Finnair Plus - LH or AY business long-haul

Which is a better product? Will be going return HKG-DBV. Also what are the lounge access like? No status with OW or *alliance.

Which is a better product? Will be going return HKG-DBV. Also what are the lounge access like? No status with OW or *alliance.

You know that AY only has thrice-weekly service to DBV?

You know that AY only has thrice-weekly service to DBV?

Yes the dates suit my schedule. So which would you go on?

What would earn you more miles? Alliance preference?

Price difference?

Schedule?

Those would be my concerns, but product related...AY has flat beds on (some) widebodies, LH does not. If all else are equal, I'd personally pick AY on product, miles it would depend on what program I need more in (and I'd credit to AA, LH to US/UA).

What would earn you more miles? Alliance preference?

Price difference?

Schedule?

Those would be my concerns, but product related...AY has flat beds on (some) widebodies, LH does not. If all else are equal, I'd personally pick AY on product, miles it would depend on what program I need more in (and I'd credit to AA, LH to US/UA).

It's cheaper with AY. The schedule is slightly better with LH but nit by much. I probably prefer OW points. I'm not sure if I will get flat beds on the HKG route on AY - if I do that would definitely sway me to AY. Can I access the OW business lounges with an AY ticket with no status?

I'm not sure if I will get flat beds on the HKG route on AY - if I do that would definitely sway me to AY. Can I access the OW business lounges with an AY ticket with no status?

No flat bed on AY as it's A340 on the HKG route..lounge access as per AY rules as OW changed it so that no more general OW lounge access w/o status on J ticket but some lounge yes, check finnair.com for details.

I've flown both AY and LH biz class and hands down, I'd choose AY:

1. Transiting (security, passport control, etc.) in FRA is a mess.

2. HEL has a Nordic feel and FRA is third world.

3. Both aircrafts have angled flat seats but AY interior seems more spacious and less crowded. LH biz seats look like they're made out of cheap plastic material.

4. LH enforces carry-on size and weight limit.

5. AY serves real Champagne (not some German sparkling wine) on AY-branded iitala glassware.

6. AY for espresso at 35,000 feet.

7. Real noise-canceling headsets from AY.

I've flown both AY and LH biz class and hands down, I'd choose AY:

1. Transiting (security, passport control, etc.) in FRA is a mess.

2. HEL has a Nordic feel and FRA is third world.

3. Both aircrafts have angled flat seats but AY interior seems more spacious and less crowded. LH biz seats look like they're made out of cheap plastic material.

4. LH enforces carry-on size and weight limit.

5. AY serves real Champagne (not some German sparkling wine) on AY-branded iitala glassware.

6. AY for espresso at 35,000 feet.

7. Real noise-canceling headsets from AY.

Does anyone know whether I can access the CX Hong Kong lounge with an AY J ticket?

Does anyone know whether I can access the CX Hong Kong lounge with an AY J ticket?

If you are not OW Sapphire or Emerald, you can't.

5. AY serves real Champagne (not some German sparkling wine) on AY-branded iitala glassware.


And the wines are also much better on AY.

Does anyone know whether I can access the CX Hong Kong lounge with an AY J ticket?

Like I tried to explain to you ealier the answer is no and that finnair.com has the details available with 4 clicks:

************************************************** *****
Hong Kong
The Traveler's Lounge

Finnair Plus Platinum members, Finnair Plus Gold members, Finnair Plus Silver members, Finnair Club members, Business Class passengers
Terminal 1, East Hall, departures level 6, before gate 1.
************************************************** *****

It's a typical "pay to get in" -type of very uninspiring lounge..absolutely no comparison to CX lounges at HKG.

Like I tried to explain to you ealier the answer is no and that finnair.com has the details available with 4 clicks:

************************************************** *****
Hong Kong
The Traveler's Lounge

Finnair Plus Platinum members, Finnair Plus Gold members, Finnair Plus Silver members, Finnair Club members, Business Class passengers
Terminal 1, East Hall, departures level 6, before gate 1.
************************************************** *****

It's a typical "pay to get in" -type of very uninspiring lounge..absolutely no comparison to CX lounges at HKG.

