Experiences of AY flights during COVID-19
Jun 25, 2021, 11:25 am
#1231
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo
Posts: 1,519
Jun 25, 2021, 4:23 pm
#1233
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
I have booked my summer trip to Europe finally: HKG-HEL-ARN and then back to HKG two weeks later. I have about 1h20m for the transfer in HEL, pre-covid this was plenty of time. Should I be worried now with all the extra procedures that it will be tight to make it? Anything I can do to prepare (papers etc) to speed up the process?
I also saw that HEL-ARN is running a 2+2 seat airplane. What's up with that, I thought travel was back on between Sweden and Finland?
I also saw that HEL-ARN is running a 2+2 seat airplane. What's up with that, I thought travel was back on between Sweden and Finland?
1 h 20 min will be more than enough. As you are a transfer pax, there will be no health inspections to slow you down. It's transit security and passport control at HEL just as usual. And your flight from HKG will likely be almost empty.
Sweden does require a lot of red tape from non-EU citizens, I believe, but I'm sure you've checked that out.
Jun 25, 2021, 10:07 pm
#1234
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: AY
Posts: 35
Europe is still very much a graveyard as far as travel is concerned. AY operates ARN flights with an ATR propeller plane. Please note that overhead bins are tiny. A normal rollaboard will not fit if it's even slightly overpacked.
1 h 20 min will be more than enough. As you are a transfer pax, there will be no health inspections to slow you down. It's transit security and passport control at HEL just as usual. And your flight from HKG will likely be almost empty.
Sweden does require a lot of red tape from non-EU citizens, I believe, but I'm sure you've checked that out.
1 h 20 min will be more than enough. As you are a transfer pax, there will be no health inspections to slow you down. It's transit security and passport control at HEL just as usual. And your flight from HKG will likely be almost empty.
Sweden does require a lot of red tape from non-EU citizens, I believe, but I'm sure you've checked that out.
Jun 26, 2021, 2:19 am
#1236
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
With an EU passport, you shouldn't have any problems. Actually, flying via HEL is very sensible as you will not have any controls on arrival at ARN. No health check, no passport control, nothing. (Applies to everyone flying into Sweden from a Nordic country.)
Jun 26, 2021, 2:37 pm
#1237
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,017
Nothing required when entering Sweden from a Nordic country, not even if it's just a transit point. If you arrive from an EU/Schengen country (other than a Nordic country), then you will need a recent test result, nothing else. If flying via HEL to ARN, then you will need to enter the Schengen Area at HEL, so check if this is permitted under the current Finnish rules.
Jun 27, 2021, 4:51 am
#1238
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
Okay, so a nonstop HKG-ARN, if it existed, would be difficult but 1 h 20 min at HEL airport changes everything and pax are good to enter Sweden. The logic here is just unbelievable 
I wish it was as easy to fly to the US, but 1 h 20 min is not enough, they want 15 days 
HEL transfer should not be a problem. Finland allows airside transfers for EU passport holders as long as pax have the right to enter the destination country.
I wish it was as easy to fly to the US, but 1 h 20 min is not enough, they want 15 days HEL transfer should not be a problem. Finland allows airside transfers for EU passport holders as long as pax have the right to enter the destination country.
Jun 28, 2021, 5:03 am
#1239
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: WC1
Programs: BAEC Gold, SK *G, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 660
After security, you can go to Aspire if you like, and then return to gate 22 where there is a border control checkpoint. I would assume they will let you through with an ID as you have a domestic BP. You can always say you mistook the route and didn't see the signs, if they ask.
Jun 28, 2021, 6:33 am
#1240
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,157
I’m flying for the first time in more than 6 months and contemplating whether Aspire is worth the 28-euro entrance charge. I guess not purely based on the offering?
Jun 28, 2021, 9:50 am
#1241
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo
Posts: 1,519
Jun 29, 2021, 12:54 am
#1243
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: WC1
Programs: BAEC Gold, SK *G, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 660
I went in on my PP but probably would not have been happy to pay 28 euros. The food offerings consisted of bread, basic salad ingredients, a cold potato-sausage mishmash, ham and cheese. For drinks there were anodyne white and red wine, cheap spirits and a soft drink station. The coffee machine made me a nice enough cappuccino. Oh, and there were crisps. I suppose if the normal price of a g&t in Finland is 10-15 euros, with two of those you could drink the entrance fee back...
Jun 29, 2021, 1:04 am
#1244
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,157
I went in on my PP but probably would not have been happy to pay 28 euros. The food offerings consisted of bread, basic salad ingredients, a cold potato-sausage mishmash, ham and cheese. For drinks there were anodyne white and red wine, cheap spirits and a soft drink station. The coffee machine made me a nice enough cappuccino. Oh, and there were crisps. I suppose if the normal price of a g&t in Finland is 10-15 euros, with two of those you could drink the entrance fee back...
Jul 2, 2021, 2:43 am
#1245
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,107
No mask policing on HEL-LHR! We had it on when boarding, took it off soon after. Nobody mentioned it during the whole flight. Big change from last autumn, when they policed even your nose...
Social distancing was easy, 7 rows of C with total of 4 pax...
Crew was masked, though.
Social distancing was easy, 7 rows of C with total of 4 pax...
Crew was masked, though.