You Trip Report

	DATE	FLIGHT NUMBER	SEAT	AIRCRAFT
19 Nov 15	AY 665	2F	A320
CLASS	VIEWS	LANGUAGE	AUTHOR
Business Class	90384	English ,Spanish	jetsetpanda

Prologue:

This trip is a continuation of my "around the world" itinerary. The flight was short and the service was efficient with good catering. I had the opportunity to visit AY's Schengen lounge and I really liked its modern and simple ambiance.

I arrived at the Cumulus Hotel in HEL at around 01:00 and woke up at 06:00 to get ready for my flight to CPH. I paid USD 85 or EUR 77.85 at the last minute which was not too bad and breakfast was included but after a short visit to the restaurant and seeing how crowded it was in the morning I decided to just go to the airport and eat at the Finnair lounge. The hotel was not luxurious by any means but it was comfortable and clean with friendly staff.

Room.

I waited outside for a couple of minutes for the free shuttle bus on a wet and cold morning. Finally the bus arrived and I got off at T2 where AY check in was located.

T2.

To the check in counter.

Terminal.

I tried to use the Priority line for Emerald members but the agent there tried to direct people to the adjacent counter since she was dealing with a passenger with a rather problematic issue. The line for J was getting backed up and at that point I just left and used the check-in kiosk where I reprinted my boarding in less than a minute and proceeded through security in a snap.

Check in counters.

Once at the other side I looked for the AY Schengen lounge which was close to gate 22. I guess AY has a stronghold of the Asian market.

I used the lift located a few steps away from the staircase to access the lounge. Upon presenting my credentials I was welcomed inside.

Reception.

Breakfast was on display consisting of scrambled eggs white bean stew and berries with yogurt. The eggs did not look appetizing and somewhat overcooked and the beans reminded me of lunch at a local Turkish restaurant.

Buffet.

Drinks.

Interior.

Computer terminals.

The WC's and showers were in the middle of the lounge. I took a peek inside one of the showers and the impression that I got was that of being clean and utilitarian.

WC.

Shower.

Towels.

There was a basket of toiletries with a berry scent freshener along with towels.

Other sitting areas inside the lounge.

My breakfast.

After breakfast the attendants brought out the salad with tuna and fruits.

I had some fruits.

I left the lounge 45 min. before dept.

Boarding commenced and I was the second person to board the plane. The purser and another FA were postioned at the entrance greeting passengers. I settled into my seat and took a picture of the outside.

Cabin.

When everyone boarded and the door closed I noticed that the cabin was fairly empty so I moved to seat 3A.

Take off.

Curtains were drawn.

After we leveled off FAs's started the meal service. No menus were handed out and only 1 choice was available. The meal was some type of chicken in a mustard sweet sauce with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli. Dessert was a bag of chocolate.

Good assortment of breads.

Lunch.

The crew was very friendly and there were lots of smiles. I finished the meal with a cup of tea.

Landing.

Plane spotting in CPH.

Retro SK.

========== Helsinki Arpt (HEL) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 9/10

Access and parking: 10/10

Services and activities: 9/10

General cleanliness: 10/10

========== Finnair Lounge Schengen ==========

Staff Service: 9/10

Entertainment: 6/10

Business Center: /10

Food: 7/10

Lounge Design: 9/10

Spa and Bathroom: 7/10

Wifi: 10/10

========== Finnair - Airline ==========

Cabine comfort: 10/10

Crew: 10/10

Entertainment: 6/10

On-time performance: 10/10

Appetizer: 0/10

Starter: 0/10

Main Meal: 9/10

Main Meal-2: 0/10

Cheese: 0/10

Desserts: 6/10

Alcohols: 0/10

Mid-flight snack: 0/10

Breakfast or light meal before arrival: 0/10

========== Copenhagen Arpt (CPH) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 9/10

Access and parking: 10/10

Services and activities: 9/10

General cleanliness: 10/10

Summary:

I enjoyed this short hop from HEL to CPH in an almost empty cabin with only 4 passengers in J including myself.

Having an entire row to stretch out is a luxury these days and this made the flight more comfortable.

Catering was average with only one hot meal and no choice. I was pleasantly surprised since I was expecting a cold light meal and instead was given the above. No printed menus were handed out which is understandable for a flight of this length.

Crew was very friendly and a pleasure to deal with.

We arrived 22 minutes earlier at 1218 instead of 1240.

10 Comments

Emile — May 12,2019

Thank you Mister Panda for another great review. The meal is hot so It's already great if you compare with LH or BA. Always good to have a nice crew.
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 12,2019

Hi Emile,

Hot meal was unexpected but very appreciated. A crew can make or break a flight as we all know. ;)

Thanks.
GG_007 — May 12,2019

Thanks for sharing this TR

A rather good fare for the hotel : HEL is really very expensive

"the beans reminded me of lunch at a local Turkish restaurant."
I hope that it was better in the Turkish restaurant

"Buffet."
Where is the food ? lol

The lounge has a very nice design like a furnitures showroom

For anything else go away !

"My breakfast."
Meh

"Complementary seat Enjoy !"
But I've paid for !

"Lunch."
Meh again !

A bag of chocolate as dessert ? Really ?

The lounge design deserves 10 ;)

See you soon
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 12,2019

Hi GG,

"HEL is really very expensive"
- HEL(L) expensive but I was lucky to find this good rate and the hotel was nice.

"I hope that it was better in the Turkish restaurant"
- It was good. Maybe it was cooked by a Turkish chef.

"Where is the food ? lol"
- It's a treasure hunt set up.

"For anything else go away !"
- Not even the wines?

"A bag of chocolate as dessert ? Really ?"
- For J it could be better but please not the red jello. :P

"The lounge design deserves 10 ;)"
- Not when the WC's are in the middle and there is lack of privacy at the terminals. ;)

Thanks.
Thomas — May 12,2019

Many Thanks Adam for the lovely TR. The lounge is sleek and the meal oboard is not that bad,
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 12,2019

Hi Thomas,

It's always my pleasure. AY has one of the most unique designs for a lounge and i really like it. The meal was good for a short haul. I did not take the dessert though. ;)

Thanks.
Flyera — May 12,2019

Adan, thank you for your report. It's highly appreciated. Nice review as always.
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 12,2019

Hi AAFlyer,

Glad that you enjoyed it. You are most welcome and thanks for your comments.
Capoune — May 14,2019

Hello Adan!
Thank you for sharing this TR!
The lounge looks funny but good.
Onboard an empty cabin with great crew, what else?
No choice for the meal but à hot one, that’s better than other airlines on this kind of flight.

Thanks!
Reply

jetsetpanda — May 15,2019

Hi Seb,

Yes, very unique lounge design. At first when I saw some of the lights I thought they looked like bird cages. :P

An empty cabin makes for a much more comfortable flight as we all know. ;)

Thanks.

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Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Prologue:

========== Helsinki Arpt (HEL) - ==========

========== Finnair Lounge Schengen ==========

========== Finnair - Airline ==========

========== Copenhagen Arpt (CPH) - ==========

Summary:

10 Comments