Now here's a question: in the latest issue of American Way, Mr. Arpey extols HEL's great location as a gateway to Asia.

http://www.americanwaymag.com/vantage-point-02-01-2011

While this was a bigger deal in the days when Soviet airspace was off limits, with AA's dismal coverage of Asia, we take what we can get.

Looking quickly at schedules, ORD-HEL arrives 8.30am, and AY flights to HKG and BKK depart late evening. Not exactly ideal connections. And is there any likelihood that AA will offer reasonable fares ORD-Asia with HEL as a valid stopover? Or put an AA code on AY flights HEL-Asia? Or am I just setting the bar too high in expecting this column to match reality?