Furry

I tried calling them once but the computer just says "no" - lowest available class for direct USA-HEL flight is always B - also try explaining this thing to a level 1 CS rep...

Expedia can book without any problems with same price but the return TATL segment is IB/BA/AA coded (direct fight op by AY). Same price there if one chose the AY coded flight. Problem is not the availability on the flights, just the engine preventing to sell USA-HEL-EUR where EUR is +1 day from arrival of USA-HEL flight (but still less than 24 hours to stay with the lowest fare category and forces into "Flexible" which is B in this case). As even Expedia is not working it could be that the fare rules have changed from the past years, but it's not updated in the written text at all..

I will try to call again after the holidays on an office time if there would be someone more competent available on AY CS.

And to add I'm not looking for the cheapest ticket out there but would just like to get to same price point than adding the ARN trip plus MIA trip separately (+ some benefit is preferred ofc)..

Post Scriptum

Any experiences from medium-sized Finnish airports, do they have priority check-in desks? KTT e.g. or is the same as any small airports (assuming all but HEL and perhaps OUL?) and status plays no role in check-in.

tulokas

At least VAA has prio check-in but obviously no prio security. But not sure if it’s medium-size.

HJP

KTT had priority check-in at least in February 2019. OUL has it also.

ffay005

Reportedly, in true Finnish way, OUL Priority line accepts anyone, because we wouldn't want to make those regular folks feel bad, right?

miamiflyer8

TKU has both Economy and Priority desks. I don't know how well it is enforced as I've never seen a line when I needed them.

FFlash

Never any queue outside HEL. Why asking? Worried of charter hoards? If then, the Finnair checkin agents will stay there foe you until the last man in queue if needed, unlike Wizzair who simply cuts the line at checkin-close time and tells remaining pax ”sorry you are late”.

Post Scriptum

Schedule-optimisation purposes e.g. ability to avoid standing in the line and arrive airport as late as possible

Dieselross

TMP has priority check-in desk, and typically when there's queue to the economy desk they serve same queue on both desks if there are no prio passengers on hand. Doesn't seem to be enforced strictly though.

FFlash

then you are good to go.
All tourists go min 1 hour before to the airport and are cleared already once you arrive last minute.
Savvy idiot tracks incoming aircraft on Flightradar24 and arrives only 20mins before departure to domestic small airport and finds checkin and security deserted and walks directly to gate open.

OH-LGG

I leave home when status is GO TO GATE and sometimes BOARDING

tulokas

How is this even possible? Have you asked Finavia if you could get one of those flight monitors to your living room

OH-LGG

You can do it when leaving like AY819 20:20 to ARN when HEL is quiet and no one there. Of course fastest route to HEL and parking lot must be known in advance and must know all walking routes in HEL.

When I was going to HAV last winter AY app showed "boarding started" when I was heading to the shower. But I had a good driver who took me direct to T2 quiet security and finally I had time in lounge for 1 GT and small salad.

Jorma

Im sure this has been covered somewhere here previously, but as im real bad at using the search function, ill just ask.

HEL-NRT on JAL metal with AY code J class. Is it kilometer based 7849 x 200% or the normal AY J long haul 20k?

Also, is it worth trying JAL out on the route (i have only done domestic on JAL)?

reflektia

JAL has over 9000% better business class on HEL-NRT route. Only small cosmetic error is free wifi for emeralds.

Dunno about earnings, but even with 7849 it should be around the same (7849 vs 8000, rest of the multipliers are the same).