Finnair to launch Melbourne-Helsinki flights

[elanshin]

I think Finnair needs a new ad . This just showed up on Facebook for me.

 

[Melburnian1]

The menus are posted here: Business Class menus on long-haul flights

You get both small plates, only one of them is fish (sometimes neither are). And the rest of the menu you can select non-fish.

This airline got only a middling review on a competitor website to AFF.

There's much criticism in accompanying comments about the non-reclining J seat, and how uncomfortable it apparently is after a few hours, especially for taller people.

The lack of choice in Y and limitation to one alcoholic drink (and only during meal service) was also widely panned.

The overall impression was AY is poorer than many Asian and European airlines.

I'll avoid it, as often cheaper to fly via MNL, using separate airlines and PNRs MEL/SYD-MNL and then MNL-UK or Europe open jaw. The bonuses: far better J seating, and very good to excellent service on board.

 

[PERLHR]

I think the biz seat is certainly a personal choice of comfort ...but is it not the same for most carriers? Personally I like it. I can get comfortable...and slouch well but can also go into flat mode. Yes it's different....quite unique. If it does not work for some (and I'm sure that is the case) then for sure a different operator for long haul is the best way to go.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies, because I’ve said it up thread, but I’m another fan of AY in business. In my experience both recently and a few years ago ( BKK to HEL and return once, one way once, within Europe a number of times and HEL to MIA) good attentive service, comfortable seat, great food (I like seafood).

As a bonus they have their “round the world“ fares which can be excellent value.

 

[frodo]

There's much criticism in accompanying comments about the non-reclining J seat, and how uncomfortable it apparently is after a few hours, especially for taller people.

See this thread for people's thoughts on the J seat. It is divisive, but for sleeping, opinion seems to be mostly positive.

Haven't flown Y but from the reviews I've seen, it seems worse than other full service airlines.

 

[Mr_Tee]

Apologies, because I’ve said it up thread, but I’m another fan of AY in business. In my experience both recently and a few years ago ( BKK to HEL and return once, one way once, within Europe a number of times and HEL to MIA) good attentive service, comfortable seat, great food (I like seafood).

As a bonus they have their “round the world“ fares which can be excellent value.

@RooFlyer these are my sentiments exactly. I'm a fan for all the same reasons. I'm quite happy that they are making the full trek from HEL to MEL. I think they will get a lot of support out of Melbourne and surrounds. I know that I am already thinking of where I want to go to book a flight with them.

 

[justinbrett]

I took a few AY flights (J and Y) a few months ago. I found short haul J really good, Yes the seat is literally the same as Y without even going to the effort of the middle seat tray like BA. But I found their service top notch (to the point of watching the FA time my tea bag infusion with her watch before serving it).

The Schengen lounge in HEL is pretty bad IMO, the “Platinum Corner” has nothing the main lounge doesn’t have. It’s basically Admirals Club level. Inferior even to a Qantas Club IMO (and that’s a low bar). Speaking of bars, no spirits.

Flying Y they are basically a LCC with free blueberry juice.

I haven’t flown long haul with them but I think they’d definitely be a few steps below BA in Y based on my short haul experiences and reviews I’ve seen on YouTube. J however will be an attractive option.

 

[elanshin]

In some sense if i think about it. Finnair kind of serves BKK correctly. In Y you're hoping to catch the leisure travellers to BKK (maybe if the price is right to EU, but the extra stop vs QR, SQ and EK is already a deterrent). It'll be JQ but slightly better. We'll see how they play with QF and QFF as for OW benefits.

They have a good J product which turns MEL - HEL - EU a solid proposition. I'm more ok showing up to Europe 6-12h slower if its a full J journey for a holiday. Work trips, you're likely looking at the best timing solution anyways which will inevitably be between QF, SQ, EK, QR and maybe CX out of MEL.

I'm hoping they do some good promotional launches once all the kinks are out of the way. I reckon late Jan and early Feb we might see some action in that front.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'm hoping they do some good promotional launches once all the kinks are out of the way. I reckon late Jan and early Feb we might see some action in that front.

Historically, February, May and November have been the least popular months to depart Australia, partly explained by not being school holidays.

