Flying to the mystical FAROE ISLANDS - UPDATE w/ PICS + VIDEO
 

Hello everyone,

after years and years of reading all your exciting trip reports, I decided it was time for me to contribute as well. So please have patience with this very first attempt and I welcome all sort of constructive feedback. For this trip I also created a video trip report, where I was very lucky to witness a stunning landing approach to the Faroe Islands. If you would like to see that, you are welcome to check my video. Now let's get to it.




Flight details
August 20th 2018
CPH - FAE
SK1777
11.00-12.15
Airbus a320neo
28F
In August this year I took a trip to the Faroe Islands to hike. Living in Copenhagen gave me two options for the flights. Either Scandinavian Airlines or the Faroese Atlantic Airways. My priority was to book with Atlantic Airways, as that would mean a new airline would be checked off on my list. However, as I wanted to travel in the high summer season I knew that price would be the deciding factor. In February I saw a facebook post of a SAS deal for 700DKK one way and I did not want to take my chances and decided to lock the deal.


Six months later, on August 20th I find myself at Copenhagen Airport. For some days, I have been thinking about buying a seat to secure a window seat, as I wanted to film a video trip report as well and get good take off and landing footage. At the end I did not buy a seat and it also turned out not to be necessary, because you can actually chose your seat for free while checking in on your phone. At the airport I scanned my phone at a small bag tag machine which looked more like a ticket machine at a bus stop and I got my bag tag. Now, I really like to think of myself as a modern guy who is up for the challenges of the modern world and I am a big fan of everything digital, but I have to admit that I have been avoiding for years the self-service check-in. I rarely fly with a bag, so I always just check in on my phone and go straight to security. I was always convinced that if I put the bag tag on myself, I would mess up somehow and my bag would end up circumnavigating the globe and I would never see it again. Ever. It was time however to toughen up and face this enigma. I did it. Bag tag on, I scanned it, waved it goodbye and proudly marched to the security check.


As a proper aviation geek I was airside 2 hours before departure, so I could stroll around and do some filming. I only fly approximately ten times per year, so when I can, I make sure that I am at the airport in good time to enjoy a bit the airport buzz. Each time there is a must stop for a carrot-ginger juice and then I'm ready to explore and film. Copenhagen Airport is beautiful, but definitely in need of the expansion that it is undergoing at the moment, because the amount of passengers surprises me each time I am there. The departure was from the SAS concourse D and the boarding went very smooth.

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SAS heavies at Copenhagen Airport


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Planespotting at CPH


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Once on board, I was very surprised how fast we were off the gate and the taxiing also took less then 5 minutes. In no time we were in the air. I even had the thought that maybe SAS uses the D concourse because its location ensures the shortest taxiing time to the runways. That however is just my own consiracy theory, I do not know that for a fact. The take off was somewhat windy and turbulent. I was in 28F surrounded by an Italian tourist group. It is always a bit awkward when I try to film in public, because I want to capture as much as I can, but at the same time respect other people's privacy. The Italian ladies seemed however completely unbothered, which was great for me :D


I am an Airbus guy, so I was very excited for my first 320neo flight. SAS has a very simple, clean interior. The cabin felt cozy and definitely a huge upgrade from my previous experience with them. Although I have to admit it is definitely because the aircraft was relatively new and felt fresh and bright. In the span of the last 10 years I flew their CRJ900 to Prague, MD81 to Vienna and 737 to Oslo and a321 to Manchester. I am always excited to try out different aircraft types, but this airline never made a great impression on me to be honest. The aircrafts felt worn and I was not lucky to have a service that would be memorable in any way. This time was different. I am sure that the aircraft helped too, but even the service and the crew seemed much friendlier and more dedicated than before. In European economy they serve free coffee or tea and they did refills as well along the journey. I liked the design of their cup so much I kept it as a souvenir :D I also got myself a chicken sandwich for 55DKK (7.4 EUR), which was tasty, however it would be no problem for me to down five of them in a row in order not to feel hungry anymore.


For years the inflight magazine of Norwegian was unbeatable in my own rankings, because I thought they had interesting articles and an original editorial design (maybe someone else also appreciates the red N letter and the way they use it through the magazine?...sorry these small details make my life full). This time however, Scandinavian Traveller got close. Maybe I just got lucky with an interesting issue, but I dug into it and read all the way until I felt that the plane started the descent. I grabbed my phone and started filming again. Of course I have watched a couple of videos landing on the Faroe Islands, but I was not prepared for this sort of stunning view. As we were approaching the airport, which is situated on Vágar island, we flew past other islands. The islands' peaks were covered with creamy, foamy clouds and at the same time there was a bright sunlight hitting them. What a great sight. I am always very happy landing in Copenhagen, because the bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden is such a beautiful view for someone who loves architecture, but this landing was just special. The captain announced that we should be prepared for a bumpy landing. It did not feel particularly violent, but we did break hard from the moment we touched the runway. After getting my bag I had over an hours waiting time for the bus to the capital Torshavn. I got myself some coffee and watched the plane do the turn around and take off back to Copenhagen. From the airport you can get a shuttle bus to the capital city Torshavn. The journey takes 1 hour. Or you can use the helicopter shuttle, that takes 12 minutes. This time I took the bus, but two days later I was already sitting in the Atlantic Airways helicopter flying from Torshavn to the island of Suduroy, but more about that in my upcoming trip report.

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Landing on the Faroe Islands
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Landing


I hope you enjoyed my first report and if you would also like to see that stunning landing I mentioned, you are welcome to check my video.

Fly safe everyone,
Dominik

Thanks, Dominik and welcome to FlyerTalk.

The Faroe Islands are on my travel "bucket list".
Safe Travels.

Hopefully someone with better knowledge than me, can help you with regard to the photos. Would love to see them.
Great start to your TR so far!

Looking forward to seeing more photos - great trip report from a place high on my list!

Excellent debut, I look forward to more - as soon as you mentioned helicopter transfers are possible I hoped one of those would be part of your trip.

You shot this just on a phone?

Hi,

thanks. Yes, it was shot on iPhone 8 plus. And yes, helicopter transfers are very comfortable and affordable on the Faroe Islands. I am at the moment editing that video and will post it with a TR as soon as it's ready.

Bests,
Dominik