Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Finnair | Finnair Plus
Reload this Page >

Ahoy, mileage runners! (Incl. immediate turnarounds)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Jan 23, 2019, 9:42 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: AhogZ
This Wikipost is community-maintained and For Information Only. Note that not all information may be up to date and should be used at your own risk.

Safe - Immediate turnaround is easy, i.e. according to experience it is possible to reach departure gate quickly and without extra security check when doing same plane turnaround.
Intermediate - Immediate turnaround is doable, but requires e.g. extra security check.
Risky - Immediate turnaround not recommended. (See notes.)

TO KEEP THE WIKI AS COHERENT AS POSSIBLE, PLEASE USE "SAFE", "INTERMEDIATE" OR "RISKY" APPROPRIATELY! (I.e. no "Safe" for stations that require any kind of security or transfer check, not to mention going landside, etc.)

Immediate turnaround information for European AY destinations:

ACE: ?
AGP: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.) Details here from August 2022
ALC: Intermediate, Arrivals pour from jetbridge to "funnel pathway" which takes people to baggage claim, but one can look for "Transfer" signage and take escalator up to the gate area. No checkpoints.
AMS: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
ARN: Safe / Intermediate (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate, except gate 62 arrival pours to baggage claim. ATR flights may be riskier if one ends up with a bus gate.)
ATH: Intermediate at best
AYT: ?
BCN: No direct turnarounds due to operated by IB.
BER: ?
BGO: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
BLL: ?
BMA: Safe (Transfer door is before going to the terminal exit and boarding will not start before the incoming plane is empty.)
BRU: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
BUD: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
CDG: ?
CFU: ?
CHQ: Risky (To landside first and security needed. Long lines possibile.)
CPH: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
CTA: ?
DBV: ?
DUB: ?
DUS: ?
EDI: ? (Security check required for sure.)
FCO: Intermediate / Risky. Bus transportation can cause long walks.
FNC: Intermediate (Exit via baggage claim and reclear security, but should be doable if you exit among the first from the inbound flight. Mobile BP not available, obtain a BP from HEL.)
FRA: Safe (Even with the bus from stand you can make it.)
FUE: ?
GDN: Risky (Providing it is ATR by Norra, apron position, walking / bussing to the arrivals, queue security (can be very long), sprint upstairs to the gate.)
GOT: Safe / Intermediate(At least on tube arrival, after exit from the tube to the terminal area, turn around and you are at the departure gate. No info on possible bus gates though.)
GVA: ?
GZP: ?
HAJ: Safe (Arrival at departure gate)
HAM: ?
HER: ?
IBZ: ?
INN: Intermediate / Risky (To landside first and then security. No airside transit.)
IVL: Safe, arrivals pour into the gate area.
JOE: Intermediate (Exit via baggage claim and reclear security, but should be doable if you exit among the first from the inbound flight.)
JSI: ?
JTR: ?
JYV: ?
KAJ: ?
KAO: ?
KEF: ?
KEM: ?
KGS: ?
KOK: ?
KRK: Intermediate (AY rarely has a jetty position so bus, arrivals then go upstairs to departures for security, there is a fast track for OW elites - not well signposted - separate B/Pass scanner to the left)
KTT: ?
KUO: Intermediate (Exit via baggage claim and reclear security, but should be doable if you exit among the first from the inbound flight.)
LHR: Intermediate (Need to go via Flight Connections to reclear security, which may take time depending on the time of the day.)
LIS: ?
LIN: Safe, arrivals pour into departures.
LJU: ?
LPA: ?
LYS: ?
MAD: No direct turnarounds due to operated by IB.
MAH: ?
MAN: Intermediate/Risky, requires reclearing security.
MHQ: ?
MSQ: ?
MUC: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
MXP: Intermediate / Risky (Arrivals come into a different floor, transfer requires walking through a transfer point and distances are quite long.)
NAP: ?
NCE: ?
OSL: Safe / Intermediate (D gates pours directly to departures. E gates also pours to departure gate, follow transit arrow, automatic gate door will open during "normal" hours. IF door doesn't open go upstairs try the transfer security. Very rare reports of stand arrival with bus to exit, but should still be doable, security is usually fast and short distances.)
OUL: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
PFO: ?
PMI: ?
PRG: Safe (From arrivals walk up to departures to departure gate.)
PVK: ?
RHO: Risky (Arrivals pour to baggage claim, security check usually has long lines before you get to the departure hall.)
RIX: Risky. After deplaning, you walk to the terminal, but boarding is done with buses. My flight was delayed, and they started boarding before the plane was even there.
RMI: ?
RVN: Intermediate (Exit via baggage claim and reclear security, but should be doable if you exit among the first from the inbound flight.)
SPU: ?
SZG: ?
TAY: ?
TFS: ?
TLL: Risky (May have a remote stand arrival, when departing flight has been boarded into a bus with boarding gate already closed.)
TLV: ?
TOS: ?
UME: ?
VAA: Intermediate (Exit via baggage claim and reclear security, but should be doable if you exit among the first from the inbound flight.)
VBY: ?
VCE: ?
VIE: Safe (Arrivals pour directly to departure gate.)
VNO: Risky. (Departing pax board bus when arriving pax still deplaning. Connection corridor available but not sure how straightforward it is).
VRN: ?
WAW: Safe (Arrivals pour to departure gate.)
ZRH: Safe (When exiting the bridge, you are under the gates and there are inclined speedwalks that bring back to the gates upstairs.)

