10 May 2001
HEL-LHR
British Airways BA795
Scheduled departure: 08:45 AM Actual: 09:00 AM
Scheduled Arrival: 10:05 AM Actual: 09:30 AM
Boeing 757-236 G-CPEN "Chatham Historic Dockyard"

This flight to London was my first flight on British Airways, so I was looking forward to see how their service is. It was also my first B757 experience. I made my way to Helsinki-Vantaa early as usual. Finnair had very long lineups for economy class check in again but they soon opened a desk for passengers with hand baggage only, so I was good to go in about 10 minutes. I went through security and witnessed lots of aircraft departing, including LH CR1/733/735, lots of Finnair Airbuses and MD80s as well as some B757s for holiday destinations.

After about half an hour I went to the non-schengen gates through passport control. BA795 was leaving from the very last gate (33) and soon Finnair 6, MD-11 service from New York Kennedy, landed and taxied to gate 32 or 31 (don't remember). I had been on that flight on the exact plane (LGB) about two months earlier. We started boarding at 08:15 and everybody was invited to board the aircraft at once. No priority boarding for Club Europe or even Oneworld elite members. I had requested a seat in the back of the plane which was a mistake since there were nice leather seats in rows 1-24. Mine (32A) was an old, uncomfortable looking normal canvas seat and the legroom was miserable. Also the seatback traytable was tiny. So far I was a bit disappointed.

We were informed that there would be a slight delay of 15 minutes (no reason) and that we'd still be landing on time at LHR. Exactly 15 minutes later we pushed back and taxied to runway 22 for takeoff. Takeoff roll was quick and we climbed steeply to our cruising altitude. The cabin crew served peanuts and drinks first, followed by a breakfast that consisted of a big ham and cheese roll and youghurt. Very disappointing, I was expecting a full hot breakfast like that of AF and KL from HEL to CDG and AMS. Anyway it was ok and the flight attendants were friendly. I asked for a cockpit visit but the flight attendant never came back… We flew over the Danish straits and continued to Amsterdam and finally crossed the channel and started our approach to Heathrow. I had a brilliant view of Amsterdam Schiphol enroute as it was clear and we flew right over it. Soon we were on final approach for 09L and touched down almost 40 minutes early. We taxied to T2 and I was out quickly with hand luggage only. The nice young lady at passport control didn't even look at my passport eventhough everybody else needed to show theirs   (UK has not signed the Schengen agreement).

London, UK
May 10-12

I spent maybe half of my time at LHR's viewing deck which was great. I'll remember my stay in London for other reasons too: I got stuck in a Heathrow elevator, my hotelroom's door needed to be fixed (1 hr), the same wonderful hotel had a fire alarm in the middle of friday night, an underground line was closed due to safety issues etc. Anyway, it was fun.


12 May 2001
LCY-AMS
KLM uk UK2224
Scheduled departure: 09:10 AM Actual: 09:10 AM
Scheduled Arrival: 11:25 AM Actual: 11:20 AM
Fokker 50 G-UKTC

This was my first visit to London City, I found it to be very nice, clean and modern. Check-in was done in 30 seconds and I went upstairs to take a look at the 9 aircraft parked there. The first one to go was a BritAir ATR42 operating for Air France. Soon also LX and LH Avros departed and we along with a VLM F50 were the only aircraft still at LCY. We boarded from gate 9 and two young flight attendants welcomed us onboard the Fokker. Takeoff was on time for this short flight to Schiphol. This was my first Fokker 50 flight and I found the aircraft to be very quiet and comfortable.

As we reached the cruising altitude of 15,000 feet, a danish pastry with coffee, tea or oj was served. No cockpit visit on this flight either as somebody asked before me and stayed there for the whole flight! We landed a few minutes early and taxied to the commuter area next to other KLM uk/cityhopper Fokkers. Also two KLM 747 freighters were near us. The bus to the terminal was a nice sightseeing and in about 20 minutes I had checked in to the Sheraton and made my way to the viewing area.
Later I took the train to Amsterdam Centraal and spent some time in the lovely city. In the evening I still went to the viewing area to see KLM 747-406 M, PH-BFI, being loaded for its long flight to Bangkok and Manila as well as an MD11 to Curacao, Guyaquil and Quito.

