Experiences of AY flights during COVID-19
May 31, 2021, 9:27 am
#1156
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
Cantongirl, thanks, a very interesting report!
As this has been going on for 15 months already, one would imagine AY and Finavia would agree to cordon off some area at the empty non-Schengen terminal and borrow some 200 beds from the army. Shouldn't be that difficult. It's no hotel, but a 200-person dorm with beds would definitely be better than to have people sleep on chairs. A one-off irrop maybe, but 15 months...
As this has been going on for 15 months already, one would imagine AY and Finavia would agree to cordon off some area at the empty non-Schengen terminal and borrow some 200 beds from the army. Shouldn't be that difficult. It's no hotel, but a 200-person dorm with beds would definitely be better than to have people sleep on chairs. A one-off irrop maybe, but 15 months...
May 31, 2021, 9:46 am
#1157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,107
May 31, 2021, 10:16 am
#1158
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
May 31, 2021, 12:14 pm
#1159
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,183
Ah, make it a political statement!
"We are drinking beer in Sweden until government changes entry rules!!"
"We are drinking beer in Sweden until government changes entry rules!!"
May 31, 2021, 12:33 pm
#1160
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
Specifically Finland still allows free arrival testing. But Finnair makes it effectively impossible if not vaccinated. Don't get me wrong; I understand and respect Finnair's standpoint. But the end result is that it's still much safer to travel domestic at this time for people not eligible to vaccination.
Jun 1, 2021, 6:06 am
#1164
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,602
Let’s DO it then. What is “äijät juo kaljaa” in proper swedish?
Jun 1, 2021, 9:24 am
#1167
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
Quick recap HEL-ARN-HEL today:
I got a BP from OLCI for HEL-ARN, but went to the desk anyway because I needed a BP for the return. I had two separate tickets, and the agent started with HEL-ARN. She asked for a covid test, and I said it is not needed. Then she asked if I’m a Swedish citizen. Then she took her phone and checked the regulations and stated that the covid test is needed. I had a certificate, as I didn’t want to get tested on the return at HEL, so I showed it to her, but an agent nearby heard our conversation and confirmed that the test is not needed and that their system hadn’t been updated yet. I wonder what system that is, because Timatic was updated yesterday when I checked. Anyway, after she processed that, she then continued to find my other booking and gave me a BP for that, as well.
Outbound flight 30 pax. No checks on arrival at ARN.
The lounge opened at 11 and was business as usual, with their meagre covid offerings, but at least there is a lounge.
Inbound, I went to the podium at ARN and showed my vaccination certificate printed from Kanta. Accepted with a smile (you never get the CDOK on your HEL-printed same day return BP). About 40 pax on the flight, and the same crew. My Plat greeting, ”Well, that was a quick trip.” Crew was friendly and even apologized personally about our late departure from HEL in the morning (unnecessarily, as we landed on time at ARN anyway, but a very nice gesture).
At HEL, hell was loose because four Schengen flights had arrived in the afternoon wave. First, there was a ten-minute wait to see the health aunties (and I was the first one from my flight in that queue, with a prefilled form) and then another 20 minutes at passport control.
They currently have one queue for everyone at passport control, and when you reach the booths, a lady stood there asking if you are an EU citizen and directing you to the two EU booths. What for, when Swedes and Estonias get the same interrogation as Tanzanians and Bangladeshis do? They should have one or two booths for Finnish citizens, who cannot be interrogated, and a separate queue.
I wonder how that will work now when everyone starts travelling in the summer.
I got a BP from OLCI for HEL-ARN, but went to the desk anyway because I needed a BP for the return. I had two separate tickets, and the agent started with HEL-ARN. She asked for a covid test, and I said it is not needed. Then she asked if I’m a Swedish citizen. Then she took her phone and checked the regulations and stated that the covid test is needed. I had a certificate, as I didn’t want to get tested on the return at HEL, so I showed it to her, but an agent nearby heard our conversation and confirmed that the test is not needed and that their system hadn’t been updated yet. I wonder what system that is, because Timatic was updated yesterday when I checked. Anyway, after she processed that, she then continued to find my other booking and gave me a BP for that, as well.
Outbound flight 30 pax. No checks on arrival at ARN.
The lounge opened at 11 and was business as usual, with their meagre covid offerings, but at least there is a lounge.
Inbound, I went to the podium at ARN and showed my vaccination certificate printed from Kanta. Accepted with a smile (you never get the CDOK on your HEL-printed same day return BP). About 40 pax on the flight, and the same crew. My Plat greeting, ”Well, that was a quick trip.” Crew was friendly and even apologized personally about our late departure from HEL in the morning (unnecessarily, as we landed on time at ARN anyway, but a very nice gesture).
At HEL, hell was loose because four Schengen flights had arrived in the afternoon wave. First, there was a ten-minute wait to see the health aunties (and I was the first one from my flight in that queue, with a prefilled form) and then another 20 minutes at passport control.
They currently have one queue for everyone at passport control, and when you reach the booths, a lady stood there asking if you are an EU citizen and directing you to the two EU booths. What for, when Swedes and Estonias get the same interrogation as Tanzanians and Bangladeshis do? They should have one or two booths for Finnish citizens, who cannot be interrogated, and a separate queue.
I wonder how that will work now when everyone starts travelling in the summer.
Jun 1, 2021, 10:08 am
#1169
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
They currently have one queue for everyone at passport control, and when you reach the booths, a lady stood there asking if you are an EU citizen and directing you to the two EU booths. What for, when Swedes and Estonias get the same interrogation as Tanzanians and Bangladeshis do? They should have one or two booths for Finnish citizens, who cannot be interrogated, and a separate queue.
Jun 1, 2021, 10:11 am
#1170
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo
Posts: 1,519
EDIT: Residents should count though.