Idiots guide to layovers

[Butmaaaaam]

I’ve got a long layover (20 hours) in Helsinki on route to Asia and want to check how it works. I’ve had a Google but I’ll have 2 young kids so don’t want to make any mistakes!

Will we be able to leave the airport?
Will we need to take our luggage?
Is there anything else we should be aware of/consider?
Any suggestions how to spend layover (other than of course hotel and sleep!)?

Thanks

I assume you are starting in the UK and maybe flying with Finnair, at least from Helsinki.

Whether or not you have to take your luggage will depend on whether it is checked through to your final destination. That in turn will depend on the airline(s) involved:

• If it's Finnair all the way then yes, unless there is some strange rule that they can't keep it for more than X hours, but I doubt it.
• It it's a Finnair alliance partner (Finnair is in "OneWorld" with, among others, British Airways), then ditto.
• Otherwise, "maybe".

If the luggage is checked through then you can forget about it, but in that case make sure you have pyjamas and toothpaste in your carry-on bags. In any case, call the airline for the first leg of the flight and ask them.

You will be able to leave the airport. In fact you will have to, as there is no hotel airside (i.e., the far side of security). With 20 hours you could get a hotel and even have a tour of Helsinki, depending on timing.

If your bags are checked through you will also have your second boarding passes from the first airport, so you will be able to turn up at the airport on the next day and go straight to security and the gate for your flight.