| Finnair - facts at a glance |
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Frequent Flier Star Alliance Fleet: 13 longhaul, 56 shorthaul Seat Pitch: Economy 32" Business: A330 60" Food Free in Economy Drink Free non-alcoholic shorthall Website finnair.com Latest News |
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Seats & Fleet A340 MD11 A320 Entertainment Inflight Magazine Inflight Experience Luggage allowance Routes Frequent Flier Lounges History Hints & tips Food Drink |
Clean, neat, and tidy, Finnair isn't the cheapest of airlines to fly with, and from the UK you're only likely to fly with Finnair if you want to visit Helsinki, or on a roundabout route to Bangkok, however it does a good solid job of flying Finns around the world. Just occasionally it can impress though, with cheap business class flights from Heathrow to Asia.
A full-service airline, food is above average, drinks are freely offered, and there is some attempt at inflight entertainment even short haul. However some of the planes are decidedly tired, and the lack of seatback screens on the older members of the longhaul fleet is a definite downside.
Finnair's main international hub is at Helsinki. It's not as small as you may think, with a fleet of 13 longhaul aircraft, and yet for many passengers, it can be an airline that they miss, or don't consider. The reason is simple: Finland is not really on the route to anywhere much, unless you need to get from Northern Europe to Asia. As a result, although there is one headline route to New York, all the rest of the long haul destinations are geared to getting business people to Japan or Singapore, and Finnish backpackers to Bangkok or Hong Kong. Finnair's slogan of "The fast airline between Europe and Asia" really means that. When the long northern winter drags along in Finland, there is also a regular shuttle of Finns flying south to the Canary Islands, which is very popular for depressed residents of Helsinki to have second homes.
On board you can very much feel pampered in business class, but reviews and opinions are mixed about economy: the legroom is a pretty decent 32", and the free hot food is OK, but the lack of a free bar is a downside.
Finnair is the sixth oldest airline in the world, and with no fatal accidents since 1963, it has also been ranked one of the safest. It is still nationalised (the Government of Finland is the controlling shareholder with 57% of the company) but it's certainly well worth trying if you're a bit bored with what other airlines offer.
Finnair A320 at Helsinki with CRJ in background
Finnair has a decidedly mixed fleet of Airbus, Boeing, and even some old McDonnell Douglas planes: check carefully to see what you'll be on, if getting IFE with a seatback TV or the latest business class seat is important to you.
On most routes, Finnair operates two class planes (it has reported looked at Premium Economy, but as yet made no announcement). Economy is just that, whereas Business Class can vary wildly from plane to plane.
On some "tourist" routes (as it politely calls them) Finnair is one class only - economy: these are between Helsinki and Bergen, Budapest, Dublin, Murmansk, Prague, Riga, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw.
The A340s seat 42 in Business Class, and 227 in economy, while the A330 has 229 down the back. There are seatback TVs and AVOD in all classes, and power points for laptops. It also possible to send text messages during flights.
 New Business Class Seat on Finnair's latest Airbus A330 |
Business Class comes in two cabins with a 2-2-2 layout. the main cabin is in row 1 to 5, and after the second set of doors there is a mini Business Class cabin in rows 6 and 7, just ahead of economy. Reviews of this mini cabin are mixed, with some passengers preferring its exclusivity, however other people have the opinion that it can be noisier as it is just ahead of the economy class bassinette seats (the screamer or cot seats, where young children are put on the flip down shelf and often scream thought the flight). On both the Airbus A330 and A340, there is dedicated snack bar in business.
There is one A330 which is unique - and which has Finnair's latest design of Business Class seat which reclines to fully horizontal, as well as a new layout with more seats, offering more privacy than before. There are 45 "Contour Vantage" seats (instead of the 42 with the other A330s) that have been arranged so that all but a few passengers have direct access to an aisle, by staggering the seats with one in a row with loads of cubby holes, then two with a middle table, and so on, hence giving more lockers with storage space for hand baggage. Take this plane at all costs if you can, however you really have to be very lucky to get one of these aircraft: look for the special seating plan when you book your seat, and if it isn't there, change your flight.
