Finnair Plus - Flying PEK to HEL next week. Need info!!

Hello,

I'll be flying PUS-PEK-HEL next Wednesday week and need some information from anyone who has info about transferring to AY52 in PEK.

I will arrive with Asiana from PUS, and only have 1 Hour to catch my HEL flight.
I will arrive and depart from terminal 3 in PEK.

Do any frequent travellers on this route know what gate the HEL flight departs from?
Is it possible to checkin online for this flight even though i have a Asiana flight first from PUS?
Will i need to clear security in PEK or can i go straight to the gate?

All info is really appreciated ^

I've only done Int'l -> Dom transfers at PEK and those do involve security (and naturally also immigration which you do not need to worry).

Anyway I would say that 1 hour transfer at PEK is insane, it's a huge airport and I wouldn't take such a connection even with one ticket...at best it'll be a stressful experience.

Edit: just to add, have you checked that Asiana will indeed check your luggage, if you have any, through to AY...also the AY checkin might be an issue, very much doubt Asiana can do that at PUS...online checkin (if available) and no checked in luggage and you might have a shot but it's risky in any possible scenario, that's for sure...AY checkin will be closed once you arrive at PEK.

I don't have the experience, but OZ (http://chkin.flyasiana.com/English/Fly2007/Contents/info/airport/wwairport/airport_info.jsp) themselves says they have MCT of 120 minutes
Minimum Connection Time * INTL <=> INTL 120MIN, in case of same terminal
- Otherwise, it needs no less than 180MIN

Oh, I'd assume OP is without checked luggage in this case?!

It is a *A to OW "transfer" on 2 PNRs, so it is not a given it can be done. Having status with OZ may help.
Also, even if they do interline the luggage, it is not sure onward BPs can be issued.

Oh, I'd assume OP is without checked luggage in this case?!

It is a *A to OW "transfer" on 2 PNRs, so it is not a given it can be done. Having status with OZ may help.
Also, even if they do interline the luggage, it is not sure onward BPs can be issued.

Actually i have checked luggage!

The main issue is how i can get a boarding pass. I probably cannot get one in PUS with OZ, but can i check in online separately.
Can the transfer desk issue the boarding pass if the check in desk is closed?

I know it is almost impossible, but this is the reason i'm searching for tips and advice :confused:

You can check in online for the Finnair flight, but in Beijing you will still need to go through passport control (even for transit passengers Intl to Intl) and security. If you have a checked bag, you must get it through checked or you will definitely not make the HEL flight, as baggage claim is after passport control and you have to take a shuttle train to the terminal for baggage claim.

You did have a look at PEK transfer guide (http://en.bcia.com.cn/guide/transfer_i_i.shtml)? There is also a map so may plan your shortest path.

With the short connection time, it may be extra difficult to get them to check luggage to final destination. (and if you can't, well then you know right there that you will not make the connection)

I am pretty sure that OZ will not produce a BP for the PEK-HEL segment. You should ask them, but don't get your hopes up.

If you can get the luggage checked in to HEL, and if you were able to do the separate OLCI on AY website (opens T-36), then the transfer desk at PEK may be able to produce a BP even when it is less than 1h to take off.

Finnair.com says they use T3 area C, and if that is correct you can expect gates between C1-C37, I guess.

Happy running!
(Will we see you at the next olympics? ;)

Honestly, what you're trying to do here totally insane and most likely it will be impossible. If this is company travel?? I would just raise that it's wayyy below legal MCT and get either new(earlier) flight from PUS or move the PEK-HEL to next day. You do not want to travel like that, trust me.

Just to agree with everyone else: I wouldn't even try this with checked baggage. Fly the night before and stay at an airport hotel.

The way to make this connection:

a) watch every Youtube video of Usain Bolt
b) watch every Youtube video of NYC Marathon last year
c) OLCI, PYOB
d) DONT check luggage, just RUN to the gate. Security will usually let you through with loads of baggage, just make sure you're allowed to have it all as "hand"luggage.
e) suffer the gate check of luggage, because they wont fit the plane.
They wont offload you because your luggage is oversized as handluggage, but they will offload you if you present yourself to baggage drop at T-30 or so.

Good luck.

I'll be flying PUS-PEK-HEL next Wednesday week and need some information from anyone who has info about transferring to AY52 in PEK.


You're getting the exact same advice here that you received in your other thread on this topic. I believe I'm the only person who has encouraged you to at least make an attempt, but that recommendation was predicated on having a solid contingency plan in place.

You're getting the exact same advice here that you received in your other thread on this topic. I believe I'm the only person who has encouraged you to at least make an attempt, but that recommendation was predicated on having a solid contingency plan in place.

Ya i was just hoping some of the finnair gang would have detailed knowledge of the T3 area where finnair depart.

Aha, there is another thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1379341-short-layover-1-hour-beijing-any-tips.html), which has more info.

It seems to be a full Y, 1 PNR PUS-PEK-HEL-LHR-SNN and some TA forced the connection well below the MCT, since OP was unhappy with the legal connections offered.

By all means, follow the itin. You will probably miss the connection and the transfer desk will arrange for your onward flights, maybe follow your original flight plan.