13 May 2001
AMS-LHR
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL1001
Scheduled departure: 07:25 AM Actual: 08:00 AM
Scheduled Arrival: 07:40 AM Actual: 08:05 AM
Boeing 767-306ER PH-BZD* "King Hussein Bridge"
*8000th Boeing commercial jet delivered

I woke up at 06.00 and walked to the KLM check-in, where a very pleasant lady gave me my boarding pass with a window seat, 36A. The gate was rather far from the shopping area and as soon as I got there, they started boarding. Again very friendly KLM people at the gate. I boarded and watched the nice boarding video (different KL/NW aircraft) for a while. I also asked for a cockpit visit; again a negative answer.

They had some problems with the freight loading-process and we were informed that we'd be a bit delayed. Some 30 minutes later we taxied past CX and SQ 744s (B-HOS and 9V-SMW) and 8 NWA aircraft to 01L for takeoff. The 767 had more or less a full load and a breakfast was served. That consisted of a small roll and coffee. Soon we were over London and started our descent for a 09R landing. Smooth landing and quick taxi to T4. Parked next to Qantas 747-400, VH-OJH. I was the first one at the customs and there were 10 guys standing in front of the EU line asking whether I came from AMS. Obviously stricter check for AMS flights… Anyway, I was out quickly and took Heathrow Express to T1 to catch my BA connection.

13 May 2001
LHR-HEL
British Airways BA794
Scheduled departure: 11:50 AM Actual: 1:50 PM
Scheduled Arrival: 4:45 PM Actual: 6:30 PM
Boeing 757-236 G-BMRJ


Boarding was smooth and everything looked good for an ontime departure until we pushed back. That's when the captain announced some problems with the APU. It would take a couple of minutes to fix it. Minutes passed by and we needed to taxi to a remote position to let another aircraft taxi behind us. Again they said a couple of minutes. After maybe 15 minutes they announced that mechanics were needed, still we'd be going in a couple of minutes.

After maybe 20 minutes we taxied back to the gate and the captain apologized the temperature onboard - with the APU problem air conditioning wasn't naturally working. Half an hour passed by and they then announced that we are ready for push and taxi. Somehow another problem was found: the pilots now couldn't start the engines!! I liked that since I saw a couple of fire trucks by a taxiway next to us - I had a perfect view from my window (24F - last row of those nice Club Europe leather seats). After a while PP-VPJ, A Varig MD11, landed on 09L and stopped by the fire trucks.

Anyway, in about ten minutes they got the engines started and we pushed back and taxied a long way to lineup for 09R takeoff. Taxied past Aeroflot 777 (VP-BAU), NZ 744 (ZK-NBV - the same aircraft was at LHR three days earlier!), AC Star 340, lots of VS and BA planes and finally joined the queue. We were 16th for takeoff. Takeoff at around 1:50PM, two hours late. Nothing whatsoever was served to us during that time even if it was extremely hot onboard.

Soon after takeoff lunch was served. Very disappointing, some cold macaroni salad and a small roll. After finishing my meal, the long-awaited drink cart reached my seat. I usually expect drinks during the meal, not after it but oh well… I slept for the rest of the flight and only woke up when we were on approach to HEL. Landing was on runway 15 I think, then a long taxi to the very last gate (33). It was time to catch my connection to Rovaniemi now.


13 May 2001
HEL-RVN
Finnair AY431
Scheduled departure: 7:40 PM Actual: 7:40 PM
Scheduled Arrival: 9:00 PM Actual: 8:00 PM at HEL
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 OH-LPA

We pushed back ontime and the half empty plane took off quickly from runway 22. Right after retracting the landing gear the pilots reduced thrust and we weren't climbing anymore. They then extended and retracted the gear again and shortly announced that we'd be returning to Helsinki immediately due to nose gear problems. Some people seemed to be quite scared but we landed without incident 15 minutes later on rwy 15 and taxied to a remote stand. They arranged us seats on AY399 to Kuusamo, the flight would today fly continue to Rovaniemi too.

We were bussed to OH-LMT, another MD82 and took off to Kuusamo at 9 PM (should have been at Rovaniemi by that time!). Uneventful flight with the usual small and awful Finnair snack. Landed at around 10 PM. After a quick turnaround we were headed to Rovaniemi and landed around 10:45, almost two hours late.

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Summary:

- BA was a disappointment, I expected it to be better than most European airlines. Meals were awful and the return flight was a complete mess. Also no FF miles for my discounted fare ticket.
- The leather seats on BA were very nice though but regular coach terrible
- I was very happy with KLM and KLM uk, flights more or less on time and nice friendly people

- Having flown Finnair close to 30 times between HEL and Rovaniemi this spring, this incident just iced the cake. Always late, unfriendly employees, especially gate agents. Domestic snacks are downright awful. Choose Air Botnia if you have the choise on Finnish domestic flights.

Hope you liked it,

Lufthansa 747

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