Apr 18, 2014, 1:41 pm
Last edit by: billinghamn
My trip from MAN-LHR-HEL and back that I took with billinghamv in Apr 2014. Quick links to individual flights are listed below to help navigation:
Intro
18 Apr MAN-LHR
18 Apr LHR-HEL
19 Apr HEL Sightseeing
20 Apr HEL-LHR
20 Apr LHR-MAN
Intro
18 Apr MAN-LHR
18 Apr LHR-HEL
19 Apr HEL Sightseeing
20 Apr HEL-LHR
20 Apr LHR-MAN
Live Trip Report: MAN-LHR-HEL
Apr 21, 2014, 5:42 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,107
These days also SK, AF (and some others) also pay for it, though not BA. Now it seems more consistent about applying the rules - at one time I could even use it while on a BA flight flashing LH SEN card.
Apr 21, 2014, 11:38 pm
#47
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 329
Maybe being able to use the security fast track is the deal breaker? The flights are usually some AA/BA/AY codeshare, but so long as you get the AY number on the boarding pass you can use it.
Apr 22, 2014, 2:22 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
This discussion reminded me that this is a differentiator when deciding between the 0755 and 0800 LHR flights. I usually have a choice and pick BA. Recently I have wondered if that is a good choice or not as the AY flight managed to beat the heathrow traffic better than BA (e.g. fog bound LHR on April 1st).
Maybe being able to use the security fast track is the deal breaker? The flights are usually some AA/BA/AY codeshare, but so long as you get the AY number on the boarding pass you can use it.
Maybe being able to use the security fast track is the deal breaker? The flights are usually some AA/BA/AY codeshare, but so long as you get the AY number on the boarding pass you can use it.
Apr 22, 2014, 2:52 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Wirral, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 432
First of all, 23 euros for a cheeseburger? Ouch!
Second of all, didn't know you were a fellow red billinghamn, it's been a good year for us hasn't it!
I used to live in Finland (not Helsinki though), and seeing the trip reports and the beautiful photos you guys have managed to take makes it look a whole lot prettier than I remember it! Summers surely were glorious, but this time of year it is a bit grim still. Also it's a good reminder for me that much to my embarassment I still haven't visited Suomenlinna. I will hopefully have time this summer to change that, it looks like a very nice place indeed.
Second of all, didn't know you were a fellow red billinghamn, it's been a good year for us hasn't it!
I used to live in Finland (not Helsinki though), and seeing the trip reports and the beautiful photos you guys have managed to take makes it look a whole lot prettier than I remember it! Summers surely were glorious, but this time of year it is a bit grim still. Also it's a good reminder for me that much to my embarassment I still haven't visited Suomenlinna. I will hopefully have time this summer to change that, it looks like a very nice place indeed.
Apr 22, 2014, 8:04 am
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North West, UK
Programs: BA GfL (GGL/CCR), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,998
First of all, 23 euros for a cheeseburger? Ouch!
Second of all, didn't know you were a fellow red billinghamn, it's been a good year for us hasn't it!
I used to live in Finland (not Helsinki though), and seeing the trip reports and the beautiful photos you guys have managed to take makes it look a whole lot prettier than I remember it! Summers surely were glorious, but this time of year it is a bit grim still. Also it's a good reminder for me that much to my embarassment I still haven't visited Suomenlinna. I will hopefully have time this summer to change that, it looks like a very nice place indeed.
Second of all, didn't know you were a fellow red billinghamn, it's been a good year for us hasn't it!
I used to live in Finland (not Helsinki though), and seeing the trip reports and the beautiful photos you guys have managed to take makes it look a whole lot prettier than I remember it! Summers surely were glorious, but this time of year it is a bit grim still. Also it's a good reminder for me that much to my embarassment I still haven't visited Suomenlinna. I will hopefully have time this summer to change that, it looks like a very nice place indeed.
I don't want to tempt fate talking about what might be for the Reds - all I will say is I am keeping my fingers crossed. The lads have done well up until now, and I'm proud of them.
Suomenlinna is a very attractive island - quite big and so many different aspects - I strongly recommend a visit - it's well worth it.
Apr 22, 2014, 9:36 am
#52
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Wirral, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 432
Yes a tad expensive! However it was tasty.
I don't want to tempt fate talking about what might be for the Reds - all I will say is I am keeping my fingers crossed. The lads have done well up until now, and I'm proud of them.
Suomenlinna is a very attractive island - quite big and so many different aspects - I strongly recommend a visit - it's well worth it.
I don't want to tempt fate talking about what might be for the Reds - all I will say is I am keeping my fingers crossed. The lads have done well up until now, and I'm proud of them.
Suomenlinna is a very attractive island - quite big and so many different aspects - I strongly recommend a visit - it's well worth it.
I do like the nature in Finland, it's all very clean and beautiful. I also like blueberry pie
Apr 22, 2014, 11:42 am
#54
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
Fair enough on the BA CE, but on the OW website HEL is listed as being one of the airports that allow OWEs to use fast track security. Not disputing what you have said, but clearly OW are showing something as a benefit which HEL are contradicting and not providing.
Apr 22, 2014, 11:54 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,603
"Fast Track through security at select airports
Helsinki, Vantaa
Terminals: 2
Service: Priority Security
Carriers: Emerald members traveling on flights operated and marketed by the following carriers
Finnair"
Apr 22, 2014, 11:58 am
#56
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
Apr 22, 2014, 12:05 pm
#57
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Glad you liked Stefan's Steakhouse. The reindeer steak is pretty good, isn't it? The Italian place across the street has been a real find. I think it's the most original in Helsinki.
You should have taken my advice and stayed at the Kämp! The Hilton Strand is a real dump I thought. Awful, ancient rooms, terrible bathrooms, clueless staff, and shoddy public areas.
A great place to have a drink is somewhere called 42 (I think). Really inventive bartenders!
You should have taken my advice and stayed at the Kämp! The Hilton Strand is a real dump I thought. Awful, ancient rooms, terrible bathrooms, clueless staff, and shoddy public areas.
A great place to have a drink is somewhere called 42 (I think). Really inventive bartenders!
Apr 22, 2014, 12:14 pm
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North West, UK
Programs: BA GfL (GGL/CCR), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,998
Glad you liked Stefan's Steakhouse. The reindeer steak is pretty good, isn't it? The Italian place across the street has been a real find. I think it's the most original in Helsinki.
You should have taken my advice and stayed at the Kämp! The Hilton Strand is a real dump I thought. Awful, ancient rooms, terrible bathrooms, clueless staff, and shoddy public areas.
A great place to have a drink is somewhere called 42 (I think). Really inventive bartenders!
You should have taken my advice and stayed at the Kämp! The Hilton Strand is a real dump I thought. Awful, ancient rooms, terrible bathrooms, clueless staff, and shoddy public areas.
A great place to have a drink is somewhere called 42 (I think). Really inventive bartenders!
Yes the Strand was a bit of a dump, but not quite as bad as I thought it might be. It's times like these that brand loyalty need to be challenged, and sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and accept that the brand is going to lose out.
Apr 22, 2014, 1:41 pm
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North West, UK
Programs: BA GfL (GGL/CCR), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,998
