Airport Transfer - what constitutes too little time?

[MelbourneBoy]

Hi team

We have a flight, arriving into Helsinki at 5:25am.

We've found a connecting flight, leaving Helsinki at 7:45am (2hrs 20ms).

The flight is the same airline.

Do you think this is too tight? Both are international flights but I figured, worst case, if we miss the other flight there is another flight with that airline later that day and hope they'll move us onto this.

Thanks
Michael

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

If it is on a single ticket then no problem. HEL is a small airport. Depending on which countries you are travelling to and from you may need to clear immigration.

If on a separate tickets it should be doable but isn't riskless. The airline won't be obliged to rebook you if you misconnect.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

If it is on a single ticket then no problem. HEL is a small airport. Depending on which countries you are travelling to and from you may need to clear immigration.

If on a separate tickets it should be doable but isn't riskless. The airline won't be obliged to rebook you if you misconnect.

Thanks for this! I wasn't aware of the airports size - really helpful thank you.

I've booked Osaka to Helsinki, and am about to book Helsinki to Paris which would be on two separate tickets.

I should note that we're travelling to another euro country so we shouldn't have to do customs again. With this, I'm guessing it's highly likely we would make the next flight.

Is the airline obligated to rebook to another flight of they're delayed? If so this mitigates the risk (somewhat as the other dependency is seating, especially with a young infant)


Let me know

 

[aikman]

Is the airline obligated to rebook to another flight of they're delayed?

The airline won't be obliged to rebook you if you misconnect.

Finnair may or may not rebook you. You won't find out until it happens on the day.

 

[tdimdad]

In HEL, it takes you max 10-15 mins from a far non-Schengen gate to the immigration, 5 mins to clear it (1 min with an EU or another machine readable passport), then another max 10 mins to the other far end to the Schengen area of the terminal in the early morning (the rush hour congestion in the Schengen area doubles the time it takes to get through). Sounds like you are flying Finnair both legs. The AY flight to Paris is likely to depart from a gate that's close to the immigration.
I often clock 20-25 mins from the gate to the street, including getting my luggage, with early morning arrivals. Your transit should be equally efficient.

The immigration to Schengen is usually pretty quick, even if you need to go to a counter. If your flight from Osaka is predicted to arrive less than 50 mins from the departure of the next one, you could ask the cabin crew if you can exit the plane among the first ones so you can secure your connection.

 

[Mwenenzi]

You will not have 2hrs 20ms. The second will close X minutes before. X=20-30-?
What is the on time performance of AY Osaka to Helsinki, considering the Ukraine Russia situation?
Immigration and customs are separate functions. Expect, but not 100% sure, you & family will process immigration at HEL. Passport from EU or elsewhere?
Have you checked if the airline (AY?) will interline checked bags?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Finnair states they will on,y check bags to the destination on the ticket: Does my baggage go straight to destination?

So in theory even AY-AY they’re not going to through check on separate tickets. But I don’t know how ridged they are with that.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

You will not have 2hrs 20ms. The second will close X minutes before. X=20-30-?
What is the on time performance of AY Osaka to Helsinki, considering the Ukraine Russia situation?
Immigration and customs are separate functions. Expect, but not 100% sure, you & family will process immigration at HEL. Passport from EU or elsewhere?
Have you checked if the airline (AY?) will interline checked bags?

True

Departure is 7:45am however boarding at 7:25, bag drop off closure at 7amish so it's tight.

Ideally Finnair would checkin the luggage at Osaka KIX to Paris but I would need to email to find out - sounds like it's in a case by case basis.

 

[tdimdad]

If the OP needs to collect & re-check their bags, that's an extra 15-20 mins. The baggage delivery is usually quick in HEL.

From the immigration, 5 mins to the baggage carousels downstairs. Once you have your bag, head out of the carousel area and then upstairs to the departures. Most of the AY desks are on the right-hand side but the area can be busy if it's a weekday morning during the normal working year (noting that from the midsummer festival in late June, every respectable Finn is on holidays for a month at their summer cabins or somewhere).

With status the bag drop will be quicker. If I recall correctly, the premium / status desks are at your "1 o'clock" at the far end, next to the entry to priority security. Access to the priority security, though, is controlled using automated gates (they read your boarding pass and let you through if you are eligible) so if you are short on time, make sure to ask if the desk agent would be able issue you a pass for the security. Though, the security overall is efficient now that they have the new generation scanners which scan your laptops & liquids inside the bags.

