AY RTW Sale

[David F]

Last question for now Are direct flights from Helsinki to USA (specifically San Fran) seasonal? Seems difficult to find that flight in November for eg and seems maybe NYC is only year round DIRECT flight from Helsinki?

 

[SYD]

Last question for now Are direct flights from Helsinki to USA (specifically San Fran) seasonal? Seems difficult to find that flight in November for eg and seems maybe NYC is only year round DIRECT flight from Helsinki?

Yes, SFO is seasonal over warmer months. MIA is seasonal over Winter. JFK should year round. Not sure about BOS.

They just relaunched LAX - which might be year round(?)

https://www.finnair.com/int/gb/information-services/flights/timetable

 

[David F]

Yes, SFO is seasonal over warmer months. MIA is seasonal over Winter. JFK should year round. Not sure about BOS.

They just relaunched LAX - which might be year round(?)

https://www.finnair.com/int/gb/information-services/flights/timetable

Yeah checked Timetable for Nov 2019 and there are direct flights but maybe 2-3 times a week max so just have to be flexible

 

[David F]

I found another question Staying in Helsinki on way over so dont want to on way back to USA. If u fly into Europe via Helsinki do you have to fly back through Helsinki to USA or can you fly directly to USA eg NYC on an AY coded flight run by American Airlines?

 

[Lynda2475]

I believe you have to enter and exit europe via Helsinki, and that the Asia - HEL and HEL - North/South America flights need to be AY.

 

[tdimdad]

If I recall correctly, the rules are you need to do the long-hauls and all intra-European flights on AY. Coincidentally, all those flights depart from HEL so you'll end up travelling through it, anyway.

 

[David F]

"Permitted to fly into one and out of another destination to create a more flexible itinerary. Flights are via Helsinki "
Yeah sounds like it is a set rule . Just a pity most direct flights from European cities arrive in Helsinki around or just after most flights from Helsinki to USA leave

 

[OATEK]

AY have a real penchant for short transits. I have had as short as 45mins but still connected and had my luggage transferred even when snowing outside. So you may need to go with a short transit if if they offer a suitable flight in the 45-55mins timeframe.

 

[Lynda2475]

Would also be to encourage you to spend a night in Finland either side of long hauls

 

[David F]

Ok Oatek will keep an eye on that - was concerned with a 60 min window arriving from Europe and heading to USA. Thought that would involve a bit of immigration caper.

Lynda - flight from Europe only 2.5 hrs after a week in Europe so really only on long haul of 11 hrs and would be in BC after all

 

[prozac]

Would also be to encourage you to spend a night in Finland either side of long hauls

Interested to hear more if you care to share.

 

[OATEK]

Interested to hear more if you care to share.

Have a look here for some ideas: Helsinki (HEL) Stopover Tips

 

[OATEK]

Ok Oatek will keep an eye on that - was concerned with a 60 min window arriving from Europe and heading to USA. Thought that would involve a bit of immigration caper.

Lynda - flight from Europe only 2.5 hrs after a week in Europe so really only on long haul of 11 hrs and would be in BC after all

I have done at least 3 transits at less than 60mins, the last one at 45 mins was in January with snow falling outside, and was the first time I have been on a plane being de-iced. But as @Linda2475 says a stop in Helsinki can be fun. I posted the stop-over link above.

 

[levelnine]

There's a lot of discussion here, but no current sale.

Are people reasonably confident this sale fare will be offered again in the future?

 

[David F]

No idea Levelnine but they have been fairly consistent most years?. What I do know is it takes a lot of planning and some flexibility so need to start at least looking a long way out. To be honest even their "standard" fare of around$7500 in BC seems pretty good value for what u get and compared to a OW RTW trip

 

[Lynda2475]

This deal is in my wish list, hopping the $5.4k pricing is offered again next Feb (as it has the last 2 years). My plan was always

SYD - SIN on QF or to SYD-HK on CX or QF
HKG/SIN - HEL on AY (so long haul into Finland), stay in HEL then land based trip probably Denmark, Norway, Sweden
Open jaw Euro side trip so HEL - City 1 make my own way then City 2 - HEL on AY stay a night in HEL
HEL - JFK on AY
Use AA to work way back to DFW or SFO and then QF home.

I haven't looked into enough to see if there is a way to add a caribbean or mexican stop using AA.

 

[David F]

Yeah thinking something similar but no Asia. Bri/Syd - San Fran-Hel (stay after long haul)- into Europe 1 then 2 - Hel- NYC - make way through couple of USA cities- SF or DFW-Syd/Bri

 

[Lynda2475]

I dont think the fare allows you to go via US on both the way to and from Europe, RTW fares usually have to be in 1 direction of travel, the exception being intra european flights which allow you to go back through HEL more than once. To skip asia id guess you need to look at a way to go via africa or ME.

 

[David F]

Would have thought same Lynda but if u look at posts on previous page it seems my itinerary is vaild for Finnair deal - at present

 

[Rock706]

I'm just back from a trip using the AY fare for travel SYD/NYC/HEL/STO//LHR/HEL/OSA/SYD. I would really like to thank madrooster, a frequent poster to this page, for his work on booking this trip for us. He gave me several tips that I would certainly not have been aware of otherwise (and no "specialist" travel agency had offered) and everything went completely according to plan. So if you're thinking of using an AY fare, I would recommend getting in touch with him. Cheers