Finnair Plus - AY economy for long haul flights

I'm (still) looking at LHR-NRT flights for next month. Finnair has a really cheap LHR-HEL-NRT one.

I was wondering what the Y class experience is like on these flights. How are the seats? The movies? The food?

Also, is there any chance of upgrading on the day of? How much does it usually cost?

Thanks :)

ps. Is there a way to see the fare code when I am booking? I'm sure I am just not noticing it. I want to make sure I will get AA miles for the flight

So I think I found the booking class:

DEPARTURE
London - Helsinki
Wed 14 October 2009
AY832 S
10:20 - 15:15
Helsinki - Tokyo
Wed 14 October 2009
AY071 S
17:20 - 08:55 +1

The S is the booking class, right?

Does anyone know where I can get the fare conditions for this class before I purchase the ticket? I've searched fruitlessly and when I go through the process it only brings up general fare conditions. I'd like to know the maximum stay rules and date change penalties.

Any help would be very much appreciated. Sorry if I'm being stupid.

The S is the booking class, right?




1:1 miles, 0.5:1 EQP

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/AAdvantage/partners/airlines/finnair.jsp

On the Tokyo route you'll get an A343, a panorama view here:

http://www.finnair.fi//filecontent/common/fleet/a340/a340_economy.htm

All not happy with the thin Recaro seat, I find them ok. They have AVOD with wide touch screens, the film/music selection is rather limited though. A nice little plus is a possibility the send SMS messages.
Their long haul meals not that great in Y, wine and beer served for free. The flights to Japan have mixed Finnish/Japanese crews, generally their service is rather good.

P.S
Your LHR-HEL leg shows A321, a panorama view:

http://www.finnair.fi//filecontent/common/fleet/a321/a321_economy.htm

Great, thanks so much for the info.

I've been trying to decide which ticket to buy for about two weeks and have had a ridiculously difficult time deciding. I have never flown Finnair before but they really beat the competition for this route--not only is the fare (relatively) cheap at £600, but I will get Aadvantage miles + the elite bonus miles, which is great!

I'd love to have the possibility of extending the trip which I won't because of the 6 month maximum stay, but the 12,000 miles I will get each way will put me significantly closer to an award to go back. :)

Thanks for the visual--looks nice enough to me! Are the Tokyo flights usually completely full?

Just go with Finnair. I like their service, their planes are new, HEL is a breeze and - as you said - you'll get AA miles. Are the other (more expensive) options MUCH better?!

Y-class seat of AY's A343 is hard as a stone.

Always when I see these "what's AY Y-class / J-class like" threads here I wonder why this board doesn't have a sticky with this basic info that's asked almost every week..?

Who's the moderator here or do we have one?

That would be awesome. I did search before posting this, but didn't find anything useful...

Is there any reason I shouldn't book this with ebookers rather than Finnair directly? It's even cheaper that way but I am not sure if I still get the miles...

You will get the miles also via a Ebookers booking.

Thanks all! I've just booked my first AY flight. :)

Thanks all! I've just booked my first AY flight. :)

Great! Come back here and tell us briefly about the experience when you've completed your journey? :)

Giblet, I think we may well be going for the same reason ;)

I'm flying LHR-HEL-NRT on Weds 7th Oct (and back a different route on Sun 11th, from Haneda to Osaka then back to HEL). If you're flying out the same day, PM me and I'll pass on my mobile no, as I think I should be able to guest you into the lounge by virtue of my BA silver card.

We're not going for the same reason unless you're also having a early onset midlife crisis! ;)

I'm flying the 14th and think I can use the lounge with my AA plat card. I hope your short trip is worth it--that's a long flight for only a few days in Japan! But a lot of miles. :)

We're not going for the same reason unless you're also having a early onset midlife crisis! ;)


Sorry - my mistake, I thought I "knew" you from another (Scottish football) message board.

I'm going for the Japan v Scotland match on Sat 10th - my wife was made redundant (all good as she walked into a better job) and is treating herself to the Japanese Grand Prix (the preceding weekend), some sightseeing and then the football. I only have a handful of leave days left, but she's footing the bill to fly me out too :D

Enjoy your trip ^

Any suggestions for decent seats in Y on the A343?

Do you think there's any chance of getting upgraded? I know the answer is no, but hope springs eternal. I'm a OW sapphire.

edit* Also, what's the story with 55H? On the AY seating chart it looks amazing (no one next to you). On the seatguru chart it's flush with the other seat in that row. I assume seatguru is probably right... http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Finnair/Finnair_Airbus_A340-300.php

We're not going for the same reason unless you're also having a early onset midlife crisis! ;)

I'm flying the 14th and think I can use the lounge with my AA plat card. I hope your short trip is worth it--that's a long flight for only a few days in Japan! But a lot of miles. :)

Were there any R fares available? 1.5 EQP and great fares. I'm off to HKG in February for just £335.

I just had a look at Finnair's seat chart for the A343: http://www.finnair.fi/filecontent/common/A340LQB.pdf

55H looks like just another standard Y seat, but what about 55D? A friend of mine who flew to Tokyo on an A343 had that seat and said only good things about it, definitely the most legroom in Y.

Any suggestions for decent seats in Y on the A343?

Do you think there's any chance of getting upgraded? I know the answer is no, but hope springs eternal. I'm a OW sapphire.

edit* Also, what's the story with 55H? On the AY seating chart it looks amazing (no one next to you). On the seatguru chart it's flush with the other seat in that row. I assume seatguru is probably right... http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Finnair/Finnair_Airbus_A340-300.php

55D is already booked on my flight, as are the exit rows.

And Blueboys999, you got a way better deal than me. ;)