Finnair Plus - OH-LQF - why?

I just come back from a trip on OH-LQF (BKK-HEL) that was the most unpleasant trip on a AY longhaul service since they faded out the MD-11. The seat are dated, PTV hard to handle an it gives you restricted legroom.

If you expect to sleep in this seat this will be way harder then on any other A340 or A330, as they are way harder, shorter and have a different angle also I had the feeling the seat gives you less space. The PTV is hard to handle, you have to find out what languages are available on a "try and error" basis. The monitor is not as sharp and bright as you see it on the older (but newer) planes.

The headphones a connected with the seat - so if you headphone don t work fully you can t just exchange it. Mine was broken (and fixed with tape) so it never really fits me.

Also the J cabin only has 3 lavatories, which can cause lines.

Everytime I ring for a crew member, it takes a very long time, because the little lights above your seat are not very bright and shiny.

I just wonder why AY add those planes to their fleet, give them the "new" look from the outside, but inside you get the worst product AY offer on longhaul services at this time.

If I had to make a choice between the MD-11 and the ex-AF 340, I would take the MD-11.

Are these planes are only there for a few month? Or should they stay longer in the fleet. Also I wonder why they add planes that age to their fleet, if they are so proud of having one of the youngest fleets in Europe.

I just come back from a trip on OH-LQF (BKK-HEL) that was the most unpleasant trip on a AY longhaul service since they faded out the MD-11. The seat are dated, PTV hard to handle an it gives you restricted legroom.

If you expect to sleep in this seat this will be way harder then on any other A340 or A330, as they are way harder, shorter and have a different angle also I had the feeling the seat gives you less space. The PTV is hard to handle, you have to find out what languages are available on a "try and error" basis. The monitor is not as sharp and bright as you see it on the older (but newer) planes.

The headphones a connected with the seat - so if you headphone don t work fully you can t just exchange it. Mine was broken (and fixed with tape) so it never really fits me.

Also the J cabin only has 3 lavatories, which can cause lines.

Everytime I ring for a crew member, it takes a very long time, because the little lights above your seat are not very bright and shiny.

I just wonder why AY add those planes to their fleet, give them the "new" look from the outside, but inside you get the worst product AY offer on longhaul services at this time.

If I had to make a choice between the MD-11 and the ex-AF 340, I would take the MD-11.

Are these planes are only there for a few month? Or should they stay longer in the fleet. Also I wonder why they add planes that age to their fleet, if they are so proud of having one of the youngest fleets in Europe.

Because they are making loss millions after millions on every quarter and they simply can't afford it. I could bash Finnair on and on but i let someone else who actually fly this airline to answer your questions.

It's a balance issue and about personal preferences, if you prefer direct flights to/from HEL then AY has some advantages but if not, just jump the ship over to BA/CX (if OW is still your alliance of choice) and I promise you won't look back..they are true premium airlines throughout their operations...if alliance is not an issue there are other quality options out there for sure.

AY is good on some small parts of their chain but on many others they simply continue to fail almost in an epic way.

It's a balance issue and about personal preferences, if you prefer direct flights to/from HEL then AY has some advantages but if not, just jump the ship over to BA/CX and I promise you won't look back..they are true premium airlines throughout their operations.

I fly AY C because it saves me about 45% of my budget, compared to BA. And overall I m not disapointed with AY, actually it s getting better and better if you compare, what a the real advantages on BA.

BA
The T5 lounges are better
The seat is better
You can upgrade to F

AY
It takes no time till you are Platinum
The food (on board) is most of the times better
The service is most of the times are better
I save money and time flying AY

I fly AY C because it saves me about 45% of my budget, compared to BA. And overall I m not disapointed with AY, actually it s getting better and better if you compare, what a the real advantages on BA.

BA
The T5 lounges are better
The seat is better
You can upgrade to F

AY
It takes no time till you are Platinum
The food (on board) is most of the times better
The service is most of the times are better
I save money and time flying AY

Yup, AY is cheap but then again we cannot expect the same quality for less money, can we..for you the decision seems to be a no-brainer..

Yup, AY is cheap but then again we cannot expect the same quality for less money, can we..for you the decision seems to be a no-brainer..

For me AY is fine most of the time. I m just wondering why they "downgrade" their product, since they but so much effort in it to make in better - I guess they want to save money - Like I do:D

But I ll try to avoid their latest additions in the future.

For me AY is fine most of the time. I m just wondering why they "downgrade" their product, since they but so much effort in it to make in better - I guess they want to save money - Like I do:D

But I ll try to avoid their latest additions in the future.

