Per-Svx AY/QF (Merged)

[russianrob]

Used QF79 out of Perth to Narita as many of you do.
Perth International is much better than the disgraceful Domestic terminal, but still not a patch on overseas airports. Taxi from the city was $39, and the only other option is the "backpackers" mini bus.
On checkin found I was allocated 25d, but the bride and 3yr old were down the back. A polite request got us all in 28 with me in b (vacant a), and them d,(blocked e),f
The QP was almost deserted until an hour before ETD, and there wasn't much food before then either. Have to say the mushroom soup was superb though, and self serve bar.
I was less than impressed by Qantas's usual 30 min delay, blamed on............you guessed it, "late arrival of the incoming aircraft"! Perth gets shocking service from Qantas!
On board the 767 aircraft, noted was very old and tired. Certainly glad I did not waste money or points on Bus. Seemed like only a 2/3rds load, as plenty of spares. One movie only on the 80's cabin screens. The flighties seemed in no hurry to get the meal out, or collected. The Basque style Chicken was good, but what's with a lettuce only salad? White choc mouse was superb.
The crew kept making annoyingly loud, obnoxious, un-necessary announcements until 0130 (an opinion shared by others around me, especially those who had wanted to sleep)
Breakfast wasn't served until 45mins before arrival, which made it all a panic to get out and back.
Arrival on time, having made up the lost time on route. Immigration took all of 5 mins, and after a longish walk in T2 the family's bags were being lifted off the carousel for us as we arrived (you have to love the Japanese, service and free trolleys!)

Having arraigned to break the trip for the little guys benefit, we bought the NEX/Suica rail ticket at Narita. I recommend it whole heartedly. We were staying in Shinjuku and the NEX took us right there in an hour, and then we used the Suica cards to get around Tokyo for the next couple of days. The combination saved us a fair bit, as did the fact that the Japanese don't seem to charge anywhere for kids under 5.

 

[russianrob]

PER-SVX Leg 2 AY74 NRT-HEL

AY74 was an Airbus A340-300.
Checkin Narita commences 2 1/2 hrs before ETD, and the Finnair ground staff let me use the Business/FF counter and tagged the luggage priority (although we weren't allowed to sneak in the lounge as only Ruby and QP lifer)
2 Finns blind drunk at the gate didn't instill confidence, especially as they seemed to have the flu! Ground staff allowed them to board, but they were promptly read the riot act by the Chief Dragon on board and they didn't offer a peep the whole trip.
Plane was OH-LOC, seemed fairly new. J 2-2-2, Why 2-4-2. We were given the center 4 in row 28 after only I had a pre-allocation in 22d (good seat, offset to row of 3 in front. bassinet position). Load about 80%. As flight is JAL code share, more than 1/2 load were guided tourists from Japan.
Push back was exactly on time at 1100 (are you listening Qantas?) although a long taxi and queue meant take off didn't happen until 1125. Loved the live view cameras mounted on the nose wheel looking forward, and craft looking down. The 4 yr old especially was interested in how closely we followed the other craft on the ground. The whole AV set was great and worked perfectly (are you listening again Qantas?) with lots of movies, tv shows, documentaries and games. Instead of headphones, they provided ear buds with a trick plug end that allows one of the prongs to be folded away, meaning they can be used on any mp3 player!
Water had been provided in every seat pocket along with pillows and blankets (beats fighting for the few Qantas hide on board) The Captain came on and gave story of some eruption they wanted to avoid near the Russian China boarder, so explained the long route had been chosen which would add an hour whle we flew across Korea to Beijing and then up though Mongolia before re joining Russian Airspace.
The first meal was pretty mundane, There's a chicken on rice, or beef with mashed potato and peas. No desert. Not very edible. Free drinks all ways helps though. bread, butter and Japanese noodles were the other tray fillers.

As flight time had ballooned to 12;05 I wandered up to checkout the seats in the empty 'mid" Business position. Seating 2-2-2 with AV and laptop power to each forward facing position. I didn't see what their food was like, sorry. Not loving that the seats were the shell type so had the angled "layflat" where your feet are right under the seat in front.

Flight very smooth and uneventful.

Second meal a very tasty Tomato/vegetable/cheese penne pasta, and muffin.

More time added by flying down over St Petersburg as directed by Helsinki control. The only real turbulance of the flight came in the last 1k before touchdown. On deck at 1640, and the 3 of us were out through Immigration and customs, and in the taxi by 1655, having stopped to buy a Helsinki 24hr Card.

Taxi was New C class Merc wagon and cost for the trip was E40, which included a detour after getting stuck in the traffic for the ACDC concert!
As it was another 30min sellout, and I have tickets for Perth next year, I resisted the temptation to go and buy a seat off scalpers.

Staying Klaus K Hotel downtown, and can really recommended it. Finnish cool, with great restaurants and bars, just a short walk from everything. Trams and buses run past the door, and with the H24 Card all free.

The temps 16c with a strong breeze so coat needed while out walking even though the sun is shining. Not getting dark til 2300, and light again by 0300. Wouldn't call it darkness, just twilight in between.

Had a walk around while the wife and offspring slept. loved it. And couldn't resist heading up past the Olympic Stadium to listen to the "weak" sounds of AccaDacca wafting across the night air. aaaaaaaaaaaa, can't wait to see the show down home.

 

[NM]

As these posts are part of the same trip, lets keep it all in the one thread as a multi-post trip report.