Helsinki destination

[tundern]

I have a specific destination in mind. Amex has published a table (URL not allowed for this newbie) which shows that Singapore Airlines requires only 80,750 points for a round trip to London or Paris vs. 128,000. Prompted by this, I spent a morning on the phone yesterday asking six different Amex staff if they could give me the comparison for Helsinki. I doubt that they even knew about the table, let alone had been briefed to deal with questions about other destinations.

Then I tried to join Singapore Airlines Krisflyer, but the server was down. Not a helpful morning.

Now I have been able to join on-line, but the Krisflyer redemption calculator keeps responding with the result that there is no direct flyer to my selected destination. Is there anyone out there with the experience of using non-QFF points to get from Sydney to Helsinki who can offer tips about the points required or how to plan the route?

To stay (with QFF and Finnair) or not to stay, that is the question behind this specific search.

 

[NM]

Welcome to AFF, tundern.

As this question is really more about the use of SQ KirsFlyer points, I have move it to that forum.

As you have found, SQ do not fly to HEL themselves. However, they do codeshare to HEL with LH (Lufthansa) from FRA (Frankfurt). So you will be requiring a partner or alliance redemption from SQ KrisFlyer. Its 11,256 miles to fly SYD-SIN-FRA-HEL, so looking at 22,512 miles for a return journey.

I am not familiar with the specific reward redemption rates for SQ KrisFlyer. I expect the SQ KrisFlyer web site will include tables that show the miles/points required to redeem flights on their alliance and partner airlines based on distance travelled.

I would not expect Amex Membership Rewards staff to have details of SQ KrisFlyer redemption rates. They have included some example on their web site to show there are viable options other than transferring to Qantas. You will need to find the specific SQ redemption requirements from SQ, not Amex.

Enjoy Helsinki - its a great place to visit. Include a visit to Tallinn.

 

[tundern]

Welcome to AFF, tundern. (snipped)

Enjoy Helsinki - its a great place to visit. Include a visit to Tallinn.

Thank you, NM for the welcome and the advice. Tallinn is, in fact, my real destination, followed by the Estonian city of Rakvere, about 100 Km to the west. It's just that I have rels in Helsinki as well, so may as well start the visits there.

 

[StevePER]

As NM said, SQ do not fly to HEL so you would need to get a Star Alliance award which 100k return in economy. The Star Alliance award table is here.

 

[RB]

We used QFF to go to Helsinki last year in J. QF to BKK, short overnight stay then Finnair to Helsinki. Worked well and arrived fresh.
Previously used mob called Red Group to rent apartmentin old town of Tallin & they were excellent

 

[kamchatsky]

Why not use the Qantas (QF) 140K RoundTheWorld OneWorld award and visit estonia and all other cities you want to visit? Finnair (AY) is part of OneWorld and has base in Helsinki and has connections to many cities, and reduce your required stopover.

Of course if you just want straight point to point return then Singapore Airline Krisflyer would be better option. However it does require a connection at Frankfurt.

 

[tundern]

...You would need to get a Star Alliance award which 100k return in economy. The Star Alliance award table is...

Thanks for that Steve. It's very useful. You must be an experienced Singapore Airlines user to be able to retrieve that from their Website though. In a 25 minute call to the Krisflyer customer help centre last Thursday, the agent did not suggest that I try finding this table.

Well done,
Tundern

 

[tundern]

We used QFF to go to Helsinki last year in J. QF to BKK, short overnight stay then Finnair to Helsinki. Worked well and arrived fresh.

RB, I have been using the QF/Finnair route to Helsinki for four of the past seven winters. That's often enough, with CC points, to get a QFF return trip there this winter--but, big BUT, it required 156,000 points.

The need to decide whether all my CC points were to go to Qantas or not was the prompt to find out what I could about the alternative. I was very pleased to discover, with telephone help from a Krisflyer representative, that it was only 100,000.

If you think about it, that's $56,000 more expenditure on the CC, and I don't live that high a life.

Why not use the Qantas (QF) 140K RoundTheWorld OneWorld award and visit estonia and all other cities you want to visit? Finnair (AY) is part of OneWorld and has base in Helsinki and has connections to many cities, and reduce your required stopover.

Of course if you just want straight point to point return then Singapore Airline Krisflyer would be better option. However it does require a connection at Frankfurt.

Edison, I've also done at least one QF trip which required a six-hour wait for a connection at Frankfurt. Still Frankfurt Airport first thing in the morning is an interesting experience.

Your point about the 140 K RoundTheWorld award is well taken, and makes me wish that I had known about it instead of using the 156 K round trip to Helsinki and back--especially as I may also visit Paris and Amsterdam on this trip. Sigh, one learns--especially through sites such as this.

Thank you both,
Tundern

 

[RB]

Tundern you need to factor in that QF included a domestic connection at start & finish plus Hel-MXP and then ATH-LHR & LHR-SYD so there is always pros & cons

 

[Flashback]

Edison, I've also done at least one QF trip which required a six-hour wait for a connection at Frankfurt. Still Frankfurt Airport first thing in the morning is an interesting experience.

tundern, what is the reason for it being an interesting experience? I will be flying into FRA and 6am (no further flight) and then heading to my hotel .. is there anything I should be wary of? :shock:

 

[Evan]

tundern, what is the reason for it being an interesting experience? I will be flying into FRA and 6am (no further flight) and then heading to my hotel .. is there anything I should be wary of? :shock:

I was thinking it was interesting seeing the other people around the airport... I have flown in FRA at 6am many times to get a train to my destination and not noticed anything out of the ordinary from German. (Now i tend to fly to LHR then to my destination in DE directly since its easier to clear customs at final destination)

E

 

[tundern]

tundern, what is the reason for (6 hours at Frankfurt Airport) being an interesting experience? I will be flying into FRA and 6am (no further flight) and then heading to my hotel .. is there anything I should be wary of? :shock:

Flashware, the interest was positive. Nothing for you to worry about. I did things like trying out my new digital camera to produce at least one shot I still admire and practising my high-school German in the cafes (as this is still my one and only "trip" to Germany--more planned). Then I suddenly realised that departures were on the floor below and there were long queues because I had go through airport security again and someone who wanted me to answer a survey on why I was in the airport...nearly missed my plane to Tallinn after being there 6 hours early!

Enjoy Frankfurt proper.

 

[tundern]

Tundern you need to factor in that QF included a domestic connection at start & finish plus Hel-MXP and then ATH-LHR & LHR-SYD so there is always pros & cons

RB, MXP? Milan Malpensa Airport?

You are right about factoring in my internal flights from CBR to SYD and return, but I reckon one at each end of the journey will still cost less than the $56,000 CC points difference.

At the other end, the QFF ticket to HEL does not take me directly to my next destination, Tallinn. Usually I take a ferry. A Star Alliance advantage is that I can now book a FF ticket directly to Tallinn.

As for ATH and LHR, I have no objection to finding a new Star Alliance hub in which to enjoy a stopover!

Yes, there are always pros and cons!
Tundern

 

[Flashback]

Flashware, the interest was positive. Nothing for you to worry about. I did things like trying out my new digital camera to produce at least one shot I still admire and practising my high-school German in the cafes (as this is still my one and only "trip" to Germany--more planned). Then I suddenly realised that departures were on the floor below and there were long queues because I had go through airport security again and someone who wanted me to answer a survey on why I was in the airport...nearly missed my plane to Tallinn after being there 6 hours early!

Enjoy Frankfurt proper.

Phew! Excellent, thanks! :shock: