Hi All,

I will be taking LHR-HEL return.

Just wondering how do I order special meals (Seafood meals) Are these good or should I stick with the normal meals?

Do they serve dinner on the 4pm flight to HEL?

Also for seating how do I assign the seats in advance? As CX book my tix and they can't access the seat map in the CRS.

Can I OLCI for both flights?

Also Any recommendations to do/eat/sleep/shop in HEL will be greatly appreciated.

I heard the lounge at HEL is pretty good? There is an Oneworld EMD lounge? What facilities/food/drinks are there?

SFML are biz class only and can be preordered through your travel agency or mailing/calling AY or a partner airline. I just had a SFML out of HEL some weeks ago at around 4pm so no probs there.

I'd rate them top notch for European shorthaul nosh and a class above most meat dishes AY has on offer in biz - the Chateaubriand being particularly mediocre.

For shorthaul, lounge access depends on your OW status level. Apart from the Longhaul lounge, no showers. Food is fruits, yoghurt, good choice of bread, typically pasta and tuna salads, some cold cuts maybe. Soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits. Local and international press and internet access. Great tarmac view from the Silver Wings (Schengen area) lounge.

The 4pm return is definitely a dinner flight, remember that it arrives to HEL around 9pm local..

No OLCI for AY flights out of LHR. You can OLCI ex-HEL, usually starting from the evening of the second day before your departure.

The lounge in HEL is ok but the drinks/food selection barely passable... I am referring to the lounge in the non-Schengen area. On the right you can only get in as a OW Emerald (and long-haul C), left side OW Sapphire and short-haul C.

The lounge in HEL is ok but the drinks/food selection barely passable...


Fully agreed. VS Cognag in premium lounge...AY also took liquor away from they Silver/Gold lounges, which I find a bit strange...it cannot be that big of a cost issue. Once in a while I'd prefer a GT but would never drink a beer before a flight..no I need to go to the normal J lounge if I want to have it...

Thanks

Does anyone have a recent menu of dinner ex LHR and ex HEL to LhR?
I am debating whether or not should we order a SFML

Thanks

Does anyone have a recent menu of dinner ex LHR and ex HEL to LhR?
I am debating whether or not should we order a SFML

Anyway it's going to be hit or miss so I wouldn't worry too much. I've had both salmon and beef (both passable) on that route during last few months. Last week I had pretty nice veal main course and and a salad starter and I noticed that the portion size had been increased a bit. This was ex-AMS, though. What ever you'll get it's not going to be a culinary experience but who cares on a 3 hour flight..

Just to go a bit more into detail than the previous poster:

All AY European J class flights with more than 2 hours in the air gets you:
- cold starter (could be cured/smoked fish, cured meat or salad)
- hot entree (baked fish or meat or a "steak" from time to time)
- dessert (I don't care much about sweet stuff so cannot comment)
- prepackaged cheese and crackers
- very good bread selection including Scandinavian specialities
- champers, one premium red and white each (plus Y wine selection) and port & cognac

Think of the SFML as combining the fish starter and entree. I personally like the AY fish dishes quite a lot while some of the meat stuff has been not that impressive.