Dec 24, 2018, 3:54 pm
Last edit by: mpkz
The following AY short and middle haul flights are currently operated by widebodies:
AY1331/1332 HEL-LHR-HEL, A359, DAY1337/1338 HEL-LHR-HEL, A333, D
AY1411/1412 HEL-FRA-HEL, A359, 6 (until 29OCT22)
AY1963/1964 HEL-DXB-HEL, A330, 135 (during winter 22-23)
As a rule, service will be the usual AY shorthaul concept both in Y and J, with the exception of IFE (available free of charge to all, with cheap in-ear headphones provided in J and Y) and internet (longhaul rules apply, ie Plats get free wifi for the duration of the flight, Golds and J get one hour). Y+ seats are sold as extra legroom seats with no special service, but cannot be chosen free of charge unless you're Plat or Lumo.
DXB is an exception, see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/finn...dubai-dxb.html for details.
Widebodies on non-longhaul flights
Dec 24, 2018, 3:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Widebodies on non-longhaul flights
As we're seeing AY increasingly utilizing their A330 and A359 aircraft on shorthaul routes, I believe a dedicated thread would be in order to gather all info and questions in one place. The wiki contains the current and planned schedule as well as service, and all shorthaul widebody related discussion could go below, instead of being scattered around several topics.
DXB is the odd man out here as it has traditionally been considered shorthaul in AY's books, and still is, sort of, but J service more resembles a heavily reduced longhaul than a shorthaul.
DXB is the odd man out here as it has traditionally been considered shorthaul in AY's books, and still is, sort of, but J service more resembles a heavily reduced longhaul than a shorthaul.
Mar 22, 2019, 2:14 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Interesting point to note: AY seems to charge Golds for EconomyComfort seats even on shorthaul flights.
I booked AY1331 back when I was Plat. Now, flying as Gold, my App check-in went through without problems, seat 21A, but normal OLCI refused to print me a BP unless I paid €45.
I called AY and Janica verified that this is intentional, Y+ seats are chargeable even on short flights. However, she waived the fee for me this time (after talking to somebody else) so all is good.
Another interesting point to note: AY is selling cash upgrades on this flight for €200. Wow.
I booked AY1331 back when I was Plat. Now, flying as Gold, my App check-in went through without problems, seat 21A, but normal OLCI refused to print me a BP unless I paid €45.
I called AY and Janica verified that this is intentional, Y+ seats are chargeable even on short flights. However, she waived the fee for me this time (after talking to somebody else) so all is good.
Another interesting point to note: AY is selling cash upgrades on this flight for €200. Wow.
Mar 22, 2019, 4:43 am
#5
Join Date: May 2012
Location: GVA (HEL)
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 536
Mar 22, 2019, 8:41 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Geek platinum
Posts: 2,004
Mar 22, 2019, 5:04 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Location: GVA (HEL)
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 536
Mar 24, 2019, 8:46 am
#8
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
During the ”plat-chat” J purser on KEF-HEL told this week that the route might go to 359 at least partly as the demand from Asia is crazy strong to Iceland..no surprise tourism is close to 50% of their GDP..
Mar 24, 2019, 8:55 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
I recall reading something about this perhaps a year or two ago. A magazine interview or something... I thought it was really surprising, considering how new the route is. 25k return award in J on the 359 doesn't sound too bad, although I don't really miss Iceland, which I visited in 1994.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:36 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,749
Smart move from AY re:LHR. Most pax will get there on time, some might have to take the later flight. Cargo probably isn't bothered by a small delay.
OH-LGG, did you have the dates (season and days of operation) for Winter 19/20 widebody service to DXB? If yes, could you amend the Wiki? I just updated it.
Apr 11, 2019, 7:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: mostly MEL
Programs: QF WP LTG, HHonors Diamond, NZ Gold
Posts: 1,750
Very infrequent AY flyer but took the A319 HEL-LHR (AY1335) followed by the A330 LHR-HEL (AY1338) in J over the last two weeks and enjoyed the A319 much more.
Apart from the Y seat and IFE, I found the A319 experience far better, probably aided by a J cabin less than half populated versus a full A330 J cabin on the return. The F&B service was far more personalised, thought the quality better (loved the smoked fish magnificent compared with the bland white-fish dish). Many revisits by the two dedicated A319 crew (I had to pare them back as I was driving ex-LHR).
Very efficient delivery of luggage at LHR (yes .... at LHR !!!) ex the 319 which I'm not sure you'd get with a WB.
The *only* downside for me was the use of a remote gate for boarding the A319 - on a very quiet Saturday afternoon - I guess AY don't make space at the non-Schengen gates for narrowbodies if they can park a WB there for the day.
That apart, and on the evidence of 1 sector each, give me a NB against a WB on EU routes everyday!
Regards,
BD
Apart from the Y seat and IFE, I found the A319 experience far better, probably aided by a J cabin less than half populated versus a full A330 J cabin on the return. The F&B service was far more personalised, thought the quality better (loved the smoked fish magnificent compared with the bland white-fish dish). Many revisits by the two dedicated A319 crew (I had to pare them back as I was driving ex-LHR).
Very efficient delivery of luggage at LHR (yes .... at LHR !!!) ex the 319 which I'm not sure you'd get with a WB.
The *only* downside for me was the use of a remote gate for boarding the A319 - on a very quiet Saturday afternoon - I guess AY don't make space at the non-Schengen gates for narrowbodies if they can park a WB there for the day.
That apart, and on the evidence of 1 sector each, give me a NB against a WB on EU routes everyday!
Regards,
BD
Apr 12, 2019, 12:24 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, SK Gold
Posts: 954
The reason for using remote stands on narrow-body flights to LHR is that if the plane arrives from a Schengen destination, it can't be parked on a non-Schengen gate.