Yeah, their long haul expansion has been very rapid and as they are losing money out of the door everyday it must be difficult to upgrade the fleet/cabins at the same time..they still seem have the money to make their short haul fleet more LCC style, though..

Isn't the OH-LQF one of those ex-AF aircrafts? I have also flown that to BKK in J and found it most uncomfortable. Entertainment system did not work at all, reading lights broken etc. Anyway Finnair told me that they are going to refurbish the J section asap, but looks like not quite yet then :rolleyes:

OH-LQF - why?

Because AY needs two widebody aircrafts more to operate SIN daily.

Are these planes are only there for a few month? Or should they stay longer in the fleet. Also I wonder why they add planes that age to their fleet, if they are so proud of having one of the youngest fleets in Europe.

Because 343 is out of production.

Isn't the OH-LQF one of those ex-AF aircrafts? I have also flown that to BKK in J and found it most uncomfortable. Entertainment system did not work at all, reading lights broken etc. Anyway Finnair told me that they are going to refurbish the J section asap, but looks like not quite yet then :rolleyes:

OH-LQF and OH-LQG are the ex-AF aircrafts, I will avoid these until they are refurbished.

I will avoid these until they are refurbished.

How do you do that? Avoid AY or 343 routes?

How do you do that? Avoid AY or 343 routes?

I will avoid all 340 from AY which don t have 1a and 1c in their seatmap.

Because AY needs two widebody aircrafts more to operate SIN daily.

I thought the HEL-SIN route, with high hopes for a good business seat demand, would get the new Business cabin with fully flat seats, but thats not happening?
It looks you just have a good chance to get one of those tired ex-AF 343's...

I will avoid all 340 from AY which don t have 1a and 1c in their seatmap.
Unless you book very last minute, I wonder how effective that is. I guess it can drop the chances a little, but it hardly guarantees a new A340, its not like they fix aircraft to set routes weeks in advance.

Unless you book very last minute, I wonder how effective that is. I guess it can drop the chances a little, but it hardly guarantees a new A340, its not like they fix aircraft to set routes weeks in advance.

Normaly the airlines know what aircraft will be on route a few weeks ahead. Since I buy my ticket sonly one or two days before I fly, I simply won t book a flight which don t show 1a and 1c. Even at CI, I can dbl check the situation, and cancel the flight (thats why the ticket called "flexibel").

Since there was a similiar situation with on the FRA-BKK route, I m used to that. And on that route I don t have to change or cancel flights 0 times out of 48 in 2 years.

You even never have a gurantee that the flight will even happen.;)

Because 343 is out of production.
Is it?

I thought the HEL-SIN route, with high hopes for a good business seat demand, would get the new Business cabin with fully flat seats, but thats not happening?
It looks you just have a good chance to get one of those tired ex-AF 343's...

AY confirmed that they mainly will use the ex-AF birds on the SIN route.

AY confirmed that they mainly will use the ex-AF birds on the SIN route.

AY has a good schedule if you don't want to waste a day in Helsinki...but if you are more worried about wasting a day in Singapore it's much better to take Qantas 388 from LHR..it adds 8hrs to the total HEL-SIN travel time but those 8 hours are evening hours in Helsinki anyway if you compare against waiting for the midnight AY departure.

To avoid ex-AF 340 it's a total no brainer.

Any idea which AY 343 will be operating AY 70 HKG - HEL on 06.05.11 ? Hope not one of the ex AF birds. Was very much looking forward to my first AY experience in J class and hope I will not be disappointed.

Cheers from Brisbane,

pswissoz

Any idea which AY 343 will be operating AY 70 HKG - HEL on 06.05.11 ? Hope not one of the ex AF birds. Was very much looking forward to my first AY experience in J class and hope I will not be disappointed.

Cheers from Brisbane,

pswissoz

According to the expertflyer seating chart, AY70 at 0.25 am on 06.05.2011 is not an ex AF plane.
Last minute change is of course possible. This happened to me in a positive way when my recent Finnair flight scheduled to be OH-LQF got changed to OH-LQD only a few hours before the departure.

For my next trips to BKK there was always at least one leg with an ex-AF aircraft scheduled - so I booked LH and TG instead. Its close to 15K what I spend NOT with AY because of those worn out planes:rolleyes: AY understand how to create business.

Its close to 15K what I spend NOT with AY because of those worn out planes:rolleyes: AY understand how to create business.

Have you taken the time to inform AY about this? I'm quite sure they'd be interested.. money talks, after all..

Have you taken the time to inform AY about this? I quite sure they'd be interested.. money talks, after all..

The person I talk to at AY is on holiday at the moment - and I m sure she won t be glad to hear about this. But maybe that gives me some good arguments to talk about our rates again :D