Economy is very much that - seats come in a 2+4+2 layout (which for couples travelling together actually works out as a better layout than the 747s 3-3-3, since you don't have to hop over someone to get out. It's got a 32" pitch, and an 18" width. The first row of economy is row 21 (or 22ACJL on the A330), which is a bulkhead, with the bassinet (screamer is the Finns word for it, or infant cot) seats so you may be sat next to a child for 12 hours, however it does have a bit of extra legroom and a TV plus flip down table in the armrest. Row 41 is the emergency exit row which is a favourite among regular fliers, with a lot of extra legroom and TV screens in the armrests (which alas means the arms don't move up). Here the bathrooms are just ahead of you, so passengers tend to group around here in flight. On a few A340 aircraft row 55D is very good, with no seat in front of it (because of an emergency hatch to the hold) and is highly prized.
Finnair MD11 |
The MD-11s are very distinctive, the only tri-engined wide-body airliner still made - with an engine high up in the tail. Less than 190 MD-11 have been constructed, making it a commercial failure, and when it first took to the air several airlines promptly cancelled their order as soon as they had a chance to fly it. However Finnair have stuck with the plane, perhaps because in December 1990 it was the launch customer, and indeed first flew the plane in revenue service (on a run to Tenerife).
Commentators have persistently raised safety questions over the airliner, due to refinements that give it relaxed aerodynamic stability. However this has not as yet been definitely linked to a number of high profile crashes, when the aircraft has flipped upside down, which could be a statistical anomaly. No Finnair MD-11 has been involved in such incidents.
Business seats in an MD11 |
Most people try very hard to avoid the MD-11, as it is pretty cramped. Incredibly, Finnair have just bought another one. Finnair also look after the MD-11s which Lufthansa have converted to freight use.
MD11Clinical loos, with rare pushbutton taps |
Business Class comes in a 2+3+2 formation, with five rows in the nose of the plane before the galley, an 2 after the galley. Row 6 has extra legroom. However it does have the video screen right in front of you. Seat pitch is 50 inches, and are quite wide with nice fold out wings for the headrest, however the seats do not fold totally flat. The three seat controls are in the armrest, for push buttons for recline, legrest, and lumbar support. There is a good fold out video screen, and a power socket for a laptop computer (low down in the centre pillar of the two seat unit).
Economy seats come in two variants. Before the middle galley seats are in a 3+4+2 format, and after it are in a 3+4+3 (or occasionally a rare 2+5+2) formation, which seems to give a greater feeling of width than most other airlines - unless you're stuck in the middle of a row of D. Seat pitch is 32 inches. Row 42 is an emergency exit, giving much more legroom.
Finnair MD11s lined up at Helsinki |
All economy entertainment in MD11s is via overhead CRT TV screens in the ceiling, plus a few LCD screens at the front of the cabin - all in all a great 1970s experience.
There are the usual satellite phones at each seat in business class (€7 a minute) and around the doors in economy. On Boeing MD-11 aircraft there is a telefax at the Purser's workstation. The Purser can use this to send faxes to the ground. It is not possible to receive faxes. The sending of faxes is priced at the same level as the use of the satellite telephones: the minimum charge is one minute (7 euro), after which the price is 3.50 euro per half minute.
Finnair A320 |
Recently Finnair have revamped their A320, putting in a new spacesaver seats in 3-3 config, and very tightly packed together. They have stopped selling the middle B and E seats in business, but unless you are in row 1, you will not notice the difference in seat pitch. Row 1 (better on the DF seat, as the bulhead is further back) is good for legroom in these seats, anything further back is to be avoided at all costs.
Seat pitch is 32 inches. All models have large 14 inch fold down LCD TV screen under the overhead lockers for both classes, but no individual seatback videos. There are no headphone sockets in any seat.
A321 economy seat 20F |
There are twelve A320 which seat 144, with the variable business class seats extending back as far as row 20, although in normal configuration they are only used with the first 3 rows as business class. Row 9 and row 10 are overwing emergency exits - if you ask to sit here, you will get 2 inches more legroom.
