Finnair going low cost
Jun 3, 2012, 2:27 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,603
The cheapest C class prices between Helsinki and Manchester are 1500 €, so no one buys them. Lower the prices to 700 € and I can think of that if the service is good and I need the miles.
In June there are only few days when you can find Y class tickets on AY for 297 €, some combinations are offered for 347/395 €. 495/500 +/ even 695€ appear quite often when you look at www.finnair.com. And these examples are the lowest bookable prices for the day which are shown by their booking engine. It seems that the passengers flying point-to-point pay the highest prices and get the lousiest service and Asian connecting passengers pay almost nothing for the HEL-MAN leg and get better service.
Not offering free soft-drinks and coffee/tea is really bad. Even SAS offer free coffee and tea. And SAS sell also Economy Extra for those passengers who appreciate service.
In June there are only few days when you can find Y class tickets on AY for 297 €, some combinations are offered for 347/395 €. 495/500 +/ even 695€ appear quite often when you look at www.finnair.com. And these examples are the lowest bookable prices for the day which are shown by their booking engine. It seems that the passengers flying point-to-point pay the highest prices and get the lousiest service and Asian connecting passengers pay almost nothing for the HEL-MAN leg and get better service.
Not offering free soft-drinks and coffee/tea is really bad. Even SAS offer free coffee and tea. And SAS sell also Economy Extra for those passengers who appreciate service.
Jun 4, 2012, 8:19 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
I was in Y on the E90 to MAN yesterday. This is how the concept works in practice:
You pay for everything. Water is 2€, cheaper than at HEL Duty Free Shop.
There are several cold food options, such as a bagel, a cheese platter, a cold cuts platter etc. The menu card presents these quite nicely on real tableware, but in reality they come in a plastic throw-away case. Prices are ridiculously high. I took the menu with me with the purpose of scanning it and uploading it here but I will be travelling to late June so it's gonna take a while.
I'm not sure about removing the ovens since there are pizzas on the menu, too. OTOH, it wouldn't suprise me if AY tried to sell cold pizzas as an innovation contributing to the environment
The new concept created confusion and negative feedback among the passengers sitting close to me. Also the fact that the old menucard used on European and Domestic flights was still in the seatpocket contributed to the confusion. The flight attendant was very apologetic — it was her first day working with the "trial concept" and she seemed downright embarrassed about the whole system. Sad to see, since AY cabin crew used to be proud of what they do and of their airline. Not so anymore.
The FA also told me that the free service in J also uses throw-away plastic, no tableware and silverware anymore. Glasses are still real in J, however.
There was no announcement nor did I see anyone getting free catering due to Asian connections, but this was a morning flight so there probably weren't any connecting passengers from Asia.
I don't really see how AY thinks they can make a business of offering a low-cost concept with prices of a legacy carrier. This is not going to end well.
You pay for everything. Water is 2€, cheaper than at HEL Duty Free Shop.
There are several cold food options, such as a bagel, a cheese platter, a cold cuts platter etc. The menu card presents these quite nicely on real tableware, but in reality they come in a plastic throw-away case. Prices are ridiculously high. I took the menu with me with the purpose of scanning it and uploading it here but I will be travelling to late June so it's gonna take a while.
I'm not sure about removing the ovens since there are pizzas on the menu, too. OTOH, it wouldn't suprise me if AY tried to sell cold pizzas as an innovation contributing to the environment
The new concept created confusion and negative feedback among the passengers sitting close to me. Also the fact that the old menucard used on European and Domestic flights was still in the seatpocket contributed to the confusion. The flight attendant was very apologetic — it was her first day working with the "trial concept" and she seemed downright embarrassed about the whole system. Sad to see, since AY cabin crew used to be proud of what they do and of their airline. Not so anymore.
The FA also told me that the free service in J also uses throw-away plastic, no tableware and silverware anymore. Glasses are still real in J, however.
There was no announcement nor did I see anyone getting free catering due to Asian connections, but this was a morning flight so there probably weren't any connecting passengers from Asia.
I don't really see how AY thinks they can make a business of offering a low-cost concept with prices of a legacy carrier. This is not going to end well.
Jun 4, 2012, 9:32 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 406
Occasionally, Finnair have had some business class sales ex-Helsinki to Bangkok and New York. Would be delighted to see something similar within Europe. Until then I need to stick with "upgrade by points", because I would definitely not pay the normal prices. And if the Manchester concept spreads, probably won't bother to upgrade with points either...
Jun 4, 2012, 10:50 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AYPlat, BASilver, SQG
Posts: 456
I was in Y on the E90 to MAN yesterday. This is how the concept works in practice:
You pay for everything. Water is 2€, cheaper than at HEL Duty Free Shop.
There are several cold food options, such as a bagel, a cheese platter, a cold cuts platter etc. The menu card presents these quite nicely on real tableware, but in reality they come in a plastic throw-away case. Prices are ridiculously high. I took the menu with me with the purpose of scanning it and uploading it here but I will be travelling to late June so it's gonna take a while.
I'm not sure about removing the ovens since there are pizzas on the menu, too. OTOH, it wouldn't suprise me if AY tried to sell cold pizzas as an innovation contributing to the environment
The new concept created confusion and negative feedback among the passengers sitting close to me. Also the fact that the old menucard used on European and Domestic flights was still in the seatpocket contributed to the confusion. The flight attendant was very apologetic — it was her first day working with the "trial concept" and she seemed downright embarrassed about the whole system. Sad to see, since AY cabin crew used to be proud of what they do and of their airline. Not so anymore.
The FA also told me that the free service in J also uses throw-away plastic, no tableware and silverware anymore. Glasses are still real in J, however.
