Transit at Helsinki Airport
I had arrived off JL413 from Tokyo Narita ( see report ) after an amazing trip which saw me visit Seoul ( Korean Air ) and Tokyo ( JAL )…. and after a very quick security check at Helsinki Airport, I freshened up and made my way to my gate. Talk about efficiency ! No wonder Helsinki wins global awards for excellence !
I arrived at the gate for Manchester at 1505pm after going down an escalator. Or rather a seating area for the bus to the aircraft !
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The lovely lady let me sit in gate area for Manchester which wasn't yet open.
No one else was around the gate area and I joked to the ground Hostess that I may be travelling alone ?!
She also checked upon my reuqest and saw that my previously free next door seat now had someone in it so she gave me a new seat a row ahead and checked me in. The efficiency of Helsinki is too good for words. Maybe the staff can come and so some customer service training at Manchester Airport.
I saw the Qatar Airways crew coming down the stairs ( they were for QR302 ( A7-AEB) which did would perform Helsinki-Doha-Lagos-Doha-Helsinki !
The waiting area for the bus is inspired by Finnish nature
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Boarding
Passengers began being bussed at 1525pm and I was on the last bus.
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An Avgeek ahead of me disembarked the bus and walked around the aircraft. He was whistled by the bus driver to come back ! He was then seen looking into the cockpit as shown !
I boarded at 1550pm after saying Good Afternoon to the Purser and as soon as I stepped onboard, the doors were closed ! My hand luggage was getting looks !
I stored my hand baggage in an entire locker which was free and I also had the seat next to me free. The rear area was fairly empty ! I had to request an extension seatbelt again !
The boarding music and automated stow your baggage message played overhead and throughout the cabin.
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We pushed back at 1558pm and there was a welcome PA , announcing this flight was a BA and JAL codeshare.
The manual safety safety demo followed.
An Instructor stood behind an Airhostess at the curtain divider for Business/Economy.
As we continued taxying, I saw a most colourful Smartwings 737 OK-TVP in Sunrise Airways livery and various Norra ATRs as well as Finnair widebody and narrowbody Airbusses.
I wasn't able to photograph the Smartwings 737 leased from Travel Service and then leased to Sunrise Airways whose tail we see here, so here is a sample image !
Suddenly the aircraft came to a stop ; I noted this vehicle coming towards the aircraft. It would seem Norra/Finnair wanted to become partners of easyJet !
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Once the "Spray Tan" was done,we taxied a short distance and commenced take off at 1615pm. Just like from Manchester, within 1 minute of take off from a dull and snow covered Helsinki) we were bursting above the clouds into blue skies and sunshine !
Take Off
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Newspaper sales for EUR3.00 although with instant news 24/7 i cannot imagine buying a newspaper and can't remember the last time I "bought" a newspaper !
I couldnt put my head back as the headrest was too low,the cabin was fresh…..
or so I thought…this same aircraft had earlier performed AY1361/1362 to/from Manchester….
I found an iphone screen protector in my seat pocket and serviette in the next one when retrieving a shopping brochure..
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Seat Pocket contents
Safety Card - very very Norra !
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Time for Blue Wings !
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25 mins after take off - somewhere over Sweden ?
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The cabin remained noisy through the whole flight - thank God this wasn't a longer flight or the noise would really become a nuisance !
There was a Trainee Airhostess onboard - very friendly and professional to the point that I really was amazed she is new !
The cabin manager and I had a nice chat and she was happy that I was a Finnair fan !
The "trainee" Airhostess brought my shopping order in a clear sealed bag. Finnair was running a promotion for 20% off preordered shopping in March.
I had ordered Fazer chocs and a Moominpappa plush for my nephew. Again the Trainee Hostess was really friendly and professional.
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Inflight Service
I then ordered and paid for cheese crackers to complement my free blueberry juice and iced water !
A funny story about Wookey Hole in England. There is a hotel called the Wookey Hole hotel where a "witch" has breakfast with you…..if you want to hear what she sounds like call this automated number for the hotel…it is an automated message…don't get scared ! + 44 1749 672243
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1 hour 5 mins before landing cards were being distributed.
The Captains update weather, altitude,arrival time etc,13,00 feet over north sea
40 mins before landing inflight sales commenced and I paid for my order - a receipt was emailed to me.
At 1635pm we began our descent over England…..
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Manchester is not covered in snow as I had been dreading - in fact it looks pleasant !
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Arrival into Manchester
1655pm and we landed at Manchester Airport 5 minutes ahead of schedule !
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Turkish TK1995 - TC-JSY - either a late departure or late arrival…..
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PIA 777-300 being turned around for PK702 to Islamabad
I cannot look at germanwings in the same way without memories of the tragic 2015 incident. Very sad loss of life.
This was actually a Eurowings flight heading to Dusseldorf.
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On parking at the gate at Manchester I was last to disembark and said to the Instructor she can relax on the flight back as the "trainee" is excellent !
She advised the flight had been easy as normally there are only 2 crew but today there were 3 !
I bid farewell after wishing Ms Trainee the best of luck in her career. I am confident she will go on to really be an asset to Finnair / Norra.
I was surprised the aircraft was on an airbridge at Gate 22 as I had believed it would be steps !
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I was through immigration in 2 minutes and a friendly chap told me to press on my passport when scanning it. For all the faults at Manchester Airport, I have always cleared immigration quickly !
My bag arrived around a minute after I arrived at the carousel
AY1365 and soon AY1366 to Helsinki ! The next flights of this aircraft would be, in order Moscow then Brussels. Not a week after this flight most Finnair Manchester flights are being operated by Finnair and not Norra !
PIA and Royal Air Maroc owning Manchester Terminal 2 ! Note the construction work for the terminal expansion.
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