AY 70 HKG-HEL (Hong Kong->Helsinki/Vantaa)
DEP HKG 01:30 29 DEC 2011
ARR HEL 06:30 29 DEC 2011
Flight Duration: 11:00
Aircraft: A340-300
Following my previous trip report, which was Korean Air B737-900ER ride from Seoul/Incheon to Hong Kong (Trip Report Link included) I headed to the Finnair check-in counters in Hong Kong Airport after a long, 6-hour layover in the airport. This trip would be the second flight of the return itinerary from Korea to Chicago. The whole trip itinerary was as follows:
(Click each flight segments for trip reports)
Outbound
Inbound
The aircraft for tonight would be Finnair A340. Tonight's aircraft were retrofitted with Finnair's new products, including the new economy class seats. Coincidentally, Finnair just showcased the new uniform week prior to tonight's flight, so I got to see the airline's new uniform in person.
The check-in counters for Finnair were opened at local time 22:30.
There were many Chinese passengers on today's flight, most of them probably bound for destinations in Europe other than Finland. I was probably the only one bound for USA on this flight.
I had some Grilled Chicken Burger by McDonald's after passing through passport control and security customs. The GCB is probably one of my favourite sandwiches by Mickey D's in a foreign country.
I received two boarding passes: one for AY 70 (Hong Kong to Helsinki) and one for AY 831 (Helsinki to London)
Finnair A340, which arrived from Helsinki earlier today at around 3PM, has been sitting on the airport ramp since then. The plane was taxied to tonight's departure gate, Gate 18, at local time 23:00.
I boarded the plane, which was about 50% full tonight, at about 1AM. At that time, a Jeju Air aircraft from Seoul/Incheon and Korean Air B737 from Busan/Gimhae just pulled into the airport gates. Korean Air A380-800, bound for Seoul/Incheon was getting ready for push-back.
Finnair's new economy seats were retrofitted for this A340. I apologize for not taking detailed pictures of the airline's new uniform.
This man ended up taking up all four seats on his row!
Safety brief information
The AVOD system was much newer than the one that was provided on the AY 60 flight.
Dinner was served shortly after take-off. Finnair did not carry menus aboard flight, but captain made announcements of the meals, with the details of each choices. I ended up choosing a beef dish sautéed slightly in curry sauce served with potatoes, green beans, and corn.
It may not look like it, but the flight was more than halfway done by this point.
The breakfast service started as the plane neared Moscow.
For breakfast, it was egg scramble, with two breakfast sausages, baked beans, steamed broccoli, fried potato wedges, and a muffin.
The plane was about to fly directly over St. Petersburg, Russia.
One hour before arrival.
I arrived into Helsinki/Vantaa Airport terminal at local time 6AM, ahead of schedule. The immigration and customs were breeze; despite many people arriving from different flights from other parts of Asia, the lines were kept short. I went to buy some Finnish snacks in the airport before heading toward my onward flight to London/Heathrow.
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