I hope the OW airlines would agree on this stupid AY ticket rule thing to make it easier for pax, and staff alike..

That happened also to me so maybe it is the new norm although I must admit that I felt a bit embarrassed. I am not such an important person. And I now stand corrected as our new poster Novelle (Welcome!) wrote. My boarding pass with an AY operated BA marketed flight showed also Priority security. Has any one taken an AF marketed business class flight. Does it also give access to priority security or is it an OW thing.

Hi.
A little off topic but does anyone know if you are AY Plat travelling with a travel companion without any status in Y, are you both allowed to use the Priority security ( and even preferred boarding ), not only in Helsinki but when travelling with OW-carriers ?? Reading the OW-rules you are obviosly allowed to take a guest in the lounge but through the security, hmm, seems a little unclear for me.

I have had no trouble taking a guest through priority security so it should not be a problem as a Plat. The regular security screening has queues only between about 6-7 in the morning and 14.30-16 in the afternoon but during those rush hours the fast lane really helps.

I have also heard that the reason BA passengers cannot use the priority line is that the airport charges the airline for every passenger that uses the priority line and apparently BA doesn't want to pay for that service. :confused:

Me neither and once I saw the actual priority machine wasn't manned I thanked the lady, who would have escorted me straight to the front, and took my spot at the end of the normal queue..didn't take more than 5 mins to clear anyway..I still appreciate the gesture and idea and if in a hurry I am happy to take advantage of this if it becames standard service outside peak hours as it can still save 10mins in some cases.

This new escort system sounds unusual in socialist-Finland. It's impossible here someone gets priority or better/faster service.

Lets see how long it works. :D

The priority line practice sucks for Y passengers. When leaving Helsinki, connecting in LHR for BA flight, one has 2 options for HEL-LHR flight. BA tickets, which allows you to print both boarding passed at home, but not having right to use priority line even being OW Emerald. AY ticket HEL-LHR and BA LHR - xxx. In this case one has priority access in Helsinki but requires stop in transit desk for picking the second boarding pass, unless staff in Helsinki managed to print that, which sometimes works, sometimes not.

As a partner airline OW Emerald, where AA and BA have given me priority security screening access, my non-status companions in economy class have been allowed too. [It is conceivable that there may be a problem with this at places where there is an (scan-your-boarding pass or card-controlled) automated gate which may not always be staffed by a staff member. This has happened to my travel party at CDG and CPH. At CPH there was an easy workaround; at CDG there was not.]

Well, they have had business class check-in separated from economy class check-in for a long time. :D

Does anyone have up-to-date info on priority security, if flying AY (domestic), but have OWE (BA Gold), are you entitled to use this? And if so, are 2 other people without status, but on same booking, allowed also?

Oneworld site suggests that at least OWE cardholder could use it:

Helsinki, Vantaa
Terminals: 2
Service: Priority Security
Carriers: Emerald members traveling on flights operated and marketed by the following carriers: Finnair, Japan Airlines, American

With AY ticket no problem with yourself and a companion. Take the same PNR-group along and report what happened... Although it might not make a difference. HEL security is almost never a problem timewise.

Priority security at HEL T2 is only staffed during the two rush periods. At other times, there is usually very little queue anyway.

Cannot help laughing a recent case I heard a couple of German (by accent) DYKWIA arguing a poor ground staff why the Fast lane was not open, even if the normal line was non-existent. They were for sure not "normal", so I guess they were right. :D:D

That new security in upstairs is pretty good during rush hour. Last time when I intended to use priority security staff member was directing people to use it instead as there were no queue at all.

I can report now this from this morning 8AM (Sunday): Priority Security "gate guard" would have let thru only myself (OWE) but not the 2 others without status on same PNR.
Not a big deal, but there were 2-3 staff at priority having no one going thru and just staring at the other line with about 50 people (15 min).... Guy said "Finnair has to pay for every person going thru the priority line, rules are rules".... As if they wouldn't have to pay for lounge use (with one guest)... I do not get the logic here. Upstairs security was closed.

Was nearly stopped using Priority the other day. Travelling to OSL in J queue guard saw my BA FF status and said only for AY. Once I pointed out that that was the FF number not the flight which was AY and that the BP said Priority Security on it I was let through.