Originally Posted by
TravellingChris
A few questions:
You don't mention the return journey with the Gulf Air option. Is it a long layover?
Will you need a transit visa for the overnight stopover in Bahrain?
It doesn't appear that your itinerary with Gulf Air would earn you Avios points. Is that enough to tip the balance to Finnair? I myself am an Aeroplan member, and when two airlines are relatively equal in price and journey I will go for the option that gets me Aeroplan points.
If I go with Gulf I was planning a 2 day stay in Bahrain on the way back which didn't impact the fare when I checked yesterday.
From what I have read I can get a visa on arrival (or an e-visa in advance) for 5.000 dinar which is about £10
I hear what you're saying about points - it's a factor for sure. I'm just not a fan of long haul flights and like to break up the journey. The Finnair option has a 4 hour wait in HEL before connecting to LHR and so it would be a brutal day. I haven't completely decided which to go for yet and will probably decide in the next couple of days.