Feb 6, 2017, 2:07 am
Last edit by: lkrt
Here we try to keep an up-to-date list of who-goes-where. Finnair may have tuned the boarding groups since the first introduction, so some entries here are not confirmed.
Pre-boarding (those in need of assistance, UM, travellers with children of any age)
Group 1: J-pax, AY Lumo, AY Plat, Oneworld Emerald
Group 2: AY Gold, Oneworld Sapphire
Group 3: AY Silver, Oneworld Ruby
Group 4–5: Other customers, depending on seating
Assignment of group
Group is assigned based on ticket type and status of individual frequent flyer card attached to booking. All customers on the same booking are assigned the same group, i.e., based on the highest tier in the party.
The boarding groups are printed on paper boarding pass on every route with capital letters "GROUP 1". The group also appears on digital boarding passes.
Enforcement of Boarding order
Enforcement of groups is haphazard. Sometimes groups are called out, sometimes a call like "we invite our priority customers to board first or at any time". Groups are rarely checked on boarding though and on shorthaul no aids (like ribbons, signs) are used either. At HEL automatic boarding gates have been introduced which means "priority boarding" in now enforced.
Pre-boarding (those in need of assistance, UM, travellers with children of any age)
Group 1: J-pax, AY Lumo, AY Plat, Oneworld Emerald
Group 2: AY Gold, Oneworld Sapphire
Group 3: AY Silver, Oneworld Ruby
Group 4–5: Other customers, depending on seating
Assignment of group
Group is assigned based on ticket type and status of individual frequent flyer card attached to booking. All customers on the same booking are assigned the same group, i.e., based on the highest tier in the party.
The boarding groups are printed on paper boarding pass on every route with capital letters "GROUP 1". The group also appears on digital boarding passes.
Enforcement of Boarding order
Enforcement of groups is haphazard. Sometimes groups are called out, sometimes a call like "we invite our priority customers to board first or at any time". Groups are rarely checked on boarding though and on shorthaul no aids (like ribbons, signs) are used either. At HEL automatic boarding gates have been introduced which means "priority boarding" in now enforced.
Boarding groups - finally?
Jun 26, 2017, 2:08 am
#211
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Join Date: May 2011
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I also like this and a lot of airports are also well equipped to handle it. Like AMS, with steeel bars separating the lines and where prio boarding works excellently.
Also, this system alllows for a lot of fleixibilty. When prio line is empty, agent can wave over pax from main line, while keeping an eye open for prio pax arriving later.
It is the exact same system used at check-in (separated prio and non-prio checkin desks) so why invent a group system?
I think implementation has a lot to do with it. If airport has a lot of visual guides, proper "hardware" and agents are proactive and acting in the boarding area it would be understood and accepted. (Most people understand the check-in desks, so why not the boarding?)
Jun 27, 2017, 11:18 am
#212
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
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Posts: 3,620
I am not that convinced with the setup at AMS. I've seen the economy lane overflow at its entrance, blocking the way to the business/priority lane. And that was only for a B737 to HEL.
Jul 13, 2017, 5:16 am
#213
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond, PriorityPass, AX Plat
Posts: 526
AY754, BUD-HEL, on Tuesday July 11 was a total mess. Quiet unclear announcement in Hungarian and English that business/elites will board first, followed by a mad rush to the gate. No enforcement of groups - not impressed at all. Why is priority boarding so hard to fix?
Luckily the cabin crew was excellent, we arrived in Helsinki 15mins early and just had to wait a few minutes for our bag - arriving among the first bags.
Luckily the cabin crew was excellent, we arrived in Helsinki 15mins early and just had to wait a few minutes for our bag - arriving among the first bags.
Last edited by vulle; Jul 14, 2017 at 1:31 am
Jul 13, 2017, 11:33 pm
#214
Join Date: Oct 2009
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But for AY long haul flights this works (almost) perfectly at least at HEL. For short haul flights it would be sufficient to have only two lanes: premium (J + status) and economy.
Jul 17, 2017, 9:12 am
#215
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
I think the biggest issue boils down to the distance between the entrance of each queues. If they are far, it works. If they are close, or the same location, it simply does not. Finnair or other. Helsinki or elsewhere. That's why I think AMS is not that great.
Jul 19, 2017, 5:56 am
#216
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: Finnair (AY) Platinum, Air France Silver, Tallink Club One Silver :)
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AY754, BUD-HEL, on Tuesday July 11 was a total mess. Quiet unclear announcement in Hungarian and English that business/elites will board first, followed by a mad rush to the gate. No enforcement of groups - not impressed at all. Why is priority boarding so hard to fix?
Luckily the cabin crew was excellent, we arrived in Helsinki 15mins early and just had to wait a few minutes for our bag - arriving among the first bags.
Luckily the cabin crew was excellent, we arrived in Helsinki 15mins early and just had to wait a few minutes for our bag - arriving among the first bags.
My experience with the luggage delivery in HEL was somewhat different than yours: while they started surprisingly fast the delivery, our "priority" suitcases arrived literally among the last ones...
Aug 23, 2017, 1:42 pm
#217
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Boarding at HEL gate 28 today, and it was my first time with the automated boarding gates.
"Priority boarding" consisted of "Now boarding groups 1-3". Staff were keeping away from the gates and very absent. 2 pax whose boarding passes were not accepted by the e-gate was just sent away (is there no handling of BPs at the gate anymore?!) These 2 pax boarded plane later and sat in J - unclear if they were op-up, but never the less they had to go elsewhere to get new BPs.
"Priority boarding" consisted of "Now boarding groups 1-3". Staff were keeping away from the gates and very absent. 2 pax whose boarding passes were not accepted by the e-gate was just sent away (is there no handling of BPs at the gate anymore?!) These 2 pax boarded plane later and sat in J - unclear if they were op-up, but never the less they had to go elsewhere to get new BPs.
Aug 23, 2017, 2:56 pm
#218
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, SK Gold
Posts: 954
I've been op-upped at an e-gate in HEL on an AY flight. When showing my BP the gate showed the text "please take receipt" (or something similar) and opened the gate. It printed me a small paper slip saying something like "New seat number: 8C Business class".
Aug 24, 2017, 5:24 am
#219
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OK, good to know.
The couple had paper BPs and then there probably was some other issue. Anyway, gate attendants just sent them eastwards, possibly to transfer desk. I was surprised to see them board in time (going to transfer desk can take a while).
The couple had paper BPs and then there probably was some other issue. Anyway, gate attendants just sent them eastwards, possibly to transfer desk. I was surprised to see them board in time (going to transfer desk can take a while).
Aug 24, 2017, 5:58 am
#220
Join Date: May 2015
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In my experience the e-gate rejects BP's for exit rows, and those pax must board manually via the agent but this feature can be controlled by the GA.
Aug 25, 2017, 6:25 am
#221
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Aug 25, 2017, 11:45 am
#223
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
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Posts: 3,157
It depends on whether the exit seat eligibility has been checked. Having OLCIed, I was stopped by the gate yesterday because the gate agent had to check my eligibility. I was already hoping for a op-up getting that red beep.
Aug 25, 2017, 11:47 am
#224
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Aug 25, 2017, 2:06 pm
#225
Join Date: May 2014
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Or it might be that the agent faisl to do that and you are reseated. This happened to me at KUN bag drop.
Last edited by Courmisch; Aug 25, 2017 at 2:12 pm