ydmine03 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 25 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 11890 times:
I recently came back from a two weeks trip to Bangkok and wanted to share the photos that I took. I will put some comments but will let the visuals do most of the talking.
I apologize for the lack of more commentary, but I thought that you guys will appreciate the photo material, and finding time to work on this report was a challenge as is.
If you found this report interesting, here are some links to my prior reports with more text.
This winter I had a chance to try out Finnair’s new Airbus service, and booked this trip as soon as I saw their competitive fares to Bangkok. Distancewise, flying from New York through Helsinki was roughly similar to flying through Hong Kong or Tokyo, but I managed to fit in a few extra Finnair codeshare segments within the return trip to earn some extra miles and visit friend in Dallas.
First off, here are some photos pre-departure. Below is the Pavonia/Newport area of Jersey City, where I started the voyage.
Pavonia/Newport PATH station
Manhattan
And finally on the subway to Jamaica
Finnair AY 6
New York JFK – Helsinki HEL
Airbus 330
Departure 5:40 PM
Arrival 8:40 AM + 1
JFK terminal 8 – borrowed this shot from an earlier TR for completeness
First encounter with Finnair was mixed experience. It seemed that the lady was training someone at the check-in counter and did everything “by the book”. First she carefully checked weight and dimentions of carryon and checked bags, and asked to rearrange bag content so that carryon bag weghts less than the maximum 7 kgs allowed onboard (vs 8 kgs on their website). She insisted that my rollerboard might not fit the A330 overhead compartment, and then went on for a while to check with a manager whether my Bulgarian EU passport would allow me visa-free transfer in Helsinki. Overall thorough job with slight “snappy” attitude. Lesson learned for next time to just go to the business class counter and flash my AA card.
AA 777 waiting to cross the pond
And here is my ride for today
I like the new video clip that shows the direct route in 3D on some AVODs. Here is a short video of the route to Helsinki.
Some vary rough air immediately after take-off provided for a few consecutive drops and some tension in the cabin. The captain came on PA and calmed everyone.
Trying to get ahead with the local beets here.
The meal was not bad – chicken with polenta.
Nice feature on the Airbuses, showing pilot view at decent. They didn’t have this on all finnair flights I took on this trip through.
Some nice photos of the 14 hour layover in Helsinki, for everyone’s benefit.
Couldn’t even think to pass on delicious cheesecake.
AY 95
Helsinki HEL – Bangkok BKK
Airbus 330
Departure 11:40 PM
Arrival 1:25 PM + 1
Before boarding, I asked if an exit row was available – instead, I got an economy seat in the business class “mini-cabin”. I wished I had one of those “AA Employee Appreciation Certificates” to hand over to the gate agent.
I found the curry served on board pretty good, even though I read some not so nice reports on flyertalk.com
abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4918 posts, RR: 55 Reply 1, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 11740 times:
Thanks for this report. I flew AY for the first time a few months back and had a generally "slightly-above-average" experience. They offer some incredibly cheap JCL fares and always a good choice to go to some Euro cities. I don't get some of their flight scheduling though.
Quoting ydmine03 (Thread starter): First encounter with Finnair was mixed experience. It seemed that the lady was training someone at the check-in counter and did everything “by the book”. First she carefully checked weight and dimentions of carryon and checked bags, and asked to rearrange bag content so that carryon bag weghts less than the maximum 7 kgs allowed onboard (vs 8 kgs on their website). She insisted that my rollerboard might not fit the A330 overhead compartment, and then went on for a while to check with a manager whether my Bulgarian EU passport would allow me visa-free transfer in Helsinki. Overall thorough job with slight “snappy” attitude. Lesson learned for next time to just go to the business class counter and flash my AA card.
= Laughing out on this one ... as I had the EXACT same experience. The AA card did not do anything ... the agent were clueless and super rigid. Always fascinating at JFK T8 because these same AAgents handle 9W and do it well ... even the Platinum/First desk (on the corner) is full of super helpful people.
ydmine03 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 11684 times:
BA 795
Helsinki HEL – London Heathrow LHR
Airbus 320
Departure 7:50 AM
Arrival 9:05 AM
AA51
London Heathrow LHR – Dallas Ft Worth DFW
Boeing 777
Departure: 10:20 AM
Arrival: 1:35 PM
The next morning , I came back to DFW bright and early, ready for the final leg to New York.
AA 704
Dallas Ft Worth DFW – New York LGA
MD 80
Departure 7:40 AM
Arrival 11:45 AM
MarcoPoloWorld From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 600 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 11186 times:
An absolutely stunning trip report.... million thanks!