There are only six of the larger A321 which seat 181 and are comfortable and modern. Service can be a bit slow, with only a single isle for service. There are no overwing emergency exits, but there is a proper door at row 8 and row 20, so you can as much legroom as you want if you sit in the row behind it, however you do not get an sort of window. Row 6 also has a blanker at the window, so is to be avoided. Finnair A321s are arranged in a very odd format, with a member of the cabin crew sitting next to you in a centre seat in seat 8D and 20D, which can seem a little strange.
There are eleven of the rather squat A319. This variant is smaller, and has only one overwing ejectable windows - sit here, in row 9, and you'll get two inches of extra legroom.
Finnair Boeing 757 |
 Canary Islands Finnair 757 on the "guinea pig" run at Gran Canaria |
The Boeing 757-200 is the smaller variant of the 757s, but that advantage is sacrificed in terms of a smaller range, seating 227 in two classes, but with a range of just 3,200 miles. Some of these are quite old, with the oldest built in 1989. The B757s are notable from similar looking A321 by the extra wingtiplets on the airbus aircraft.
The most sought after seats in the 757-200s are in rows 11 and 30, the emergency exit rows, where there is a whopping 38 inches of legroom. however here the window seat F is missing.
They are one-class planes, with the smaller E-170 seating 76 in economy, and the E-190 seating 100.
Finnair A321 inflight drinks |
While you're onboard, take a minute to look at the new Finnair uniform worn by the crew. It was introduced in 2002, and was designed by Finnish designer Anna-Kaisa Huttunen. And very smart it looks too.
In Business newspapers are offered onboard, with a selection on a trolley as soon as you sit down. Magazines are also made available to Business Class passengers on long-haul routes. Finnair's food and drink service has won a number of awards, and certainly transatlantic or to Asia you are offered two starter options, soup, three main course options, and cheese or pastry as dessert options. Mid flight there are snacks in the form of sandwiches/chocolate/crisps/fruit from a basket, and a snack served before landing. The exception is the Helsinki to Bangkok/Singapore and Hong Kong flight, where there is a lighter evening meal (because it leaves Helsinki so late). On intercontinental flights every customer is provided with a blanket, and a pillow sitting on the seat. On European flights, a few blankets and pillows are also available (and generally if you ask for them, the crew will get you one pretty quickly). On Japan flights separate travel slippers are distributed to passengers. One delight is in the toilets where there is a comprehensive cosmetics basket, containing Lancôme Trésor scent for women and Sergio Tacchini Stile scent for men, Lumene moisturizer and a Biotherm aromatherapy face spray bottle. The basket also contains toothbrushes and shaving equipment. Finnally, Business Class customers leave the aircraft first, and the curtain is closed to allow you off the aircraft before the great unwashed in cattle class.
Finnair A320 at Stockholm Arlanda |
In Economy newspapers are generally offered onboard, except from Helsinki (and a few other destinations like Paris) where there is a rack by the gate (containing all the Finnish dailies, plus an English language FT). In Economy Class on intercontinental flights, a bottle of fresh spring water is distributed at the doorway or ready in the seat pocket.
Finnair also offer free playing cards for passengers on long haul flights - you may get some headscratching when you ask for them, but available they are. Aircraft also stock a supply of writing paper, envelopes and pens, which are obtainable from the cabin crew on request. Each aircraft also has copies of Finnair's timetables. Postcards are also available on Boeing MD-11 aircraft.
It takes about half an hour for the trolley to first come round, with service from the front. There is a drinks trolley with the food cart right behind it. Twenty minutes later the drinks trolley revisits, offering cognac or coffee (but you get odd looks if you ask for both). The delight Finns take in getting free alcohol is shown up when the booze trolley revisits again, 50 minutes before landing. Even on the breakfast flights, most Finns will partake.
Inflight film listings are in the Blue Wing magazine in the seat pocket.
On the Airbus A330 and A340 the AVOD on demand systems is available at every seat, with 25 movies, several TV shows, 60 music albums, radio channels and games. A camera on the front of Airbus aircraft shows a view from the outside of the aircraft during take-off and landing - a great feature, although with windy landings, your heart may skip a beat. At other times there is the usual airshow program which has a scrolling map, and tells the remaining flight time, the estimated arrival time, the local time, the temperature outside the aircraft and at the destination, as well as the speed and altitude of the aircraft.
