[Finnair] AY 70 HKG-HEL (Hong Kong->Helsinki/Vantaa) trip report [핀에어] AY 70 홍콩/첵립콕->헬싱키/반타 탑승기

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

ORD-LHR: AA 86 DEP 18:05 13DEC2011 ARR 07;55 14DEC2011

LHR-HEL: BA 794 DEP 11:20 14DEC2011 ARR 16:15 14DEC2011

HEL-HKG: AY 69 DEP 00:10 15DEC2011 ARR 15:20 15DEC2011

HKG-ICN: KE 608 DEP 00:55 16DEC2011 ARR 05:20 16DEC2011

Inbound

ICN-HKG: KE 601 DEP 13:45 28DEC2011 ARR 16:50 28DEC2011

HKG-HEL: AY 70 DEP 01:30 29DEC2011 ARR 06:30 29DEC2011

HEL-LHR: AY 831 DEP 08:00 29DEC2011 ARR 9:10 29DEC2011

LHR-ORD: AA 47 DEP 14:25 29DEC2011 ARR 18:30 29DEC2011

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.

Click here for my next flight, Finnair AY 831 from Helsinki, Finland to London/Heathrow, UK.

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USA to Korea with Finnair [Finnair] AY 69 HEL-HKG (Helsinki/Vantaa->Hong Kong) trip report [핀에어] AY 69 헬싱키/반타->홍콩/첵립콕 탑승기

AY 69 HEL-HKG (Helsinki/Vantaa->Hong Kong)

DEP HEL 00:10 15 DEC 2011

ARR HKG 15:20 15 DEC 2011

Flight Duration: 09:10

Aircraft: A340-300

Courtesy of www.flightaware.com

Following my flight with British Airways BA 794 from London/Heathrow to Helsinki/Vantaa (link provided) and an 8-hour layover in Helsinki, Finland (layover report to follow), I boarded the third flight of the 4-segment trip from Chicago/O'Hare to Seoul/Incheon. As a reminder the trip itinerary was as follows:

(Click each flight segments for trip reports)

Outbound

ORD-LHR: AA 86 DEP 18:05 13DEC2011 ARR 07;55 14DEC2011

LHR-HEL: BA 794 DEP 11:20 14DEC2011 ARR 16:15 14DEC2011

HEL-HKG: AY 69 DEP 00:10 15DEC2011 ARR 15:20 15DEC2011

HKG-ICN: KE 608 DEP 00:55 16DEC2011 ARR 05:20 16DEC2011

Inbound

ICN-HKG: KE 601 DEP 13:45 28DEC2011 ARR 16:50 28DEC2011

HKG-HEL: AY 70 DEP 01:30 29DEC2011 ARR 06:30 29DEC2011

HEL-LHR: AY 831 DEP 08:00 29DEC2011 ARR 9:10 29DEC2011

LHR-ORD: AA 47 DEP 14:25 29DEC2011 ARR 18:30 29DEC2011

The third flight was Finnair AY 69, which took me from Helsinki/Vantaa to Hong Kong. The flight was scheduled to depart after midnight, arriving into Hong Kong at local time 15:20.  This trip would mark my first time flying with Finnair, and I had a very pleasant experience with the airline.  It would also mark my first time ever flying an A340.

After strolling around Helsinki downtown, I boarded the city bus again back to Helsinki/Vantaa Airport. To check into my Hong Kong-bound flight, I went to Terminal 2.

Terminal 2 departures floor. The check-in counters for Finnair dominated the floor. The security checkpoint was located underneath the departures status screen.

Terminal 2 Departures floor.

Departures status screen and the security checkpoint below.

In Helsinki/Vantaa Airport, Gates 1-27 are in the domestic side of the terminal, while Gates 28-40 are designated for international flights.  All passengers, domestic or international, go through same security checkpoint into the domestic side of the terminal. The international passengers must walk toward the international side of the terminal. Between gates 27 and 28, there are passport control booths and a bridge that separates the international and domestic sides of the terminal.

Gate 34, where my Hong Kong-bound flight AY 69 would be departing from tonight.

Finnair's Airbus A340-300.

The economy section layout was 2-4-2. The seats, although looking a bit old, were pretty comfortable.

Each seats had TVs installed in them. The entertainment system reminded me of that of American Airlines plane that I took the day before.

Today's route to Hong Kong.

The first meal was served about 3-hours after take off. The entrée included beef steak with green peas and potatoes.  It was my first meal with Finnair and I was impressed with the high quality of the meat I tasted.

Flying over Kazakhstan.

The sun began to rise as we were flying into Chinese airspace. We had about six more hours to go.

The flight route seemed to avoid the mountains in the western China.

The scenes of Western China. The snow was covering the mountains.

two hours left in this flight.

The flight attendants three Hong Kong-based crew, all of them who served in the economy section of this flight. I would say about half of the passengers on today's flight were Asian. 

The drinks were served first. I took the orange juice.

Simple breakfast was consequently served. Muffin, sandwich, and yogurt was served.

Finnair A340 economy class view.

Slowly descending into Hong Kong.

The plane was flying over Guangzhou at this time.

Turning toward east over Macau.

Touchdown into Hong Kong at 15:10 local time.

The plane taxied toward Gate 18.

Next to us was a British Airways B747 which got here shortly before my plane.

The Finnair A340 which took me from Helsinki.

The newly opened Terminal 2 of Hong Kong.

The aviation discovery centre on the top floor of the terminal.

The museum showcased brief history of modern aviation in Hong Kong.

The life-sized cockpit room of B777.

Unfortunately, it was off-limits.

A worn-out replica of Cathay Pacific first class seats.

The model of Hong Kong International Airport.

I had some Taiwanese-style noodles before catching my next flight, a Korean Air Airbus A380-800 bound for Seoul/Incheon.

Click here for my next flight, Korean Air KE 608 from Hong Kong to Seoul/Incheon.

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