Immediate turnaround information for selected longhaul AY destinations:

DEL: Intermediate (There's plenty of time for the obligatory visit to the transit desk and security. However, you'll need a self-printed visa confirmation to show the gate agent at HEL.)
DOH: ?
DXB: Intermediate (Follow "connections" to security downstairs and after that go to transfer desk if needed.)
JFK: Intermediate (Generous time with the new schedule, but you'll need to clear US immigration so ESTA or visa is needed.)
NRT: Intermediate (OLCI and mobile BP works, no need to go landside. There's transfer security, though.)
Print Wikipost

Ahoy, mileage runners! (Incl. immediate turnarounds)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 11, 2022, 12:49 am
  #2446  
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: East Asia esp. near the Equator
Programs: AY+ (Emerald), OZ (*G), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 120
Originally Posted by r2d2
Not at all. On this forum idiot is slang for a mileage runner. The immigration officer asking you a lot of questions about mileage running was clearly wanting to learn more about it, so he/she was the new mileage runner, i.e. idiot, being born.
Ah! Got it!

Originally Posted by miamiflyer8
AY forum dictionary / slang tutorial

I recommend to check out the above thread as this forum uses terminology that can be confusing for those who don't frequent the AY forum 😂


😂😂 Soon CBP at JFK will be used to us AY idiots like the transfer desk is at DEL!
Thank you. Yeah, will brush up my “AY-ese” haha appreciated

Originally Posted by miamiflyer8
AY forum dictionary / slang tutorial

I recommend to check out the above thread as this forum uses terminology that can be confusing for those who don't frequent the AY forum 😂


😂😂 Soon CBP at JFK will be used to us AY idiots like the transfer desk is at DEL!
Thank you. Yeah, will brush up my “AY-ese” haha appreciated
r2d2 likes this.

Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Nov 11, 2022 at 10:02 am Reason: Combine consecutive posts of same member; suggest using Multi-quote feature.
TravelExperience is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 1:08 am
  #2447  
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: East Asia esp. near the Equator
Programs: AY+ (Emerald), OZ (*G), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 120
Originally Posted by r2d2
Not at all. On this forum idiot is slang for a mileage runner. The immigration officer asking you a lot of questions about mileage running was clearly wanting to learn more about it, so he/she was the new mileage runner, i.e. idiot, being born.
Originally Posted by ffay005
That's easy to believe. I have done the Delhi Deli twice, and while it's fun, you do feel like a zombie afterwards.



To me, it sounds as if the agent either was genuinely interested in the concept or was familiar with it and wanted to check whether you're a true idiot or just making things up and came into the US for a few hours with bad intentions.