There was no announcement nor did I see anyone getting free catering due to Asian connections, but this was a morning flight so there probably weren't any connecting passengers from Asia.
I don't really see how AY thinks they can make a business of offering a low-cost concept with prices of a legacy carrier. This is not going to end well.
You pay for everything. Water is 2€, cheaper than at HEL Duty Free Shop.
There are several cold food options, such as a bagel, a cheese platter, a cold cuts platter etc. The menu card presents these quite nicely on real tableware, but in reality they come in a plastic throw-away case. Prices are ridiculously high. I took the menu with me with the purpose of scanning it and uploading it here but I will be travelling to late June so it's gonna take a while.
I'm not sure about removing the ovens since there are pizzas on the menu, too. OTOH, it wouldn't suprise me if AY tried to sell cold pizzas as an innovation contributing to the environment
The new concept created confusion and negative feedback among the passengers sitting close to me. Also the fact that the old menucard used on European and Domestic flights was still in the seatpocket contributed to the confusion. The flight attendant was very apologetic — it was her first day working with the "trial concept" and she seemed downright embarrassed about the whole system. Sad to see, since AY cabin crew used to be proud of what they do and of their airline. Not so anymore.
The FA also told me that the free service in J also uses throw-away plastic, no tableware and silverware anymore. Glasses are still real in J, however.
There was no announcement nor did I see anyone getting free catering due to Asian connections, but this was a morning flight so there probably weren't any connecting passengers from Asia.
I don't really see how AY thinks they can make a business of offering a low-cost concept with prices of a legacy carrier. This is not going to end well.
And how frustrated are people in J if they get their cold meal in plastic on a rather longish flight like MAN... Especially in E90 which is cramped in J anyway.
Jun 4, 2012, 11:25 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Correct. I had entertained customers from BBK in Lappland. HEL-IVL-HEL - 440+€ in Y Same flights booked on top of BKK-HEL ticket - 110€ extra. The same non-existant service though...
Jun 4, 2012, 1:48 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: AY, SK, AF/KL + randomly others
Posts: 239
Jun 4, 2012, 1:49 pm
#24
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
at the same time they are talking about removing food services or handing out snack-packs...
Jun 4, 2012, 2:58 pm
#25
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
When have travelled a few miles down the road from the quality airline, that's for sure...
First to go were the menu cards. They were a nice touch, but of course I could survive without them. But I saved one for nostalgia.
So when we are handed the snack-pack, wrapped in glad pack, and we are paying for the drinks with cash only, we can think back to the good old times...
This is one of the J-menus ex HEL shorthaul euro-traffic about 2 years ago...
First to go were the menu cards. They were a nice touch, but of course I could survive without them. But I saved one for nostalgia.
So when we are handed the snack-pack, wrapped in glad pack, and we are paying for the drinks with cash only, we can think back to the good old times...
This is one of the J-menus ex HEL shorthaul euro-traffic about 2 years ago...
Jun 4, 2012, 4:07 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AFKL PLT, BA Gold, SK Gold, AY Gold, A3 Silver, LH FTL, IHG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 408
Could someone clarify once more that I got this right: If you are traveling
1) MAN-HEL-BKK, in Y you get a snack pack on the MAN-HEL flight
2) MAN-HEL, in Y you get nothing
?
What if you travel MAN-HEL-SVO/SVX or some other city, still nothing?
And, how does it work in practice, do the F/A's check each pax with manifest if they are entitled to the snack pack, or do pax need to show their onward boarding pass to get this treat?
Oh boy, if this is the case, I'm sure there will be lots of bad blood among the pax who are divided to different categories like this! This must be one of the stupidiest decisions by AY management ever, if this will become the new "service concept"!
1) MAN-HEL-BKK, in Y you get a snack pack on the MAN-HEL flight
2) MAN-HEL, in Y you get nothing
?
What if you travel MAN-HEL-SVO/SVX or some other city, still nothing?
And, how does it work in practice, do the F/A's check each pax with manifest if they are entitled to the snack pack, or do pax need to show their onward boarding pass to get this treat?
Oh boy, if this is the case, I'm sure there will be lots of bad blood among the pax who are divided to different categories like this! This must be one of the stupidiest decisions by AY management ever, if this will become the new "service concept"!
Jun 5, 2012, 7:26 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
1 yes
2 yes
3 yes, if connecting non-Asia you get nothing
Btw, the snackpack is nothing to write home about, at least if it is the same one that is offered as a Yumble Bunble snack box on the menu. Chips/crisps, bread sticks, crackers, cheese, nut-fruit bar, truffle, hummus.
Breakfast (cold cuts, cheese, egg slices, roll, youghurt, fruit) is 15€, bagel 7€, coffee 3€, combo of wine and sandwich 9€.
2 yes
3 yes, if connecting non-Asia you get nothing
Btw, the snackpack is nothing to write home about, at least if it is the same one that is offered as a Yumble Bunble snack box on the menu. Chips/crisps, bread sticks, crackers, cheese, nut-fruit bar, truffle, hummus.
Breakfast (cold cuts, cheese, egg slices, roll, youghurt, fruit) is 15€, bagel 7€, coffee 3€, combo of wine and sandwich 9€.
Jun 5, 2012, 9:18 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, OW Emerald, HH Diamond, PC Platinum, SPG Gold, Emerald Club Executive
Posts: 216
It looks like if you're thirsty and don't have any Euros, better get ready to drink the lav water
Jun 5, 2012, 10:12 pm
#30
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Priority Club Plat Amb, Miles and Smiles Elite
Posts: 5,294
Well, if they are really only trying out this concept, I do hope the response will be overwhelmingly negative.