Sorry I just wanted to double check as on the CX website under lounge access in HK, it states they will admit biz passengers as long as they are departing on a OW carrier flight. I rather not go to the Traveler's Lounge as that sounds a bit ordinary.

I have a longish layover in HK so would like a nice lounge.

Sorry I just wanted to double check as on the CX website under lounge access in HK, it states they will admit biz passengers as long as they are departing on a OW carrier flight. I rather not go to the Traveler's Lounge as that sounds a bit ordinary.

I have a longish layover in HK so would like a nice lounge.

No reason to be sorry! The change in OW rules is relatively new so you might want to check your luck with CX lounges, if you decide to book with AY..the lounges are great and I if I were you'd give it a try.

Take AY, even the A340 has better seats then LH. The cabin is way smaller so the service is way faster.

Does anyone know whether I can access the CX Hong Kong lounge with an AY J ticket?

No, you can't use CX lounge in HKG but you have access to Traveller's Lounge.

I've used the Traveller's Lounge as well as Pier and Wing Lounges in HK and don't like any of them. Traveller's is crowded because it's used by several airlines and the WiFi signal is weak. Pier and Wing are spacious but because they are in an open area and located near the gates, you can hear the announcements in the PA system: every English announcement is followed by announcements in Cantonese, Mandarin and sometimes a fourth foreign language. It's freaking annoying. And the announcement are frequent especially during the evening hours. BTW, the sparkling wine in CX lounge is awful, so you're not missing much.

4. LH enforces carry-on size and weight limit.

5. AY serves real Champagne (not some German sparkling wine) on AY-branded iitala glassware.



I have never seen LH enforcing carry-on limit in C.

IIRC LH serves real champagne in long-haul C.

No, you can't use CX lounge in HKG but you have access to Traveller's Lounge.

I've used the Traveller's Lounge as well as Pier and Wing Lounges in HK and don't like any of them. Traveller's is crowded because it's used by several airlines and the WiFi signal is weak. Pier and Wing are spacious but because they are in an open area and located near the gates, you can hear the announcements in the PA system: every English announcement is followed by announcements in Cantonese, Mandarin and sometimes a fourth foreign language. It's freaking annoying. And the announcement are frequent especially during the evening hours. BTW, the sparkling wine in CX lounge is awful, so you're not missing much.

Of course you can access the CX lounge with a business class boarding pass. Just don't show your pass to the travelers lounge when you walk into the lounge. If they don't let you in, show the print out of the rules from the OW website. The Cathay Staff usually knows though dn will let you in. I had the same issue with a RJ flight in business and they tried not to let me in. After that incident, I wrote to their COO, received a gift and a promise that they would not make the mistake again.

FROM OW Website:

http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/

Of course you can access the CX lounge with a business class boarding pass. Just don't show your pass to the travelers lounge when you walk into the lounge. If they don't let you in, show the print out of the rules from the OW website. The Cathay Staff usually knows though dn will let you in. I had the same issue with a RJ flight in business and they tried not to let me in. After that incident, I wrote to their COO, received a gift and a promise that they would not make the mistake again.

FROM OW Website:

http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/

Now you're missing the whole point here, please read what has been said above and also what your own link is saying. OW have changed the rules about class of service based lounge access.

AY J BP (or any other OW J BP for that matter) is NOT enough for general OW lounge access anymore. You need min. Sapphire status on top. With just the J BP you can access the lounge the airline in question uses at any particular airport.

At HKG CX J BP is ok for CX J lounges for sure but this thread is about AY J ticket.

AY J BP (or any other OW J BP for that matter) is NOT enough for general OW lounge access anymore. You need min. Sapphire status on top.

Just FYI...

It is still enough to have C-class BP of any *A carrier to access any Star Alliance Business Lounge (you may refer to www.starallianceemployees.com - no login required):

[quote]

International Business Class Customers

Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers’ owned Business Class lounges.

