Departure to China via Moscow
The big day has finally arrived! It's Monday, February 28th and after a short night, we're heading to Brussels airport. Why depart from Belgium, you might ask? Beyond the fact that I'm from Northern France, it's mainly the prices charged by airlines that made us prefer Brussels to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Speaking of airlines, our chosen carrier is none other than Russian airline Aeroflot...
The big day has finally arrived! It's Monday, February 28th and after a short night, we're heading to Brussels airport. Why depart from Belgium, you might ask? Beyond the fact that I'm from Northern France, it's mainly the prices charged by airlines that made us prefer Brussels to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Speaking of airlines, our chosen carrier is none other than Russian airline Aeroflot...
Aeroflot, or Russian hospitality
Aeroflot is apparently known for its low prices, but above all for service that is most often deplorable. Various online reviews we gathered indeed speak of flagrant lack of comfort, questionable safety and disastrous service... A rather negative impression, you might say, but no matter! Our limited means don't allow us to consider Air France, so our choice turns to the Russian carrier.
It's also worth noting: our objective is to spend a few weeks exploring deep Chine starting at the end of our internship. The plan would be to leave from Guangzhou (in the South) at the end of June and travel north to Beijing (in the North) before heading back to France. It thus made more sense to purchase round-trip tickets Brussels-Beijing, and then take a train locally to Guangzhou (over 2000 km nonetheless) and arrive at our workplace where we'll spend 4 months. Here's the itinerary:
Departure from Brussels at 12:45
Arrival in Moscow at 18:15 (local time)
Departure from Moscow at 21:30
Arrival in Beijing at 9:50 (local time)
Given that the time difference between Paris and Moscow is 2 hours, and 5 hours between Moscow and Beijing, the total flight duration is 10h50 (not counting the 3-hour stopover in Russia...). We arrive well ahead of schedule at Brussels airport, early enough to be among the first to check in our 20 kg of baggage and do some currency exchange (200€ = 2000 yuan each should suffice!). After an endless wait inherent to every departure, the plane takes off... However, things aren't quite as alarming as expected: the aircraft seems decent, as is the comfort, and resembles that of Air Transat if I had to make a comparison. As for the stewards and flight attendants, they embody the image one might have of Russia: cold... Off we go for 3h30 of flight!
Flight over Moscow
Stopover in Moscow
We arrive without incident at the scheduled time in Moscow, where we notice that the Russians handle snowstorms much better than the French do...
Moscow Airport
These few hours of stopover allow us to browse the duty free shops where alcohol, cigarettes and other fragrances are sold tax-free.
Duty free shop
Time to depart for Beijing arrives. The terminal is easily recognizable thanks to the crowd of Chinese seated on the benches, allowing us to familiarize ourselves immediately with the language! The aircraft provided is much larger than the previous one and the flight attendants are smiling... The journey promises to be quite good!
Frequently asked questions
Aeroflot offers some of the most competitive fares for flights between Europe and Chine, with a stopover in Moscow. Comfort is adequate, comparable to certain charter airlines, although onboard service is sometimes described as no-frills. For a limited budget, it's a serious option to consider.
The Brussels-Moscow flight lasts approximately 3h30. After a roughly 3-hour stopover at Moscow airport, the Moscow-Beijing flight lasts approximately 7h20. In total, allow approximately 13h50 of travel time gate to gate, not including airport time.
Citizens of English-speaking countries with a valid connecting ticket and not leaving the international transit area of Moscow airport generally do not need a visa. However, it is recommended to check the conditions with your country's embassy in Russia before departure, as rules can change.
For an initial travel budget, converting approximately 200€ or roughly 2000 yuan (exchange rate at the time of travel) should suffice for the first few days. It is advisable to exchange currency at the airport or at a bank before arriving, and to plan for a bit more depending on the duration and style of your trip.
The Beijing-Guangzhou train route covers over 2000 km. With high-speed rail (高铁, gāotiě), the journey takes approximately 8 to 9 hours. It is recommended to book tickets in advance, especially during peak travel periods, through official Chinese platforms or via a travel agent.
