55 minute layover at HEL

[offshore171]

Would you book this as a cash fare? It's a very good deal for 4 pax in PE.

The concern is the 55 minute layover at HEL. I realise it's a great airport for transits, but this would be Schengen to Non, meaning you've got passport control in the mix. It's all on one ticket, so in theory the airline needs to reaccomodate after a misconnect, but I'd imagine a likely cabin downgrade if they can't find 4 vacant PE seats in peak season?


18:55 Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG), Paris

Arrival 23:00 Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), Helsinki
Departure 23:55 Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), Helsinki

Arrival 18:30 Singapore Changi (SIN), Singapore
Departure 20:05 Singapore Changi (SIN), Singapore

Arrival 07:10 Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD), Sydney

 

[jrfsp]

Should be fine, im sure there will be lots of people connecting, AY tend to hold the Asian flights for connecting pax

 

[AIRwin]

I remember my sister has had a number of short connections in HEL on her way between LHR and SIN, even travelling with her kids

 

[offshore171]

I remember my sister has had a number of short connections in HEL on her way between LHR and SIN, even travelling with her kids

Did she ever misconnect?

 

[SYD]

It’s a small airport by European standards and pretty efficient. The extra thing to factor in is “exiting” the Schengen zone during the transfer. Not sure how that’s handled these days. Last time I passed through was from LHR - so the transfer was all non-Schengen and easy as.

 

[offshore171]

It’s a small airport by European standards and pretty efficient. The extra thing to factor in is “exiting” the Schengen zone during the transfer. Not sure how that’s handled these days. Last time I passed through was from LHR - so the transfer was all non-Schengen and easy as.

Yes I've been through several times as I used to work in Helsinki, however don't think I ever did a Schengen to Non Schengen transit.

Certainly did many Non schengen departures and this involves lining up at passport control for 15 mins or so.

 

[cjd600]

Easy

Did CDG-HEL-LAX in shorter than that last year

 

[offshore171]

Easy

Did CDG-HEL-LAX in shorter than that last year

That’s reassuring. I presume the first sector ran on time?

Also I’ve found the MCT’s. They are excellent, even for Schengen to Non.

Flights via Helsinki Airport	Estimated minimum connecting time
Flights within Finland	35 minutes
Flights within the Schengen area	35 minutes
Flights within the non-Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the non-Schengen area to the Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the Schengen area to the non-Schengen area	35 minutes

Connecting flights

Reach your connecting flight via Helsinki Airport fast and conveniently. Find out about the minimum transferring time depending on your route.

www.finnair.com

 

[SYD]

Easy

Did CDG-HEL-LAX in shorter than that last year

What was the process going from Schengen arrivals to non-Schengen departures? Q up for a stamp out or eGates?

 

[Lynda2475]

Too tight IMO.

Arriving from DUB to HEL last August took almost 2 hours to get through passport control. If you have an EU passport then its fine as you get to use the self serve machines which are really fast. If on Aus passport you have to wait in the very slow line.

 

[SYD]

Too tight IMO.

Arriving from DUB to HEL last August took almost 2 hours to get through passport control. If you have an EU passport then its fine as you get to use the self serve machines which are really fast. If on Aus passport you have to wait in the very slow line.

That was my memory from one trip some time ago but I couldn’t recall if it was arriving or departing. Although it wasn’t that long a wait.

I’ve also used a smart gate on a Oz passport - but no idea how that worked now given the need for stamps in/out of Schengen Zone?

 

[offshore171]

Too tight IMO.

Arriving from DUB to HEL last August took almost 2 hours to get through passport control. If you have an EU passport then its fine as you get to use the self serve machines which are really fast. If on Aus passport you have to wait in the very slow line.

Yikes that's way too long.

Ireland isn't schengen though is it? So that would have been an "entry" into the Schengen zone.

The scenario I'm looking at is just getting the departure stamp at the "leaving schengen" passport control. I would hope that is quicker?

 

[Archipelago]

I've done this recently from non-Schengen to Schengen (BKK-HEL-FCO) with a scheduled transit time of 45 minutes.

The in-flight entertainment system has a section dedicated to transit info, including live gate details for your onward flights, map of the airport etc. Made my first time at the airport a little easier.

In the end I was from my arriving aircraft doors opening, to my onward gate in a little over 25 minutes, still had to wait another 15 for the next flight to board. Note that I'm a fast walker, I don't faff about dawdling in airports

 

[offshore171]

I've done this recently from non-Schengen to Schengen (BKK-HEL-FCO) with a scheduled transit time of 45 minutes.

The in-flight entertainment system has a section dedicated to transit info, including live gate details for your onward flights, map of the airport etc. Made my first time at the airport a little easier.

In the end I was from my arriving aircraft doors opening, to my onward gate in a little over 25 minutes, still had to wait another 15 for the next flight to board. Note that I'm a fast walker, I don't faff about dawdling in airports

Wow. So no sign of a 2 hour line at immigration?

 

[Lynda2475]

Departing (HEL-JFK) was super quick, a matter of seconds.

The EU passport readers and desks were barely in use, totally cleared within 5 mins of arrival, but the line for non EU passport holders to enter Finland was massive and only 5 manned desks (which dropped to 4 when someone went on smoko) and the staff would not redirect anyone to the EU desks even though there was no one using them.

YMMV of course, but HEL did not feel very efficient to me; was longest Ive ever waited in line to enter any country.

Schengen to Schengen would be fine, but personally i would leave 3 hours for anything else, but i like to minimise risk.

 

[UP4014]

Would you book this as a cash fare? It's a very good deal for 4 pax in PE.

The concern is the 55 minute layover at HEL. I realise it's a great airport for transits, but this would be Schengen to Non, meaning you've got passport control in the mix. It's all on one ticket, so in theory the airline needs to reaccomodate after a misconnect, but I'd imagine a likely cabin downgrade if they can't find 4 vacant PE seats in peak season?


18:55 Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG), Paris

Arrival 23:00 Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), Helsinki
Departure 23:55 Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), Helsinki

Arrival 18:30 Singapore Changi (SIN), Singapore
Departure 20:05 Singapore Changi (SIN), Singapore

Arrival 07:10 Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD), Sydney

How good is a good deal.

 

[ausfox]

We have needed to walk quickly a couple of times but I am sure it took no more than 35 minutes arriving from Asia and continuing to France or Norway. It helps if you are flying up the front of the aircraft.

 

[cjd600]

What was the process going from Schengen arrivals to non-Schengen departures? Q up for a stamp out or eGates?

Stamp, but no queue (apart from my own wife and kids in front of me)

 

[cjd600]

That’s reassuring. I presume the first sector ran on time?

Also I’ve found the MCT’s. They are excellent, even for Schengen to Non.

Flights via Helsinki Airport	Estimated minimum connecting time
Flights within Finland	35 minutes
Flights within the Schengen area	35 minutes
Flights within the non-Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the non-Schengen area to the Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the Schengen area to the non-Schengen area	35 minutes

Connecting flights

Reach your connecting flight via Helsinki Airport fast and conveniently. Find out about the minimum transferring time depending on your route.

www.finnair.com

The connection was actually originally 70min, but we sat on the tarmac at CDG for 30min, so ended up with 40min at HEL and did it in 20.....

 

[Zero]

Not a problem at all.
Entering Schengen is a different matter