The Business Class on the Boeing MD-11 there are personal video screens, but only at the front of the plane. The video system offers 11 video channels, along with the Airshow real-time map. The main movies on flights are shown to coincide with their first nights in Finland. Details about films are given in the Blue Wings magazine. The blockbusters are on channel 1 or 2 - the films on these change according to the route - while channels 3, 4 & 5 are older films. There is comedy (channel 6) technology (7) style (8) plus a discovery, and sports channel. Channel 11 shows whatever economy is suffering, and 12 is familiar moving map. On the linking flights from Singapore to Bangkok and Hongkong, the films are switched off, but the channels 6 to 10 are still there. The film selection is changed every three months. On Boeing MD-11 aircraft, Gameboy games are available for children. A loan of these can be requested from the cabin crew. On some flights you are provided with personal DVD players, and a choice of discs.
On the MD-11 and Boeing 757 in economy there are overhead monitors with Airshow map system, movies and TV shows.
Finnair A321 cabin with LCD screens |
For European flights using Airbus aircraft, there is some inflight entertainment. On flights over two hours, short half hour cartoons (like the Simpsons) and documentaries (such as wildlife programmes from Discovery). Unfortunately Finnair ordered aircraft without any headphones sockets at the seats, so you have to read subtitles. Even worse, you can end up with programmes that were originally English language, but with Finnish subtitles, and then English subtitles put over the top. All in all, it makes you wonder why Finnair bother.
In terms of music Economy Class has 16 and Business Class 18 stereo music channels. You can start listening to music as soon as you board the aircraft, even though the entertainment system is not otherwise available at that stage. The music program for scheduled flights is also presented in the Blue Wing magazine in the seat pocket.
Bluewings the English inflight magazine |
Headphones in business class are good chunky ones, with double 3.5mm pins, however they are not noise reducing headphones. Finnair are one of the few airlines to still charge for headphones in economy on what it calls "leisure destinations" (Canary Islands, and oddly, Dubai) - they cost 2 euro.
There is a longer section on just one city in the Finnair empire. There are a couple of articles on technology and business, and a page devoted to good books to read on the beach. In Profile has an interview with a Finnish businessman, who it is unlikely you have ever heard of. On the last page is some surprisingly complex information regarding Finland's economy, GDP, and demographic pyramid, although it would have to be a really really long flight for you analyse the figures in here.
Lento the Finnish inflight magazine |
At the back is the Welcome Aboard section. There's a load of PR guff of little note, and some interviews with the technical staff and cabin crew. There is a page devoted to fleet news, and another page with a map of Helsinki Airport.
Under the movie section is the - rather brief- listings of films. There are the 11 channels for business class, but you have to look at your route sector to see what is on channel 1 or 2 - these are the "blockbuster" channels, and the films on them change according to the route. On the next page are the film synopsis & reviews.
The following page lists the music available, with the track list for each channel. Finally, there are a few pages of shopping, and then the route maps.
The Finnish-language Lento magazine is published five times a year. Fifty pages long it is pretty incomprehensible, and most readers have a poor opinion, but it has amazingly good photography.
Finnair has a pretty standard baggage allowance for each flight.
Cabin Bags: Economy Class passengers can take hand luggage of one bag weighing up to 8kgs, which must be no larger than 56x45x25cm (22x18x10 inches). Business Class (and Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members and Finnair Club members) can take one bag, plus one laptop to a total of 10kg. Rules on contents (such as liquids) apply.
Check in luggage: On all routes except to the United States economy class can check in one bag weighing 20kg, business class can check in two bags up to a total weight of 30kg. Routes to or via the United States have Business and Economy class with two pieces of baggage with a maximum circumference of 158 cm or 62 inches, and maximum weight of 23 kg.
Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members are allowed 40 kg or 88 lbs. of baggage regardless of travel class, which is exceptionally generous - most frequent flyer schemes do no allow a tier just above base an extra 20kg.
