Georgia Away - 6th September 2008

[Superhoops]

I'd say theres no danger of not getting a ticket for this. Georgia play in a massive stadium.

When we were there in 2003, the game was played in the small stadium used by Locomotiv and Dynamo. It has a capacity of about 25000 all seated.

There are two far bigger stadiums in Tbilisi, the National Stadium which holds about 55000 and the old Dynamo Tbilisi Stadium which then was nearly delapidated, although the day after our game we went there to see a rugby international between Georgia and Romania and there was about 60000 at it.

I reckon they will again use the smaller stadium as I cannot the game attracting a big enough attendance. Soccer is not the most popular sport in Georgia.

[stiofain]

When we were there in 2003, the game was played in the small stadium used by Locomotiv and Dynamo. It has a capacity of about 25000 all seated.

There are two far bigger stadiums in Tbilisi, the National Stadium which holds about 55000 and the old Dynamo Tbilisi Stadium which then was nearly delapidated, although the day after our game we went there to see a rugby international between Georgia and Romania and there was about 60000 at it.

I reckon they will again use the smaller stadium as I cannot the game attracting a big enough attendance. Soccer is not the most popular sport in Georgia.

Thanks for the info, I never imagined Rugby would be so popular there!
The stadium i mentioned was the Boris Paichadze Stadium. I'm certain thats where Georgia played Scotland last year, though if i remember rightly there were many empty seats visable on the TV.
I'd quite like it if it was played in Lokomotiv's smaller stadium, like it was in 2003. I'd say it would make for a better atmosphere.
Even so, i'll take a risk and say we'd all get tickets without any problems.

[stojkovic]

Thanks for the info, I never imagined Rugby would be so popular there!

The bouncer in my local is from Georgia - huge f**ker. Rugby mad.

[NeilMcD]

Do you live in Tiblisi

[gspain]

Anybody switched to Copenhagen make sure you still have a through ticket.

I checked with SAS (Dublin to Riga carrier via Copenhagen) and I'm now on a separate ticket.

A through ticket mean sif you miss the 55 minute connection in Copenhagen you have to be re-routed to Tbilisi via other airlines at SAS's expense. There are plenty of routes from Copnehagen via Oslo, Munich Vienna or Istanbul (all already expensive).

However separate tickets mean SAS will just stick you on the next flight to Riga and you are screwed and will have to pay for an expensive flight home yourself and also miss the game.

Expedia told me SAS will get me to Tbilisi. they say they won't. Yesterday they told me it was Czech Airlines responsibility (flying home with them) they say "not our problem".

Then they promised me a full through ticket via an e-ticket yesterday.

They sent me some guy's e-ticket going from London to Delhi on June 13th.

Ultimately it is expedia's problem.

If you have been re-routed you need to make sure you have a through ticket. 55 minutes is doable in Copenhagen but it is tight. With so many onward connections it really is risky. Air Baltic, expedia et al are responsible to give you a through ticket although it will cost them a lot more to put that responsibility on SAS. They took the cheap option with me and denied it until I rang them back with confirmation from SAS that I was on a separate ticket. they still then had the cheek to lie again claim that Czech airlines will sort me out.

[Sligo Hornet]

Anybody switched to Copenhagen make sure you still have a through ticket.

I checked with SAS (Dublin to Riga carrier via Copenhagen) and I'm now on a separate ticket.

A through ticket mean sif you miss the 55 minute connection in Copenhagen you have to be re-routed to Tbilisi via other airlines at SAS's expense. There are plenty of routes from Copnehagen via Oslo, Munich Vienna or Istanbul (all already expensive).

However separate tickets mean SAS will just stick you on the next flight to Riga and you are screwed and will have to pay for an expensive flight home yourself and also miss the game.

Expedia told me SAS will get me to Tbilisi. they say they won't. Yesterday they told me it was Czech Airlines responsibility (flying home with them) they say "not our problem".

Then they promised me a full through ticket via an e-ticket yesterday.

They sent me some guy's e-ticket going from London to Delhi on June 13th.

Ultimately it is expedia's problem.

If you have been re-routed you need to make sure you have a through ticket. 55 minutes is doable in Copenhagen but it is tight. With so many onward connections it really is risky. Air Baltic, expedia et al are responsible to give you a through ticket although it will cost them a lot more to put that responsibility on SAS. They took the cheap option with me and denied it until I rang them back with confirmation from SAS that I was on a separate ticket. they still then had the cheek to lie again claim that Czech airlines will sort me out.

Some very sound information and advice there gspain....hopefully spare many on here from a disasterous trip!

p.s. I hope you enjoy Delhi next weekend......you can get a direct connection from there to Tblisi see here

[galah]

booked on air baltic flight to Tbilisi from Riga on the Friday night ....has anyone had their flights changed there yet?

[gspain]

booked on air baltic flight to Tbilisi from Riga on the Friday night ....has anyone had their flights changed there yet?

Riga to Tbilisi is still OK. It's Dublin to Riga that they have cancelled.

The other key thing o nthe through ticket is that SAS will delay their Copenhagen to Riga flight if they have people on through tickets rather that incur the cost of a re-route. if we are all on single tickets to Riga then they'll stick us on the later flight to Riga that arrives after the Tbilisi flight has left Riga.

[kingdomkerry]

Riga to Tbilisi is still OK. It's Dublin to Riga that they have cancelled.

The other key thing o nthe through ticket is that SAS will delay their Copenhagen to Riga flight if they have people on through tickets rather that incur the cost of a re-route. if we are all on single tickets to Riga then they'll stick us on the later flight to Riga that arrives after the Tbilisi flight has left Riga.

