jaylon

I think that's the approach we're going for. It has just allowed me to check in for my flights on Finnair. I just hope they don't cancel it in the next few hours or stop us getting on the outbound from LHR

ams2174

I got a text through from AY approx 9am this morning confirming my flight was cancelled to Tallinn, so was on the phone to the gold line for the next 25 minutes, the lady who dealt with me had to phone oneworld and AY for confirmation as it still wasn't showing up in their systems, thankfully after being placed on hold a couple of times she was able to secure the last 2 seats on the 10:20 flight to Tallinn on Saturday morning, so am now doing a back to back there and spending the night in Helsinki which actually works out well for us.

Anyone have any good ideas how to spend an afternoon and evening in Helsinki? Thoughts much appreciated

EDIflyer

Just got back from there on Monday If you haven't been before I'd definitely recommend a trip to Suomenlinna - World Heritage Site and well worth a walk around. The ferry to the island is part of the public transport network so we just visited it as part of a day ticket we bought when we caught the tram from the ferry terminal. Train from airport to central station is also nice and regular and efficient, plus only costs €5 - puts the HEX to shame!

GentleGiant

Hope it goes well. Keep us updated.

wheatbeer

Just wondering which lounge people would recommend in HEL out of the Schengan and non-Schengan?

Thanks.

nivsy

Good luck all who are going thru with wherever travel brings them to HEL, sitting this one out...

ams2174

thanks for the recommendation, will certainly consider it, not staying in the city itself overnight, have booked in at the airport hilton but plan to dump bags and check in n head into the city late afternoon, whether that gives us time to go there I don't know, but appreciate the idea

EDIflyer

Trains to the airport are frequent and the ferries run late so you could just get a regional day ticket at the airport and that would cover you for all your travel for the day Have a good trip!

layz

The Finnair Premium lounge (non-Schengen) is the best of the lounges, but the Finnair Schengen lounge is perfectly acceptable for an hour or so.

If you're flying BA you also have the 'Almost at home' lounge (non-Schengen) and there's an Aspire lounge in Schengen if you have a Priority Pass. I'd don't think either is particularly worth a visit unless you have an extremely long layover but don't want to leave the airport.

wheatbeer

Thank you layz. I just noticed the Premium lounge is OWE only, I am only Silver . Will try the other Finnair lounge. Thanks again.

BAGoldBoy

I have been having a problem with ba.com for some weeks now. Have tried all of the usual remedies but to no avail. I am trying to price up a few more TLL trips later this year starting my dates in March and moving forward one week at a time.

However, ba.com keeps throwing out error messages and systems not responding as well as a few "robot" checks. By trying over and over I eventually get to my first date in late July. The "next week" button changes to "next day" and then brings up a tab with no date and just the message "no flights available" and the "next" tab has gone!

I can see fares on amex for circa £330 but I have a £1400 BA voucher that expires in June and I would like to use it to pay for a few TLL trips. Original plan had been to use it towards an ex-EU TATL but apart from ex-OSL there seem to be no bargains.

TravellerFrequently

That must be a new arrangement, I think.

The lounge previously was for OWS and OWE, IIRC?

KARFA

There is very little if any Y selling class availability between HEL and TLL from now to the end of October on the BA codeshares. A Saturday/Sunday trip is pretty much impossible. November onwards is fine and all dates should be available and bookable on ba.com.

Hodders

The non-Schengen lounge (gate 35/36) has a premium lounge to the left from reception and a business lounge to the right. OWS will get you into the business lounge (premium used to be OWE and OWS I beleive but I've never got into the premium with OWS). There are showers and the sauna between the 2 areas, accessed from the corridor towards the premium lounge. So you will have access to a lounge in the non-Schengen area.

But, I personally prefer the Schengen lounge to the business section of the non-Schengen one. In terms of food and alcohol the non-Schengen probably comes out on top (though this may just be down the time of day I'm normally in each of them), but I prefer the view from the Schengen lounge (there is one, as opposed to a view of a corridor) and I find it has a nicer feel. I normally only use the non-Schengen lounge on short non-Schengen/non-Schengen connections, to save spending time going through passport control in each direction. Most of my times through HEL are non-Schengen/Schengen or vice versa connections so will try to spend my time in the Schengen lounge. Not sure if on a non-Schengen/non-Schengen connection you're meant to be able to pass passport control to get to the Schengen area, but have been allowed to in the past (passport officer did check I realised that my onward flight was non-Schengen, but let me through when I said I wanted a wander around the shops and to visit the lounge).

Hope that helps,
Hodders

rjhcambs

I have a booking for June but stopping over in HEL on the return. Not coming back on the early A350 flight so do not really want to stay out at the airport but am amazed at town centre hotel prices. Has anyone found comfortable simple hotels in the centre?