Connection with Finnair LHR-HEL=SIN

[Batesy]

Hi All
Just working out a new QF Oneworld J award. Below connection looks pretty tight but I have never been through HEL so not sure if easily doable.

No direct flight to SIN when I want it in June. Anyone flown AY in J?


2 Adults

Flight 1	From	To	Flight	Travel Class	Reward Type
Tue 27 Jun 17	18:05 London (Heathrow) Duration: 2h 55m	23:00 Helsinki Stops: 0	AY834	Business
	23:55 Helsinki Duration: 11h 45m	16:40 Wed Singapore Stops: 0	AY81	Business
	Total duration: 15h 35m
= Flights AY834, AY81 are operated by Finnair

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi All
Just working out a new QF Oneworld J award. Below connection looks pretty tight but I have never been through HEL so not sure if easily doable.

No direct flight to SIN when I want it in June. Anyone flown AY in J?


2 Adults

Flight 1	From	To	Flight	Travel Class	Reward Type
Tue 27 Jun 17	18:05 London (Heathrow) Duration: 2h 55m	23:00 Helsinki Stops: 0	AY834	Business
	23:55 Helsinki Duration: 11h 45m	16:40 Wed Singapore Stops: 0	AY81	Business
	Total duration: 15h 35m
= Flights AY834, AY81 are operated by Finnair

if the connection is offered as a valid booking then you are good to go. HEL is pretty small and conducive to connection, just you might not have much lounge time.

 

[Mattg]

Finnair has a good J product (on its long-haul aircraft, anyway) and that connection is achievable in Helsinki. I wouldn't hesitate to book that.

 

[RichardMEL]

one of the easiest connections in europe. non-schengen to int is just a hop through security. Come into the 30's gates and leave from same. there's a decent lounge there though prob wouldn't get a lot of time but its there.

If the SIN flight is on the A350 it will be a very nice experience.

Even if the incoming i slate, I would expect AY to protect. this is a fine connection despite how it looks.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

I actually did this transfer two nights ago on a flight from Zurich. We landed late and deplaned at 2310 and I was through immigration and at the gate fast enough to duck into the lounge for a pitstop and quick drink before boarding.

As flights from London are non-Schengen I don't believe you will even need to go through immigration. If this is the the case then it should be no more than a few minutes walk to your gate.

 

[fairbasa]

Finnair pride themselves on their short connections, they see it as one of their main differentiators from their competitors if you watch some of their behind the scenes videos on Youtube.

I've made quite a few <1hr connections with Finnair.

 

[drron]

Yes the flight from London is into the non-Schengen (international) part of the terminal so a very short walk to the next gate.
However we flew HEL-BKK last Saturday.We elected to overnight in HEL.Just as well as the flight from LHR that normally would have had a 3 hour connect was 5 hours late.There were 2 empty J seats as a consequence.

 

[Batesy]

Thanks team AFF, we will book this one. Spoke to QF yesterday and plenty of availability to get to SIN using QR and MH as well. With BA only one flight a day from LHR will also look at options out of other cities on the continent and maybe bypass UK and the LHR taxes altogether. Currently booked SYD-HKG- DUS with CX and SIN-MEL-SYD with QF.

 

[kitkatff]

semi-related question, is the only way to book AY or other oneworld airlines to ring Qantas? Their website doesn't show any airline for award apart from EK, and CX once in a while. Just looking to book some rewards but the website is useless. Where could I look to see if there are award seats available before I ring Qantas?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

semi-related question, is the only way to book AY or other oneworld airlines to ring Qantas? Their website doesn't show any airline for award apart from EK, and CX once in a while. Just looking to book some rewards but the website is useless. Where could I look to see if there are award seats available before I ring Qantas?

Free booking tools include British Airways (but you need a Europe address to register), or Japan Airlines (doesn't cover all airlines), or AA. Between the three of them, and noting the BA and QF tools can show phantom availability, you should be able to find most things.

 

[kitkatff]

Thanks, I'll give BA a go, I can find an EU address

 

[ausfox]

Don't tell anyone but I joined BA and used AU address 2 months ago.

 

[BD1959]

Finnair has a good J product (on its long-haul aircraft, anyway) and that connection is achievable in Helsinki. I wouldn't hesitate to book that.

It's been some years since I flew AY J - and I loved both the querkiness of the onboard meal offerings as well as the ease of transfer in the non-schengen area. However there is some disquiet on the AY Flyertalk Board about some of the J meal 'enhancements" - including the 81/82 services.

Regards,

BD