Travel Questions...Back To Russia With Child.

[RickM]

Planning to travel back to Russia and visit the "in-laws" this fall.Now,we have a new addition to the family,Alexander,born late January this year.Needless to say everyone is very excited about meeting the new guy out in Russia...(Cause for a few drinks )
My questions...Has anyone traveled recently from JFK or anywhere in USA back to Russia with a newborn?
Any tips on travel,fares or restrictions you may be aware of with traveling with a fairly newborn?
How do visa requirements work for a USA citizen child going to Russia?
Any ideas on good rates after the summer season ends?
Appreciate any advices and experiences in advance...Thanx!

[michaels]

... in response to Travel Questions...Back To Russia With C..., posted by RickM on Jun 11, 2002

Rick, My wife just travelled to Odessa(Ukraine) couple of weeks ago with Polish AL. She had no problem whatsoever other than our daughter(5 mos. old)got a little fossy toward the end. If you ask for bassinette they will provide you for that but make sure you let the airline know ahead of time like when you are making the reservations. My wife was travelling by herself and I am sure we will have fun travelling back, once I go there to bring them back in couple of weeks. Your child does not need a visa he just need to be entered in your wife's passport but make sure he has an American passport too, since US will give you hard time on return. If you don't get her in your wife's Rissian passport then you need to get a visa for the child.That will cost you some bucks. I recommend the first option.

[RickM]

... in response to Re: Travel Questions...Back To Russia Wi..., posted by michaels on Jun 12, 2002

another very interesting question...My wife has a "Kyrgyz" passport from Kyrgyzstan,Republic (it has an international page to it) We are going to visit her family who actually lives "inside" Russia now.She has a greencard now so we're really not worried about her getting back inside the USA.The child was born here in USA and I can't see how she'd get or even want the child on her Kyrgyz passport.We wonder if Russia will still even honor her international passport page anymore...Seems like we'll be purchasing 3 visas and will have to get the kid his own US passport or a page inside "my" US passport if they do it that way in US also...Seems like a question for Washington visa companies and INS...

[BrianN]

... in response to Travel Questions...Back To Russia With C..., posted by RickM on Jun 11, 2002

I have no idea on the latter, but on the former, be prepared to be hated on da plane if your little one is like most... (ie, hates it when you get any rest and he never wants to sleep).  

If I were you, I'd highly recommend trying to get a seating preference for the very front of economy class.

On my flight over, Masha and I were in the very front row of the cheap section (behind said business class) which meant nobody in front of us... Just a wall.  (Which means we had a lot of extra room.  I entertained her kid.... she slept.  Overall, passengers were happy, and I didn't have to worry about reading that stupid computer programming book I brought to refine some bad habits and learn worse ones.

Thank God for small favors.

Lol.

[Richard]

... in response to Re: Travel Questions...Back To Russia Wi..., posted by BrianN on Jun 11, 2002

On my last transatlantic trip there was a baby on the flight.  His family had seats in the first row right behind a bulkhead.  The airline provided a bassinette for the baby to sleep in that attached to the bulkhead.  Maybe you could ask for this.

[BrianN]

... in response to Re: Re: Travel Questions...Back To Russi..., posted by Richard on Jun 11, 2002

Masha had actually asked for one, (When she purchased her ticket) and Aeroflot never provided it, however... when she tried to get this in flight, the stewardess explained how the bassinette attached to the bulkhead (on the pins that were there)...  But they were talking in Russian so I didn't understand.  Her son, was king of the trip and would have had nothing of it... but he was also 14 months old and preferred standing up and looking at everyone else instead of sleeping.

I can imagine if the child is much younger the bassinette would make a significant difference though.

Age would be the real factor in this... heh heh...

isn't it always?  :-)