AY flights to MAD & BCN outsourced to IB what to expect (202122 thread)
Jun 14, 2022, 2:45 pm
#46
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
My MAD-HEL app BP now says Priority and there's a symbol for security control with the word Priority next to it. In the past, AY did not offer priority security at MAD. Has this really changed? Anyone with recent experience?
Last time I flew this route was in January, and priority security was not availbale for AY pax then.
Last time I flew this route was in January, and priority security was not availbale for AY pax then.
I flew last time from MAD BC and it was AY metal back then..cannot recall how the security was..priority or not..
Jun 14, 2022, 6:12 pm
#47
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
My MAD-HEL app BP now says Priority and there's a symbol for security control with the word Priority next to it. In the past, AY did not offer priority security at MAD. Has this really changed? Anyone with recent experience?
Last time I flew this route was in January, and priority security was not availbale for AY pax then.
Last time I flew this route was in January, and priority security was not availbale for AY pax then.
MAD T4 has a separate checkpoint for Fast Track that goes under the Spanish name of "Acceso VIP" so it's hard to miss compared to the regular checkpoint.
Jun 15, 2022, 4:04 am
#48
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: TMP
Programs: AY+ Plat, SK Gold, BT VIP, Radisson Premium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 794
Priority security has been available at MAD at least for AY J passengers. I have used it several times, but don't remember if I have flown MAD-HEL in Y or not.
I've also used it for BT J, but caused some confusion at the security gate, they kept telling me I was at the wrong terminal. Probably was one of the first ones to use it with a BT flight.
I've also used it for BT J, but caused some confusion at the security gate, they kept telling me I was at the wrong terminal. Probably was one of the first ones to use it with a BT flight.
Jun 15, 2022, 5:16 am
#49
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: C2
Posts: 651
Went through the Priority security at MAD back in April. The boarding cards in Y with Plat and Gold showed "Priority security" . However there was some confusion when we entered, our kids boarding cards didn't have any priority so I think that's why they first told me we couldn't use the priority. I was about to leave and go for the ordinary security when they said we were welcome to use priority after all. It was a spanish only service. So I don't really know why they were about to deny entry at first.
Jun 15, 2022, 6:05 am
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Okay, thanks everyone. In January, I flew J and was denied access. Let's see what happens tomorrow (I'll be in Y). I will need to check a bag so I will get a real boarding card, as well.
Jun 16, 2022, 1:12 am
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Okay, I fought my battle and won. 
First, I asked at check-in. The prio agent wasn't sure so she cheked with another colleague. Ningun proglema, I was told. The BP said "Priority" but not "Priority Security".
At the Fast Track lane, there was a bunch of airline logos, including AY, so I was optimistic. But I was denied.
– No Finnair.
– But you have the logo right outside, let me show you.
– Yes, it is old layout.
– I specifically asked at check-in if Fast Track is available for me, and they told me, yes.
– They said so?
– Yes
(silence)
Then I decided to draw my trump card:
– Also, this flight is operated by Iberia, it is here on the boarding pass
– Oh, operated by Iberia?
Then after checking with his two other colleagues who couldn't come up with any more excuses, they relented and in I went after a lot of manual scribbling on their device.
I still believe AY does not pay for fast track at MAD and the access guards made a mistake in letting me in...
Also, the regular security queue wasn't too bad, so I would have survived either way.
First, I asked at check-in. The prio agent wasn't sure so she cheked with another colleague. Ningun proglema, I was told. The BP said "Priority" but not "Priority Security".
At the Fast Track lane, there was a bunch of airline logos, including AY, so I was optimistic. But I was denied.
– No Finnair.
– But you have the logo right outside, let me show you.
– Yes, it is old layout.
– I specifically asked at check-in if Fast Track is available for me, and they told me, yes.
– They said so?
– Yes
(silence)
Then I decided to draw my trump card:
– Also, this flight is operated by Iberia, it is here on the boarding pass
– Oh, operated by Iberia?
Then after checking with his two other colleagues who couldn't come up with any more excuses, they relented and in I went after a lot of manual scribbling on their device.
I still believe AY does not pay for fast track at MAD and the access guards made a mistake in letting me in...
Also, the regular security queue wasn't too bad, so I would have survived either way.
Jun 16, 2022, 1:15 am
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
This. One of the three guys attending to me was not in uniform, but probably a manager of some sorts. He was the only one who spoke English. My Spanish is good enough when there are no problems, but arguing in Spanish doesn't really work for me.
Jun 16, 2022, 8:53 am
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Quick recap of today's MAD-HEL in Y.
I realised this is the first time I flew this route in Y. All others I've upgraded or redeemed as a J award.
Y service was almost non-existent and crew interactions likewise. The purser did not set foot in Y. They did serve one round of complimentary water, oragne juice and pineapple juice and later there was a round when they tried to sell some 8EUR sandwiches.
My exit seat in row 11 had lots of legroom and I had an empty middle seat, but there was no recline. Regular Y seats looked more cramped than on AY.
I realised this is the first time I flew this route in Y. All others I've upgraded or redeemed as a J award.
Y service was almost non-existent and crew interactions likewise. The purser did not set foot in Y. They did serve one round of complimentary water, oragne juice and pineapple juice and later there was a round when they tried to sell some 8EUR sandwiches.
My exit seat in row 11 had lots of legroom and I had an empty middle seat, but there was no recline. Regular Y seats looked more cramped than on AY.
Jun 16, 2022, 3:12 pm
#54
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
I vaguely recall MAD prio security was J only but might be wrong.
Always strikes me how spaniards are usually attentive and bending rules to please one, but in certain things like here they are just utterly stubborn beyond stupidest finns
Always strikes me how spaniards are usually attentive and bending rules to please one, but in certain things like here they are just utterly stubborn beyond stupidest finns
Jun 16, 2022, 4:56 pm
#55
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
They had a social distancing policy that they escorted all guests 1by1 to their designated seat/table, you couldnt enter the lounge without the escort.
No self service so you needed go to the service desk to order/ask for any drink/food items so after being escorted to their seats all guests queued in big zoo like mass to the counter inches from each other..just insanely unefficient and stupid.
Jun 16, 2022, 5:38 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
I lived in Latin America for many years, I know exactly what your talking about... persistence pays off to get your way.
Jun 24, 2022, 1:53 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Platinum
Posts: 103
Just a data point: I flew MAD-HEL yesterday with upgraded Y class ticket. For me the VIP / priority worked just fine. They had some QR code / ticket reader there and no issues.
Jun 25, 2022, 7:49 am
#60
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Priority Club Plat Amb, Miles and Smiles Elite
Posts: 5,294