Reasonable AY connection times in HEL?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AA ex-EXP, 2MM (ex DL, ex TWA)
Posts: 1,427
Reasonable AY connection times in HEL?
I am looking at making a trip to Moscow in June, and would prefer to fly OW carriers if I can. Both AA and ITA booking engines show itineraries via AY and HEL with very tight connections. Specifically,
Arrive HEL from JFK at 08.50, depart 09.25 for SVO
Arrive HEL from SVO at 13:40, depart 14:20 for JFK
So, is this reasonable? Seems VERY tight to me!
Arrive HEL from JFK at 08.50, depart 09.25 for SVO
Arrive HEL from SVO at 13:40, depart 14:20 for JFK
So, is this reasonable? Seems VERY tight to me!
Last edited by Wexflyer; Feb 23, 2005 at 11:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,265
Originally Posted by Wexflyer
I am looking at making a trip to Moscow in June, and would prefer to fly OW carriers if I can. Both AA and ITA booking engines show itineraries via AY and HEL with very tight connections. Specificially,
Arrive HEL from JFK at 08.50, depart 09.25 for SVO
Arrive HEL from SVO at 13:40, depart 14:20 for JFK
So, is this resonable? Seems VERY tight to me!
Arrive HEL from JFK at 08.50, depart 09.25 for SVO
Arrive HEL from SVO at 13:40, depart 14:20 for JFK
So, is this resonable? Seems VERY tight to me!
HEL is a small airport. Many russians fly between MOW and JFK with Finnair. I would even assume that they will delay flight to MOW or JFK if flight from JFK or MOW arrives late.
Last edited by fokker50; Feb 23, 2005 at 5:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: KUO
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And you will be arriving from a non-Schengen country and connecting to a non-Schengen country so you don't have to go via passport control either, so no problem what so ever. You will be arriving and departing from gates 30 and above: http://www.ilmailulaitos.fi/files/fc...ice_FinEng.pdf
#4
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Thanks for the informative and prompt replies folks. For the record, I was in HEL once, on the way back from St. Petersburg, but with longer connection time - I thought HEL was very efficient, with reasonable AY lounge (which I guess I won't see with the above connections).
#5
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Originally Posted by fokker50
You will be fine.
HEL is a small airport. Many russians fly between MOW and JFK with Finnair. I would even assume that they will delay flight to MOW or JFK if flight from JFK or MOW arrives late.
HEL is a small airport. Many russians fly between MOW and JFK with Finnair. I would even assume that they will delay flight to MOW or JFK if flight from JFK or MOW arrives late.
#6
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I have had connection times of c.25 mins in HEL on the winter LHR-HEL-BKK service. Baggage handling is very good at HEL and I normally have time to run to the proper duty free (after immigration) grab some stuff (great prices at HEL) and stop off for a quick fag break before boarding.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Poland
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Originally Posted by Wexflyer
I am looking at making a trip to Moscow in June, and would prefer to fly OW carriers if I can. Both AA and ITA booking engines show itineraries via AY and HEL with very tight connections. Specifically,
Arrive HEL from JFK at 08.50, depart 09.25 for SVO
Arrive HEL from SVO at 13:40, depart 14:20 for JFK
So, is this reasonable? Seems VERY tight to me!
Arrive HEL from JFK at 08.50, depart 09.25 for SVO
Arrive HEL from SVO at 13:40, depart 14:20 for JFK
So, is this reasonable? Seems VERY tight to me!
Should be long enought, even though HEL airport has very long buildings.
Another option, and in MHO much more confortable for you could be if you fly AA/LX from US (e.g. LAX or DFW) via ZRH to MOW. AA and LX have very close agreements and on many flights they have code shares.
#8
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Originally Posted by ziplaufwerk
Should be long enought, even though HEL airport has very long buildings.
Another option, and in MHO much more confortable for you could be if you fly AA/LX from US (e.g. LAX or DFW) via ZRH to MOW. AA and LX have very close agreements and on many flights they have code shares.
Another option, and in MHO much more confortable for you could be if you fly AA/LX from US (e.g. LAX or DFW) via ZRH to MOW. AA and LX have very close agreements and on many flights they have code shares.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Belgium
Programs: QR platinum
Posts: 645
Codeshares do show on AA, so no codeshare LX to DME , and flying LX in economy (intra europe) is not that pleasant experience,
BA is probably best option if you prefer the better airport DME , Iberia also flies to DME,
Your total travel time with AY will be a lot shorter..
BA is probably best option if you prefer the better airport DME , Iberia also flies to DME,
Your total travel time with AY will be a lot shorter..
Last edited by beepee; Feb 27, 2005 at 10:31 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: KUO
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 447
Originally Posted by chalf
Note also that some AY flights HEL-SVO (though IIRC not the connection to JFK-HEL) are operated by SU, and thus not eligible for AAdvantage credit.
Only regularly scheduled Finnair flights (flight series AY001-AY1000, AY3000-AY7000) are eligible for mileage accrual.
#11
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Thanks for the suggestions regarding LX and BA to Moscow. Regarding LX via ZRH, I had not thought of that, but when I put LAX-ZRH-MOW into the ITA search engine the flight to MOW turns out to be a second overnight flight, arriving 2.am. Not a good combination! Regarding BA - in the past, I have gone to St. Petersburg using BA from LHR on the way over, and AY on the way back. I may do something similar again. I must say I liked AY, but that was before they stuck in another seat in each row on the MD-11, I am not sure it would be so nice this time around?
#12
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Belgium
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Posts: 645
Another option is JFK - BRU on AA and SN BRU - Moskou Domodedovo, the flights in BRU leaves at 10Am arrival 15.25 the AA flight is 6.30 Pm arrival in BRU around 8am
Sn is also partner of AA, so you could earn miles on these flights (as a non codeshare only bonusmiles)
It is also a good AA-award possibilty, 20.000 aa miles for return flight in economy
Sn is also partner of AA, so you could earn miles on these flights (as a non codeshare only bonusmiles)
It is also a good AA-award possibilty, 20.000 aa miles for return flight in economy
#13
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
Those Helsinki connecting times can work out OK, and all the non-Schengen gates (a minority of flights) are, as stated, next to each other, but you are rather exposed to even a small amount of lateness on the incoming aircraft. Helsinki can get surprisingly busy, especially in the early afternoon, and I've been put into a circling holding pattern there waiting for a landing opportunity. And there's a bit of a chance too of your aircraft being put onto a remote stand, with a bus into the terminal, which can add more minutes.
Connecting international to domestic is a different matter and it's a LONG walk !
Connecting international to domestic is a different matter and it's a LONG walk !