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Wizz Air to launch flights from Luton to St Petersburg and Moscow

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Wizz Air has announced that it is launching flights from Luton Airport to St Petersburg and Moscow.

Most people were taken by surprise when British Airways announced in May that it was dropping flights to St Petersburg.  Kiev was also closed at the same time.

As I wrote at the time, I assume that the continued economic sanctions against Russia have finally taken their toll.

Russia doesn’t help itself, however, by imposing its tough visa restrictions on St Petersburg.  This should be one of the most popular UK weekend break destinations, but in reality few people are willing to go to the trouble of arranging the necessary paperwork for the sake of a 2-3 night trip.

The good news is that Wizz Air has announced new routes to Moscow and St Petersburg from London Luton.

The services start on 1st October, just in time for the suspension of the British Airways St Petersburg flight on 4th October.  The only other direct option from the UK is the Aeroflot service from London Gatwick.

Category

General

Comments (154)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • N says:
    18 Jul18 July 05:02

    Link broken

    • Shoestring says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:37

      navigate to [Gift Cards & Top Up] and there should be a big button there [£6 promo with £50 of Gift Cards], I got it as a button even though I’m not eligible so it should be there for everybody

  • Tony says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:23

    I was in the Luton Clubrooms on Saturday. It’s a small space and I would dread to see it at full capacity with 65 people. I wasn’t impressed with the experience due to issues with service. There were no more than 15-20 guests at any time, often fewer during my two hour visit there, with no shortage of staff. However, they were constantly forgetting to fulfil drinks orders, getting specific requests wrong for both drinks and food. Long delays for food that was lukewarm when it arrived. As the space is fairly compact I could see this happening at most tables.

    Maybe it was teething problems and service will become slicker over time. If I’m flying from Luton again later in the year, I’ll give the place another chance in the hope that it was just early issues. It’s a much nicer space than the other Luton lounge to spend time in and the drinks and food are obviously a more premium offering.

    • Lady London says:
      19 Jul19 July 12:48

      Thanks for the heads up @Tony i will wait to try Clubrooms at LTN till when the Aspire Lounge there closes in the autumn for refurbishment.

  • filipino_chino says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:37

    Not been to Russia for a few years, but the pain of getting a visa might mean that the route will not last that long, unless Wizz air know something that we don’t…. (York based, so went to Edinburgh to do my finger prints)

    I know London has a lot of people from Russia, but i doubt enough to keep the route going…

    • Kipto says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:20

      Am I right that you don’t have to visit the Russian embassy to get a visa and that it can be done online ?

      • Rob says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:08

        You need to get a hotel to send you a letter of invitation. Not sure if the rest of the process can be done online or if you still need to pay a visa service to queue for you.

        • Jonathan says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:49

          The invitation letter doesn’t necessarily have to be from a hotel, from what I can tell they’re also issued by travel agencies that operate within Russia as well. When I went there, I took a high speed train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, and the company who sold me the train ticket offered to issue an invitation letter if needed, which was lucky because my hotel bookings didn’t offer that!

      • Genghis says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:43

        Since 2014 you need to give fingerprints which can only be done in person.
        For my last work visa I used an agency but still had to go in person to the VFS Global offices.

        • Jonathan says:
          18 Jul18 July 11:05

          If you’re entering the country through designated entry points, I don’t understand why this can’t be done when the Border guard checks and stamps your passport, for instance you have evidence that you’ll enter via St Petersburg or Moscow’s DME or SVO, then why can’t they take fingerprints there. I can understand needing to go to the VFS office if you want enter via a land border crossing in a rural part of a third party country, but having people going to London or Edinburgh or Manchester simply to supply fingerprints will make people who live a few hours travel from these places not bother going at all since someone who lives at least 250 miles from the nearest office would have to really want to visit Russia to go and do this. Hopefully this is something the Russian ministry of foreign affairs might look at in the future

          • Alex M says:
            18 Jul18 July 12:26

            Same reason why Russians need to provide fingerprints when applying for a UK visa. Imagine how easy it is when you live 2000 miles from a visa application centre.

