Hello. Travelling from US to Vilnius and back, probably from late July to around September 10th next year. Finnair offers flights from Seattle to Helsinki, with a connecting flight from their to/from Vilnius. But the Finnair layover time on (the shortest) flight is only 1 hour. That sounds sketch to me. But the next alternative has about a 6.5 hour layover. Can anyone offer informed comment?
Posted by
Freedonia
19491 posts
I've been through Helsinki a few times. It's a fairly efficient airport.
If you were traveling today, I would be hesitant as EES is having teething pains. You will do immigration in Helsinki.
Some of the flights between Helsinki and Vilnius are on turboprops and their gates are further down the concourse.
But who knows what it will be like next June. The good news is.....if this is on one ticket, and you miss your connection, Finnair has to put you on the next available flight free of charge. You would also be compensated if the next available flight is over six hours later. I would also ask for complimentary lounge access for the delay. The Finnair lounges at HEL are nice.)
The airport at Vilnius made me feel like I was in the Soviet Union. Not modern at all.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7536 posts
Matt - I'm flying through HEL on Finnair one week from tomorrow. Coming from Seattle and connecting to an onward flight to the Greek islands. We've got 2 hours, 40 minutes to do it but are on separate tickets so I'm a tad nervous. From everything I've read and heard, Helsinki seems to be a fairly efficient airport, functions well and is usually free from drama (all things that I would expect from sensible Scandinavians...). Still, we are cutting it close. Keeping my fingers crossed for EES. I'll give you a transit experience report in about 8 or 9 days.
Agree 100% with Frank about the Vilnius airport. My immediate impression upon landing there was that it was modeled on a Soviet train station. It had long, dark corridors lined with wooden doors - all closed - very little of the wide-open spaces and glass-filled walls we typically see at airports. Virtually no service counters anywhere. But it did have ornate, old-world ceiling decorations that looked like they were right out of a turn-of-the-century (the 20th century) railway station. Very surreal vibe. You're in for a treat in the Baltics.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
10625 posts
I’ve been through Helsinki airport 3 times this summer. EES has been quick and efficient both on arrival and departure. I timed my last transfer. From deplaning, walking to passport control, EES procedures, and walking to my next gate was just around 25 minutes.
All the Finn Air flights I have taken have always been delayed by some amount of time. That may be your biggest worry.