Rescheduled from a 2 hour to a 17 hour layover in HEL
Sep 27, 2022, 10:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Onyx Platinum
Posts: 154
Rescheduled from a 2 hour to a 17 hour layover in HEL
Hello all, my first AY post.
Glad you are here!
We travel to BKK twice a year October / November and February / March.
With BA no longer serving BKK and QR prices going through the roof (World Cup) we booked two trips with AY in J. The prices and reviews were good.
Choosing good flight times with short layovers in HEL seemed perfect.
First the March return flight was rescheduled, a lovely evening flight to an early am with a long HEL layover.
Then the outbound leg changed so we added a day and decided to stay overnight in HEL at extra cost for the hotel.
Now our November flights have changed this morning from a nice 2 hour layover to 17 hours:
Was: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1339) 19:30 LHR 20:40
Now: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1331) 07:50 the following day.
This can't be right that I should have to book another hotel at my expense and arrive home a day later with 17 unwanted hours in HEL.
I understand the Russian airspace constraints but both of my bookings were made in good faith and chosen for short layovers which were at time of booking more expensive than the long layover options that we have inherited.
Thanks in advance.
Glad you are here!
We travel to BKK twice a year October / November and February / March.
With BA no longer serving BKK and QR prices going through the roof (World Cup) we booked two trips with AY in J. The prices and reviews were good.
Choosing good flight times with short layovers in HEL seemed perfect.
First the March return flight was rescheduled, a lovely evening flight to an early am with a long HEL layover.
Then the outbound leg changed so we added a day and decided to stay overnight in HEL at extra cost for the hotel.
Now our November flights have changed this morning from a nice 2 hour layover to 17 hours:
Was: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1339) 19:30 LHR 20:40
Now: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1331) 07:50 the following day.
This can't be right that I should have to book another hotel at my expense and arrive home a day later with 17 unwanted hours in HEL.
I understand the Russian airspace constraints but both of my bookings were made in good faith and chosen for short layovers which were at time of booking more expensive than the long layover options that we have inherited.
Thanks in advance.
Sep 27, 2022, 10:29 am
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Yorkshire & Bangsaen
Programs: HH Diamond, EY Gold, AY Silver, MR Plat
Posts: 526
Hello all, my first AY post.
Glad you are here!
We travel to BKK twice a year October / November and February / March.
With BA no longer serving BKK and QR prices going through the roof (World Cup) we booked two trips with AY in J. The prices and reviews were good.
Choosing good flight times with short layovers in HEL seemed perfect.
First the March return flight was rescheduled, a lovely evening flight to an early am with a long HEL layover.
Then the outbound leg changed so we added a day and decided to stay overnight in HEL at extra cost for the hotel.
Now our November flights have changed this morning from a nice 2 hour layover to 17 hours:
Was: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1339) 19:30 LHR 20:40
Now: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1331) 07:50 the following day.
This can't be right that I should have to book another hotel at my expense and arrive home a day later with 17 unwanted hours in HEL.
I understand the Russian airspace constraints but both of my bookings were made in good faith and chosen for short layovers which were at time of booking more expensive than the long layover options that we have inherited.
Thanks in advance.
Glad you are here!
We travel to BKK twice a year October / November and February / March.
With BA no longer serving BKK and QR prices going through the roof (World Cup) we booked two trips with AY in J. The prices and reviews were good.
Choosing good flight times with short layovers in HEL seemed perfect.
First the March return flight was rescheduled, a lovely evening flight to an early am with a long HEL layover.
Then the outbound leg changed so we added a day and decided to stay overnight in HEL at extra cost for the hotel.
Now our November flights have changed this morning from a nice 2 hour layover to 17 hours:
Was: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1339) 19:30 LHR 20:40
Now: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1331) 07:50 the following day.
This can't be right that I should have to book another hotel at my expense and arrive home a day later with 17 unwanted hours in HEL.
I understand the Russian airspace constraints but both of my bookings were made in good faith and chosen for short layovers which were at time of booking more expensive than the long layover options that we have inherited.
Thanks in advance.
Sep 27, 2022, 12:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
Pre-covid, AY used to be reliable and they were actively promoting connections via HEL. However, in the current situation they are very much struggling to stay alive. They update their schedules frequently making it impossible to plan anything reliably.
The schedule change gives you some rights. As the 7:30 pm flight HEL-LHR seems to exist on some days, my advice would be to play with the booking engine and try to find dates close to your original ones with better connections than the 17-hour layover you now have. Your original schedule might work just one day before or after. If you find flights you like, call AY and request to be rebooked.
At the same time, you could check out the outbound flights. Perhaps there is something better to be had there, as well.
The schedule change gives you some rights. As the 7:30 pm flight HEL-LHR seems to exist on some days, my advice would be to play with the booking engine and try to find dates close to your original ones with better connections than the 17-hour layover you now have. Your original schedule might work just one day before or after. If you find flights you like, call AY and request to be rebooked.
At the same time, you could check out the outbound flights. Perhaps there is something better to be had there, as well.
Sep 27, 2022, 12:32 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,059
Sep 28, 2022, 2:15 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Onyx Platinum
Posts: 154
Pre-covid, AY used to be reliable and they were actively promoting connections via HEL. However, in the current situation they are very much struggling to stay alive. They update their schedules frequently making it impossible to plan anything reliably.
The schedule change gives you some rights. As the 7:30 pm flight HEL-LHR seems to exist on some days, my advice would be to play with the booking engine and try to find dates close to your original ones with better connections than the 17-hour layover you now have. Your original schedule might work just one day before or after. If you find flights you like, call AY and request to be rebooked.
