Can anyone tell me what the typical process of a flight layover usually is?

As long as you're on the same airline or airlines with baggage forwarding agreements, your baggage will be forwarded to your final destination in almost all cases. You'll also receive boarding passes for both flights when you first check-in at your departure airport.

When you get to your connecting airport, if you don't already know your departure gate number, just check the monitors in the airport to find the gate number. Basically you need to go from the arrivals area to the departure airport. You may have to change terminals depending on the airport, in which case you'll almost always have to clear security again.

I have just looked up Kiev Borispol, it is in the Ukraine so your connection is international and you will probably have to go through immigration, customs and hand the bag over at baggage recheck in Russia and possibly security again, as in the US. Although I cannot say for sure having never traveled through Russia. I know you will have to go through immigration and customs when you land in New York regardless of which airline you travel with. It is a requirement of of all passengers whether they are US citizens or not.

Best thing to do is ask the airline when you check in at Tel Aviv, or even contact them before traveling. After clearing through immigration etc., you will only be required to go to the gate of your next flight. I don't want to worry you but have you checked if you need some sort of transit visa when transiting through Russia?.

A similar question has been posted before, I think you should look it up with the following link.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201...

Geographically, Kiev rests at the hub of Europe and is a completely different earth but now you can it greater if you begin from with hotelbye . Kiev could be the capital of Ukraine and is the most lovely town of all the post soviet countries. It is just a city of whatever you least expect. Kiev is an old town where old matches new and east meets west. Among the things you will see in Kiev is the St. Cyrill's Monastery. That monastery was entirely off-the-beaten track. This small church is really as previous as time, relationship back to 12th century. Paintings of the popular Mikhail Vrubel take you into a various world. And the truth that the Monastery is away from the main tourist internet sites in Kyiv is likely to make the knowledge a lot more humbling and inspirational.

I had a 24 hour layover from Taipei to Los Angeles. I didnt have to get my baggage and recheck it again. But I did however had to go to a different part of the airport where my gate was. I had to take a metro to get from the Taipei Songshan Airport to the Taoyuan International Airport. Note that these two airports were connected together but was really far to walk to. From there I just had to go to the gate and wait for my flight. I spent most of the time wandering around the airport and eventually dozed off

Since it's an international flight you may have to go through customs and immigration in Kiev and claim your luggage, as if Kiev was your destination, and then re-check your luggage and check into your flight to New York as if it's a brand new trip. If you do have to do that, show the customs officer in Kiev the ticket for your connecting flight.

You land, follow the signs to "transfers", go through security and go to the next gate, which may be far away, so account for that. If you get lost ask an airline staff. Your bags will go all the way through unless you are told otherwise.

You will get off the plane and depending how long your layover is you can go to the next gate, walk around, get something to eat, etc. Your checked bag will automatically be sent to the next plane you will get on so you won't have to worry about finding it and checking it in again. Hope this helps!