greendx

AY: JFK-BKK $2689 business class with long layovers

https://flights.app.goo.gl/6qmRW9

Global321

Pretty standard fare from Finnair JFK to BKK. You can find the Finnair-only flights for about the same price.

mcgahat

Yes, the AY cheap flights have been around for quite some time. I sometimes see them at about 3K from DC area airports. My issue is that they typically have long trip times due to long layovers in HEL.

15cats

It's AY, not EY. EY is Etihad

Global321

Yup. Did the 8 hours in the lounge in HEL many times. Nice lounge but, man that is tough.

Oops! Corrected. thanks!

dkc192

Beware that these "basic J" fares come with seat selection fees. Sapphires and Emeralds should be exempt by calling in to assign seats.

747-800i

As of now, can't pretty much no one enter Finland?

Flying Yazata

Correct, but that's of course temporary. And transits can be done airside, it hasn't changed. Actually even a landside transit maybe permitted, if you e.g. need to visit the check-in counter or an airport hotel, if there's e.g. a flight cancellation.

However nobody in their righteous mind would book AY longhauls for the upcoming months anyway, taken there's hardly any longhaul AY flights and it's uncertain when flights will be ramped up and cancellations can be expected.

And like others have said: this is not a discounted deal. It's a standard fare.

747-800i

I DO miss those ~$3k AY fares JFK-HEL-HKG, SIN-HEL-JFK with stopovers in HEL both directions. I got a LOT of value out of those and like 40k EQM, will be nice when we can get back to using those fares. I miss Hotel Kamp!

Flying Yazata

I would rather depart ex-LAX or ex-SFO for AAdvantage, if from North America.

IMO it's an overrated hotel. They had a quite cheap staycation deal last year, but had no interest taking it.

If I'd advise on hotels and I'd have Hilton status, I'd stay at their Hakaniemi property. The airport and Kalastajatorppa properties aren't of interest, if one really wants to see even a glimpse of the city. With Radisson, the local alternatives are more appealing. IHG is also viable and has prime locations. Best Western is unfortunately no longer available in the capital region. These are just some quick remarks and purely based on international chains present, while assuming one would have a loyalty program affiliation and like to use it. Outside it, there's of course more options to consider for a HEL stopover/layover.

But like I said: I advise against booking AY longhauls for any travel that's within the next few months or so. My gut feeling is that prior to August or September there's no chance for easy landside visits.

747-800i

Not sure how you're talking about staying at Best Western and calling Kamp overrated, it's perhaps my favorite hotel in Scandinavia!

Flying Yazata

Truth to be told, it's just a bed and shower with some added prestige. If I pay for nostalgia (which I at times do), I'd at least want it to be the original Kämp and not a reconstructed one, which the current one is.

And I never compared apples and oranges. I only mentioned what hotel loyalty based options there are for a HEL layover/stopover, since hotel accommodation was mentioned. FT'ers usually value points earning/award redemption options.

steveholt

AY has JFK-SIN available for $2644 with the long layover in HEL.