          • Nick says:
            18 Jul18 July 13:35

            The process is a petty retaliation against the UK’s own process for Russians. As is the ridiculous cost. We had first class flights and 5 nights in the ritz Carlton Moscow for a total cash price of £110 thanks to this site, but our visas cost us £370 plus the inconvenience of a trip to the visa application centre.

            The process won’t change – they just mirror what we require apparently.

          • John says:
            18 Jul18 July 14:44

            The theory is that the person applying may not be the person travelling. The practice is because they don’t care and they can.

    • Alex Sm says:
      18 Jul18 July 20:39

      It was enough to keep easyJet routes from LGW and MAN going for 4 years, it’s mostly economics which drives the demand, rather than politics

    • Alex Sm says:
      18 Jul18 July 20:40

      It’s not clear if this electronic visa regime will cover the UK, it might not as far as I heard from reliable sources

  • John says:
    18 Jul18 July 06:39

    Has anyone done a Curve cash withdrawal on the new Lloyds Avios MC? Any charges?

  • Jeremy I says:
    18 Jul18 July 07:35

    Morning all sorry for the OT but a question for all the Tokyo / Japan experts out there. I need 4 nights in Tokyo in mid August. Best I can find of the international chains is the Hilton Tokyo for £180 a night. Does that seem reasonable? Any other options which might be a bit cheaper (as we’re not looking for super fancy this time?). Thank you in advance

    • Rob says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:39

      Very few options, oddly. Have you looked at buying IHG or Hilton points, or even Hyatt, and redeeming immediately?

      • meta says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:40

        Buying points might work out more expensive than £180 a night though perhaps look at Hyatt Regency Tokyo (it’s building next to Hilton). They are usually slightly cheaper than Hilton. Other advice would be to look for some of the Japanese chains such as Otani, Nikko, etc.

    • Gavin says:
      18 Jul18 July 11:43

      If you’re not looking for somewhere fancy, stay at one of the Japanese business hotels. We usually stay at Fresa Inn or Mystays Hamamatsucho. Very convenient for Haneda airport, lots of food options etc locally, and close to metro stops. Always very clean and efficient. Not sure of your dates but 14th-18th August is £60/night at Fresa Inn for a small double.

      • Joseph Heenan says:
        18 Jul18 July 12:15

        Not sure why you’re limiting yourself to the international chains? If it’s language worries don’t worry about that, I’ve yet to find a hotel in central Tokyo where front end staff don’t speak English.

        Do check hotels.com, e.g. mitsui garden hotels are all fine (not huge rooms for the cheapest, but also not the smallest then there’s very few hotels in Tokyo with huge rooms) and the prices I’ve got from hotels.com are the same as the best price I could find from any of the other big sites and cheaper than direct with the hotel (plus you earn reward nights and Avios from hotels.com). If you’re not looking for hotels with pools/gyms/etc I’d expect you can get something closer to £100/night.

    • Lady London says:
      18 Jul18 July 12:52

      I guess you tried agoda (which seems particularly strong in Asia) and ctrip? not sure how competitive room77 and rakuten travel (Rakuten is Japan owned I think) are, but could be worth trying

    • tracy says:
      18 Jul18 July 12:58

      Have friends who stayed at Ibis Tokyo Shinjuku, usually under £100 per night. They said location was pretty decent and would stay again…..

      • Jeremy I says:
        18 Jul18 July 16:33

        Thanks all. That’s immensly helpful. Ended up booking the Celestine Tokyo Shiba which is part of the Mitsui chain Joseph mentioned. it looks nice, has a lounge and is a stone’s throw from a outdoor public pool which will be fun. thanks once again for all your tips.

