01 / CONFIRM THE SITUATION

Check the flight number, airport and operating carrier

Moscow is served by several airports. Read the airport code on the ticket: SVO for Sheremetyevo, DME for Domodedovo, VKO for Vnukovo and ZIA for Zhukovsky. Do not travel to another terminal or airport because of an unofficial message.

1. Check the airport’s official online departure or arrival board.
2. Check the operating airline’s app, website or notification.
3. Compare the flight number, date and local departure time.
4. Keep the booking reference and the ticket number accessible offline.

During temporary airspace restrictions, estimated times can change more than once. Treat a social-media post as an alert to check official information, not as the final status of your flight.

02 / CONTACT THE RIGHT COMPANY

The operating airline controls rebooking

The airport can confirm terminal operations and show the current status, but the airline or ticket seller normally handles your reservation, rebooking and refund. If the ticket was bought through an agency, ask whether changes must be processed by the agency or directly by the carrier.

At the service desk, ask these questions one at a time:

• Is the flight delayed, cancelled or moved to another terminal?
• What is the current estimated departure time?
• Is my booking automatically protected on another flight?
• What happens to checked baggage?
• Which meals, hotel or transfer arrangements are being provided?
• Who should I contact if I leave the airport?

03 / PROTECT THE REST OF THE JOURNEY

One booking and separate tickets are different situations

If all flight segments are on one ticket, contact the operating carrier about the missed connection and baggage. If you built the route from separate tickets, the second carrier may not know about the delay and may treat a missed flight under its own fare rules.

Notify your hotel, transfer company or host as soon as the change is confirmed. Give the new flight number and arrival time rather than only saying that you are late. Check the transfer provider’s waiting-time and cancellation conditions before changing the booking.

If you must change Moscow airports, calculate the whole journey and leave a wide margin. Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky are separate airports; a connection between them is not an ordinary terminal transfer.

04 / LONG OR OVERNIGHT DELAY

Ask what assistance is available and keep proof

Sheremetyevo’s official English passenger guidance says delayed-flight passengers may receive free services and should be offered alternative flight options or a refund. The exact assistance and timing depend on the circumstances, carrier and applicable rules, so ask the airline desk to confirm what applies to your flight.

Keep screenshots of airline notifications, a photograph of the departure board when useful, boarding passes, baggage tags and receipts for necessary expenses. Ask for written confirmation of cancellation or delay if the carrier provides it. Your insurer may require specific documents and may impose a deadline for notification.

If you are offered a hotel, confirm transport to and from it, wake-up arrangements, the revised check-in time and baggage instructions. Keep essential medication and documents in your hand luggage.

05 / BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRPORT

A practical decision checklist

• You have a confirmed replacement flight or a clear refund route.
• You know where your checked baggage is.
• The airline can contact you on a working number or email.
• Your hotel and transfer have the revised arrival details.
• You saved the new boarding document offline.
• You know when and where to return for check-in or boarding.

Use our Moscow trip-planning hub for official airport links, the independent travel guide for arrival preparation and local assistance in Moscow if you need practical help after arrival.

Frequently asked questions