At the same time, you could check out the outbound flights. Perhaps there is something better to be had there, as well.
The schedule change gives you some rights. As the 7:30 pm flight HEL-LHR seems to exist on some days, my advice would be to play with the booking engine and try to find dates close to your original ones with better connections than the 17-hour layover you now have. Your original schedule might work just one day before or after. If you find flights you like, call AY and request to be rebooked.
At the same time, you could check out the outbound flights. Perhaps there is something better to be had there, as well.
I will check as you say and I will wait until Sunday as previously I have found that is the only day they answer the phone!
Sep 28, 2022, 2:17 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,059
Sep 28, 2022, 2:24 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: QF, TK, VA, SQ
Posts: 695
Yep we were on the exact same connection from BKK to LHR via HEL; the early AM departure was offset slightly by getting home on the "same day" and being able to get a proper nights' sleep in our bed at home with a full clear day's recovery on the Sunday before being back at work the next day.
Similarly we're trying to work out what to do; do we cut our trip a day shorter and have a full weekend at home or fly back the next day, land late and be more tired...
The schedules definitely still seem to be quite fluid and I'm not sure it makes sense to make any changes until things settle down a bit...
Similarly we're trying to work out what to do; do we cut our trip a day shorter and have a full weekend at home or fly back the next day, land late and be more tired...
The schedules definitely still seem to be quite fluid and I'm not sure it makes sense to make any changes until things settle down a bit...
Sep 28, 2022, 7:46 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 1,754
Sep 28, 2022, 3:51 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 8
I’m in a similar situation and here’s what I got from Finnair:
”As the change was made due cancelled flight and you need to stay overnight in Helsinki we provide hotel accommodation for you. Remember to visit transfer desk or arrival services at Helsinki airport upon arrival to get hotel voucher.
Of course we can try to find different route for you free of charge if available. Please call us if you want rerouting due long queues in emails.”
hope it helps
”As the change was made due cancelled flight and you need to stay overnight in Helsinki we provide hotel accommodation for you. Remember to visit transfer desk or arrival services at Helsinki airport upon arrival to get hotel voucher.
Of course we can try to find different route for you free of charge if available. Please call us if you want rerouting due long queues in emails.”
hope it helps
Oct 1, 2022, 4:44 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Onyx Platinum
Posts: 154
All sorted - with your help, thank you.
They answered the phone straight away and within 7 minutes the whole dreadful 17 hour layover resceduled trip is now a sensible 1:45 with a better BKK departure time.
We just have to depart BKK a day earlier. On the grand scheme no big deal.
They answered the phone straight away and within 7 minutes the whole dreadful 17 hour layover resceduled trip is now a sensible 1:45 with a better BKK departure time.
We just have to depart BKK a day earlier. On the grand scheme no big deal.
Oct 1, 2022, 5:09 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
All sorted - with your help, thank you.
They answered the phone straight away and within 7 minutes the whole dreadful 17 hour layover resceduled trip is now a sensible 1:45 with a better BKK departure time.
We just have to depart BKK a day earlier. On the grand scheme no big deal.
They answered the phone straight away and within 7 minutes the whole dreadful 17 hour layover resceduled trip is now a sensible 1:45 with a better BKK departure time.
We just have to depart BKK a day earlier. On the grand scheme no big deal.
Feb 28, 2023, 4:26 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 1
Hello all, my first AY post.
Glad you are here!
We travel to BKK twice a year October / November and February / March.
With BA no longer serving BKK and QR prices going through the roof (World Cup) we booked two trips with AY in J. The prices and reviews were good.
Choosing good flight times with short layovers in HEL seemed perfect.
First the March return flight was rescheduled, a lovely evening flight to an early am with a long HEL layover.
Then the outbound leg changed so we added a day and decided to stay overnight in HEL at extra cost for the hotel.
Now our November flights have changed this morning from a nice 2 hour layover to 17 hours:
Was: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1339) 19:30 LHR 20:40
Now: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1331) 07:50 the following day.
This can't be right that I should have to book another hotel at my expense and arrive home a day later with 17 unwanted hours in HEL.
I understand the Russian airspace constraints but both of my bookings were made in good faith and chosen for short layovers which were at time of booking more expensive than the long layover options that we have inherited.
Thanks in advance.
Glad you are here!
We travel to BKK twice a year October / November and February / March.
With BA no longer serving BKK and QR prices going through the roof (World Cup) we booked two trips with AY in J. The prices and reviews were good.
Choosing good flight times with short layovers in HEL seemed perfect.
First the March return flight was rescheduled, a lovely evening flight to an early am with a long HEL layover.
Then the outbound leg changed so we added a day and decided to stay overnight in HEL at extra cost for the hotel.
Now our November flights have changed this morning from a nice 2 hour layover to 17 hours:
Was: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1339) 19:30 LHR 20:40
Now: BKK (AY142) 08:15 HEL 15:35
HEL (AY1331) 07:50 the following day.
This can't be right that I should have to book another hotel at my expense and arrive home a day later with 17 unwanted hours in HEL.
I understand the Russian airspace constraints but both of my bookings were made in good faith and chosen for short layovers which were at time of booking more expensive than the long layover options that we have inherited.
Thanks in advance.
Maybe it's worth your hassling the airline, seeing as it's their flight change and not your choice?
Would love to know if anyone has had a positive experience in this situation. My biggest fear, coming off a long-haul flight, is Finnair ground staff denying all knowledge of a hotel booking.