24/05, AY1331 LHR-HEL OH-LWF
The arrivals lounge showers at Heathrow still resemble a mixture of a slightly dystopia future and bad hospital cubicles. But after an overnight flight, there's something to be said about having a shower listening to radio 4. You know just to get the British accent back in your ear!
The breakfast was very average. The only option is to order via the QR codes on the tables, there is no buffet currently. The problem is that it was very slow. I was sat close to the kitchen and heard them shout my order number a few times before it came out. I think the whole process lasted about 15-20 minutes. The eggs were cold and just a sludge. They were never "haute cuisine" but I feel they're going down again. To be honest the rest was pretty lukewarm.
I then hopped on the Heathrow express for the short journey to T3, got my documents checked at the Finnair desk and went through fast track security. There were loads of families with all sorts of issues, not least a pushchair which would fit through the x-ray machine. A row almost erupted, but the security agent decided it was time to deescalate. They used so many trays that there was no room on the other side to clear the backlog. I think the manager handled it well. I guess the logistics of going on holidays with 2 families and 5 children (I may have lost count) are challenging!
If you have a "bad habit" like I do, buying tobbaco in duty free means going back against the flow in the big snaking duty free area. Not the end of the world I guess but a shop in the main departure area would be a good idea.
I went to the Cathy Pacific lounge, in the first class section which is arguably the nicest lounge at Heathrow. I tried the Amex Centurion lounge a few weeks back, it's really not bad but the views here are stunning if you like to see planes take off! (for the regulars, unfortunately the throne seat just left of mine was taken!)
Tiredness is starting to creep in now, I didn't sleep too well on the TATL flight, so this is going to be interesting. Coming back east is always hardest in terms of jetlag, but having to "unwind" the flights I took on the outbound is even more challenging. That plus the prospect of a very short night in a Malaga airport hotel before I head back is sounding less and less appealing. Still, my bag is (hopefully) in the hold of an AY A350, so I can't really back out. Plus I don't want to end this report in a failure!
Anyway, after a carbonated sugary drink in CX F (Laurent Perrier is great but I really didn't feel like it at 9am. I know...) boarding started at gate 5. I arrived to a gate with no queue and the holding pen pretty much full, just as boarding was called for groups 1 and 2 together so I almost walked straight on.
Boarding complete at 1022, after quite a few shakes of the aircraft as cargo was loaded. Now to stay awake for a little while longer! I'm trying not to nap, but then again it'd be a shame not to use the flat bed. Especially with a four and a half hour in an economy seat after that. I'm thinking Finnair should fly the A350 to Malaga. Tonight's looks really full, and I'm getting long haul tier points aren't I?
Pushback happened at 1031. Take off from 27L at 10:48.
The food service started with a hot towel, and then a single tray with some roast beef, vegetable pasta and a cookie. Tasty and enough food for a 3h flight. The portions were quite generous.
And then I fell asleep. Oh well!
We touched down at 15:13, and had a really slow taxi, but this is something I've noticed at Helsinki before. We arrived at one of the furthest gates in the non-Schengen area. I made my way slowly towards the Finnair lounge.