@MelbourneBoy, when do you fly? I'll be passing through HEL again in early/mid June and can try to confirm some of these details, if you want to and are going after that.

 

[tdimdad]

Departure is 7:45am however boarding at 7:25, bag drop off closure at 7amish so it's tight.

Let's compute this down to the minute. Presuming the arrival is on time at 0525.
If you are in the terminal at 0545, you'll be at the immigration by 0600. Give it 10 mins and then down to the luggage carousel. There at 0615 and your bags should already be there or some very shortly after. In the departures by 0630, giving you 30 mins to clear the bag drop and to the security. From the security, it'll be 5-7 mins to your gate.

This means that your safe leeway is about 30 mins. If you arrive on time, you'll clear this easily. Arrival after 0600 pushes the boundary and after 0630 is likely to break the connection.

My usual timing is 10-15 mins to the immigration, machine read the passport, 5 mins to the luggages and 5 mins to the terminal exit. But I try to be efficient and quick in my moves. You travelling with a little one in the tow will force a slower pace.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

If the OP needs to collect & re-check their bags, that's an extra 15-20 mins. The baggage delivery is usually quick in HEL.

From the immigration, 5 mins to the baggage carousels downstairs. Once you have your bag, head out of the carousel area and then upstairs to the departures. Most of the AY desks are on the right-hand side but the area can be busy if it's a weekday morning during the normal working year (noting that from the midsummer festival in late June, every respectable Finn is on holidays for a month at their summer cabins or somewhere).

With status the bag drop will be quicker. If I recall correctly, the premium / status desks are at your "1 o'clock" at the far end, next to the entry to priority security. Access to the priority security, though, is controlled using automated gates (they read your boarding pass and let you through if you are eligible) so if you are short on time, make sure to ask if the desk agent would be able issue you a pass for the security. Though, the security overall is efficient now that they have the new generation scanners which scan your laptops & liquids inside the bags.

@MelbourneBoy, when do you fly? I'll be passing through HEL again in early/mid June and can try to confirm some of these details, if you want to and are going after that.

Thank you!

We're flying early September so any insights on the ground would be super helpful!

 

[tdimdad]

If you are flying on AY68, it looks like you are likely to arrive in HEL on time. The punctuality is really good. In the recent weeks, it's been heavily late only once and on another time it's arrived closer to 0600 but still early enough for you to make the connection.

 

[AIRwin]

helpful!

HEL-pful!

 

[Hvr]

HEL-pful!

And if it all goes wrong you'll still be in HEL.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

If you are flying on AY68, it looks like you are likely to arrive in HEL on time. The punctuality is really good. In the recent weeks, it's been heavily late only once and on another time it's arrived closer to 0600 but still early enough for you to make the connection.

This is amazing.

Thanks for doing this.

Now I'm torn....maybe we should roll the dice and book it.

 

[tdimdad]

In your shoes, I'd book the next flight when you are travelling on separate tickets.
This takes away most of the stress about the connection. And Helsinki City Centre is only 45 mins away by the local train and a good way to spend the extra time between your flights.

But if you trust your luck - and the odds seem to be pretty good in this - you are likely to be all good with the morning flight.

 

[MelbourneBoy]

In your shoes, I'd book the next flight when you are travelling on separate tickets.
This takes away most of the stress about the connection. And Helsinki City Centre is only 45 mins away by the local train and a good way to spend the extra time between your flights.

But if you trust your luck - and the odds seem to be pretty good in this - you are likely to be all good with the morning flight.

True. Thanks mate

 

[JohnK]

My usual timing is 10-15 mins to the immigration, machine read the passport, 5 mins to the luggages and 5 mins to the terminal exit. But I try to be efficient and quick in my moves. You travelling with a little one in the tow will force a slower pace.

When we were travelling with daughter when she was <2 years old our planned schedules were out the door. We never really rushed but there were times when we would spend 15-30mins in bathroom/changing room after getting off flight. You just can't predict what's going to happen with toddlers.

 

[Lost Redditor]

We have a tighter connection at HEL in August and I’m a little nervous. Especially as it’s a oneworld rewards booking via QF.

sincerely hoping for no dramashere.

 

[Quickstatus]

sincerely hoping for no dramashere.

These are both marketed and operated by AY. I would think you would be protected if the OSL flight is delayed/cancelled.

HEL is also not a massive airport - just a single terminal

However is the SEA flight daily?