AY is a great option and HEL is usually pretty quick to transit through, without all the hassle that LHR seems to specialise in. Other OW or Qantas affiliate options include RJ and Jet (9W) airlines. I've done each of these to Europe (if Istanbul counts as Europe in the case of RJ) in J, having burnt some QFF points to get to Asia (HKG or BKK) on a J ASA. One trip like this in J all the way keeps me at SG, a second trip in a membership year plus a bit of domestic travel and I'm about to get to WP. Have found both 9Wand RJ's J product very satisfactory.