 

[SYD]

In some sense if i think about it. Finnair kind of serves BKK correctly. In Y you're hoping to catch the leisure travellers to BKK (maybe if the price is right to EU, but the extra stop vs QR, SQ and EK is already a deterrent).

Many of us have had zero hesitation doing the two stop AY ticket for years (using QF, BA, CX to/from Asia).

HEL is generally an efficient airport and much easier to transit than say LHR, CDG, and definitely FRA. If flying to/from Europe over winter, they’re probably one of the more better equipped to deal with snow and continue to operate.

Before the Russian airspace closure, J fares were a fraction of one stop options.

I think I’ve done 3 or 4 AY trips from Oz to Europe. All perfectly fine.

It'll be JQ but slightly better.

We just booked our first ever AY whY flights for next year (VNO-HEL-LHR). I suspect we’ll be ok (knock back some reindeer and elk in the OWE Lounge in HEL before the longer flight to LHR.

We'll see how they play with QF and QFF as for OW benefits.

Absolutely no issue now and should be no different on their own metal ex MEL.

They might direct J and OW status PAX to a contract lounge (not unusual) but the QF F/J lounges will be in play.

They have a good J product which turns MEL - HEL - EU a solid proposition. I'm more ok showing up to Europe 6-12h slower if it’s a full J journey for a holiday. Work trips, you're likely looking at the best timing solution anyways which will inevitably be between QF, SQ, EK, QR and maybe CX out of MEL.

I'm hoping they do some good promotional launches once all the kinks are out of the way. I reckon late Jan and early Feb we might see some action in that front.

I’ve received a couple of primo airfare emails today from QR and EK. The J fares to Europe are still eye watering high ($9 to $10k). If they can do $7 to $8k, they’re competitive and still making a lot of money….

 

[levelnine]

The big benefit is more capacity and more competition out of Australia into Asia and Europe.

That's a good thing for all consumers, whether you'd fly the specific product or not.

 

[Timba-Jet]

In some sense if i think about it. Finnair kind of serves BKK correctly. In Y you're hoping to catch the leisure travellers to BKK (maybe if the price is right to EU, but the extra stop vs QR, SQ and EK is already a deterrent). It'll be JQ but slightly better. We'll see how they play with QF and QFF as for OW benefits.

I'm more ok showing up to Europe 6-12h slower if its a full J journey for a holiday.

JQ+ in Y no status.
In J or Y with status Sapphire+, the OW lounge offerings in BKK (CX, JL, QR) together with the early morning stop in HEL to freshen up offsets the few extra hours journey time.

- Arrive HEL 6am ish
- Visit non-Schengen lounge (much calmer than Schengen side) shower, coffee, champagne!
- Passing through immigration, Schengen lounge for 2nd coffee
- Short 1 - 2.5 short flight to final Euro destination feeling refreshed and not too far from hotel check-in time

 

[jase05]

In J or Y with status Sapphire+, the OW lounge offerings in BKK (CX, JL, QR)

QR lounge moving to midfield satellite terminal so no access

 

[MEL_Traveller]

JQ+ in Y no status.
In J or Y with status Sapphire+, the OW lounge offerings in BKK (CX, JL, QR) together with the early morning stop in HEL to freshen up offsets the few extra hours journey time.

- Arrive HEL 6am ish
- Visit non-Schengen lounge (much calmer than Schengen side) shower, coffee, champagne!
- Passing through immigration, Schengen lounge for 2nd coffee
- Short 1 - 2.5 short flight to final Euro destination feeling refreshed and not too far from hotel check-in time

How do you visit the non-schengen lounge before the schengen lounge?

 

[SYD]

How do you visit the non-schengen lounge before the schengen lounge?

Arriving from BKK, don’t go through PP control until closer to your Schengen departure time?

Flying to the UK of course has the advantage of just staying in the non-Schengen area.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Arriving from BKK, don’t go through PP control until closer to your Schengen departure time?

Flying to the UK of course has the advantage of just staying in the non-Schengen area.

I guess that’s my question! I thought if your next flight is to a schengen country, you had to cross the border immediately on arrival?

 

[PERLHR]

I guess that’s my question! I thought if your next flight is to a schengen country, you had to cross the border immediately on arrival?

Yeah I think most certainly do.