CMK10, cistavoda, Flying Yazata, and TedToToe :

Are you joining us? :)

excellent suggestion to think ahead re restaurants and thank you for volunteering! :)

We would be very happy to eat with the group (or subset of if we split into several groups) but it isn't an issue if we can't. If we do split up then it would be good to have an arranged time/place for a rendezvous after eating for a bit of a social for those that fancy it but again, not the end of the world if not :)

What is the best lounge in T3 for breakfast? Normally for a day flight I would choose the BA F lounge for champers and CX for noodles but this one is early and so for breakfast it might be different :)

Where will others be going before the BA794?

The journey time difference between the trains to the central railway station is just 5 mins so it is usually advisable to take whatever train arrives first.

good question. QF doesn't open until 8am so that's not an option. I find CX F these days takes a while and breakfast is my least favourite. meal there. CX J is ok - not quite full English but sausages, usually some egg option, tomatoes etc and of course pastry etc.

Controversially, AA F can be decent for breakfast (though obviously lacks any charm). and then there's the BA lounges for those who like eggs that have never been near a chicken and come out of a tube.....

For anyone who wants to go on the walking tour on Saturday 1st February, please register at https://www.freewalkingtourshelsinki...tours-helsinki (This is probably not necessary for individuals, but if twenty of us turn up unannounced it might be a bit of a surprise to them.)

For those who haven't done one of these before, a 10-20 EUR tip in cash per person to the guide is typically expected at the end of the tour (unless it's completely rubbish).

Did I miss Helsinki getting annexed by Sweden? :)

Oops :)

Done :)

I see, another way to make extra bucks off the books. ;) Hmm, should I offer to do one for the DO and accept Avios payments... :D

I have been very tempted for the past month to join in, but I have been dead silent about it in this thread. I'm preoccupied until 4 PM and at the earliest in Helsinki around 6-6:30 PM. Of course I can cancel the other program and be vacant all day, but I haven't done any moves regarding my itinerary for the day, since I have no idea what your intentions are for Saturday. Sure, a local BAEC DO would be natural to attend, taken I'm one of the very few locals that are both BAEC members and FT'ers. :) The timing isn't the best one for me.

We only got rid of the Swedes (by the Russians) in 1809 - maybe an old habit?

No obligations, you can swing by for a beer or join us for food in the evening or whatever suits you. I think meeting a local would be great!

We will do a walking tour on Saturday morning, have a long lunch, and then there's a museum or two I'll probably go to, with anyone who wants to join me.

I'll continue to ponder my own schedule for Saturday, but if I do attend, then I expect arriving after my earlier commitment. I will be driving, but I don't mind drinking non alcoholic drinks, as long as the company is great. :) Drop me a PM too, in case I attend in the evening.

In terms of museums, I do of course recommend the Finnish Aviation Museum near HEL (the airport, that is), in case aviation is of interest (more than Avios and TPs ;) ). It's by no means as good as e.g. Duxford, but speaking of commerical airliners, there's a AY Convair 440 Metropolitan, a Kar-Air Lockheed Lodestar and a Kar-Air DC-3. Not much, but perhaps of interest. And of course tens of smaller planes.

Nice idea!

If there's somewhere to leave a bag, it might be convenient to do that on Sunday morning.