HEL priority security
Aug 16, 2012 | 3:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY/OW Emerald (AY LT Gold)
Posts: 4,327
HEL priority security
OK, I understand it's AY base and everything and they call all the shots. Yesterday morning I approached the T2 priority screening @HEL with BA Club/business BP, OW/BA Emerald card + AY Sapphire Card (valid 9/12) and was told this line is only for ticketed AY pax....ok, that's cool.....but is this really the way to handle OW status/J pax at the northernmost OW hub....even at LHR (not to mentiion the US...) I can get to go through the priority lane regardless of the ticketed OW airine...
Any comments, folks?
Any comments, folks?
Last edited by NoWindowSeat; Aug 16, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Aug 16, 2012 | 7:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, SK Gold, TAP Gold, LH FTL
Posts: 710
I think it is ridiculous that they will only let passengers with an AY ticket use the priority security. It should be available to oneworld status holders on any oneworld flight + business class passengers just like it is with oneworld lounge access.
I have however had luck sneaking in to the priority line twice with an AB ticket (op. by AY) just by showing my AY Plat card and flashing the boarding pass to the agent so that my thump hides the flight number.
So far it has worked well but it is for sure not guaranteed to work every time until they revoke this stupid AY ticket only rule.
I have however had luck sneaking in to the priority line twice with an AB ticket (op. by AY) just by showing my AY Plat card and flashing the boarding pass to the agent so that my thump hides the flight number.
So far it has worked well but it is for sure not guaranteed to work every time until they revoke this stupid AY ticket only rule.
Aug 17, 2012 | 1:12 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KUO
Programs: SK/ALL/HH Diam, FB Ulti, AY/AX/Hertz/Melia Plat, GHA Titanium, TP Gold, LH FTL, Radisson Vip
Posts: 2,699
I do not know if AY pays a fee for passengers using the priority lane? Most likely not, since the BPs are not scanned. Scanning of them takes place at many other airports, which could result in separate fees for the airlines. There is a similar situation for *A passengers at ARN, CPH, and OSL, which has aggravated many travelers.
Luckily, at HEL the normal security lines are quick to pass and sometimes using the priority lane actually takes more time. There are many sunday-flyers, indeed, among the users of fast-track security almost everywhere, wondering what it is all about, and finally realising that they should have checked in the kitchen sink...
Luckily, at HEL the normal security lines are quick to pass and sometimes using the priority lane actually takes more time. There are many sunday-flyers, indeed, among the users of fast-track security almost everywhere, wondering what it is all about, and finally realising that they should have checked in the kitchen sink...
Aug 17, 2012 | 1:29 am
#4
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Strawberry Lifetime Platinum, GHA Discovery Titanium, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 15,199
I'd say this is the business model of finnavia (?)
The airports are looking to create ancillary revenue, and the fast tracks are one of the sources. I'd say the airlines pay a fee (not per pax, a fixed fee) and then chooses which pax are to get the perk.
For this to be a alliance service, they would need a different charge model, scanning BPs and distributing costs around the alliance. It could surely be done the same way as lounge access, but as a) loyalty cards are moving in the direction of lesser perks and b) OW is not a hierarchal organisation I think we can just keep dreaming...
(And naturally, finnavia will not be able to sell this service to AY if they let anyone use it.)
The airports are looking to create ancillary revenue, and the fast tracks are one of the sources. I'd say the airlines pay a fee (not per pax, a fixed fee) and then chooses which pax are to get the perk.
For this to be a alliance service, they would need a different charge model, scanning BPs and distributing costs around the alliance. It could surely be done the same way as lounge access, but as a) loyalty cards are moving in the direction of lesser perks and b) OW is not a hierarchal organisation I think we can just keep dreaming...
(And naturally, finnavia will not be able to sell this service to AY if they let anyone use it.)
Aug 17, 2012 | 1:37 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,849
I must be the odd man out, as I went thru HEL priority with BA tix/BA silver, with AY tix/BA silver, even LH tix/AY gold
(The prio lane at T1 is much stricter, it only SK/KF C/Eco Extra pax or SK/KF Gold only - no other *A cards accepted)
(The prio lane at T1 is much stricter, it only SK/KF C/Eco Extra pax or SK/KF Gold only - no other *A cards accepted)
Aug 17, 2012 | 1:43 am
#6
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: EB Diamond, AY+ Gold, A3*G, Strawberry Lifetime Platinum, GHA Discovery Titanium, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 15,199
Aug 17, 2012 | 2:09 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY Platinum
Posts: 6,324
OK, I understand it's AY base and everything and they call all the shots. Yesterday morning I approached the T2 priority screening @HEL with BA Club/business BP, OW/BA Emerald card + AY Sapphire Card (valid 9/12) and was told this line is only for ticketed AY pax....ok, that's cool.....but is this really the way to handle OW status/J pax at the northernmost OW hub....even at LHR (not to mentiion the US...) I can get to go through the priority lane regardless of the ticketed OW airine...
Any comments, folks?
Any comments, folks?
Aug 17, 2012 | 2:52 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AYPlat, BA, SQ
Posts: 503
Agree, BA should be the one to blame - they should sort this out.
But as we have seen, there is not much that works out smoothly between AY and BA and OW (for instance seating problems or BA having their own check-in at HEL.....).
Have asked several times at HEL BA check-in can I use the priority lane with BA Club tkt and always have they said "we do not know"!!!
But as we have seen, there is not much that works out smoothly between AY and BA and OW (for instance seating problems or BA having their own check-in at HEL.....).
Have asked several times at HEL BA check-in can I use the priority lane with BA Club tkt and always have they said "we do not know"!!!
Aug 17, 2012 | 3:04 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,849
Aug 17, 2012 | 3:34 am
#10
Original Poster
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY/OW Emerald (AY LT Gold)
Posts: 4,327
Yeah the security in general is a breeze at HEL, that's not the problem..I was more wondering how AY is not very interested in promoting any OW things..we all remember their lounge issues earlier..the OW status/class of service based Priority AAccess that AA has in place should be copied and made alliance wide thing!
Aug 18, 2012 | 7:37 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: AA EXP, AY Gold, TK EP, DL PM
Posts: 1,152
It depends on the "line dragon". Usually you're not allowed through but sometimes there is an exception to the rule.
The security check at the far end of T2 has always been empty, and since there's only one line at the "priority" security, it hardly ever is quicker than the normal line.
The security check at the far end of T2 has always been empty, and since there's only one line at the "priority" security, it hardly ever is quicker than the normal line.
Aug 18, 2012 | 8:39 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AFKL PLT, SK Diamond, AY PLT, A3 Gold, BA Silver, LH FTL, Marriott Gold
Posts: 448
Never tried..
As AA EXP, I have always used the security at departure hall three (is that what it is called these days?) as that seems usually have the shortest lines or no line at all. And, if going to non-Schengen destination, that is on the right direction plus you avoid walking through the duty-free shop, which I find extremely annoying. But of course it would be nice to have OW priority lane so that also we non-AY elites could use that.