Finnair's website has details of exactly what you can take onto a flight.
| Airline schedules change regularly. |
| This information is intended as a guide, but for up to the minutes timetables, please consult Finnair. |
Finnair's main hub is at Helsinki, although there is also a smaller hub a Stockholm (Arlanda).
 Toronto Finnair's seasonal 757 on the stand in summer |
From London LHR there are 4 flights a day to Helsinki at 0730 (arrives 1225) 1020 (arrives 1515) 1610 (arrives 2105) and 1805 (arrives 2300) all of which use an A320 or A321. There are also BA codeshare flights at 1130 and 1810, bizarrely just 5 minutes after the 1805 has left, and which often tailgate each other on the runway.
From Manchester there are 2 flights a day to Helsinki at 1030 (arrives 1515) and 1735 (arrives 2320) on an A320. From Birmingham the only flights are codeshares on Sabina via Brussels, and from Glasgow flights are BA codeshares.
From Dublin there are flights to Helsinki on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 1805 (arrives 2300) and on the alternate days at 1005 (returning at 1500).
Finnair A321 at Paris CDG |
There are twelve flights a day from Helsinki to Copehnhagen, ten to Stockholm, and five to Oslo all using A320 (or A321 at peak times).
There are four flights to Paris (A320), four to Brussels (A320), three to Moscow, Dusseldorf and Hamburg (A320) two to Frankfurt (A320), two to Munich, two to Amsterdam, one to Madrid (although there is also another route via Stockholm), one to Prague (and another as a Czech Airlines CSA codeshare) and one to Rome (on an A320), Warsaw and StPetersburg.
There are tourists flights on a Monday to Athens, Wednesday to Rhodes, on a Saturday to Faro and a Sunday to Palma Mallorca all on a 757. The same 757s fly an erratic itinery to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria throught the winter, with a regular shuttle.
 Canary Islands Finnair 757 tourist flight at Las Palmas Gran Canaria |
From Helsinki there is a daily flight to New York JFK (using an A330) at 1410 (arrives 1550) returning at 1740 (lands 0850 the next day) and a seasonal service to Toronto (using a 757).
There are two flights (using an A330) to Bangkok at 1650 (arrives 0735) and 2350 (arrives 1435 the next day) which then carries on to Singapore on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday getting there at 1900. There is a Hong Kong flight at 2345 arriving at 1430, which now flies direct using one of the new A340. The Bangkok flight technically carries on to Sydney as a codeshare using the regular Qantas services.
Prague a Finnair MD 82 takes off |
Beijing gets a flight at 1750 (arriving 0735 the next day) while Shanghai has a flight at 1700 (arrives 0650), and there are also flights to Seoul and Delhi.
Japan is oddly served, with Tokyo only getting a flight at 1720 (arrives 0955) on Tuesday and Saturdays (and in the summer on Thursdays), while Osaka gets a flights on the five other days of the week at 1720 (arrives 0950). Flights to Nagoya have just started.
Between Helsinki and Bergen, Budapest, Dublin, Murmansk, Prague, Riga, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Vilnius and Warsaw Finnair are one class (Economy) only.
Finnair Plus is Finnair's frequent flier programme, and is part of the OneWorld Alliance.
Joining is easy; it's possible to do it online. However there is very little information on the website about the programme. 350,000 people are members of the scheme.
Finnair A321 at Helsinki |
Finnair operates a point system, which are roughly equivalent to kilometes for the journey you travel. You use points to progress through the tiers of membership, from initially joining, to silver, gold, then platinum.
Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members have the right to use their own Lounge facilities regardless of travel class. A priority label is also attached to your bags to ensure that you receive them quickly after your flight.
If you buy anything on board, you get 5 Plus points per euro. On a flight to a destination outside the EU, Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members receive a 10% discount from purchases onboard, as well as 5 Plus points per euro when the total amount exceeds 15 euros.
Finnair Plus points are valid for five years from the date of transaction. Finnair does not offer an enrolment bonus. Although few and far between, the promotional bonuses offered by Finnair have been very generous. For the past few years, Finnair has offered limited-time bonuses such as quadruple points for business class, triple points for full-fare economy, and double points for travel on all other fares.
