failing to understand the tip policy, priceless.
Out of baggage claim and ready for the next adventure? Ok great, now let us take a walk up a small incline in the busy heart of the Boryspil Airport! The only thing between you and a hundred or so impatiently waiting family members, friends and taxi drivers is a set of automatic sliding doors. As the swoosh of doors slide open you are immediately impacted with the excitement of the waiting crowd in front of you. Make your way past them and you reach the second level of excitement. Yes, you guessed it, the Ukrainian Taxi Car Drivers! Stay calm and just shake your head back n forth with every question of "Taxi?" No need to say "No" just shake your head back n forth.
Stay away from these taxi drivers. Go find one of the many kiosks in the airport that can aid you with a taxi to anywhere you want to go for a fair price. Taxi kiosks are easy to find, they have the word "TAXI" written across them.
There are four different money exchange booths in the international terminal. The airport has the worst rates, so only exchange a small amount of money. Wait until you get to the center of the city to do your large exchange transactions. I tend to only exchange two hundred dollars at the airport. This covers my taxi, food and any other little thing I would like to buy while in the airport. Just as easy as it is to find an exchange booth in the airport, you will have the same luck in the center of the city. These exchange booths are everywhere. The US Dollar, Euro and Russian Ruble are accepted everywhere.
Only newer bills are accepted at the exchange booth. I learned this the hard way when I was not able to exchange $500 of my money because of the condition of the currency. All exchange booths will first inspect your money by eyeballing it and then put it under a ultraviolet light to ensure it does not have water spots.
Going to another part of the country? Then it only takes minutes to walk to Terminal A. This terminal is reponsible for all domestic air travel. Two booths in this airport sell plane tickets to anywhere with an airport in the Ukraine. Modern digital screens show all activity and gates of departure in English. Now once you are at your gate, pay close attention. Boarding calls are only done in Ukrainian and Russian. If in doubt ask an attendant and they will be happy to point you to the right boarding line.
Finally, if you want to avoid all the rush and crowds, the VIP service is for you. Terminal C houses a very comfortable environment for anyone that would like to pay $150.00 USD or up for this service. A private coach will come pick you up from your plane. Your luggage will be taken from the plane separately and brought to you. Exit passport control in 15 minutes or less. The services arrival in terminal C range from wireless internet service to fax and phone service all available from the comfort of a environmentally controlled lounge. If you are interested in this service, Google Boryspil Airport and contact the VIP office. All VIP representatives speak English.
Enjoy your trip to the Ukraine!
The main international airport hub is Boryspil. It services all domestic and international flights in and out of the Ukraine. Boryspil has a very large runway for all types of aircraft. During soviet times, Boryspil International Airport was used only for military aircraft. Later when the Ukraine claimed independence, it was renamed and converted into a civilian airport.
There are only a few carriers that are allowed to use the tarmacs. All other planes must park away from the terminals. Buses are provide to take passengers from their plane to the main international terminal B.
You will quickly be greeted with an old style soviet passport control center. Be prepared to wait for up to two hours as lines are long and customer service is not a priority. It is critical to have all your paperwork filled out and ready. Not being prepared will cost you more time. In the seven times I have been to the Ukraine, I have only waited two hours one time. After that bad experience I always booked my flight to arrive very early in the morning or late at night. 9 am to 2 pm are peak hours at Boryspil Airport.
When in the passport control line be polite and patient. Joke around with the Ukrainian passport officers is not appreciated. Be respectful and answer all questions fully. Officers will speak to you in English if you do not speak Ukrainian or Russian.
Once you make it through passport control, you will see the baggage claim area. Digital readouts will tell you where your baggage is located. It is a small area and impossible to lose track of your baggage. Boryspil is like all airports. There is not much difference in their baggage claim area.
If you cannot find your baggage, there is a lost baggage office that will assist you in finding your luggage. Now in seven times of traveling to the Ukraine, I have only had to use this service once. Surprisingly, this office was very helpful, spoke very good English and immediately was able to track down my luggage. The representative called New York for me and found my luggage. Apparently my luggage never made the flight.
I had my luggage the next morning after being lost the day before. I had to pay a nice tip to the person that retrieved my baggage. For your information, everything in the Ukraine functions on tips. Hand out a tip that is too small and Ukrainians have no problem in showing you your mistake. Normal tip fair for getting your baggage reclaimed $6.00. Taxi trip to get back to the airport to retrieve your baggage $55.00. Knowing that you paid the right tip and avoiding the embarrassment of getting screamed at for failing to understand the tip policy, priceless.
Out of baggage claim and ready for the next adventure? Ok great, now let us take a walk up a small incline in the busy heart of the Boryspil Airport! The only thing between you and a hundred or so impatiently waiting family members, friends and taxi drivers is a set of automatic sliding doors. As the swoosh of doors slide open you are immediately impacted with the excitement of the waiting crowd in front of you. Make your way past them and you reach the second level of excitement. Yes, you guessed it, the Ukrainian Taxi Car Drivers! Stay calm and just shake your head back n forth with every question of "Taxi?" No need to say "No" just shake your head back n forth.
Stay away from these taxi drivers. Go find one of the many kiosks in the airport that can aid you with a taxi to anywhere you want to go for a fair price. Taxi kiosks are easy to find, they have the word "TAXI" written across them.
There are four different money exchange booths in the international terminal. The airport has the worst rates, so only exchange a small amount of money. Wait until you get to the center of the city to do your large exchange transactions. I tend to only exchange two hundred dollars at the airport. This covers my taxi, food and any other little thing I would like to buy while in the airport. Just as easy as it is to find an exchange booth in the airport, you will have the same luck in the center of the city. These exchange booths are everywhere. The US Dollar, Euro and Russian Ruble are accepted everywhere.
Only newer bills are accepted at the exchange booth. I learned this the hard way when I was not able to exchange $500 of my money because of the condition of the currency. All exchange booths will first inspect your money by eyeballing it and then put it under a ultraviolet light to ensure it does not have water spots.
Going to another part of the country? Then it only takes minutes to walk to Terminal A. This terminal is reponsible for all domestic air travel. Two booths in this airport sell plane tickets to anywhere with an airport in the Ukraine. Modern digital screens show all activity and gates of departure in English. Now once you are at your gate, pay close attention. Boarding calls are only done in Ukrainian and Russian. If in doubt ask an attendant and they will be happy to point you to the right boarding line.
Finally, if you want to avoid all the rush and crowds, the VIP service is for you. Terminal C houses a very comfortable environment for anyone that would like to pay $150.00 USD or up for this service. A private coach will come pick you up from your plane. Your luggage will be taken from the plane separately and brought to you. Exit passport control in 15 minutes or less. The services arrival in terminal C range from wireless internet service to fax and phone service all available from the comfort of a environmentally controlled lounge. If you are interested in this service, Google Boryspil Airport and contact the VIP office. All VIP representatives speak English.
Enjoy your trip to the Ukraine!
About the Author:
Art Saborio is a Fiance K1 Visa Specialist. His free 7 part ebook, "A Quick-Start 7 Step Guide to Guaranteeing Your Foreign Fiance a Visa" is currently available at http://www.k1visaexperts.com/k1success.html. While you are there, also take a look at his very informative must read articles http://www.k1visaexperts.com/blog
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