henry999

heh heh

I first flew into HEL in 1992. Then it was small and compact. Nowadays ... not so much.

Ed Size

For me it s just the other way round, I file the service under minor issues, the seat is just not working for me, I m tall and have large feets (Size 12,5), they just don´t fit into the tunnel.

At my recognition, the service issues started with the A 350 (I guess it s because they can t use the trolleys no more).

Before they started in row one had more or less anything on the trolley and go onwards to the end of the cabin. Now the FA first goes to seat 1A asked the pax about his needs, go back to the galley and bring the needed meal to pax 1A, the same procedure with every seat. So going back and forward twice to each seat to bring the meal - way slower then the "I have everything on the trolley option".

Also once they in row 3 or 4, the pax in row 1 or 2 start asking for more water, wine, beer whatsoever - and they also take care about those pax before proceeding the meal service.

Also before the FAs are responsible for the mini cabin, start to serve the main cabin from the back, once they are done with their job, now they need longer time in the back, so they may could help for only for little time in in the main cabin.

When at our recent flight, they stopped serving pre-take-off drinks in row 5 and in row 7 - when the pilot told them to be ready for take-off.

NoWindowSeat

Ed, you hit the nail on the head. This is exactly how I feel about the AY A350. It is ok for a day flight if seated in the first 2 rows. Anything else is not working, seat sucks for sleeping (a big guy, too) and the service is very slow for the reasons you mention.

Steve_Hun

Have only limited experience w/ A350, but that is positive (maybe I had low expectations due to the very low opinion people on FT are having about the AY A350).

Did fly HEL-SIN-HEL in J in April and (maybe I just got lucky with the crew), but was pretty happy with the service. After taking my seat FA came and asked if I'd like pre-departure drink. Also, prior to departure they took my meal order, so there was no "going back and forward twice to each seat to bring the meal ". On both routes my order was taken first (was not sitting in row 1), so can only assume that it was an indirect status recognition. On the SIN-HEL flight also purser came to talk to me after take off, asking me to contact her if there is anything they can do to make my flight more comfortable.

Regarding the seat issue, I was all prepared for not fitting in it at all (193 cm w/ feet size 46), but turned to my side I actually had a pretty good sleep and was able to spend the whole day at the office after landing in Helsinki, without any issues. Don't get me wrong, I was cramped, but not to the level that it would have seariously bothered me.

Leaping_Deere

Well compared to somewhere like LHR or ORD it's small and compact

Ed Size

It is status recognition, my Plat ended 1st of Jan and I lost this perks, while my wife still got them until April (her Plat expired by May).

And also on the mentioned flight, the FAs took good care about two or three pax not seated in row 1.

amnicoll

I am convinced - despite the Manchester/Helsinki leg and on the long haul not too worried about space as not tall

With tight connections is Finnair good at getting luggage on same flight as you (not worried on return leg but real pain for me on outward leg if it goes missing)

intuition

They are IMHO excellent.

NoWindowSeat

Second to that. I have been flying extensively with AY for 20 years+ and only lost luggage twice, in conjuction with AY. Once connecting from AF to AY and once connecting from AY to AA and in both cases the luggage was lost by the other carrier's ground handling. But, I must admit, I rarely connect AY-AY and that is what really matters.

Ed Size

Lost my luggage once, and it was partly my fault, got two 150€ prepaid credit cards and the luggage was in my hotel 24 hours late. Traveling since 15 years with AY and had up to 16 returns a year. So there is no problem even if the UK connections tight sometimes I would not bother.

Leaping_Deere

had 50 minute connection coming from LHR to BKK via HLL and bags made it

Courmisch

Finnair delayed my luggage twice, AY-CX at HKG and BA-AY at LHR.

I am not sure if HEL-based people (including me) can really judge on the likelihood of Finnair losing bags though. That should concern passengers in HEL more.

Cupart

HEL: Great for connections even with less than 1 hour as many have already said.
AY J HEL-BKK//BKK-HEL: Be prepared for backpackers getting upgraded from Y to J (and if you are lucky their friends left behind in Y will come running on and off without any interference from the crew = at least that was my impression).
AY A350 J: I like the seats (same "type" as CX uses I believe) and the cabin is actually very quiet (I like it much better than the B788 tbh)

Just my 2 cents...

amnicoll

thanks every one very helpful -

Sisyphus1carus

Hi,
Do rows 1 & 9 plus the windows seats in row 10 on the A350 xwb have more room for your feet when in the lie-flat bed position than in other rows ?
Cheers.