Finnair 757 at Helsinki in combination new body livery, but old style tail fin, with an MD82 & MD83 |
Note that although Finnair is a member of the oneWorld alliance, you won't get any points or miles if you buy a cheap economy ticket on another one-world member airline and try to claim them on Finnair. For this reason it is often worth joining Qantas, and putting point on that card - even cheap Finnair flights earn full Qantas points. Interestingly Finnair Plus and Lufthansa Miles & More were once one and the same - now they are rivals.
Finnair Plus membership application |
Helsinki to London gets 1,825 points (3,650 in business class). To Hong Kong you get 7,863 points (15,726 in business). To Frankfurt and Amsterdam there is, oddly, a basic level of 2,000 points, and to Stockholm 1,500 points. Bangkok is 7878 points, while NewYork is 6610. On cheap tickets (what Finnair still quaintly refers to as "leisure flights", or N class tickets) you only get half the number of points.
Other miscellaneous awards include a safety information course for air passengers for 35,000 points or excess luggage charges for up to 10 kg can be redeemed from 5,000 to 20,000 miles depending on the destination
Finnair MD83 at Helsinki |
On getting to this level benefits include business class check-in, and rather surprisingly Finnair lounge facilities. There is also an express check-in service at Helsinki, and 40 kg of baggage free of charge plus the ability to pay for any excess baggage with points. Membership at this level equates oneworld Ruby status and members can use oneworld business class check-in worldwide.
In addition to Silver benefits such as lounge access, members are privy to confirmed seating 48 hours prior to departure in business class, check-in at the Gold Desk in Helsinki and two free upgrades on a scheduled European Finnair flight. At this level members are also entitled to use oneWorld business class lounge facilities.
Finnair A321 at Helsinki |
At Amsterdam Finnair uses the Menzies Aviation Executive Lounge (Close to transfer counter T2, second floor, open 0600-2100). Barcelona gets the Iberia Lounge Gaudi (Module 3, to the left after passport and security control). Bejing has the Air China Business Class Lounge (Departure hall, after security control, opposite the tax free shop) where an invitation card is also required for admittance. Cards available at the business check-in. In Berlin Finnair uses the British Airways Terraces Lounge (Terminal 1/B, main hall, Gallery, stairs at gate 15. Open Mon-Fri 0600-2100, Sat & Sun 0630-2130). Copenhagen has the Novia Lounge (Transit hall, first floor, between fingers A and B. Open 0700-2000). Oslo uses the British Airways Terraces Lounge (Main terminal, first floor, west service block, entrance to the left, after security control. Open 0600-2000). Prague has the Crystal Lounge (Airside, 1st floor). In Paris there is the Salon l'Espace (Terminal 2 D, mezzanine floor, stairs opposite of check-in area 8. However there is only access to Business class passengers who are Finnair Plus Silver and Finnair Club members, due to lounge space restriction, and you must get an invitation card at check-in.
Finnair A320 at Paris CDG |
At Bangkok Finnair uses the Qantas Club Lounge. In Singapore there is the Cathay Pacific Business Lounge (Terminal 1, immigration east, escalator to level 3. Open daily 0600-2200) where an invitation card is required for admittance. Cards are available at check-in. Miami has the Club America lounge (Concourse E) while New York JFK has the American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge (Terminal 8, 3rd floor).
Passengers on flights to the UK have access for Finnair Plus Silver members and Finnair Club members when departing on BA/AY code-share flights and have AY code on the ticket. London Heathrow has the British Airways Executive Club Lounge. In Birmingham Finnair the British Airways Executive Club Lounge (Departure area opposite door B. Open daily 0530-2100). In Edinburgh it uses the British Airways Executive Club Lounge (Airside, between gates 2 and 3. Open daily 0530-2030). Glasgow has the British Airways Executive Club Lounge (Airside, within Shuttle lounge area. Open daily 0515-2030). Manchester uses the British Airways Terraces lounge (Terminal 3 Open daily 0500-2000).