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 849 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (2 years 10 months 6 days ago) and read 10261 times:
Does the flight map give you the option to select on the cities you are overflying? Does seem like a nice feature. Would be quite interesting to get a little more info about the cities you are overflying. I noticed you flew quite a bit over Pakistan on the inbound between the cities of Faisalabad and Lahore!
Do the female FAs have that dull coloured looking dress while inflight, and have to abandon the otherwise smart looking uniform as when checking in. That Finnair A340 is really gorgeous, such a great looking aircraft.
ydmine03 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 years 10 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 10063 times:
Quote: Thanks for this report. I flew AY for the first time a few months back and had a generally "slightly-above-average" experience. They offer some incredibly cheap JCL fares and always a good choice to go to some Euro cities. I don't get some of their flight scheduling though
Yup... slightly-above-average is good way to say it. However, after 4 flights with them I think they are also quite inconsistent at least with their soft product. On JFK-HEL the crew I had was superb - very personal, chatting with passengers, asking all the time if we need anything else, always smiling and attentive, and mostly consisted of blond 20-year-olds (no bias here). The crew on some other flights has been a bit more reserved, equally attentive but not always going the "extra mile".
Quote: = Laughing out on this one ... as I had the EXACT same experience. The AA card did not do anything ... the agent were clueless and super rigid. Always fascinating at JFK T8 because these same AAgents handle 9W and do it well ... even the Platinum/First desk (on the corner) is full of super helpful people.
To add, I notice big difference in attitude if I am coming from work dressed professionally vs when traveling for leisure, probably because of my rather young age. This is not just an issue with the AAgents though. I am not 100% but I think the check-in agents in NY were Finnair staff, not AA. Or maybe they were AA but wearing the sharp Finnair uniforms. The snappy lady I got had a slight accent, but I could only guess should was Finnish.
Quote: The food on AY does not look very substantial on your flights from HEL to BKK or from JFK to HEL. Did they serve a breakfast before landing from NY?
You nailed it - food isn't quite plentiful. Noticed this back in January as well, on HEL-JFK. They served a small sandwich before landing from NY. Taste was ok but it was also quite small. The sandwich they served upon take-off from Bangkok was also small, but given departure at 1 am, I thought it was more appropriate.
Quote: You take really good pictures. What type of camera did you use?
Thanks. My camera is simple Cannon SD800 IS. Nothing that fancy, but I tend to play with the settings when taking pictures in the dark or in bright light.
Quote: Does the flight map give you the option to select on the cities you are overflying? Does seem like a nice feature. Would be quite interesting to get a little more info about the cities you are overflying. I noticed you flew quite a bit over Pakistan on the inbound between the cities of Faisalabad and Lahore!
Haha, that would be a good suggestion for a new feature. In fact, a whole min-IPAD built into your seat, with google-maps like software would be nice. How many times are we wondering what lake/river/mountain/airport we are flying over? However, the moods at most airlines around the recession has been to "rightsize" and focus on flying itself, than invest in "nice-to-have" add-ons. Still, I think in the long run, innovation is the way to grow your business.
As for Pakistan, I like flying over those places that I have friends from and I have heard much about before. Too bad I couldn't visit on this trip. You see pictures over Pakistan also because this is when I woke up. A transatlantic and 14 hours in Helsinki got me pretty tired...
Quote: Do the female FAs have that dull coloured looking dress while inflight, and have to abandon the otherwise smart looking uniform as when checking in. That Finnair A340 is really gorgeous, such a great looking aircraft.
I saw a mixture of the dull-looking dress (is this the dress in photo 63?) and the light blue vest. I like the vest better. I agree the check-in uniform is very nice but might be too heavy for the long hauls.
I like the A340 as well. Does anyone have more information about when they release rows 6 and 7 to economy class?
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (2 years 10 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 9431 times:
Thanks for the Oneworld TR, interesting reading. And always interesting to see your own hometown through visitor's camera.
AY's meals in Y nothing special really but otherwise OK product I think. Pitty you didn't get AY's newest A333 with the full flat Biz seats, curious hows that like.
Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 1): I flew AY for the first time a few months back
A TR coming perhaps?
Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 1): They offer some incredibly cheap JCL fares and always a good choice to go to some Euro cities.
Unfortunately AY doesnt offer those great fares ex-HEL, we have to travel to ARN first
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 849 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (2 years 10 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 9226 times:
Quoting ydmine03 (Reply 8): Haha, that would be a good suggestion for a new feature.
The only reason I asked is because "Kolkota" seems to be highlighted on the screen (while you were flying over it )
Yes you would have seen the cities of Pakistan while flying over them
ydmine03 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 10 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 8972 times:
Quote: AY's meals in Y nothing special really but otherwise OK product I think. Pitty you didn't get AY's newest A333 with the full flat Biz seats, curious hows that like.
