Finnair......The Best Route To Russia
Written: May 27 '02 (Updated May 27 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Scrupulously clean and efficient, excellent food and caring service
Cons: Some say that Finnair's staff is distant. I haven't really seen this...
The Bottom Line: A most impressive airline, its staff are remarkably efficient, its aircraft clean and its food is more than edible, even in coach.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Finnair |
My father and I flew with Finnair as part of a group from the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk. We were going to St. Petersburg, and flight arrangements had been booked through Finnair. having had no previous experience with this airline, I had only the generally positive reports of a couple of friends who had flown with Finnair.
Check-In, JFK
We arrived at the airport separately from the rest of the group, having flown up the day before. If traveling as part of a group, you may find that you will be treated better if you arrive separately. The herding instinct in the agents at the counter tends to prevent them form considering individual requests if you are part of a group. Also, be sure to dress well. I gave my standard, only slightly hopeful, request for an upgrade, "The flight looks full today. Any chance for an upgrade?" usually, this only begets an amused (or not so amused) stare from the agent and possibly an interjection about airline points. The perky and pleasant agent (actually, she was stunningly beautiful, or are my memories clouded?) said it would be just a moment. She vanished behind the partition, only to emerge a couple of minutes later with two Business Class boarding passes. She confided that she had upgraded us as we were dressed well, a point that is often missed by those who pine for the front cabin. It is certainly true that your request will be, at least. possibly considered if you are not wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Boarding
There wasn't time to visit the American Airlines business lounge where Finnair has arrangements in New York. We were soon filing aboard the MD 11 while the rest of the crowd milled about the departure gate.
The Cabin
The seats were soft, nut brown leather, and in a 2x2x2 configuration. We had a window and an aisle seat together. The flight attendant came round quickly to ask what we would have to drink. As I spied a bottle of not-too-bad champagne winking at me from the galley, I went for it. My Dad might have had a vermouth, his usual aperitif.
As for the seats, aside from being extremely comfortable, there was lots of space. The seat pitch is quite generous in Business Class, though considerably less so in Coach.
In the front cabin, we had in-seat video screens with about 10 movie channels, and there were numerous music channels. I nixed the Finnish pop in favor of Sibelius, though hearing Finlandia over and over can get on one's nerves.
For those in need of a telephone, the FinnLink telephone was built right into the seat. I can usually make it to wherever I am going without having the urge to use one of the in-flight phones, having learned the hard way.
Service
The flight got off to an excellent start, with magazines and newspapers being offered, They wasted no time in getting the drinks served as soon as we were airborne. On the flight over, I was very impressed with the service. The staff were very attentive and friendly. On our return, we were not able to secure seats in Business Class (it was full), but the service was still very good for Coach class. I accidentally ripped my suit on the armrest (the coach seating is as restrictive as any other airline) which had an oddly jagged piece of metal, nearly invisible, but destructive nonetheless. Our flight attendant really went out of her way to compensate, bringing us all sorts of gifts, candies, chocolates and even small bottles of champagne. I had not complained loudly, but merely wanted them to know about the jagged piece of metal. Their staff really went out of their way here.
Food
Obviously, there is a significant difference between Business Class and Coach Class. Our return flight featured quite edible food, but nothing especially out of the ordinary.
In business Class, dinner began with hors d'oeuvres, light salmon in pastry, and a selection of smoked fish served with rye crisps. My favorite was the crayfish served on toast points with chopped dill. This had been boiled and marinated with salt and dill beforehand, creating a light, subtle flavor.
The main course arrived with the salad, a bit uncivilized in my book, but excusable for an airline. The salad was relatively fresh for an airline.
We were offered our choice of reindeer steak with ligonberry sauce or sturgeon. I opted for the former, and found it to be not bad at all for 35.000 feet aloft. Though somewhat tough, the ligonberries were tart enough to overcome the rest of the sweetish sauce. The roesti that came along with this was slightly spicy and good.
The dessert was not especially remarkable, but was an acceptable selection of pastries. Cheese was served with strong coffee afterward, followed by petits fours.
They had a good selection of wines and even port with the cheese. Finnair is well known for their wine selection. During dinner, we were offered our choice of at least four whites and four reds. The airline does an extensive duty-free wine business at Vantaa Airport in Helsinki, so their access to good wines has some reasoning behind it. They maintain an astonishing 600 different wines in their cellars and rotate them.
Service was remarkably attentive for an airplane. As the meals were served from carts, the service approached that of a restaurant.
A light snack of fruit and cheese was offered before landing at Helsinki.
Little Extras
Small things are so often struck from airline budgets these days. This is why I was impressed with the presence of such items as a folder of letter paper and post cards in the seat flap (in Business Class). In coach, one had to ask for these items, but they were handed over with abandon. Playing cards were plentiful, and in the front cabin, we were given a large beige cloth amenity kit. The kit contained all sorts of unusual goodies. For starters, there was a bottle of misting spray, to combat dehydration. A razor with a blond wood handle and brass trim, a small wood-framed mirror, socks, lip balm, toothpaste, a wooden toothbrush and toothpaste etc.. Eye shades too, in the same off white fabric as the kit itself. A curious round tin of mentholated mints lasted for some time during the trip. These were very strong.
Cleanliness
The planes are as clean and scrubbed as you would expect anything in Finland to be. The bathrooms were particularly well monitored. The one in Business Class even had fresh cut flowers.
Cost
As we had flown with them as part of a group, I would venture that the cost of our tickets was in the neighborhood of $1200.00 each, quite reasonable from New York to St. Petersburg. The cost of a ticket in Business Class these days is considerably higher, approaching $3800.00 USD, still a considerable bargain when compared to, say, Lufthansa's prices.
Baggage
We encountered no difficulties with our luggage on this trip. Finnish efficiency proved itself on this trip.
Note
If you are planning a trip to Russia, you might consider flying through Helsinki with a stopover in either direction. While I have heard that the service on Aeroflot has improved in recent years, I would still suggest flying Finnair instead.
Finnair
Toll free 1-800-950-5000 (USA)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 443 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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