Helsinki Non Schengen Finnair Lounge |
Pre-flight dining is available every evening. Due to the late departure time of the Helsinki-Bangkok-Singapore/Hong Kong flight (AY097/AY091), a lighter evening meal is served on this flight. As a Business Class customer or a holder of a Finnair Plus Platinum/oneworld Emerald card travelling in Economy Class, may eat an evening meal at the buffet table in the Long-haul Lounge beside gate 31 before the departure of the flight, starting at 9 pm, before takeoff at five minutes to midnight.
Stockholm an MD 82 at Arlanda |
There is also a separate area for Platinum customers, with a better food and wine, and some nice comfy chairs.
Prague Chrystal lounge |
Food is poor, with just a few nibbles, however the bar has lots of drinks - and even has wine in little miniture airline bottles you can sneak out. There is also a vast array of spirits.
Prague Chrystal lounge bar area |
In the far corner there are two fairly new and fast internet computers, and a printer.
Finnair MD82 in old livery at Helsinki |
After the war the Finnish government acquired a majority stake in the company and re-established services. In 1953, the airline adopted the name Finnair. By 1961 it was ready to join the jet age with Caravelles.
A DC-3 that was being flown by alcohol-intoxicated and sleep-deprived pilots crashed in Kvevlax in 1961. All 25 on board died. Another DC3 crashed on approach to Mariehamn, on the Åland Islands in 1963. 22 passengers died.
MD82, which is no longer flown by Finnair |
It took possession of its first US made jet, a Douglas DC-8 in 1968, and start a transatlantic service to New York. By 1975 there were two McDonnell Douglas DC10, which started the route from Helsinki to Las Palmas: a very popular route to this day with Finns seeking the sun. Helsinki to Tokyo flights started in 1983 with the same DC10s by flying directly north from Helsinki over the North Pole. By 1988 it started flying to Beijing.
Finnair became the launch customer for the McDonnell Douglas MD11 in 1990, with the plane used on a flight from to Tenerife, catering for the vast number of Finns that fly south to the Canary Islands in the winter. In 1999, Finnair joined the Oneworld alliance. In 2005 Finnair ordered 12 new wide-bodied planes from Airbus in a deal worth over 1 billion euro to modernise its long-haul fleet. The original order was for nine A350s and three A340 planes, however because of delays in the A350, Finnair took the A330 instead.
Oddly, for most long haul economy tickets changes are allowed, and refund are paid for unused tickets. A bargain. But then Finnair tickets are much more expensive than other airlines which don't allow changes.
Finnair has codes to indicate the rank of crew member: one stripe in the sleeve means normal cabin attendant, two stripes means a service chef and three stripes a purser. Male cabin crew wear ties with plane symbols on them and the pilots wear ties with compass symbols. Yellow ties and scarfs are worn on leisure flights.
To start with, make sure you are a frequent flyer, and you do fly frequently: after all, if Finnair are going to upgrade anyone, they will upgrade those passengers who fly with them pretty regularly, and hence will enjoy the upgrade enough to put more business Finnair's way. Then if the flight is full in economy, and someone needs to be moved up, the check in staff will first look at Gold Finnair Plus members, and then Silver level, and then at other Oneworld members at the equivalent levels (Emerald, and then Saphire). Another thing that Finnair look at is how much you paid for your ticket: it's much more likely to happen with a full fare ticket (although occasionally you can get lucky with a discounted economy ticket).
As always, my advice on dressing properly in the pages on how to get an upgrade applies.
Finnair A320 at Paris CDG |
The Finnair website often won't have the best fares for Finnair flights. Expedia can often beat it, but due to a bug in the Expedia site, it may show fares that no longer exist. The BA website does however display all the correct fares, and it is often easier to book a Finnair flight on the BA website.
To get the lowest fares on the Finnair website, you have to stay away at least 2 nights - it marks this date in green on the calendar.
When booking it will also allow you to book outbound in one class, and back in another class - a great innovation, that many other sites won't allow. Alas, the Finnair site won't allow you to search around a group of dates to see if you can get a cheaper day to fly on.
Website: www.finnair.com
Note that all reviews and opinions on Finnair (AY) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, lounges, and the Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice.
A321 Seatmaps
Mileage Plus
Finnair Baggage Allowance
Rules on accessing the Finnair Lounge