Trying other J classes
Jan 4, 2019, 5:12 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
For those on a tight budget and chasing status AY seem a good choice. However if UK based I suspect you have to be heading to Asia for that to work as their long haul network is very limited. I flew short haul economy with them in the 90's several times when positioning to and from cycle tours in the region.
Jan 4, 2019, 5:18 am
#17
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,429
Now not being a meterological expert, but being cold in HEL in late December shouldn't be that much of a shock.
I'm pursuing my compensation claim on exactly that basis, I'll let you know how that goes as you seem to be very upset by the fact that their awful handling of a delay ruined a lot of plans for a lot of people.
Jan 4, 2019, 5:27 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,530
There was no weather at HEL, it was simply cold.
Now not being a meterological expert, but being cold in HEL in late December shouldn't be that much of a shock.
I'm pursuing my compensation claim on exactly that basis, I'll let you know how that goes as you seem to be very upset by the fact that their awful handling of a delay ruined a lot of plans for a lot of people.
Now not being a meterological expert, but being cold in HEL in late December shouldn't be that much of a shock.
I'm pursuing my compensation claim on exactly that basis, I'll let you know how that goes as you seem to be very upset by the fact that their awful handling of a delay ruined a lot of plans for a lot of people.
Jan 4, 2019, 5:33 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
AY is used by many travellers whose choice is not necessarily shaped by budgetary concerns, or by status levels - but who just like to fly with quality airlines.
Jan 4, 2019, 5:38 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
The arrangements for poor weather in HEL are incredible; huge de-icing areas with dozens of trucks (we were there a good 20 minutes blowing the snow off the fuselage that had cemented itself overnight - it was windy). The apron seemed to be heated in places too? I’ve never seen so many snowploughs. Makes me a lot less nervous about delays flying out of there in winter compared to LHR.
It's a must anywhere here in the Nordics. You can't run reliable air traffic operations without proper arrangements for de-icing and gritting.
And without the reliability, there would be poor connectivity, not to mention AY couldn't run it's Asian expansion strategy. The same goes for airports in Lapland (KTT etc.). Any winter tourism would be in trouble. Having departed from HEL and arrived at HEL for years, I've never had trouble due to winter conditions. *knock, knock* Any issues have been elsewhere along the route.
Jan 4, 2019, 5:54 am
#22
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,429
I don't know the specifics of that flight, but the plane that was due to fly HEL-LHR-HEL (OH-LZD) got in late at HEL from ARN with a 3 hour delay at 1921 (It was on ground at ARN for 2:32). I suspect there might not have been a spare plane to operate the LHR service on time. However, that same plane could have left for LHR later, at ~8pm local and arrive at LHR at ~9pm local and depart again at ~10pm local and be in HEL by 3am+1.
At the last minute HEL just cancelled the rotation, leaving everyone in the lurch. Also meaning most people were stuck at the airport overnight with no way of getting home.
So don't anyone think that using HEL means you're immune to 'weather' delays.
Jan 4, 2019, 6:03 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 143
I don't know the specifics of that flight, but the plane that was due to fly HEL-LHR-HEL (OH-LZD) got in late at HEL from ARN with a 3 hour delay at 1921 (It was on ground at ARN for 2:32). I suspect there might not have been a spare plane to operate the LHR service on time. However, that same plane could have left for LHR later, at ~8pm local and arrive at LHR at ~9pm local and depart again at ~10pm local and be in HEL by 3am+1.
I'm surprised to hear that the flight was cancelled due to weather as HEL is known for operating in all conditions, was this the reason given by AY? They themselves are notorious for trying to get out of paying up under EU261 so bhbloke you might be in for a fight!
Jan 4, 2019, 6:11 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,530
Jan 4, 2019, 6:26 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 882
You can see the grey bit on the top of the foot cubby on the middle seats in that photo. It’s about 2” deep into the cubby but that made the difference for my feet! The bulkhead window seats (row 1 and row 10) don’t have it and so the foot cubby is slightly taller, which is a good thing. I guess it’s required to make space for a part of the seat in front. The other interesting thing about the window seats vs VN was that AY have fitted a sort of spacer panel (the thing with the grey plastic grates in your 10A photo) to fill any gap between the curve of the fuselage and the side of the seat, whereas VN haven’t, meaning the cubby feels much wider than it is on VN, like the sideless cubbies on IB or a bulkhead BA seat.
Jan 4, 2019, 8:20 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
For those on a tight budget and chasing status AY seem a good choice. However if UK based I suspect you have to be heading to Asia for that to work as their long haul network is very limited. I flew short haul economy with them in the 90's several times when positioning to and from cycle tours in the region.
Jan 18, 2019, 12:52 am
#28
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,429
I doubt that would be possible, crews would likely be out of hours and there wouldn't be the requisite staff at HEL to receive a flight at 3am (esp. one from outside the schengen zone).
I'm surprised to hear that the flight was cancelled due to weather as HEL is known for operating in all conditions, was this the reason given by AY? They themselves are notorious for trying to get out of paying up under EU261 so bhbloke you might be in for a fight!
I'm surprised to hear that the flight was cancelled due to weather as HEL is known for operating in all conditions, was this the reason given by AY? They themselves are notorious for trying to get out of paying up under EU261 so bhbloke you might be in for a fight!
First response arrived on Tuesday saying this was being investigated. On Wednesday a reply saying sorry, the aircraft was so delayed during the day we had to cancel in case we missed curfew at LHR. Would I like 400 euro or 550 euro Finnair vouchers.
Not a single wriggle trying to get out of it, so their claim process seems much better than their irrops!
Jan 18, 2019, 5:03 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,644