What sure its bookable on the ryanair website?

[NeilMcD]

Gspain is talking about Air Baltic Dublin to Riga.

[cobra]

Anybody switched to Copenhagen make sure you still have a through ticket.

I checked with SAS (Dublin to Riga carrier via Copenhagen) and I'm now on a separate ticket.

A through ticket mean sif you miss the 55 minute connection in Copenhagen you have to be re-routed to Tbilisi via other airlines at SAS's expense. There are plenty of routes from Copnehagen via Oslo, Munich Vienna or Istanbul (all already expensive).

However separate tickets mean SAS will just stick you on the next flight to Riga and you are screwed and will have to pay for an expensive flight home yourself and also miss the game.

Expedia told me SAS will get me to Tbilisi. they say they won't. Yesterday they told me it was Czech Airlines responsibility (flying home with them) they say "not our problem".

Then they promised me a full through ticket via an e-ticket yesterday.

They sent me some guy's e-ticket going from London to Delhi on June 13th.

Ultimately it is expedia's problem.

If you have been re-routed you need to make sure you have a through ticket. 55 minutes is doable in Copenhagen but it is tight. With so many onward connections it really is risky. Air Baltic, expedia et al are responsible to give you a through ticket although it will cost them a lot more to put that responsibility on SAS. They took the cheap option with me and denied it until I rang them back with confirmation from SAS that I was on a separate ticket. they still then had the cheek to lie again claim that Czech airlines will sort me out.

Went via Copenhagen going to Estonia for the 2002 WC qualifiers, was surprised how big an airport it is, took us ages to get from arrivals to the helsinki departure gate.. Going to Tibilisi via Prague return with czech airlines myself booked through expedia

[gspain]

OK finally got a through ticket sorted today. confirmed it with SAS as well.

The big advantage here is that if my flight from Dublin is late they will probably delay the Copenhagen to Riga flight as re-routing me would cost them money.

[aidz1]

The time has come to look into accomadation for tbilisi.
2 of us staying for 2 nights (fri & sat).
havent done much research yet, but the city centre and old town are being thrown up as locations..

anyone recomend any spots yet?

[Sligo Hornet]

The time has come to look into accomadation for tbilisi.
2 of us staying for 2 nights (fri & sat).
havent done much research yet, but the city centre and old town are being thrown up as locations..

anyone recomend any spots yet?

We have booked into The Hotel Primavera (pretty central location in Tbilisi, and looks a reasonable hotel) www.primavera.ge

[Colie]

I changed my Thursday Dublin Riga for Dublin Copenhagen Riga. No charge or nothing and I get in an bit earlier I believe and I get to tick Denmark off too. It all worked out in the end. Thanks gspain for highlighting it in the first instance though coz ebookers weren't gonna be going telling me about it I don't think.

I'm staying here: http://www.selectgeorgia.com/Supplie...ID=279&ID=2231, 10 mins from the main street and it has a roof pool!

[AidoM]

I changed my Thursday Dublin Riga for Dublin Copenhagen Riga. No charge or nothing and I get in an bit earlier I believe and I get to tick Denmark off too. It all worked out in the end. Thanks gspain for highlighting it in the first instance though coz ebookers weren't gonna be going telling me about it I don't think.

I'm staying here: http://www.selectgeorgia.com/Supplie...ID=279&ID=2231, 10 mins from the main street and it has a roof pool!

Colie, if it's the Sympatia myself, Bear11, the Banner Man and another are in there, arriving in Tbilisi 3 am on Friday and departing Saturday night/Sunday morning after the match for Prague, Belgrade and Podgorica.

As this is a quality hotel, hopefully we won't see the Hornet and his gang from the poor hotel as the likes of them wouldn't be allowed inside our hotel.

Keep an eye out for them rooting in the bins though

[Sligo Hornet]

Colie, if it's the Sympatia myself, Bear11, the Banner Man and another are in there, arriving in Tbilisi 3 am on Friday and departing Saturday night/Sunday morning after the match for Prague, Belgrade and Podgorica.

As this is a quality hotel, hopefully we won't see the Hornet and his gang from the poor hotel as the likes of them wouldn't be allowed inside our hotel.

Keep an eye out for them rooting in the bins though

Watch it Aido...less of the cheek!

Looks a good enough hotel ( although if yourself and the Bear get in the roof pool together there wont be enough room for the water!)

You'll also be pleased to see that your Hotel has an iron and ironing board.......so at least "The Flag" will be well looked after!

[Claret Murph]

Watch it Aido...less of the cheek!

Looks a good enough hotel ( although if yourself and the Bear get in the roof pool together there wont be enough room for the water!)

You'll also be pleased to see that your Hotel has an iron and ironing board.......so at least "The Flag" will be well looked after!

Fair play to you Hornet ..


So I take it that you are going to use the ironing board as a flag pole and use the cord on the iron to run up the flag pole . Jeeez now that's what I call a man who thinks ahead

[galah]

anyone else gettin in at 3am fri night/sat morning ....are hotels allowin ya to book in at that time ....or do we have to wander the streets an find a nice strip club to pass the time...

[Newryrep]

anyone else gettin in at 3am fri night/sat morning ....are hotels allowin ya to book in at that time ....or do we have to wander the streets an find a nice strip club to pass the time...

you would be fine if you booked a room for fri night/sat but doubt it if you only booked in sat night.

Normal check in is 14.00 onwards in most hotels although they do let you in earlier but 04.00 is stretching it a bit.