Does AY protect separate bookings?
Jul 9, 2019, 12:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 845
Does AY protect separate bookings?
I recently booked a one way HEL-LAX J award ticket using AA miles. However I will start from Stockholm (ARN/BMA), and there was no availability to get the award as one ticket, so will have to buy a separate ticket for ARN/BMA-HEL. Does AY protect separate tickets? Looking at a BMA-HEL flight that arrives 1h 5min before my HEL-LAX flight.
Jul 9, 2019, 2:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
1h5min is not that much, BMA- flights are on my personal account (~100 flights in/out during last 1.5 year) not that reliable afternoon onwards due to tight equipment rotation having generated cascade effect (this exludes the BRA operated mid-day flight) and delays of 30min are very common. Due to the flight being flown by ATR, delayed departure means always certainly delayed arrival (no realistic time reserve or extra throttle) and stand arrival vice versa means delay on actually getting to Non-Schengen side. Without baggage, still manageable (with bus typically dropping pax to NS border) but highly risky, prepare to run...and hope for smooth border check.
Jul 9, 2019, 2:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
I would advise against this pretty strongly.
If you miss your connection, you're on your own. Moreover, there's no way to get to LAX the same evening, so you'd need to spend the night at HEL and look for alternatives next morning.
The only thing AY allows is through-checked baggage, and only on 105 stock tickets, which you will not have as the award ticket is on 001 stock.
My first advice would be to wait – there's usually quite a lot of award availability on STO-HEL. It can/will open up closer to departure. Perhaps not on the flight you're looking at, but if you can be flexible and pick an earlier flight, you should be fine.
If the above is not possible, then I suggest you consider booking a flight that gives you a couple of hours at HEL. Should the incoming flight be an hour or so delayed, or even cancelled, you'll still make it.
My experience is solely from ARN, not BMA, but the afternoon flights on the ARN route tend to be a bit delayed. Nothing major, but it feels like 30+ minutes is no exception. Moreover, it's not uncommon for these flights to arrive at a stand (as it's peak hour at HEL) even if you're on a larger jet.
If you miss your connection, you're on your own. Moreover, there's no way to get to LAX the same evening, so you'd need to spend the night at HEL and look for alternatives next morning.
The only thing AY allows is through-checked baggage, and only on 105 stock tickets, which you will not have as the award ticket is on 001 stock.
My first advice would be to wait – there's usually quite a lot of award availability on STO-HEL. It can/will open up closer to departure. Perhaps not on the flight you're looking at, but if you can be flexible and pick an earlier flight, you should be fine.
If the above is not possible, then I suggest you consider booking a flight that gives you a couple of hours at HEL. Should the incoming flight be an hour or so delayed, or even cancelled, you'll still make it.
My experience is solely from ARN, not BMA, but the afternoon flights on the ARN route tend to be a bit delayed. Nothing major, but it feels like 30+ minutes is no exception. Moreover, it's not uncommon for these flights to arrive at a stand (as it's peak hour at HEL) even if you're on a larger jet.
Jul 9, 2019, 3:06 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 845
Thanks for the replies. Quite used to AA's generous protection on separate tickets, but guess not worth to risk it with AY.
I am flying on Easter Sunday (12APR), and currently there is only award availability on the 0830 departure from ARN, so will be about 6 hours between flights at HEL. Any tips on what to do? Enough time to leave the airport and venture into the city?
I am flying on Easter Sunday (12APR), and currently there is only award availability on the 0830 departure from ARN, so will be about 6 hours between flights at HEL. Any tips on what to do? Enough time to leave the airport and venture into the city?
Jul 9, 2019, 3:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Book 08:30 and check back repeatedly. You'll be able to pick a better flight once availability opens up, trust me.
If you have bags, you can check them in at HEL right away when you arrive. HEL will also be very quiet at that time. There's time to take the train into the city if you so wish, and on Easter Sunday, most shops are open from noon onwards. If you stay at the airport and have access to the Platinum Wing lounge, it will be quiet and pleasant when you arrive (less so in the afternoon).
If you have bags, you can check them in at HEL right away when you arrive. HEL will also be very quiet at that time. There's time to take the train into the city if you so wish, and on Easter Sunday, most shops are open from noon onwards. If you stay at the airport and have access to the Platinum Wing lounge, it will be quiet and pleasant when you arrive (less so in the afternoon).
Jul 9, 2019, 10:41 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 845
Book 08:30 and check back repeatedly. You'll be able to pick a better flight once availability opens up, trust me.
If you have bags, you can check them in at HEL right away when you arrive. HEL will also be very quiet at that time. There's time to take the train into the city if you so wish, and on Easter Sunday, most shops are open from noon onwards. If you stay at the airport and have access to the Platinum Wing lounge, it will be quiet and pleasant when you arrive (less so in the afternoon).
If you have bags, you can check them in at HEL right away when you arrive. HEL will also be very quiet at that time. There's time to take the train into the city if you so wish, and on Easter Sunday, most shops are open from noon onwards. If you stay at the airport and have access to the Platinum Wing lounge, it will be quiet and pleasant when you arrive (less so in the afternoon).
Will use BA avios to make the booking, so I won’t be able to change the flight if availability opens up on later flights without paying extra fees. Guess I will book it now to guarantee that I get a flight using miles. Will go into town during the layover. Is there anywhere to store carry on luggage at HEL?
Jul 9, 2019, 11:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,472
Will use BA avios to make the booking, so I won’t be able to change the flight if availability opens up on later flights without paying extra fees. Guess I will book it now to guarantee that I get a flight using miles. Will go into town during the layover. Is there anywhere to store carry on luggage at HEL?
Jul 10, 2019, 10:16 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 845
The flight will cost 6000 avios and $65 in taxes/fees. So will be charged the full amount to cancel and rebook. Not worth it.
One more question, does someone as BA Silver/OW Sapphire have free seat selection and 1 free check in bag on basic economy fares operated by AY? Does the ticketing/marketing airline matter to get those benefits with AY?
Jul 10, 2019, 3:17 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
What do you mean by basic economy? OWS should have free seat selection excluding economy comfort seats (extra legroom seats at the front with noise cancelling headphones and amenity kits) in almost all cases. If it is on AA stock then you need to call/use AY chat to choose seat if you don't get an AY reservation number (but usually you do?)
Jul 10, 2019, 4:34 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 845
What do you mean by basic economy? OWS should have free seat selection excluding economy comfort seats (extra legroom seats at the front with noise cancelling headphones and amenity kits) in almost all cases. If it is on AA stock then you need to call/use AY chat to choose seat if you don't get an AY reservation number (but usually you do?)
Jul 10, 2019, 4:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Award tickets do not book into ”Basic Economy”. In Y, you’ll have a baggage allowance of 1. You will even be able to assign a regular seat free of charge.
Jul 10, 2019, 4:59 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 845
There’s no need to use Avios for a separate STO-HEL booking. Just amend the AAward ticket. That way, you can also make changes later on.
Award tickets do not book into ”Basic Economy”. In Y, you’ll have a baggage allowance of 1. You will even be able to assign a regular seat free of charge.
Award tickets do not book into ”Basic Economy”. In Y, you’ll have a baggage allowance of 1. You will even be able to assign a regular seat free of charge.
As someone else will travel with me they will have to book a separate round trip tricket (ARN-LAX), which will book into basic economy. That person is BA Sapphire, thus asked about seat selection/luggage on such a fare.
Jul 10, 2019, 11:31 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AY+, SK EB
Posts: 2,959
Wasn't it regarding the checked bag the rules of the marketing airline, but if the operating airline is BA, then it is BA's rules?