[unquote]

To the original OP

Tough choice, as I don't see much difference in the hard product, so it's down to price/schedule/alliance/suffering issues

1/ price, schedule, alliance - you know it best

2/ suffering - HEL beats hands down FRA in terms of transit. AY lounge at non-Schengen beats LH's biz lounge.

To the original OP

Tough choice, as I don't see much difference in the hard product, so it's down to price/schedule/alliance/suffering issues

1/ price, schedule, alliance - you know it best

2/ suffering - HEL beats hands down FRA in terms of transit. AY lounge at non-Schengen beats LH's biz lounge.

AY for me over LH

And another thing, free WiFi at AY lounge in HEL.

And another thing, free WiFi at AY lounge in HEL.

HEL generally has free WiFi, since Nov 2008.

And another thing, free WiFi at AY lounge in HEL.

The lounge wifi is so un-customer friendly that I tend to use 3G instead.

The passwords are different for all users and a terrible mishmash of characters, including special characters, numbers and capitals. Takes ages to type in if using a cell phone or tablet. Moreover, if you set your tablet aside for a few minutes, you will need to retype the password. Really annoying if you just want to check your email quickly etc.

Yesterday, I was at the CX lounge at LHR. Wifi password was CX8. Couldn't be simpler, yet no one will guess it. Dunno how often they change it.

The lounge wifi is so un-customer friendly that I tend to use 3G instead.


I have often wondered the same...why cannot they either offer free wifi or have a very simple password..alá BA for example..but there are far more annoying ways to do it as well...for example the "OSL Lounge" (naturally at OSL) has these vouchers valid for 60min with complex passwords etc..if you're there for let's say 75mins you need to get another voucher from the desk..at least the AY access is for 2hrs on one go, which is enough for most pax, I'd imagine..

I have often wondered the same...why cannot they either offer free wifi or have a very simple password

So the public free Wifi (no passwords needed) doesn't work inside the lounge?
:confused:

So the public free Wifi (no passwords needed) doesn't work inside the lounge?
:confused:

The times I've tried to use the public wifi it has been sooooo slooooow that I've just given up immediately..

And another thing, free WiFi at AY lounge in HEL.

Since Q3 2011 free WiFI is also available in LH lounges;)

Did my first longhaul on LH yesterday, and after this experience I can now say I am in favour of AY when it comes to theses two. I here compare AY 340-300 to LH 340-600

Seats on LH are almost identical to the (much hated) ex AF 340's on AY (OH-LQF or LQG). The picth seems smaller on LH. For instance, you cannot have anything on the floor when reclining the chair (My shoes got squeezed between footrest and the row in front. Had to clear floor completely before reclining again)

C-cabin is larger on LH. On AY you get a more cozy feeling in the cabin, on LH it feels like economy with large seats.

Service was surprisingly friendly (not the german robots). The purser had checked the manifest for frequent travellers, and made sure to make a very nice chat with *G's as she handed out the menus. Only the korean FA's were a let down, they looked completely lost, slow, fumbling, unsecure in their roles. I think it is due to the german training not taking into account korean mindset.

Service seemed a bit uncoordinated, with a lot of "cart-collisions", drink carts and food carts trying to service same area at the same time - a lot of commotion around this. And over all a bit slow, 2:15 into the flight we still only had entrees, and there was a long pause without any service at all.

Pre-dinner service better on LH, (non-existent on some AY flights) with refills and second chances.

Quality of food was decent and on par with AY, with the exception of breakfast which was a tad worse.

LH did not allow for seat selection, not even at check in. I got the lounge at FRA to assign me a seat and print new BP, but at the gate I found out they still ignored that seating and moved me to the worst seat of the cabin. Even after boarding, there was a lot of rearranging going on, as this random seating had split up people travelling together.

Pre-dinner service better on LH, (non-existent on some AY flights) with refills and second chances.


On late night departures they usually skip it but I've had refills many times on routes like JFK, PEK etc. which leave in the afternoon/early evening.

But it's true that AY seems to be putting less effort on the pre-meal drink service than they used to do...5-6 years ago it was normal to be offered refills also on longer European flights like LHR, CDG, MAD etc..

And proper nuts, please!! :)

Deleted by original poster.