Ya i was just hoping some of the finnair gang would have detailed knowledge of the T3 area where finnair depart.

AY certainly doesn't have its own gate at PEK; whether or not its flight typically uses a specific gate is beyond me, but this type of info can easily be obtained by calling them, checking their website, or consulting the PEK airport website daily over a 3 day stretch. But, honestly, the 15 seconds it takes to figure out your connecting gate upon arrival are not going to be cause you to miss your flight; either you get lucky, or you don't.

AY certainly doesn't have its own gate at PEK; whether or not its flight typically uses a specific gate is beyond me, but this type of info can easily be obtained by calling them, checking their website, or consulting the PEK airport website daily over a 3 day stretch. But, honestly, the 15 seconds it takes to figure out your connecting gate upon arrival are not going to be cause you to miss your flight; either you get lucky, or you don't.

I've often boarded AY from gates 18 or 16, i.e. close to the BGS lounges. But, as has been stated before, this is not the main issue. If you have checked luggage, and they are not able to check the luggage in BUS all the way to the final destination (or even HEL), you need to clear the immigration, take the train to baggage claim, wait for the baggage, and check it.

Managed to get my boarding passes printed for PEk - HEL and HEL - LHR so now the next obstacle is Checked Baggage all the way to LHR.
I'll make a post tomorrow regardless!

Managed to get my boarding passes printed for PEk - HEL and HEL - LHR so now the next obstacle is Checked Baggage all the way to LHR.
I'll make a post tomorrow regardless!

Hopefully from your final destination with your luggage!

Managed to get my boarding passes printed for PEk - HEL and HEL - LHR so now the next obstacle is Checked Baggage all the way to LHR.
I'll make a post tomorrow regardless!

Oh, that was good! ^
I don't think there will be any trouble checking in luggage all the way then.

http://i.imgur.com/7Ri6F.jpg (http://imgur.com/7Ri6F)


Thats my luggage checked all the way to LHR, and a quick snap of the Asiana lounge in Busan.
The inbound HEL-PEK flight is on schedule and luckily so is my PUS-PEK!

Thats my luggage checked all the way to LHR, and a quick snap of the Asiana lounge in Busan.
The inbound HEL-PEK flight is on schedule and luckily so is my PUS-PEK!

I'd think you'd be luckier if your inbound HEL-PEK flight WASN'T on schedule, given what you're trying to do! :p

Made it! Door of my Asiana flight was opened at 9:36am (19min early)
Was met by a transfer assistant who has boarding passes printed and led me through immigration.
Was at Gate E11 at 9:55. (I considered a trip to the lounge)
Even had time to upload these pics of the Gate and empty terminal!

http://i.imgur.com/VDXBo.jpg (http://imgur.com/VDXBo)
http://i.imgur.com/v7Mx3.jpg (http://imgur.com/v7Mx3)

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Thanks for the help folks!

Thats my luggage checked all the way to LHR, and a quick snap of the Asiana lounge in Busan.
The inbound HEL-PEK flight is on schedule and luckily so is my PUS-PEK!

Wow, that is even better looking than the JAL-lounge at OKA :p
http://content.screencast.com/users/intuition/folders/Default/media/7c9c6372-aabb-412b-9f88-45d5fc19f3ae/lounge.jpg

There truly are some hidden gemstones out there :D

Made it! Door of my Asiana flight was opened at 9:36am (19min early)
Was met by a transfer assistant who has boarding passes printed and led me through immigration.
Was at Gate E11 at 9:55. (I considered a trip to the lounge)
Even had time to upload these pics of the Gate and empty terminal!

...
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Thanks for the help folks!

Cool! 20 minutes gate-to-gate. What was your arrival gate?

Never actually checked the arrival gate, but it was about a 10min walk.
As i was boarding the plane i got a seat change to 6J! No better feeling for a Y class mong like myself!

The Helsinki Finnair lounge is a real treat at the moment! Food especially was impressive!

Ah, you got moved to the small C-cabin. They sometimes do that if J is full. I think your full Y-ticket paid off pretty well then. ^

Ah, you got moved to the small C-cabin. They sometimes do that if J is full. I think your full Y-ticket paid off pretty well then. ^

PEK-HEL is one of the few routes that dropped in BA miles required after last year's devaluation (20k in Y, 40k in C), so I've been contemplating trying it. I'm interested in learning a bit more about the service. I would probably sweat it out in Y.

Never actually checked the arrival gate, but it was about a 10min walk.
As i was boarding the plane i got a seat change to 6J! No better feeling for a Y class mong like myself!

The Helsinki Finnair lounge is a real treat at the moment! Food especially was impressive!

OK, it's been two months since I was there the last time... HAVE THINGS IMPROVED?!? :p

Glad to hear you made your connection! Still, I wouldn't recommend this unless you are a trained professional. Even than, the probability of failure must be high.

Still, I wouldn't recommend this unless you are a trained professional.

Who is trained professional? The one having AY Emerald card for 10 years and flying in Y and with tickets 25%, 50% hardly ever 100% of tier points --> enough training :D

Ya it was the small J cabin which was nice, but with economy service. I think I would travel the route again tbh!
Just picked up my bag from heathrow so couldn't be happier with how it went!