Helsinki Airport Strike

Is there a question here? You have a number of different options, depending on how important it is for you to get to Scotland on time and how much you are willing to spend.

I'm not planning to do anything until I know for sure. I'd hate to book something else--which would include a change of planes rather than a non-stop. Finnair claims they will offer me an alternative in "Manage Bookings" if my flight is canceled. I can accept it or try for another. Flights I can make the day before are already gone. I could fly the following morning via London. If my flight does go they said no food service on the flight and there may be checked bag issues. (I only have carry on.)

Of course, it's also possible that they offer me a one stop flight the same day once they know which are going.

I'll have to be patient. I hate being patient. (LOL). I'm the type of person who likes to fix problems when they occur.

But I also understand the concept of contingencies. I've already booked a hotel at Helsinki Airport in case I have to stay over. I can change my Scotland hotel reservations by one day without a problem.

Rather than a question, this is more of a "what I'm doing with a possible upcoming problem that doesn't include panicing."

Addendum...on previous strike days this month, my nonstop to Edinburgh has been canceled.

Patience is probably the best option at the moment. But I hope everything goes well!

Flight canceled.

Now waiting for Finnair to come up with an alternative. Who know how long that is going to take.

They also warned that between today and June 5, no food will be served on board for intra-european flights. Economy get water and a cookie. Business class can also get either tea or coffee.

They also warn to take anything you may need in carry on as baggage handlers in Helsinki are also striking.

This should be fun. (Sarcasm noted.)

Update....I've been rebooked the same day but via London instead of nonstop.

I will now arrive in Edinburgh 8 hours and 5 minutes later than planned. I still have a 90 minute drive from there.

Finnair to London. BA to Edinburgh.

Isn't travel fun!!!!!

We all have our definition of fun…

But, know your rights and be a bit stubborn! The air passenger rights in Europe (known as EU261) are pretty good. The rules can divided into compensation and duty of care and right to rerouting. Compensation does not apply if the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances, but the ECJ has ruled that a strike within the same company is not considered extraordinary circumstances. And the duty of care and right to rerouting always applies. That means that if you have to buy food at the airports or have to spend a night at Vanda, save all the paperwork, because you can get that money back from Finnair.

But more important, if arriving 8 hours later than planned in Scotland doesn't feel great. You don't have to accept that. The EU rules state that if a flight is cancelled, you are entitled to rebooking "under comparable transport conditions, to the final destination in your itinerary, at the earliest opportunity". Finnair will try to rebook you on their own flights or on Oneworld airlines, but there is nothing in the rules that say you are only entitled to rebooking on the same airline or their partners. If you can find another option that works better for you, contact Finnair and tell them that you want them to rebook you on that flight. And if having checked in luggage is important for you, you can also look at flights from Tallinn. Or take the overnight ferry to Stockholm and fly from Stockholm to Edinburgh.

I'm familiar with EU 261 as I have received compensation in the past. And I'm going to be putting in a claim.

I thought that the striking workers actually worked for Finnair. But now I'm hearing that on Wednesday, the same workers will be striking against other airlines so I have to research to see what's going on.

I looked and there are no better flights available. The earlier Finnair flght from Helsinki to Heathrow that I would have preferred--especially since it's on a Airbus 350 rather than the 321 I'm going to take--has been canceled. Everything else was either two stops and the only one stop is via Istanbul.

I take the overnight train from Rovaniemi tonight and will arrive at Helsinki airport tomorrow morning. I plan to go to the Finnair desk tomorrow to see if there is anything better once the airlines knows exactly which flights are canceled and which ones are going. Much better than trying to get someone on the phone or dealing with the chat bot.

I'll also want to do this Tuesday as I have a feeling Wednesday is going to be crazy in the terminal.

While I usually use a boarding pass on the airline app, htis time I want a paper boarding pass in my hand.

When I said "fun" I meant that sarcastically.

As I was writing this I got an email from Finnair stating my new flight is still scheduled but that may change. It fact, they sent it to me twice.

What's getting me is....I only planned this journey into Finland a couple of weeks ago. I contemplated whether or not to do it because of the strikes. I should have listened to myself.

The saga continues.....

Just brainstorming.....

• maybe take the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn on Tuesday? From Tallinn, there are no nonstop flights, but, you're away from the Finnair dominance at HEL, and you can perhaps convince Finnair to put you on another airline's flight, maybe even Tuesday night (there's
  an LH connection through FRA that leaves at 6:50pm).

matrix.itasoftware.com can give you the flight options very succinctly.

Good Luck!

EDIT - oops, saw that Badger already mentioned Tallinn. Well, better twice than not at all.

I love traveling with the concept of "the least hassle the better."

I have flights. Taking the ferry to Tallinn and then a couple of flights to where I want to go is too much of a hassle.

After the overnight train, in which I don't expect to get much sleep, I will go directlly to my hotel at the airport and go to my room. The hotel is expecting me early and my room will be ready. I did this on purpose and to spend the night so I can rest.

If a problem should occur, being able to walk to a Finnair help desk rather than trying to get them through chat or phone will be a plus. While earlier today I was very aggravated because it took Finnair a long time to come up with a solution, I'm calmer now and prepared for almost anything.

And if you think I dislike Finnair, I dislike Lufthansa even more.

Fortunately, I booked everything in biz class so if the info desks are busy, I can always get help in the lounges while enjoying breakfast since there will be no food on the plane.

I thought that the striking workers actually worked for Finnair. But
now I'm hearing that on Wednesday, the same workers will be striking
against other airlines so I have to research to see what's going on.

They do, as far as I know. Finnair also employs ground handling staff at many Finnish airports, and they will e.g. handle luggage for many airlines, not just Finnair. It's pretty common in Europe.

I looked and there are no better flights available.

Unless a short train trip is too much hassle, it looks like there is a flight from Turku in the morning that gets you to Edinburgh 12.30.

And if you are in Rovaniemi now, there is another option. Stay an extra night in Rovaniemi. Travel across the border to Luleå tomorrow and fly from Luleå to Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, with a change in Stockholm. Although it will be tricky to convince Finnair to rebook you on that option.