Travelling from Tromso to Helsinki - SAS + Finnair or SAS Alone?

[Yoz]

Currently looking to get from Tromso to Helsinki in December and the options are:

1. SAS + Finnair (5h35m) - $219.85
TRO-OSL @ 4:10PM - 6:00PM (SAS)
OSL-HEL @ 8:20PM - 10:45PM (Finnair)

2. SAS Alone (7h55m) - $263.60
TRO-ARN @ 12:30PM - 14:20PM (SAS)
ARN-HEL @ 19:30PM - 21:25PM (SAS)


It's about $40 cheaper to go SAS + Finnair but I'm just wondering if flights from Tromso to Oslo are likely to be cancelled in Norwegian winter.
If they're quite frequently cancelled I'd imagine we're better off trying to keep it all on the same ticket to avoid potential muck-arounds?

Although, with 2h20m between flights I'd imagine there's plenty of time to transit through Oslo?

I seek the wisdom of AFFers who have gone Northern Lights hunting (or to Tromso for some other reason?)

 

[Paul_PER]

I've only been to Tromso in November, i.e. late autumn. There of course may be cancellations due to weather, but more importantly delays due to de-icing of aircraft.

I assume for the SAS (Star Alliance) and Finnair (Oneworld) itinerary you are proposing two separate bookings so your luggage won't be checked through - you would need to collect luggage, re-check in, and then pass through security again in Oslo which can suffer longish queues.

Oslo airport is all under one roof which is convenient.

If you can stand LCC's consider Norwegian - if you book on one itinerary I think there is some sort of delay guarantee, i.e. if you miss a connection due to them and they can't put you on a plane the same day I think they provide overnight accommodation. Being on one itinerary they will check your luggage through. Most of their aircraft are new 738's. Although the Tromso to Oslo run I did was ancient 733's. In winter overheads will be absolutely chockers with overcoats.

If you were HLO I'd say 2 hours, 20 minutes would be fine. If you get nervous about this sort of thing then probably SAS. Note Tromso is a long way North. The weather there can be significantly different to Oslo - most likely a lot colder, although one place could be experiencing a storm and the other not.

Good luck with the Northern Lights - I saw them walking out of a restaurant one night after dinner. It's a lottery.

 

[Austman]

Winter doesn't matter much in the Scandinavian/Nordic countries. They are used to it.

I've caught 100s of flights. Most operate on or close to time.

Are you Star Gold? If not, the LONG transit in Arlanda will be tiresome. Scandinavia is not cheap and the airports are even more expensive.

 

[Yoz]

Mmm. Thanks for the advice!

It sounds like I'll book MEL-OSL / OSL-HEL / HEL-MEL on Finnair.
And book the OSL-TRO / TRO-OSL on SAS to connect

 

[amaroo]

We'll be in Tromso early Jan doing the chase! Had the same concern with weather/flights and missing connections.

We went with SAS and will fly BER-TOS (Wideroe) and then down to OSL with SAS.