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?
May 23, 2014, 5:34 am
#16
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
Yes, by weight is the bigger problem if one wants to be within the limits.
I guess there is room for AY to raise that bar to say 12 KG in econ and 15KG Business.
I believe the load limit for a normal A320-family overhead, set by Airbus and/or authorities, is 76 kg for each 4-frame overhead. It will hold 4 bags if they are at maximum AY (and BA) size (plus a few smaller items). Therefore the theoretical maximum upper limit would be 19 KG for each bag. Unless BA has some special arrangements, allowing 23 KG in each bag most likely will lead to overload of overhead storage. And let's say people cram 23KG into smaller bags, so 6 bags fit into one 76KG bin. Mama mia.
Packing light is possible though. I use Samsonite ShortLite upright (55x40x20, empty weight 1,6kg), bring only lightweight computer et.c.
I recently did 10 days in Japan, carry-on only, and it weighed the allowed 10KG.
I guess there is room for AY to raise that bar to say 12 KG in econ and 15KG Business.
I believe the load limit for a normal A320-family overhead, set by Airbus and/or authorities, is 76 kg for each 4-frame overhead. It will hold 4 bags if they are at maximum AY (and BA) size (plus a few smaller items). Therefore the theoretical maximum upper limit would be 19 KG for each bag. Unless BA has some special arrangements, allowing 23 KG in each bag most likely will lead to overload of overhead storage. And let's say people cram 23KG into smaller bags, so 6 bags fit into one 76KG bin. Mama mia.
Packing light is possible though. I use Samsonite ShortLite upright (55x40x20, empty weight 1,6kg), bring only lightweight computer et.c.
I recently did 10 days in Japan, carry-on only, and it weighed the allowed 10KG.
May 23, 2014, 1:00 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AA Plat Pro, AY Lumo, Hyatt Explorist, National Exec Elite
Posts: 152
My Samsonite Business One bag (*) is 4kg when empty, so together they are 8kg - and I still need to pack my second laptop (not to mention the other electronics).I weighted my cabin baggage before my trip and it was almost 15kg. I had no clothing or any personal items in the bag... It was actually pretty funny, because I had my 26" Travelpro as checked luggage, and it was lighter than my cabin bag :P
(*) Don't buy one - it sucks, but my smaller cabin bag can't hold all this stuff, and the larger one is more vulnerable to gate check (larger ones always look heavier even if they are within the allowed size) :P
May 27, 2014, 3:33 am
#19
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
Anyone in the know of who is in which group?
Group 1 seems to be AY plat and OW emerald according to posts here. I'm assuming statusless J-pax and travellers with infants is in this group too.
But how many groups are there? Since AY has extended lounge access to silver I'm inclined to think AY gold & silver go in group 1 and possibly OW sapphire too. If so, I can't really see there being more than two groups?
Group 1 seems to be AY plat and OW emerald according to posts here. I'm assuming statusless J-pax and travellers with infants is in this group too.
But how many groups are there? Since AY has extended lounge access to silver I'm inclined to think AY gold & silver go in group 1 and possibly OW sapphire too. If so, I can't really see there being more than two groups?
May 27, 2014, 5:32 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: AMEX Plat / AY Plat, BA GGL-CCR / Bonvoy Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 474
Anyone in the know of who is in which group?
Group 1 seems to be AY plat and OW emerald according to posts here. I'm assuming statusless J-pax and travellers with infants is in this group too.
But how many groups are there? Since AY has extended lounge access to silver I'm inclined to think AY gold & silver go in group 1 and possibly OW sapphire too. If so, I can't really see there being more than two groups?
Group 1 seems to be AY plat and OW emerald according to posts here. I'm assuming statusless J-pax and travellers with infants is in this group too.
But how many groups are there? Since AY has extended lounge access to silver I'm inclined to think AY gold & silver go in group 1 and possibly OW sapphire too. If so, I can't really see there being more than two groups?
This was a Pro-ticket, so priority boarding is included. As well as being AY Plat, and points-upgraded. (Hmmm.. 3 times Group 1 = Group 3?)
The gate agent looked surprised when I walked through the priority lane, but did not say anything.
May 27, 2014, 5:43 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
May 27, 2014, 6:44 am
#22
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
May 27, 2014, 7:06 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Asia
Programs: AY Gold (OWS), SK Gold (*A Gold), airBaltic VIP, Hilton Gold, PP
Posts: 377
May 27, 2014, 7:15 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
As for the discussion here of the oversize bags etc., my opinion is
-strict control of oversize bags, no exceptions for elites!
-keep exit-row bins closed&reserved for exit-row elites (which AY quite well does ^) and the same for J cabin bin
These tiny little efforts would revolutionaze the current ill-designed solution of priority boardings and rushes and people avoiding checking in bags and instead having carry-ons.
In the end, everyone would prefer to board LAST, just like me. Now I am forced to board first to play safe.
May 27, 2014, 8:57 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 2,395
If only allowed I always board last. I only have a smallish backpack and my jacket. Never had any problems fitting them somewhere near my seat.
This sundays they had sections boarding at LHR. First was C and last rows on Y etc.
This sundays they had sections boarding at LHR. First was C and last rows on Y etc.
May 27, 2014, 9:15 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AY Plat
Posts: 127
I am not bringing 23 kg on "stuff" in but the 8 kg is a bit of a problem.
May 28, 2014, 12:25 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 93
At least AY golds in group 1. (on the other hand, the newspapers in Y seem to be a plat only benefit nowadays...)