Flanders From Belgium, joined Oct 2008, 112 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 9074 times:
BRU - HEL on Finnair
Check-in
As there were no check-in agents present for economy passengers at 09.20 am, I just continued to the business class check-in. I asked the lady if I could check in there and despite not having a business class ticket, I could. (well, there was nobody queuing anyway) I handed over the paperwork and asked for a favor. I would fly BRU - HEL - HKG on Finnair (morning arrival) then continue my trip (HKG - BKK) in the evening on Sri Lankan. As I wanted to spend the day in Hong Kong I asked if she could check the bagage through to my final destination: BKK. The friendly check-in agent understood the situation and asked for the HKG - BKK ticket. It took some time but she was able to add "BKK" on "UL" to the luggage tag. Well, this saved me some time and money as I otherwise had to drop off my luggage at the baggage storage facility in HKG. Thank you Finnair and Aviapartner! After Check-in I went through "immigration" which is obviously nothing special if you are a EU-citizen. I hung out in the terminal and watched some birds. Just like last time :a lot of Jet Airways activity but this time only A330's.
Flight
Airline: Finnair
Aircraft: Airbus A319-112
Registration: OH-LVI
Route: BRU - HEL
Seat: 10F (economy / windowseat)
Departure time: 11.40 am (actual: 11.35)
Departure gate: A57
Arrival time: 03.15 pm (actual 03.25)
Arrival gate: parking / bus to terminal
Loadfactor: 30% in Y
Boarding started at 11.10 am. Newspapers (in Dutch / English and Finnish I guess) were offered for free. I took a copy of "De Standaard" and proceeded to my seat: 10F. As one of the F/A's closed the cabin door after a few minutes, it was pretty clear to me that this flight wasn't going to make much money. I counted some heads and came to a loadfactor of about 30% in economy. I don't know about business class though. However, despite the poor loads, Finnair didn't economise on their service!
We had a quick taxi from gate A57 to runway 25R. During take-off, the engines didn't spool up to full thrust. I guess that wasn't necessairy with a 30% LF. We were airborne in no time! The take off could be seen on the drop down screens as the airplane had a camera onboard. First time I experienced this on a small body airplane! As soon as we passed FL100 the seatbelt sign was switched off and everybody was offered a drink. Once we passed over AMS, lunch was serverd: meatballs with mashed potatoes, some bread, and a toffee. You could ask for drinks as much as you wanted and this during the entire flight. The guy in seat 10A had 3 bottles of red wine! (small ones though, but still... )
First thing I noticed when we landed were the slippery looking taxiways. (snow and ice) However, we made it safely to our assigned parking location. We had to hop on to a bus which brought us to the terminal. I followed the "connection" signs to catch my flight to HKG.
My personal opion
Excellent service from Finnair! Hot meals on intra-European flights, you don't see this too often anymore! If the price is ok, I will fly them again! I wonder what the loadfactor for this flight is on other days though. I dont think they can make money with a 30% LF. I planned to write a report on the HEL - HKG leg as well. But since I slept most of the time...
LH4116 From Sweden, joined Aug 2007, 1364 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 8773 times:
Nice report Flanders!
So it seems like AY are still keeping their hot meal concept on intra EU flights. That's very good! Though it didn't look like much food on that tray, as the meal only consisted of the main course, no dessert or starter. I guess the lack of items doesn't make it as good as AF's full cold meals. And they are the industry leader, IMO.
It seems pretty strange that the guy in 10A had three bottles of wine, I know that AY used to charge for alcohol in Y, do they still do that, Or did the guy get the wine for free?
I won't stop complaining until SAS reintroduces free service in Economy Class!
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 7743 posts, RR: 57 Reply 6, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 8352 times:
Nice report, always flound AY to provide good service.
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 3549 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 8260 times:
Hi,
AY seems very well OK, thanks for this report. Still planning to fly them someday, since I want to catch one of their E190's actually. Good to see the hot meal.
btw, about the loadfactor,... currently such loads can be found on several routes and airlines in Europe. It's a shame to see, but also AMS is not doing well. From summer schedule, one of the evening flights will be cancelled.
Regards,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 8021 times:
Thanks for the TR!
Yes I think AY provide a quite good product these days, actually Flytrax upgraded them recently to the 4* club.
Their hot meals in Y are rather sad though, I wish they rather served cold snacks with better quality, would cost about the same I think - but yes happy they serve something, free meals are getting rare on short hauls...
The 30 per cent load factor sounds low, but thanks to the EU headquarters in Brussels this route will make money even if the times are hard. And recently a large EU department (chemicals) was opened in Helsinki.
Actually not a toffee but a Fazer chocolate, something very Finnish.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 4): I know that AY used to charge for alcohol in Y
Wine and beer have always been free on scheduled flights, they charge EUR 5? for drinks nowadays
Quoting Zillox (Reply 3): How was the rest of the flight to Hongkong?
Yes it would be very interesting to hear about the HEL-HKG flight, at least something.
I flew HEL-HKG on AY in last October, it was a good flight, with some unexpected action:
There were some noisy aggressive Russians sitting close to us and the worried f/a asked me and my friend to help if needed. Luckily we didn't need to wrestle with the Russian bears, the guys fell to sleep.
Flanders From Belgium, joined Oct 2008, 112 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 7903 times:
Quoting Zillox (Reply 3): How was the rest of the flight to Hongkong? I would love to read the tripreport of that! Smile
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 6): Hope to see the HEL-HKG TR, even if you slept lots Smile
Quoting Andaman (Reply 8): Yes it would be very interesting to hear about the HEL-HKG flight, at least something.
Ok, guess I have no choice! Will post what I remember asap.
Quoting B747forever (Reply 5): Will you write a TR on your HKG-BKK flight?
Definitely! Very interesting flight! Gimme a few days
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 4): I know that AY used to charge for alcohol in Y, do they still do that, Or did the guy get the wine for free?
Quoting Shamrock104 (Reply 2): The guy in seat 10A had 3 bottles of red wine! (small ones though, but still... )
What's wrong with that?
I don't know about AY's policy regarding drinks but on this flight all drinks seemed to be for free! Furthermore, consuming 3 (small) bottles of wine on such a short flight... is a little bit over the edge to me. But I can understand people go for it when it's all included! I just try not to drink (too much) alcohol when flying. But again, that's personal! So if you were the guy in seat 10A, sorry for mentioning you, I hope you enjoyed the wine!
DALCE From Netherlands, joined Feb 2007, 1462 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 7646 times:
Hi Flanders,
Nice short report of your flight with AY. The service seem to be quite decent for an intra-european flight. At least you still get some food on board Their counterpart in the Nordic Countries charge you for a sandwich (SK). I should give them a try also.
Thanks for sharing!
Joost (D-ALCE)
flown on : F50,F70,CR1,CR2,CR9,E75,143,AR8,AR1,733,735,736,73G,738,753,744,319,320,321,AB6. Next flights AMS-ZRH-AMS on
Babybus From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 3127 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 7069 times:
It's unusual to have such a low load factor on AY LHR-HEL. I did this route once a month for about 4 yrs and only saw low loads on about 2 flights. Never as low as 30% though in J or Y.
Loved the TR and good you pointed out that AY actaully do offer a rather good meal service on their intra Euro flights.
and with that..cabin crew, seats for landing please.
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