Oh, and on the AY forum, idiot is a compliment. See this thread for more vocabulary: AY forum dictionary / slang tutorial

The destination I got the multiple questions from CBP about why I was doing the mileage run was ORD, granted I was staying for close to a day in Chicago and not just a few hours like JFK, but I guess a single day is deemed to be a short stay as well.

I could but wrong but I agree with what ffay005 said, had the gut feel that the ORD CBP agent was familiar with mileage running and wanted to check whether that was the only thing I was up to. Kept asking why I was flying halfway around the world and why I felt it was worth it. Again, just the way I was asked the questions and just a gut feel.

At JFK I was only “LOL”ed literally. Can’t complain

Sorry to jump to a different topic, I just tried searching for DEL itineraries (in case AY does offer another round of 2x - 3x points) but couldn’t find any around Dec / Jan. Is it a seasonal route ?
TravelExperience is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 3:50 am
  #2448  
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
DEL is not seasonal.

I would not hold my breath for another 3x points promo anytime soon.

Maybe they will do some sort of promo next year for AY‘s 100 year anniversary.
florens is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 4:47 am
  #2449  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,059
Next years promo is -300%. Whole year.
OH-LGG is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 5:17 am
  #2450  
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: East Asia esp. near the Equator
Programs: AY+ (Emerald), OZ (*G), IHG (Diamond)
Posts: 120
Originally Posted by florens
DEL is not seasonal.

I would not hold my breath for another 3x points promo anytime soon.

Maybe they will do some sort of promo next year for AY‘s 100 year anniversary.

Thanks. I tried searching for DEL itineraries but keep coming up blank…will probably try asking their WhatsApp support.

yeah, I don’t disagree with you on the probability of a 3x points promo. Just figure that since SK did just launch a new 2x promo and like you mentioned, it’s AY’s100 year anniversary in 2023, figure I could hope for 2x promotion at least…

frankly if another 3x promo does materialise, my biggest issue will be the missus throwing a fit ;P
TravelExperience is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 6:20 am
  #2451  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: KZ/EU
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 37
Hello! Newbie here trying to gather knowledge from AY/HEL experts.

As you know, the AGP-HEL route is very convenient in terms of TP earning for BAEC. Hence I was planning on doing a (killer) two nested tickets mileage run, which will give me the points enough to secure OWE. My plan is the other direction than the B2B outlined in the wiki:

Day1
Booking1/ AY1674 AGP-HEL 0025-0605
Booking2/ AY1671 HEL-AGP 0745-1100

Day 2
Booking2/AY1674 AGP-HEL 0025-0605
Booking1/AY1671 HEL-AGP 0745-1100

Issues/Risks I see with these, is that the turnarounds in HEL are not in the same ticket, hence missing Day1 AY1671 would have me stranded in HEL for one night; however, unless major IRROPS, I believe 1h40 should be more than enough right?
FYI, travelling HBO. I saw other options that involved a night layover in HEL, but I'd rather do it in AGP, as I have friends there I can stay with for the "overnight".

Am I crazy or do you consider it feasible?TIA!!

Last edited by 4lB3R70; Nov 11, 2022 at 6:32 am
4lB3R70 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 7:10 am
  #2452  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,753
Yes, you're crazy. But aren't we all? 1 h 40 min is plenty of time at HEL. There will be nothing to slow you down – you enter the gate area and can just walk to your next gate. No immigration, no security, no passport control etc. Only a stand arrival and the need to take a bus would take some extra time, but even if the incoming flight has a delay of, say, 60 min, you will be just fine.

You could of course look at past data to see how often the AGP-HEL flight has significant delays.
ffay005 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2022, 12:03 pm
  #2453  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,248
Originally Posted by 4lB3R70
Hello! Newbie here trying to gather knowledge from AY/HEL experts.