True, the new seats are probably really nice. But I am still wondering how I got "upgraded"? All I did was showing my AA elite card and asked for an exit row. They couldn't give me exit, but they had rows 6 and 7 available for Economy passengers in the rear small business cabin. Do you know if this happens often?
Quote: A TR coming perhaps?
Andaman, here is that report - I did have a hinch I knew your name from somewhere, you posted there too : )
jetblueguy22 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 2021 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (2 years 10 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 8679 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
Fantastic TR! Love all the pics! Man I'm jealous I wish I could take a trip like that!
Blue
Professor Foltz: You push down on that yolk, the houses get bigger, you pull back on the yolk, the houses get bigger.
AI151 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2009, 303 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (2 years 10 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 8508 times:
A great TR and sometimes pictures are more than enough than words. On the whole Finnair looks like a great airline but is Helsinki not an expensive place to visit?
Quoting ydmine03 (Thread starter): Some vary rough air immediately after take-off provided for a few consecutive drops and some tension in the cabin.
That's a given for any flight heading over the Atlantic at anytime.
Quoting ydmine03 (Thread starter): Before boarding, I asked if an exit row was available – instead, I got an economy seat in the business class “mini-cabin”.
Am I right in thinking that you only got a seat upgrade as the meals look Economy standard?
Loved the fact that Kolkata came up on the IFE as most of my family are from there. Can't wait to return there in September hoepfully. Did you much turbulence when flying over the Bay of Bengal?
I've often heard how they open J-class seats for Y-class passengers, with Y service, but I think only if the J-class has a separated mini-cabin, all their A333's don't have that.
Quoting AI151 (Reply 15): but is Helsinki not an expensive place to visit?
HELsinki isn't cheap but less expensive than Oslo, Copenhagen or London, depending how Euro is doing.
In the Euro zone Dublin and Helsinki are the most expensive capitals.
ydmine03 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 10 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 7953 times:
Quote: Fantastic TR! Love all the pics! Man I'm jealous I wish I could take a trip like that! Blue
Glad you liked it. The return was a bit crazy with 4 legs, but liked getting the miles : ) Now hopping over to Europe seems short.
Quote: Loved the fact that Kolkata came up on the IFE as most of my family are from there. Can't wait to return there in September hoepfully. Did you much turbulence when flying over the Bay of Bengal?
Hey, a good friend of mine is also from Kolkata, should make a trip there soon. Bay of Bengal was fine, not much turb at all. Plus, let's face it, most of us here get pumped up when the air is a but rough up there.
Quote: Wow! That Market Stall...2 young Blond Girls! if that was in the UK, they'd be over 50 Years old, smoking a cigarette with an asbo and 5 kids in tow
Haha, love this one. I def see what you are saying here : ) For some strange reasons, I was better at bargaining with the young blond girls at the Helsinki Market, than with the old ladies.
Quote: Am I right in thinking that you only got a seat upgrade as the meals look Economy standard?
Quote: I've often heard how they open J-class seats for Y-class passengers, with Y service, but I think only if the J-class has a separated mini-cabin, all their A333's don't have that.
Yes, I was only seat upgraded but the service was economy. Got the comforter and the fancy headphones though. Another reason I asked is because my GF returned from BKK two weeks after me, and when checking in, she asked if rows 6 or 7 are available. They confirmed and gave her a seat right away, with no status (she is pretty, so that might have helped!)
Quote:
Quoting AI151 (Reply 15):
but is Helsinki not an expensive place to visit?
HELsinki isn't cheap but less expensive than Oslo, Copenhagen or London, depending how Euro is doing.
In the Euro zone Dublin and Helsinki are the most expensive capitals.
I thought that Helsinki is expensive, but not as bad as Oslo or Copenhagen. Some things were pretty affordable: the Finnair bus from the airport to the city is only 5.90 EUR. I didn't go fancy, but street food and buffet I had were fine.
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (2 years 10 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 6993 times:
Quoting ydmine03 (Reply 18): Some things were pretty affordable: the Finnair bus from the airport to the city is only 5.90 EUR.
You can make the ride to the city even cheaper, next to the AY bus leaves a bit slower city bus 615 for EUR 4 only
They are building a rail link to the airport, but thats not available until 2014. The are digging under the airport this summer causing some departure pattern changes.
Quoting ydmine03 (Thread starter): Couldn%u2019t even think to pass on delicious cheesecake.
Thats my favourite Finnish cake. The red berries are wild lingonberries, kind of mini cranberries, something very typical Finnish.
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