  • KBuffett says:
    18 Jul18 July 07:51

    OT – I have a free night up to 25000 points voucher from SPG AMEX. Any recommendations where can I get the most bang for buck in the UK (or perhaps Europe)?

    • KBuffett says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:27

      You’re probably right!

      • meta says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:43

        My understanding is that you can use it anywhere for hotels up to 25k, not limited to UK.

      • New Card says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:52

        Hanbury Manor is a good option if you’re based near London.

    • Michael says:
      18 Jul18 July 08:52

      How do you get one of those – is it targeted or have I missed something?

      • Shoestring says:
        18 Jul18 July 08:59

        spend £25K in a year on the card

        • Michael says:
          18 Jul18 July 09:17

          haha – didn’t even know that was a benefit.

          • Doug M says:
            18 Jul18 July 12:48

            Bit of stretch to describe spending £25K to get a free night at a Cat 1 to 4 as benefit 🙂

          • TGLoyalty says:
            18 Jul18 July 13:27

            25k points voucher for 25k Spend

            that’s a 2% return. If its was a Cat 8 tvoucher like IHG or Hilton ones in the past I’d make SPG my main card.

          • Freddy says:
            18 Jul18 July 16:23

            It could be alot better but I think of the free stay as covering the card fee

    • Will says:
      18 Jul18 July 11:15

      I used my last one in Poland and the one before in Bankok so unless it’s changed within the last 3 months then it’s worldwide.

      You can refine by category on the Marriott website, try that and see what’s available.

  • Louise says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:17

    Now I’ve cancelled my virgin card, can anyone confirm if there are charges by MBNA horizon card using curve for cash withdrawals and other typical purchase like transactions?

  • Ben says:
    18 Jul18 July 08:27

    OT. Looking for assurance really.
    I have a AA flight coming into DFW at 18.30 and then I have a BA flight from DFW-LHR at 22.30. They are not on the same PNR so will still have to collect luggage and clear customs but knowing AA are often delayed do you think thats enough time? Also would there be an insurance cover if its longer than the minium connection time?

    • RussC says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:39

      Is it an internal AA flight? If so at check-in sweet talk the staff to check luggage through to LHR – they should do as its all OneWorld. Have done no problem for me a few times.

    • Michael says:
      18 Jul18 July 09:39

      4 Hours is probably pushing the limit of safe – But you’ll be okay if the inbound is on time. If you’ve booked now there’s not much you can do about it. Where are you coming from?

      DFW is quite spread out but quite an easy airport to get around.

      • Ben says:
        18 Jul18 July 10:09

        Well I havent booked it yet but the only other option is pretty rough timings, as in departs at 1am landing at 5am.
        he inbound is also international. Coming from Costa Rica so im not sure they will check the bags all the way through. Thats what im concerned about, apparently AA often have delays so I would be pretty screwed.

        • Michael says:
          18 Jul18 July 10:42

          No they won’t check it through – as US customs will make you collect your bags again and re-check. Can you connect somewhere else like Miami or New York?

          • Ben says:
            18 Jul18 July 11:27

            Unfortunately not. I might just have to take the horrible flight as if the AA flight is delayed I will be forced to buy a one way ticket back…ouch

          • sunguy says:
            18 Jul18 July 12:11

            Im assuming you are starting your jorney within the USA ? If so, then there is no Customs or DHS required – and as long as the AA agent at your starting airport books your luggage through to LHR, all is good – however, as BA take a hard line on bags on different PNRs, its possibly unlikely they will be able to do this.

            BA have this ridiculous rule that if you are on 2 (or more) PNRs, they will absolutely not event think about booking your bags through to your final destination. This is part of the reason that if you do B2B reservations, you cannot take luggage with you…..

        • Lady London says:
          18 Jul18 July 12:57

          I would not do it incoming internationally. I would want far longer than that if on separate tickets..

        • John says:
          18 Jul18 July 14:43

          AA will protect on separate tickets. Some US airports don’t require baggage collection for transits, not sure for your case.

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