As you know, the AGP-HEL route is very convenient in terms of TP earning for BAEC. Hence I was planning on doing a (killer) two nested tickets mileage run, which will give me the points enough to secure OWE. My plan is the other direction than the B2B outlined in the wiki:

Day1
Booking1/ AY1674 AGP-HEL 0025-0605
Booking2/ AY1671 HEL-AGP 0745-1100

Day 2
Booking2/AY1674 AGP-HEL 0025-0605
Booking1/AY1671 HEL-AGP 0745-1100

Issues/Risks I see with these, is that the turnarounds in HEL are not in the same ticket, hence missing Day1 AY1671 would have me stranded in HEL for one night; however, unless major IRROPS, I believe 1h40 should be more than enough right?
FYI, travelling HBO. I saw other options that involved a night layover in HEL, but I'd rather do it in AGP, as I have friends there I can stay with for the "overnight".

Am I crazy or do you consider it feasible?TIA!!
I’m the person who did the B2B in the other direction, but on two consecutive weeks, Sunday night-Monday morning. I considered doing a B2B twice in succession with some flights back and forth HEL-OUL during the intervening day but I decided it was too tiring.

I’m glad I did it the way I did. One consideration: if you do the B2B in AGP your return flight depends on the inbound plane. If you do it the other way round, your return flight might be subbed by a different aircraft and leave on time even if your inbound flight to HEL is late. I don’t think people often do B2B flights where the back to back actually happens at an airline’s hub, for this reason.
salut0 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2022, 5:54 am
  #2454  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TLL
Programs: LuxExpress VIP
Posts: 220
Originally Posted by florens
I got SSSS on rather normal routings like ZRH-LHR-MAN-PHL-CLT-SAT or ZRH-LHR-ORD.

I only got sniffed at by dogs once, when doing a direct turnaround in Kärdla coming from Tallinn.
Back to back in Kärdla sounds like a story
The locals will be probably discussing it for many years to come.
vanaema78 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2022, 8:31 pm
  #2455  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Germany, Bavaria
Programs: AY+ Plat, SAS Gold (butt in seat)
Posts: 350
Originally Posted by Carotthat
Maybe I can add some more data points regarding this on saturday evening, coming in on AY15
I did not even got laughed at.
​​​GE didn't work, so the CBP officer wanted to know my purpose for the trip. 'Mileage Run'. And he gave me the passport back. SCNR.
Carotthat is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2022, 3:01 am
  #2456  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo
Posts: 1,519
I did Hong Kong last weekend. Same plane return on the same ticket. Only HEL check-in asked about covid-höpö, which I didn't require according to HKG rules but had filled in anyway in anticipation of AY's höpö. I had my return boarding pass printed at HEL, so at HKG it was straight to transfer security and no problems whatsoever. Only Pier J lounge open for transit pax. 5/5 experience.
cistavoda is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2022, 3:50 am
  #2457  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,961
Originally Posted by cistavoda
I did Hong Kong last weekend. Same plane return on the same ticket. Only HEL check-in asked about covid-höpö, which I didn't require according to HKG rules but had filled in anyway in anticipation of AY's höpö. I had my return boarding pass printed at HEL, so at HKG it was straight to transfer security and no problems whatsoever. Only Pier J lounge open for transit pax. 5/5 experience.
Too bad theres not alot of deals lately to do same plane runs those are fun 😀
kauppias is online now  
Old Nov 24, 2022, 3:56 am
  #2458  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,157
Originally Posted by cistavoda
Only Pier J lounge open for transit pax. 5/5 experience.
I hear there’s a special a la carte dining area for CX Diamonds but I guess this wasn’t available for Emeralds?
lkrt is offline  
Old Nov 24, 2022, 11:27 am
  #2459  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo
Posts: 1,519
Originally Posted by lkrt
I hear there’s a special a la carte dining area for CX Diamonds but I guess this wasn’t available for Emeralds?
Saw some roped off area. Didn't try. Went straight for salad and dim sum.
cistavoda is offline  
Old Jan 15, 2023, 3:21 am
  #2460  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum, IHG Gold, Diners
Posts: 1,276
Has anyone looked into segment runs lately? I might need to do a few extra segments to renew plat. I found TLL-HEL-ARN r/t for approx 230€ so just under 60€ per segment. Any better ideas? I would actually prefer something like a mass tourism HEL-LHR-XXX r/t with a night or two at the destination, but that seems more costly.
Jyrsa likes this.
niksal is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.