Finnair Plus - Question for Finnair Experts

Will be flying TLL-HEL-LED on Finnair with only a 40 minute layover in HEL. Is that enough time? Obviously the Tallin-Helsinki trip is short but don't want to miss the flight to Russia.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

- MacDanny

Yes, that'll be fine.

Just make sure you're on the same ticket and it's totally fine..TLL (or any other) flight can be delayed but then again it can be delayed 10mins or 3 hours and you just cannot plan like that.

Enjoy your trip to beautiful St.Pete!

Thanks to everyone for their responses. Sounds like the 40 minutes is doable. Thanks!

- MacDanny

Hi,

40 minutes in HEL to non-schengen will be tight. Be prerared to run, if the landing is delayed more than 10 minutes. TLL - HEL flight is operated with smaller planes, which takes you to stand-arrival area. Bus adds about 5-10 minutes. There is no way you can jump out of the plane, you will have to wait until bus is full. Russian flights are non-schengen, so you have to _run_ about 500 meters to passport control.

One trick is to put something you can afford to lose (empty card board box) to cargo hold, which is then loaded up to the LED plane. This might delay the gate closing a bit for you to make it, in case the TLL flight is late.

Boarding will start about 25 mins before the departure.

You are better off if you take a morning plane, since they tend to be more on time.

And what about a 40 min connection on a JFK-HEL-BUD itin? I guess it should be fine in case of no delays. There is a later flight to BUD in the afternoon (almost 8 hours later). If the inbound is late, will I only be protected on the afternoon AY flight or will I be offered other options if I desire to get home earlier?

As 40 minutes is MCT for this connection, it will be fine.
http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/information-services/after-the-flight/connecting-flights

If you are on 1 AY ticket they will "protect you" in case of delay, regardless of which connection you choose (within legal MCT). Meaning getting you on next plane and getting you refreshments while you wait.

And what about a 40 min connection on a JFK-HEL-BUD itin? I guess it should be fine in case of no delays. There is a later flight to BUD in the afternoon (almost 8 hours later). If the inbound is late, will I only be protected on the afternoon AY flight or will I be offered other options if I desire to get home earlier?

The JFK route has quite a cushion in the timetable..1 hour late taking off and you will most likely have on time arrival into HEL..well we all know how the JFK taxi can be so the cushion is there for a reason.

Most likely they won't re-route you HEL-XXX-BUD in case of missing the BUD flight if there's direct flight later the same day but others have more experience on AY HEL connections so don't take this as a rule..

That should be fine. I've done a few non-schengen connections in HEL that tight and it was no problem.

That should be fine. I've done a few non-schengen connections in HEL that tight and it was no problem.

If one's incoming LH is only slightly late (and as NWS noted, AY6 is often early), the connecting flights often wait for the passenger.

And what about a 40 min connection on a JFK-HEL-BUD itin? I guess it should be fine in case of no delays. There is a later flight to BUD in the afternoon (almost 8 hours later). If the inbound is late, will I only be protected on the afternoon AY flight or will I be offered other options if I desire to get home earlier?


My guess is that on the HEL-BUD leg you won't be offered any other options than the next AY flight. It may even be the fastest option to get you to BUD, depending on the time of the day.

The other options would be RIX (BT), PRG (OK) and FRA/MUC (LH) and that's it, more or less. Again, depends on the time of the day.

If you miss your original connection, why don't just make a nice day-trip to Helsinki. 8 hours layover is more than enough for a sightseeing tour + a good meal.

OT

It seems AY got a good customer for MA status matching you ^

As 40 minutes is MCT for this connection, it will be fine.
http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/information-services/after-the-flight/connecting-flights

If you are on 1 AY ticket they will "protect you" in case of delay, regardless of which connection you choose (within legal MCT). Meaning getting you on next plane and getting you refreshments while you wait.

It is on one AY ticket, actually bought on finnair.com.

I hope the refreshments they offer in such a situation are better than what is available in the Shengen lounge. :-)

The JFK route has quite a cushion in the timetable..1 hour late taking off and you will most likely have on time arrival into HEL..well we all know how the JFK taxi can be so the cushion is there for a reason..

This is certainly an important piece of information. I myself had a BWI-JFK flight when we actually spent more time on the ground at JFK than in the air.

That should be fine. I've done a few non-schengen connections in HEL that tight and it was no problem.

If one's incoming LH is only slightly late (and as NWS noted, AY6 is often early), the connecting flights often wait for the passenger.

Thanks for the info to all. I will then not be anxious about the connection, but try to seat myself as close to the front as possible, just in case.

I am presently in 22L (bulkhead/cot) for the inbound flight. Can you generally recommend it or should I instead choose 23L? What is the chance that I am kicked out of 22L, travelling obviously without an infant?

My guess is that on the HEL-BUD leg you won't be offered any other options than the next AY flight. It may even be the fastest option to get you to BUD, depending on the time of the day.

The other options would be RIX (BT), PRG (OK) and FRA/MUC (LH) and that's it, more or less. Again, depends on the time of the day.

There is an AY/BA option via LHR. I think that would be the most FTish option. :D

If you miss your original connection, why don't just make a nice day-trip to Helsinki. 8 hours layover is more than enough for a sightseeing tour + a good meal.

That's not a bad option either. I have affection for photographing vehicles used in public transport, especially those made in Hungary. In Finland there are lots of buses made by Ikarus EAG. I have travelled quite extensively within the country to hunt down some (e.g. single examples in Kokkola and Rovaniemi) and have photos of about 1/3 of all such buses. There are still a lot of missing one currently operating in Helsinki, so I would most likely go for a "hunting trip" if I miss my connection.

It seems AY got a good customer for MA status matching you ^

Thank you. :cool:

I have travelled quite extensively within the country to hunt down some (e.g. single examples in Kokkola and Rovaniemi)

Even ex-HEL that would be quite a trip, but ex-DEB - talk about dedication to one's hobby!

Even ex-HEL that would be quite a trip, but ex-DEB - talk about dedication to one's hobby!

It was actually mostly ex-OUL during a two-week stay, but I travelled by train about 6000 kilometers during that period (wholly within Finland visiting HEL, TMP, POR, TKU, RVN, KOK, KAJ + TLL, all from an OUL base).

I acutally have less time for this hobby in the last 5 years, but it was certainly not much cheaper then maintaining FF status and flying in premium cabins if possible.

There is an AY/BA option via LHR. I think that would be the most FTish option. :D

Only on Sundays is there such a connection that can get you to BUD quicker through LHR (in the current timetable) and that gets you to BUD whole 20 minutes earlier than the AY direct, so I highly doubt Finnair would offer that.